How Long Should a Tradesperson Wait to Get Paid?
You’ve finished the job, sent the invoice, and now you’re waiting.
But how long is too long? When is it reasonable to start chasing? And what does UK law actually say about how quickly customers have to pay you?
This guide answers all of it — so you know exactly where you stand and when to take action.
What Are the Standard Payment Terms for Tradespeople?
Payment terms are the agreed timeframe within which your customer must pay your invoice. The most common terms used by UK tradespeople are:
Payment on completion — payment is due the same day the job is finished. Common for smaller domestic jobs like a boiler service, a small repair, or a one day installation.
Payment within 7 days — gives the customer a short window to arrange payment. Works well for medium sized jobs where you’re not expecting immediate payment on site.
Payment within 14 days — the most common standard for UK tradespeople. Gives the customer reasonable time to pay while keeping cash flow moving.
Payment within 30 days — more common for larger commercial contracts. Under UK law this is the maximum default payment term for business to business transactions.
The key point is that your payment terms need to be agreed upfront and clearly stated on every invoice. Without them, you have no legal starting point for chasing late payments.
What Does UK Law Say About Payment Terms?
Under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, if you are invoicing another business and no payment terms have been agreed, the default payment period is 30 days.
This means if a business customer hasn’t paid within 30 days of receiving your invoice — or 30 days after the work was completed, whichever is later — the invoice is legally overdue and you are entitled to charge interest and recovery costs.
For domestic customers — homeowners rather than businesses — the same law does not apply directly. However your agreed payment terms still form part of the contract between you and your customer, and non payment can still be pursued through the Small Claims Court.
When Should You Start Chasing?
Don’t wait until you’re frustrated and months have passed. Build a simple follow up process and stick to it:
One day after the due date — send a polite friendly reminder. Most late payments are down to forgetfulness rather than bad intent.
Three to five days after the due date — if no response, follow up by phone. A call is harder to ignore than an email.
Seven days after the due date — send a formal overdue notice with a new firm payment deadline and a note about your right to charge statutory interest.
Fourteen days after the due date — if still unpaid, consider sending a letter before action stating your intention to pursue the debt through the courts if payment is not received within seven days.
The sooner you start chasing the better. The longer an invoice goes unpaid the harder it becomes to recover.
What Are Your Rights If a Customer Refuses to Pay?
If a customer simply refuses to pay, you have several options:
Statutory interest — for business customers you can charge 8% above the Bank of England base rate on the overdue amount, plus a fixed debt recovery fee of £40, £70 or £100 depending on the invoice value.
Small Claims Court — for debts up to £10,000 you can make a claim online at gov.uk without needing a solicitor. Most customers settle before the case reaches a hearing.
Debt collection agency — for larger or more complex debts a debt collection agency can pursue payment on your behalf, usually for a percentage of the amount recovered.
Withhold future work — you are under no obligation to carry out further work for a customer who owes you money. Make this clear if they come back with more jobs.
How to Get Paid Faster — Practical Tips
The best way to avoid waiting too long for payment is to make it as easy and inevitable as possible from the start.
Agree payment terms before you start — discuss payment terms at the quoting stage, not after the job is done. Include them on your quote and again on your invoice.
Ask for a deposit on larger jobs — a 25% to 50% deposit upfront protects your cash flow and filters out customers who were never serious about paying.
Invoice immediately — the moment a job is complete, send the invoice. Tools like Tradify let you do this from your phone on site before you’ve even left the customer’s driveway.
Send automatic reminders — invoicing software can send automatic payment reminders before and after the due date so you don’t have to chase manually every time.
Make payment easy — include your bank details clearly on every invoice. If you accept card payments or PayPal, say so. The fewer barriers to payment the better.
Follow up consistently — build a simple chasing process and follow it every time without exception.
How Long Is Too Long?
Here’s a simple rule of thumb:
- Up to your due date — normal, nothing to do yet
- 1 to 3 days overdue — send a friendly reminder
- 4 to 7 days overdue — follow up by phone
- 8 to 14 days overdue — formal overdue notice
- 15 to 30 days overdue — letter before action
- Over 30 days overdue — consider Small Claims Court or debt collection
Don’t let invoices drift past 30 days without taking formal action. The longer you leave it the harder recovery becomes and the more it affects your cash flow.
The Bottom Line
As a UK tradesperson you have clear legal rights around payment — but you need to enforce them.
Set clear payment terms upfront, invoice on the day every job is done, and follow up promptly when payments are late. Do those three things consistently and late payments will become the exception rather than the rule.
📄 What Should a Tradesperson Invoice Include? — make sure every invoice you send covers all the legal requirements.
🔧 Best Free Invoice Templates for UK Tradespeople 2026 — download a free professional template and start getting paid faster.
💼 How to Invoice as a Sole Trader in the UK — the complete guide to invoicing when you’re self employed.
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