Net 30 and Net 15 on invoices: what freelancers should write and expect

What Net 30 actually means

Net 30 usually means the client has 30 calendar days from the invoice date (or sometimes from the end of the month) to pay in full. Net 15 is the same idea with a 15-day window. The label is not a law; it is a convention your contract and invoice should align on.

Ambiguity causes most payment delays: “due upon receipt” on the invoice but net-30 in the SOW, or no due date at all. Put one clear due date on every invoice.

What to print on the invoice

• Payment terms in plain language (“Payment due within 30 days of invoice date”)
• A specific due date (computed from terms, not left blank)
• Accepted methods (ACH, wire, card link) and who to contact for AP questions
• Late-fee language only if you will enforce it (many freelancers skip this on early invoices)

Net 30 vs due on receipt: how to choose

Due on receipt or net-7 fits shorter projects, new clients, or work under $2k where your runway is thin. Net-30 is common for agencies and corporate clients because their AP runs on cycles. Net-15 is a reasonable middle ground when you want professionalism without waiting a full month.

You can offer net-30 on the proposal and net-15 for a small early-pay discount. What matters is that the signed agreement, invoice, and reminders all reference the same terms.

When the invoice is “late” for follow-up

Corporate clients often pay on day 28–32 of net-30. One reminder after due is normal; panic on day 31 is not.

Protecting cash flow without renegotiating every job

Milestone billing (50% upfront, 50% on delivery) reduces reliance on net-30 for large projects. Retainers with auto-charge avoid term confusion entirely. For repeat late payers, shorten terms on the next SOW or require a deposit before work starts.

Your reminder software should use the due date on each invoice, not a single global rule, because net-30 clients and due-on-receipt clients on the same roster need different cadences.