[gavinbaker]

We have a small agency, and have these issues too. Most of the time it is just the occasional slow payed invoice. If they get past two weeks we shoot them an email.

Things we do to lower the risk as much as we can. #1 we get paid upfront for the month. #2 We always ask for a credit card or ACH as part of the contract, we still do get checks because for some that is the preferred method for them, but we try to get the CC / ACH.

For us, if it's becoming an issue over 1-2 months, I'll personally make the ask and find out if something is wrong. I try to give them the benefit of the doubt that the invoice isn't getting to them or was missed.

Something people have suggested is when the payment is late, a nice notification email that just says that you haven't received payment for this month and according to policy, work is suspended until payment is received.

The reason we don't do this is because for us 100% of the time it has been a missed invoice, not an intentional stoppage of payment.

[zenincognito]

Thanks for you advise. I appreciate it.

One of the problems with setting up Stripe/credit card payments for us is the amount is close to 5K. Most client would prefer a invoice as opposed to a direct debit.

Clients on a 1-2K retainers generally ask for an automated payment. Clients above the 2K mark generally pay but are usually much slower.

We email them after 10 days and then a personal call is made every 15 days.

We have never had a non payment issue as such but the invoices are always waiting for the directors or someone's signature to go through.

We have tried the following so far

1) Automated payments. 2) Personal email after 10 days 3) Call every 15 days. 5) SEO invoices are month in advance yet payments come 30 days after service is delivered.

For ongoing clients that have been us with over 6 months it may be difficult to stop services. We know they will pay as we have a good relationship.