Net 15

Net 15 works like net 30 with half the wait. The client owes the full amount, and the 15 days usually run from the date printed on the invoice.

It suits small and mid-size jobs where you’ve already paid for labor and materials and can’t wait a month, and clients who pay by card or bank transfer without an approval cycle. Businesses with a monthly accounts payable run may push back and ask for net 30; decide before you bid whether you can accept that.

A shorter term only helps if you follow up. Put the actual due date on the invoice, send a reminder a few days before it, and check your aging report each week, so a late invoice gets a call while the job is still fresh in the client’s mind.

If a client agrees to net 15 in the contract, use the same term on every invoice for that job. Switching terms partway through invites disputes. If you want to charge a late fee, agree on it in writing before the work starts and check your state’s limits.

Net 15 pairs well with progress billing on longer jobs: smaller invoices, paid sooner, keep your cash closer to your costs.