Short answer: Customers pay faster when the price and payment terms are agreed before you start, large jobs have a deposit, the invoice arrives the same day with clear bank details and a due date, and polite reminders go out before and after the due date. Reviewing who owes you every week stops late payments from becoming bad debts.
Why customers pay late
Most late payers aren't trying to cheat you. They forgot, they never got a proper invoice, the person who approves payments is travelling, or they're waiting for their own customers to pay. A few are testing whether you'll chase. The fix is the same for all of them: make paying easy, make the deadline clear, and follow up every time.
Before you start the job
- Agree in writing. A quote the customer accepts (even by tapping "Accept" on a link) settles the price and the terms before any work starts.
- Take a deposit. For custom orders, events and projects, 30 to 70% upfront is normal in Nigeria. It covers your materials and proves the customer is serious.
- Set short terms. "Due on receipt" or 7 days gets paid faster than 30 days for most small businesses. Companies may insist on 30 days; agree it upfront and plan your cash for it.
- Ask who pays. For companies, get the name and email of the accounts person, and ask what they need on the invoice (TIN, purchase order number, company address).
When you invoice
- Invoice the same day the work is done or the goods are delivered.
- Show the due date clearly, and your bank name, account name and account number.
- Send it where the customer actually looks: email for companies, WhatsApp for most individuals.
- Make it easy to open on a phone. A link to an online invoice works better than a blurry photo.
A reminder schedule that works
| When | Message tone |
|---|---|
| 3 days before the due date | Friendly heads-up: amount, due date, how to pay |
| On the due date | "Due today" with the bank details again |
| 7 days late | Polite follow-up, ask if anything is holding it up |
| 14 days late | Firmer: state the amount overdue and your terms |
| 30 days late | Final reminder before you pause work or take further steps; call the customer |
ENB sends email reminders on exactly this schedule (3 days before, on the day, then 7, 14 and 30 days after) until the invoice is paid, and you can send a reminder by hand any time.
Reminder scripts
Before the due date: "Hello Mrs Bello, a quick reminder that invoice INV-0042 for ₦85,000 is due on Friday. You can pay to [bank, account name, number]. Thank you for your business!"
Overdue: "Hello Mr Eze, invoice INV-0042 for ₦85,000 was due on 10 October. Could you let me know when we should expect payment? The invoice and bank details are here: [link]. Thank you."
Keep it short, specific and polite. Always include the invoice number, the amount and how to pay, so the customer can pay right away without asking.
After payment
Confirm the money has landed, then send a receipt and a thank-you. Customers who feel appreciated pay faster next time. See how to write a receipt.
Review who owes you every week
Once a week, look at every unpaid invoice and how late it is. Call your biggest late payers rather than sending another message. Ageing buckets (not yet due, 1 to 30, 31 to 60, 61 to 90, over 90 days) show where the risk is: the older an invoice, the less likely it gets paid. ENB's "who owes you" view does this automatically.
When to stop work
If a customer is 30 days late with no explanation, it's reasonable to pause further work until they pay, as long as your terms said so. For larger debts, get advice before taking legal steps.
Company and government clients
Larger organisations pay through processes: a purchase order, an invoice that matches it exactly, approval by a manager, then a payment run. Ask at the start what they need on the invoice (their PO number, your TIN, their registered address) and when their payment runs happen. Send the invoice to the accounts email, not just your contact person, and keep a record of when it was received. For government work, plan your cash for long delays.
The customer who always pays late
Some customers pay late every time. Options, from gentlest to firmest:
- Move them to payment upfront or a larger deposit.
- Shorten their terms and send reminders earlier.
- Offer a small discount for paying within 7 days (only if your margin allows).
- Stop extending credit and sell to them only on cash or transfer before delivery.
A customer who costs you weeks of chasing may not be worth the sale.
Frequently asked questions
Should I charge a late payment fee?
Only if it was in your agreed terms before the work started. Many small businesses get better results from deposits and consistent reminders.
What should a payment reminder say?
Keep it short and friendly: the invoice number, the amount, the due date, how to pay and a thank-you.
How often should I send reminders?
A common schedule is 3 days before the due date, on the day, then 7, 14 and 30 days after.
How do I stop a customer owing me again?
Ask for a deposit or payment upfront next time, and keep terms short.
We build the ENB business platform and support Nigerian businesses from our offices in Yaba, Lagos and Owerri. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or accounting advice; for your own situation, speak to a qualified professional.