Asking a client for money they already owe you shouldn’t be this hard. Yet for most Nigerian business owners, chasing payments is a regular part of the job — awkward follow-up calls, WhatsApp messages left on read, and invoices that sit unpaid for weeks.
Here’s how to change that dynamic without burning bridges.
1. Set clear payment terms upfront
Before you start any work, agree on payment terms in writing. This means:
- Payment due date (e.g. net 7, net 14, net 30)
- Accepted payment methods
- What happens if payment is late
When terms are agreed upfront, following up later isn’t awkward — you’re simply holding both parties to what was already agreed.
2. Send the invoice immediately
The longer you wait after completing work to send an invoice, the more it fades from the client’s priority list. Send it the same day — or even before you finish, for milestone-based projects.
3. Use a payment link, not just bank details
Sharing your account number puts the entire payment process on the client. A payment link removes friction — one tap, and the payment is done. When it’s easier to pay, people pay faster.
4. Let automated reminders do the follow-up
You shouldn’t have to remember which invoices are overdue. Automated reminders:
- Keep the invoice top of mind without requiring you to send manual messages
- Come from a professional system rather than a personal number
- Escalate in tone naturally as the invoice ages
This is the shift from reactive chasing to proactive collection.
5. Know when to escalate
If an invoice is significantly overdue and reminders haven’t worked, it’s time to escalate. This could mean a phone call, a payment plan conversation, or involving a collections process. The key is having visibility into which invoices need escalation — which is only possible if you’re tracking everything in one place.
Flinpa automates steps 2 through 5 — payment links, instant receipts, automated reminders, and a real-time dashboard of every outstanding invoice. Try it free.
