One of the most common questions creators ask: how long should I wait before I start chasing a late invoice? The answer is simpler than you think – and most creators wait way too long.
Day 0: The due date.
The invoice is due. One missed due date is not unusual. A lot of invoices are paid late, even by reputable brands and agencies. What happens next is what determines whether it becomes a real problem.
Day 1 to 3: Send one reminder.
Send a single friendly reminder. Include the invoice, reference the due date, and ask if there is anything they need from you to process payment. Keep it short and professional. Then wait.
If you haven’t been paid or gotten a clear response by day 3, stop chasing it yourself. That’s where DUPAY comes in.
Day 3+: Hand it over.
This is the part most creators get wrong. They keep sending polite follow-ups for weeks, hoping the client will come around.
Meanwhile, the client has already decided not to pay and is counting on you giving up.
By day 3, the situation has already told you something. A client who intends to pay will respond to a single reminder. One who doesn’t respond is either disorganized enough to need outside pressure, or is hoping you’ll let it go.
Either way, that’s exactly what DUPAY is built for. We take it from here – sending professional demand letters on your behalf, escalating through every available channel, and applying persistent pressure until the invoice is resolved. A demand letter from a third party carries far more weight than another email from you. It signals that this is a documented business matter, not a conversation they can keep ignoring.
You don’t need to wait until the invoice is 30, 60, or 90 days past due to get help. The earlier you hand it over, the better your odds of recovery. Collection success rates drop significantly after 60 days and fall off a cliff after 90.
Your job is to create. Ours is to collect.
Send one reminder. If you don’t have a clear answer by day 3, let DUPAY handle the rest.