How to Chase an Unpaid Invoice as a Consultant

Why consultants get paid late

• Large clients run supplier payments in a monthly batch and you miss the cut-off.
• New suppliers have to be set up on the client's system first, which nobody tells you about.

How to get paid: advice for consultants

• Ask for the supplier onboarding forms at the start of the engagement.
• Find out the client's payment-run date and time invoices to land before it.
• Consider statutory interest — large companies are more likely to pay when reminded it is accruing.

A chasing timeline that works

1. 3 days before due: a friendly heads-up.
2. 1 day overdue: a polite reminder.
3. 7–14 days overdue: a firm reminder and a phone call.
4. 30 days overdue: a final notice with a deadline.
5. Still unpaid: a letter before action, then a small claim if needed.

Your legal options

Your clients are businesses, so the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 applies to every late invoice: you can add statutory interest (8% + base rate) and £40–£100 fixed compensation per invoice, even if your contract doesn't mention it. Calculate what you can claim.