GUIDE

How to follow up on an unpaid freelance invoice

The PDF is not the hard part. The hard part is day 8, when the client is quiet and you do not want to sound desperate. This is the sequence DueKit uses. Copy any stage. The rest of the pack is $29 once.

1. Day 0 — send with a calendar date. “Net 14” is a vibe. “Due 14 September” is a date. Include payment details in the same email.
2. Day +1 after due — assume buried, not refused. One short check-in. Ask if it is already in progress. Free sample email.
3. Day +7 — ask for a specific payment date. “Soon” is not a date. Offer to resend or split if that unblocks them.
4. Day +14 — pause remaining work, in writing. Continuing to deliver while unpaid trains the client that the invoice is optional.
5. Day +21 — confirm the pause. Keep the paper trail.
6. Day +30 — written demand before small claims. Sample language only. If the amount is large or disputed, get a lawyer.
7. Call if email dies. Then summarize the call in email so you still have a record.

This is general information, not legal advice. DueKit is not a collection agency.

Longer version: how to chase an unpaid invoice.