Payment terms tell your client when you expect to be paid. They sit on the invoice, usually near the total, and they decide how long your money stays in someone else’s account.
What "net" means
"Net 14" means the full amount is due 14 days after the invoice date. "Net 30" means 30 days. "Due on receipt" means now. The number is simply the days you are giving the client to pay.
Which one should you choose?
- Due on receipt or net 7: small jobs, new clients, and anyone you have not worked with before.
- Net 14: a sensible default for most freelance work.
- Net 30: common with larger companies, whose finance teams often run monthly payment cycles. Ask for it only if the client requires it.
Deposits change the picture
If you take half upfront, the second invoice can carry shorter terms, because the client has already committed. Many freelancers use due on receipt for the deposit and net 14 for the balance.
How to word it
“Payment due within 14 days of the invoice date. Bank transfer or PayPal accepted.”
Write the actual due date next to the terms as well. A date is harder to misread than a number of days.
What about late fees?
If you charge interest or a late fee, say so on the invoice and in your contract before the work starts. A fee that appears for the first time on a reminder tends to start an argument rather than end one.
Whatever terms you pick, use the same ones consistently. Clients learn your rhythm quickly.
