Getting paid on time

Chasing payment feels awkward even when the money is completely owed — and that discomfort is exactly why so many small businesses lose time and cash flow to late payments a slightly better system would have prevented. Getting Paid on Time covers everything actually under your control: invoicing habits that get you paid faster, payment terms that protect you before work even starts, a calm follow-up sequence for overdue invoices, and how to handle a client who's gone quiet without burning the relationship.

The final chapter is honest about where general advice stops: late fees, interest, and formal legal notices are governed by rules that vary by state, and this book tells you exactly what to check and who to ask before you send one — rather than handing you language that could weaken your position instead of strengthening it.

Inside, you'll learn how to:

• Understand why most late payments aren't personal — and what actually causes them

• Build invoicing habits that remove friction and get you paid faster

• Set payment terms that protect you before the work even starts

• Use a calm, predictable follow-up sequence instead of dreading every overdue invoice

• Handle a client who's gone quiet without damaging the relationship

• Know what to check before charging a late fee or sending a formal notice

Part of the Business Basics That Work series: practical, no-fluff guides for freelancers, local shop owners, and small business owners who'd rather get it done than read a textbook.