What are invoice payment terms?
Payment terms are the rules you set for when and how your client should pay. In practice, it’s usually a due date (or a “net” number of days) and the payment methods you accept.
7 vs 14 vs 30 days: what should you use?
There’s no single “right” answer—choose terms that match your cash flow and the type of work you do.
- 7 days: best for small jobs, tradies, and quick turnaround work. Helps cash flow.
- 14 days: a common default for many small businesses. Often a good compromise.
- 30 days: more common with larger organisations, but can be tough for small businesses.
Use milestone invoices for bigger projects
Instead of waiting 30 days at the end, consider breaking the job into milestones (deposit, mid-project, delivery). This reduces risk and aligns payment with progress.
Copy/paste payment terms wording (Australia)
Payment terms: - Payment due in [7/14/30] days from invoice date - Please use invoice number as the payment reference - Accepted payment methods: bank transfer / card - Bank details: [BSB] [Account number] Late payment (optional): - If payment is overdue, we may pause work until the account is brought up to date.
Tips to get paid faster
- Send invoices immediately (same day if possible).
- Make the due date explicit (don’t rely on “net 14” alone).
- Itemise clearly so accounts teams can approve quickly.
- Include payment details and reference on the invoice.
- Send a polite reminder the day after it’s due.
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