Nobody loves asking for money. But you did the work — getting paid is part of the job, not a favor. The trick is a system that feels professional, not passive-aggressive.
Day 0: Send a great invoice
Clear line items, due date, payment link, and contact info. Half of follow-ups exist because the first invoice was confusing.
Day 3: Soft reminder
"Hi [Name], just making sure invoice #1234 landed in your inbox. Here's the payment link again — let me know if you have any questions!"
Day 10: Direct but friendly
"Hi [Name], following up on invoice #1234 (due [date]). Can you confirm when we should expect payment? Happy to resend or adjust if something's off."
Day 20: Phone call time
Email isn't working. Call. Assume good intent — "Did this slip through the cracks?" works better than accusations.
Day 30+: Policy mode
Reference your terms. Pause work if needed. Late fees if your terms include them. You're running a business, not a charity.
Let the system nag so you don't have to
Lux in Plus can track what's overdue and draft follow-ups at the right intervals. You stay the friendly business owner; the system stays consistent.
Try Plus free — send invoices, accept payments, and let Lux handle the "just checking in" emails.