How do I politely ask a client to pay an overdue invoice?

Keep the first message short, friendly and specific: name the invoice, the amount and the date it was due, and ask when it'll be paid. Assume it's an oversight, not a refusal, because most late invoices are simply forgotten. The 'Friendly' option here writes exactly that message for you.

How often should I send payment reminders?

A common rhythm is a gentle nudge a few days after the due date, a firmer one a week or two later, and a final notice after that. Leave a few days between each so it reads as a considered process, not nagging. This tool gives you all three tones to work through.

What should a final payment reminder say?

State plainly that the invoice is unpaid and overdue, give a clear deadline (7 days is common), and say what happens next, such as adding statutory late-payment interest. Stay professional; the goal is to get paid, not to burn the relationship. The 'Final notice' option strikes that balance.

Can I add interest to a late invoice?

Often yes, especially if your client is a business. Our late-payment calculator works out how much statutory interest and compensation you can add, and gives you a line to drop into the reminder. Use it alongside this generator when a client goes properly quiet.

Payment reminder generator

Chasing money is the worst part of working for yourself, and staring at a blank message makes it harder. Fill in the invoice details, choose how hard to push, and get a ready-to-send reminder for email or text. Start friendly, because most invoices come loose on the first nudge. Nothing you type is saved or sent anywhere.

Client's nameYour nameInvoice numberAmount owedDate it was dueCurrency

How hard to push

Send as

Your reminder

Hi there,

Just a quick note: your invoice for £500.00 was due on 19 August 2026 and I don't think it's landed yet. Could you let me know when it's likely to be paid? If it's already on its way, please ignore this.

Many thanks,
[your name]

Send the friendly one first, because most invoices come loose without ever needing the next step. Give it a few days before you move up a gear.

SoloDesks spots overdue invoices and writes these for you automatically.

Before you send it: what you're allowed to add

A reminder lands harder when it names a number. If your client is a business, you have a statutory right to interest at base rate + 8% (currently 11.75%), plus fixed compensation per invoice:

Debt size	Fixed compensation
Under £1,000	£40
£1,000 to £9,999	£70
£10,000 and over	£100

If your client is a homeowner, none of that applies

The Act covers business-to-business contracts only. For private customers (most solo trade work), anything you charge for late payment has to come from the terms on the quote they accepted.

Which is why the firm and final versions above don't threaten statutory interest by default. A threat you can't back up weakens the next message you send.

Chasing manually works the first time. It stops working around the fourth invoice, because the awkwardness compounds and the message never gets sent. SoloDesks Pro sends these for you at 7, 14 and 21 days under your business name, with replies coming to you, and stops the moment you mark it paid. See pricing.

Statutory figures under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998. Bank of England base rate 3.75% as at 30 July 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. The late payment calculator works the figure out for your actual invoice.

Last checked: 30 July 2026

Common questions

How do I politely ask a client to pay an overdue invoice?: Keep the first message short, friendly and specific: name the invoice, the amount and the date it was due, and ask when it'll be paid. Assume it's an oversight, not a refusal, because most late invoices are simply forgotten. The 'Friendly' option here writes exactly that message for you.
How often should I send payment reminders?: A common rhythm is a gentle nudge a few days after the due date, a firmer one a week or two later, and a final notice after that. Leave a few days between each so it reads as a considered process, not nagging. This tool gives you all three tones to work through.
What should a final payment reminder say?: State plainly that the invoice is unpaid and overdue, give a clear deadline (7 days is common), and say what happens next, such as adding statutory late-payment interest. Stay professional; the goal is to get paid, not to burn the relationship. The 'Final notice' option strikes that balance.
Can I add interest to a late invoice?: Often yes, especially if your client is a business. Our late-payment calculator works out how much statutory interest and compensation you can add, and gives you a line to drop into the reminder. Use it alongside this generator when a client goes properly quiet.

Getting paid

The whole escalation, in order

From the invoice on the day you finish to a claim at the county court, with what to send at each stage.

Next, in getting paid

Raise it, send it, and chase it when it goes quiet.

Invoice & quote generator

Type the job, download a professional PDF invoice or quote, with VAT and CIS if you need them. Built in your browser, nothing uploaded.

Late payment calculator

A client is weeks late. Work out the interest you can add and copy a ready-made line for your reminder message.

Pricing the job

Work out what the job should cost before you write the number down.

What you owe

Tax, VAT and CIS: the money that was never really yours to spend.

All nine are on the free tools page, and none of them need an account.

Payment reminder generator

Before you send it: what you're allowed to add

Common questions

Next, in getting paid

The thinking behind the number