It’s fairly routine for people in small businesses to hate to call on overdue debt. For some reason there is a guilt factor that gets in the way. Typically when a payment is late, the creditor sends out a second invoice. Trust me on this: A second invoice is just as easy to ignore as the first one.
When your client’s payment is overdue, pick up the phone and ask them what is going on. Make contact. Talk with them. Listen to them. Empathize with them.
Remember, your goal is to get paid. If they can’t pay today, set a date that they will pay by. If they can’t pay the entire amount, set up a plan. Communicate with them, and make it clear they need to communicate with you. Make sure you follow up. If they promise the check by Tuesday, and it doesn’t arrive call and ask them when it was mailed. Get a tracking order if they promise to send it overnight.
These people owe you them money and they know they owe you the money. More than likely they want to pay you the money. Help them along by giving them a call.