Are you waiting for a payment and wondering how to remind someone to pay you? Sometimes, whether you work with clients or customers, payments can go past the due date. In this blog, we’ll share simple strategies to help you remind someone to pay, without feeling uncomfortable. You’ll also find templates and tips to help you get paid on time. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents:
Why Sending Payment Reminders Are Important?
Reminding clients or customers to pay is a necessary for keeping your business running smoothly. When payments are delayed, it can throw off your budget, make it harder to cover expenses, and create unnecessary stress. For many small businesses, one overdue payment can have a ripple effect on everything from paying suppliers to covering your own bills. This is why sending reminders is so important. It helps you avoid cash flow problems and ensures that your work or services are properly compensated. It’s also important to remember that reminding someone to pay isn’t something you should feel guilty about. This is just a normal part of running a business, and most clients understand that. Sometimes people forget, or an invoice gets lost in the shuffle. Sending a friendly reminder is often all it takes to get things back on track.
When to Remind Someone to Pay You?
Rather than waiting until the payment is overdue to remind your client, it’s always a good idea to be proactive. You can start by sending a payment reminder a couple of days before the due date, follow up on the due date, and, if needed, send another message once the payment is overdue. Let’s take a look at how you can remind someone to pay you—before, on, and after the due date.
Before the Due Date:
Sending a reminder a few days before the due date is a great way to stay ahead of potential late payments without seeming pushy. This gives your client a heads-up that the payment is due soon, reducing the chances of it slipping through the cracks. You can send a short, friendly message like:
“Just a quick reminder that your invoice is due in three days. Let me know if you have any questions!”
In fact, in a survey done by MYOB, 21% of invoices are typically paid after the first follow-up, especially if you use automated reminders that clients are accustomed to seeing.
On the Due Date:
Once the due date arrives, send another reminder. On the due date, you’re reinforcing the payment terms in a friendly manner, showing that you’re still expecting the payment to be made on time. You can send a message like:
“Hi, Just a reminder that your payment is due today as per our agreement. I’ve attached the invoice for your reference.”
About 20% of invoices are paid after this second reminder, as per a survey conducted by MYOB.
After the Due Date:
If the payment still hasn’t been made after the due date, it’s time to send another follow up. Wait around 2 to 3 days after the deadline before sending a more direct message. You can send a message that could say:
“I wanted to follow up regarding the payment for Invoice #123, which was due on [date]. Please make the payment as soon as possible to avoid any late fees.”
Did you know? 32% of invoices are typically settled after the third follow-up.
Pro Tip:
If you regularly invoice clients, using a tool like CheckYa can be highly productive for your business. CheckYa sends automated reminders a couple of days before the due date. This makes it easy to send follow-ups and ensures you stay on top of payments without having to manually remind clients.
According to MYOB’s survey, 59% of overdue invoices require three or more follow-ups before they’re settled.
How to Politely Remind Someone to Pay You
Here are a few tips to help you write an effective reminder:
1. Keep the Tone Professional & Friendly
You don’t want to sound demanding, but you still need to let your client know that payment is expected. A friendly and professional tone shows that you respect the relationship while gently nudging them to pay.
2. Add the Total Amount and Due Date
Include the details such as amount due, the invoice number, and the original due date. This way, your client knows exactly what the reminder is about without needing to go back and forth. For example:
“I’m just following up on Invoice #123 for $500, which was due on Oct 22, 2024”.
3. Include the Payment Method
Make it easy for your client to pay by reminding them how to do it. If you accept payments via PayPal or bank transfer, be sure to mention that. This speeds up the payment process. For instance you can ass something like:
“Please feel free to send the payment via PayPal
4. Attach a Copy of the Invoice
Sometimes, the client may have forgotten or misplaced the original invoice. Including it with your reminder makes it simple for them to pay you. You can say:
“I’ve attached a copy of the invoice here for your convenience in case you need it.”
Here’s an example of a Payment Reminder Email that you can send:
Subject: Quick Reminder – Invoice #123 Due
Hi Erica,
I hope you’re doing well! I just wanted to send a friendly reminder that Invoice #123 for $500 was due on Oct 22, 2024.
If you haven’t had a chance to process the payment yet, no worries! Please feel free to send it via PayPal at your earliest convenience. I’ve attached a copy of the invoice for reference.
Thanks so much, and let me know if you have any questions!
Best regards,
Emma
Tool to Send Automated Reminders:
Rather than trying to keep tabs on overdue payments manually, you can save yourself time and stress by using tools that automatically send payment reminders before the due date. One such fantastic tool for beginners is CheckYa.
CheckYa helps you send invoices and receive payments. It automatically sends reminders to your clients two days before the payment is due. This means you don’t have to worry about forgetting to follow up or ask for pending payment.
You can invoice in 135_ currencies and your clients can pay you via Google Pay, Apple Pay, Credit Card, Debit Card, ACH and PayPal.
Conclusion:
Now that you know how to remind someone to pay you, use these simple tips and templates the next time a payment is overdue. Keep your reminders polite but clear, and follow up when needed. Use tools like CheckYa to automate the process, save time and get paid on time. 
