How to politely ask for payment of an invoice | 6 email templates (2024)

The invoice is the final step in a well-executed business transaction. It's at this point that both parties should be happy, as the customer has received what they asked for and you've been paid. But if your invoices aren't getting paid, then it can be frustrating to chase payments politely without being rude or aggressive.

This blog post will give you advice and templates for how to ask for payment of an invoice politely so that everyone feels respected and valued.

As an accounts receivable professional you can influence the speed at which these elements are resolved. Polite and direct engagement is key. Many overdue notices come across as automated and are perceived as cold and impersonal, therefore easily ignored. We have created six email templates to politely ask for invoice payments, and get overdue invoices paid.

1) Preventing late payments before your invoice is overdue

Email is usually the best way to ask for payment. Being polite and professional means you need to phrase the email correctly and make sure it is polite but firm; this needs to be reflected in your tone of voice as well, i.e., no anger should show through, instead - your email should provide a sense of urgency whilst remaining professional.

It is imperative to start effective invoicing communication as soon as your invoice is issued. Utilize this communication to verify your point of contact, supply all necessary payment information, confirm your payment terms, invoice details - and ensure they have all necessary information to approve and make payment on time. In your before-due payment reminder email, you can also politely ask your customer to confirm receipt of the email, and ask them to share any anticipated payment delays in advance.

2) Copy of invoice

Once the invoice is created, send the digital version to the primary point of contact and copy any accounting team members for which they’ve provided contact information. This communication should again exude a helpful, polite tone and gratitude for the partnership and being chosen as a vendor. The email must set proper expectations for payment terms and expected next steps.

3) On your invoice payment due date

Providing grace is a key in collecting overdue payments quickly. Although not receiving payments on time can be frustrating, always ensure you remain polite - do not jump to aggressive terminology or overly emotional language that could damage your client relationships, reputation, or chances of repeat business.

Continue the conversation in a transitionally professional candor and demonstrate that you are assuming positive intent from your client. Knowing when to chase customers’ invoices and expect payment will be contingent on the payment terms agreed by you and your customer and set out in your credit control policy.

"Providing grace is a key in collecting overdue payments quickly. Although not receiving payments on time can be frustrating, always ensure you remain polite"

4) When your invoice is overdue

Once an invoice is past due it is important to communicate the urgency of resolving the error while continuing to extend professional courtesy and maintain a polite tone. The right tenor of payment follow up message can ensure that resolving the outstanding payment does not interrupt new sales opportunities and rapport with the direct point of contact. Often, it is not the primary point of contact who is withholding the payment, rather, it is stuck in their accounts payable process.

If you’re having trouble keeping track of a number of overdue invoices, keep on top of them with an invoice tracker in google sheets or excel manually, or use a credit control software to keep on top of this automatically.

5) Escalating overdue invoices

If none of the previous emails have elicited effective responses it’s important to escalate the matter. Utilizing executive titles captures the attention of latent payers and can emphasize the importance of the matter at hand.

This works on both sides, involving your executives as well as those at the invoicee’s business. Ensure this is done tactfully as this can be an extremely sensitive approach, involving someone else’s leadership can place them in a hazardous spotlight and ruin any rapport you have built. It is essential to carefully-word these messages when reaching out to more senior staff at your clients’ business and ensure you still maintain a polite and professional tone.

Before leaning into executive involvement utilize effective payment chasing phone call scripts to try to engage your contact directly.

"If none of the previous emails have elicited effective responses it’s important to escalate the matter. Utilizing executive titles captures the attention of latent payers"

6) Past-due invoice negotiations

Once the invoice is severely outstanding it becomes more important to minimize the financial risk for your company than to push for full-payment. Negotiation, especially in the case of unsatisfied clients, is a tool companies can use to recoup at minimum the cost associated with the provided services. Emails regarding negotiation should not sound desperate. Instead you want to be extending a gracious offer in hope of quick resolution and mutual compromise. Start with offering payment plan options and if necessary extend a discount.

Avoid using empty threats in your payment reminders and ensure you have a reliable, friendly debt recovery service provider ready should you need to escalate outstanding invoices to debt collections. If your business is new to using debt recovery services, ensure you have the right information to-hand on commercial debt collections, to help you select the right provider.

Being proactive, consistent, and polite when asking for payment of an invoice via email can make all the difference in collecting payments before it becomes an issue. If you’d like to extend additional grace to customers during your payment chasing process, and give them more chances to pay, there are 10 more payment chasing templates available here.