Healthy cash flow is important for any business, but particularly for small business owners in those first few “make it or break it” years. Follow along with us below to see How to Set Your Small Business Payment Terms.
Business owners who set clear payment terms with their customers, invoice quickly, and follow up on late payment can avoid the dreaded cash flow crunch that can quickly put them out of business.
These simple guidelines for setting payment terms can help you get paid quickly and maintain steady cash flow.
Decide on your terms
The purpose of your payment terms is to outline exactly how and when your customers must pay you.
Some business owners draw up a document to share with potential customers outlining their fees and terms. Other business owners just include them in their work contracts and invoices.
However, you decide to communicate your payment terms with customers, make sure they include:
- when payment is due
- accepted forms of payment (i.e. cash, credit, debit, Paypal, e-transfer)
- your preferred currency (if you serve international customers) and
- early payment discounts and/or late penalties
Payment now, NET10 or NET30?
In the business world, it’s customary to be paid within 30 days of invoicing. However, as a small business owner, you can set the payment terms that suit you best.
If you’re a freelancer, you might require partial payment upfront with the balance due upon completion of services. You could also stipulate a shorter or longer payment deadline, depending on the industry standard and whether your clients pay electronically or by cheque,
In the digital age, it’s not uncommon for small business owners to set a NET10 or NET 14 deadline – or to negotiate payment terms on a client-by-client basis.
Taking into account what works best for you and your customers and being clear about expectations will make it more likely you’ll be paid on time.
When to invoice – and when to follow up
Always invoice your customer or client immediately. After all, the sooner you request payment, the quicker you’ll receive it.
Some small business owners offer an early payment discount as an incentive to pay faster – typically for NET30 invoices at a rate of 1.5-2%. Many customers will appreciate the opportunity to save money, and many business owners don’t miss the small amount taken off the bill.
Customers who routinely pay late may be motivated by a late payment penalty. The reverse is also a good idea. You may offer a 1-2% range of an early payment discount for early payers.
Make it a policy to email a friendly reminder on the date payment is due. If payment is late, follow up with a phone call the next day to find out when you can expect payment.
Final tips
- Take advantage of cloud-based accounting software that can be accessed anywhere there’s an internet connection, including via your smartphone, to generate invoices
- Be willing to negotiate with late payers; partial payment is better than not being paid at all.
- Make sure you have the correct name on your client’s invoice to avoid payment delays.
Avoid misunderstandings and frustrating payment delays by having clear payment terms outlined on paper can help.
If you ever need to take legal action to deal with a late payer, it is in your best interest to ensure that you have properly documented evidence that indicates your payment terms.
Want more?
Looking for more bookkeeping information or tips? Check out our post on 3 Crucial Steps for Collecting Payments from Clients