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 should you start chasing — and what does UK law actually say?
This guide covers exactly that, so you know where you stand and when to take action.
What Are the Standard Payment Terms for Tradespeople?
Payment terms are the agreed timeframe your customer must pay within. The most common terms used by UK tradespeople:
- Payment on completion — 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 immediate on-site payment isn't expected.
- Payment within 14 days — the most common standard for UK tradespeople. Keeps cash flow moving while giving customers reasonable time to pay.
- 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: 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 Late Payment?
Under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, if you're 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're entitled to charge interest and recovery costs.
For domestic customers (homeowners rather than businesses), the same law doesn't apply directly. However, your agreed payment terms still form part of the contract, 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:
- 1 day after the due date — send a polite, friendly reminder. Most late payments are down to forgetfulness, not bad intent.
- 3–5 days after the due date — if no response, follow up by phone. A call is harder to ignore than an email.
- 7 days after the due date — send a formal overdue notice with a firm new payment deadline and a note about your right to charge statutory interest.
- 14 days after the due date — if still unpaid, send a letter before action stating your intention to pursue the debt through the courts if payment isn't received within 7 days.
The sooner you start chasing, the better. The longer an invoice goes unpaid, the harder it becomes to recover.
How Long Is Too Long? A Simple Rule of Thumb
| How overdue | Status | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Up to due date | Normal | Nothing yet |
| 1–3 days overdue | Mild | Friendly reminder |
| 4–7 days overdue | Chase | Follow up by phone |
| 8–14 days overdue | Overdue | Formal overdue notice |
| 15–30 days overdue | Serious | Letter before action |
| Over 30 days overdue | Critical | 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 damage it does to your cash flow.
What Are Your Rights If a Customer Refuses to Pay?
- 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're 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
- Agree payment terms before you start — discuss 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 25–50% 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. Job management apps like Jobber 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're not chasing manually every time.
- Make payment easy — include your bank details clearly on every invoice. If you accept card payments, say so. The fewer barriers to payment, the better.
- Follow up consistently — build a simple chasing process and follow it every time without exception.
Jobber sends automatic payment reminders, lets you invoice on-site from your phone, and keeps your full payment history in one place. Used by thousands of UK tradespeople.
Try Jobber Free for 14 Days →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.
TradeStack HQ helps UK tradespeople find the best tools to run smarter businesses. Some links on this page are affiliate links — we may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.