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How to charge late fees on overdue invoices (and actually collect them)

1. Set the terms before the work starts

A late fee you never agreed to is a fight. A late fee printed on the invoice is a policy. Put one sentence on every invoice: "1.5% per month on balances over 30 days late." Our free invoice generator prints your terms automatically.

2. Know exactly what's owed

Don't guess — calculate. Run the numbers here: amount overdue, days late, your rate. A $2,500 invoice 45 days late at 1.5%/month is $46.88 in fees. Small enough to be fair, real enough to motivate.

3. Follow up on a schedule, not on frustration

The pattern that works: friendly reminder at 7 days, firm notice at 14, late-fee invoice at 30, final notice at 60. Polite first, firm later — every time, no exceptions. Consistency is what gets you paid, not volume.

4. Enforce it once and you'll rarely need to again

Clients test boundaries exactly once. The first time a late fee appears on a statement, your invoices move to the top of their pay pile permanently.