You pay for chemical, fuel and wages up front. Your customers pay when they remember.
The numbers
- Australian small businesses waited an average of 22.9 days to be paid in the June 2026 quarter. Xero notes this is a first estimate and may be revised.
- That is 6 days later than agreed, on average.
- Late payment cost the average small business A$15,257 per year (Xero research, March 2026).
Sources: Xero Small Business Insights and Xero’s late payment report.
Five changes that help
- Invoice on the day. Send it when the job is done, not that night or at the weekend.
- Send it by text. A link in an SMS gets opened. An email attachment often does not.
- Make paying easy. Card, Apple Pay and Google Pay in one tap.
- Remind on a schedule. A friendly nudge on day 3, a firmer one on day 7, a final notice on day 14. Stop as soon as they pay.
- Offer payment plans for big jobs. Termite treatments are easier to approve when they can be split.
The goal
Aim to invoice within 15 minutes of finishing the job, and to be paid within a week. Set it up once and the invoice goes out as each job is completed.
