Overdue Invoice

What is an overdue invoice?

An overdue invoice is one where the due date has passed and you still haven't been paid. If your invoice was due on the 15th and it's now the 20th with no payment, it's overdue. Overdue invoices require attention—the longer they remain unpaid, the less likely you are to collect.

Handling overdue invoices

When an invoice becomes overdue:

• Send a reminder — A polite email or message noting the payment is past due
• Follow up by phone — Sometimes a call resolves issues faster than email
• Apply late fees — If your terms include them and you've disclosed them upfront
• Send a formal demand — For significantly overdue invoices
• Consider collections — As a last resort for large, very old debts

Preventing overdue invoices

The best approach is prevention: invoice promptly, set clear due dates, send reminders before due dates, make payment easy with online options, and require deposits on large projects. Good clients pay on time; habitual late payers may need different terms or may not be worth keeping.