Whether you are a small business or a giant organization, timely payments are critical in ensuring good revenue. Most small businesses, freelancers, and self-employed workers usually deal with a few customers who appreciate the work but don’t pay on time.
It is an inevitable but harsh truth to swallow.
The situation gets tense if the due amount is the critical source of revenue. Some businesses opt for a soft payment reminder email, whereas some can’t bear the delay, and they end up speaking harshly.
It is true that the delayed payment cause issues; however, a softly asked payment reminder mail can help get the payment without losing the client.
Writing an appropriate reminder mail is the best option, but what to include (and what not to) is challenging.
Instead of guesswork, you can choose from these seven proven payment reminder templates that work 🙂
Table of Contents
1. Payment Reminder Email Template: One Week Before the Due Date
Whether you are writing an initial payment reminder mail or after the due date, an appropriate subject line in a mail plays the most crucial role in getting noticed. So, start by writing a simple and catchy subject line like:
- Initial Payment Reminder Invoice No. #10101
- Follow-up of Invoice No. #10101
After writing a perfect subject line, you are halfway through the process. Finally, it is time to greet and discuss the payment due date.
Message Body
Hi Dave Lee,
I hope you are doing well! This is a quick payment reminder mail.
We sent Invoice #10101 on Saturday, September 16. The payment on the Invoice will be due next week.
I’m pretty confident you are mostly busy with work, but I’d be grateful if you could spare the time to look over the Invoice.
Please let us know if you have any queries.
Thank You!
Warm Regards
[John William]
Read also: How to Send Out Thank You For Your Order Email (Examples & Templates)
2. Payment Reminder Email Template: On the Due Date
When the client’s payment is due, they should have already received a reminder.
They might have even responded to the first email you sent them, letting you know that they know the amount they owe you and intend to pay it as soon as possible. They must pay their balance now that that week has ended.
When sending your customer, a reminder mail on the due day itself, asking them how they felt about the product or service they received from you is not necessary. Instead, it should emphasize how much money they still owe.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t use a soft tone. Your client most likely currently faces a difficult financial condition. Therefore, going above and beyond to demonstrate empathy could greatly aid your efforts to collect, particularly when payment is due.
Message Body
Hi Dave Lee,
Just writing to remind you that invoice #10101 is due today.
If there is any difficulty in making the payment, you can just reply to this email or call us at [Phone Number]. We’ll work together to get your payment settled.
Please let us know if you have any queries.
Thank You!
Warm Regards
[Your Name]
Read also: 12 Email Invoice Templates to Customize and Click Send
3. Payment Reminder Email Template: Shortly After the Due Date
Customers want you to think well of them. It’s still possible that they acknowledged receiving both of your emails requesting payment but haven’t paid the amount yet. It does happen, despite how crazy it may seem.
Or possibly they didn’t respond to your subsequent communications. You must keep putting up an effort to obtain what is owed to you in any scenario.
How frequently you send payment reminders has probably already been clear to you. We started sending one email per week seven days before the deadline. This example employs a similar strategy.
Message Body
Hi {Client Name},
Your invoice #10101 is still unpaid, according to my review of our records today.
I’m writing this email because it’s been a week past due date.
But don’t worry; you haven’t yet racked up any extra expenses because of this.
I’ve taken the courtesy to attach your invoice to this email in case you couldn’t find it.
You can pay the due by visiting this link [Link to Invoice].
Thank You,
[Name]
Read also: How To Write An Invoice Email And Get Paid Fast
4. Payment Reminder Email Template: Two Week After the Due Date
If the consumer still hasn’t paid the invoice two weeks after the due date, another email reminder is required. Even though the situation is not urgent, you can now talk with more confidence. Tell your client that you will be sending them reminders in the future.
Don’t forget to include the payment details, including the total and the methods that can be used. To include those, simply make sure the invoice is attached to your message.
Additionally, it is a good idea to ask for proof of email receipt to ensure that your payment reminder emails are being viewed on the other end.
Message Body
Hi [Client Name],
We’re contacting you again about the late payment for invoice #10101, which is now two weeks overdue.
The payment is [Amount] and you can pay your invoice by visiting this link [Link to Invoice].
If you have any questions or problems regarding the payment, please contact us. Also, please acknowledge that you have received this message.
Thank You,
[Your Name]
Read also: 10 Customer Service Email Templates for New CRM Users
5. Payment Reminder Email Template: One Month After the Due Date
After your initial round of reminders, it’s advised that you temporarily stop contacting the delinquent account you’re trying to recover from. In the realm of actual, postal letters used for collection, this is also true, but with emails, it is even more so.
Email is a user-driven medium. The receivers ultimately decide what happens to your correspondence. If enough users continue to mark emails from your domain as spam, message retention will eventually decline. Even worse, you can end up on a blacklist, where no one will ever get your communications.
We are not suggesting that you quit trying to get the money that is owed to you. Instead, you only need to wait a little bit longer, more specifically, at least a month.
Message Body
Hi [Client Name],
Over the past month, I’ve tried multiple times to get in touch with you regarding the unpaid amount on your invoice #10101.
I’m writing to remind you that you are 30 days past due on the balance with us.
You can pay your invoice by visiting this link [Link to Invoice].
I’m guessing that my earlier emails got lost in the shuffle. Please respond to this email to let me know you’ve received it.
Thank You,
[Name]
Read also: What is Sales Planning? Tips & Downloadable Templates for Beginners
6. Payment Reminder Email Template: Two Month After the Due Date
There’s a strong chance they won’t pay you by the time their account is 60 days past due and you’ve sent your client various email reminders.
Even so, up until the 90-day point, you should keep trying to collect on past-due accounts. When the amount is already 60 days overdue, you must approach it firmly. If the client hasn’t gotten in touch with you regarding their attempt to pay their due, they are undermining your professionalism.
Message Body
Hi [Name],
I’m sending you another email to let you know that your unpaid debt from invoice #10101 is still owed. Your account has a 60-day past-due balance.
As a result, you might be charged interest in accordance with the conditions that we have mutually agreed upon.
Please reply to this email if you have any questions about this payment. If not, kindly visit [Link to Invoice] to pay your outstanding sum straight away.
Thank You!
Warm Regards
John William
Read also: 15 Introduction Email Templates That Work Like A Charm
7. Payment Reminder Email Template: Last Effort
Your payment has been due for a period of three months by the time you reach this point. The additional time is two months later; the client has one month before the due date to pay the entire amount owed. In other words, this is the worst-case scenario.
You might as well consider the accounts lost and continue if they are this old. This requires contacting a collections business you are familiar with and giving them the keys.
But before you do, send the client one last email to remind them of the situation with your account.
Message Body
Hi Dave Lee,
The notice we are sending you about your past-due account is the last one. You have not replied to my 90-day late invoice #10101.
We must acquire payment from you within 15 days of receiving this notice to stop further attempts at collection by a third party.
As a result, you might be charged interest in accordance with the conditions that we have mutually agreed upon.
If you have any more questions, you can reach us by phone at [Phone Number] between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm.
Thank You!
Warm Regards
John William
Read also: Email Copywriting 101 — Tips to Craft High-Converting Email Copy
Tips to Write Professional Payment Reminder Templates
The best course of action for responding to unpaid invoices is to proceed with caution rather than anger. Here are some guidelines for crafting effective payment reminders for customers.
Use a clear subject line
To make your client’s life easier, include all the information they need in the subject line.
When writing your email’s subject line:
- Use terms that are specific, such as “Payment Reminder:”
- The invoice number should be entered.
- Include the payment due date
👉Enhance your communication skills by learning the right way of saying ‘sorry for the inconvenience‘. Dive into our article for more.
Begin by introducing yourself politely
Even though you want to send a payment reminder, you should always start your emails with politeness. Introduce yourself appropriately and personally at the outset of your email. You can be sure that your payment reminder will be considered if you do this.
You can accomplish so by using the client’s name and adding a small wishing note.
Be clear about the payment terms
The most important part of your email is a reminder to the client of the amount due and the deadline. Clearly state the invoice’s due date and leave out any unclear jargon. A crisp and clear email with straightforward details is more likely to be acted upon.
Read also: WooCommerce vs Magento: A Complete, Unbiased Overview
Be sure to include payment details
Even while you might offer payment details on the invoice itself, you should still make it obvious in the email body how to make a payment. Include all the payment details clearly in the email body, if possible, include the steps to proceed.
Attach the invoice again
Make sure the invoice you are reminding your client to pay is readily accessible to them without requiring them to search through their email history.
If you are using online invoices, reattach the invoice to your email or include a link.
Mention the consequences of non-payment (only use this after multiple attempts)
What is the original intent for sending reminders? Although you want to get compensated, you also don’t want to punish your customers.
They can be ignorant of the consequences of paying late. This is your chance to remind them of what will happen if they don’t.
Read also: 45 Business Text Message Templates For Busy Bees
Confirm if the client has received the receipt
You might take advantage of the opportunity to inquire with your client about whether they actually received your invoice if this isn’t the first time you’ve reminded them.
So, it’s best if you attach the receipt, and ask them if they have received the receipt. This way, any technical snag, human error, and issues can be averted.
Use tools for scheduling emails
In order to preserve consistency, if you do decide to send out reminders at regular intervals, be sure to use a tool for scheduling emails. Sending at sporadic intervals can lead to multiple emails being sent out early, which would make recipients forget as the deadline approaches.
An automated scheduling system will be used to distribute these messages in accordance with a predefined schedule. You may avoid sending the customer too many emails at once by doing this. Instead, between the time the invoice is sent and the payment due date, they are distributed. This keeps reminding the client without giving them too much or too little notice.
A free email scheduling app like EngageBay can help you automate transactional emails and schedule them smartly so that the recipient gets the important emails at the right time.
Try EngageBay’s email scheduling tool
Wrap Up
The foundation of any thriving business is a flexible internal collection procedure. It is not difficult to realize that you need to have a plan for contacting and collecting on past-due accounts.
The difficulty lies in carrying it out and producing clear emails that inspire action.
Any clients who haven’t paid you yet should be contacted as soon as possible. This involves sending postal mail, emails, and even SMS messages.
When it comes to creating your payment reminder emails, we’ve got you covered. Any of the samples from this blog post can be copied and used for your needs.
And if you want an all-in-one marketing, sales, and, customer support solution that can remove data silos and streamline your workflows:
Try EngageBay — it’s free forever!
Want to make a great first impression? Check out our guide “15 Introduction Email Templates That Work Like A Charm” for tips and templates! 
