Late invoice emails that get paid (and keep the client)
Most late invoices in a studio are not disputes. The invoice reached someone who left, the PO number was missing, or it is waiting in a queue nobody owns. The right email fixes most of them in a day.
Two days before the due date
Hi Sam, a quick note that October's retainer invoice (attached) is due on Friday. Payment details are on the invoice. Thanks!
This is the one that does most of the work. It arrives as service, not as chasing.
On the due date
Send nothing, unless the invoice was never opened. Then resend it to the billing contact and ask if it reached the right person.
Seven days late
Hi Sam, October's retainer invoice is now a week past due. Could you check it's in the payment run? If anything is missing, like a PO number, tell me and I'll reissue it today.
Fourteen days late
Hi Sam, I wanted to check on October's invoice, now two weeks past due. Is there something on our side holding it up? Happy to jump on a call.
The founder's own note
After two weeks, the next message should come from you, to the person you work with, not the billing inbox. Keep it about the relationship: ask if everything is fine with the work.
Write these once, in your own words, and send them on a schedule. The consistency matters more than the wording.