{"id":68998,"date":"2021-04-19T15:41:48","date_gmt":"2021-04-19T13:41:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/?p=68998"},"modified":"2026-01-29T15:45:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T13:45:10","slug":"get-paid-on-time-5-tips-for-small-business-owners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/get-paid-on-time-5-tips-for-small-business-owners\/","title":{"rendered":"Get paid on time \u2013 5 tips for small business owners"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDaily money<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tGet paid on time \u2013 5 tips for small business owners\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\tViresh Harduth<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

For small and medium businesses, getting paid on time<\/a> is one of the biggest administration headaches. After all, when customers don\u2019t pay on time, cash flow takes a knock, and you need to borrow money to pay suppliers and service providers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s not forget that nobody enjoys the awkward conversations and annoying admin that go along with chasing up payments<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knowing how to prompt customers to settle their accounts on time without harming your relationship with them is an essential skill for every small business owner to master.

\n\tDownload your free copy of The Art of Being Paid<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are five tips on how you can get people to pay up by the due date while reducing the stress involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Invoice accurately <\/strong><\/h2>
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    One of the best ways to get paid fast is to ensure your invoices are error-free and comply with the customer\u2019s requirements. Include the details they ask for, such as contact and company details, Purchase Order (PO) numbers and breakdowns of costs for different line items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019re dealing with a bigger company, it might be worth checking upfront which information they want on the invoice and which formats they prefer. Once you have this process waxed, it is likely there will be less delay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. Make it easy to pay<\/strong><\/h2>
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      Your goal should be to make it as simple as possible for someone to pay when they open your invoice. Ensure it\u2019s easy for them to find your banking details on the invoice, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Some payment platforms<\/a> let you include a click-to-pay option in your digital invoice. When dealing with consumers rather than businesses, it offers them a range of convenient payment options, including debit and credit card, Snapscan, Zapper, QR code, EFT, and instant EFT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      1. Communicate clearly <\/strong><\/h2>
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        Ensure customers know and agree to your payment terms (whether upon presentation of the invoice or 30 days) before buying a product or service from you. Include your standard payment terms on every invoice to remind them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        1. Put processes in place to remind customers to pay<\/strong><\/h2>
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          This tip is absolutely vital. No one enjoys running after customers to ask for overdue payments. Putting procedures in place for this task can take some of the pain out of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Here are some ways to remind people to pay your invoice, including how to escalate matters for late payment or non-payment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n