Invoice due date: why it's important

We often receive questions from SumUp Invoices users asking how they can remove the due date from their invoices. The reasoning behind this is usually due to aesthetic reasons, but can also be because they claim to not have use for a due date.

In any case, omitting the due date from an invoice is a mistake. 

As an official document, there’s a set series of information that’s required on an invoice. Although a due date is not a mandatory invoice field, it’s highly recommended for several reasons which we’ll outline below. 

The importance of the due date on an invoice

Unsurprisingly, the main reason to state a set due date on an invoice is to encourage your customers to pay you within a certain period of time. While it’s possible to agree on a later payment date, a customer should pay you within 30 days.

If you have a good business relationship or if there are unique conditions to the sale, it’s possible to negotiate longer payment periods. However, this still means that you should agree upon a final date for payment that can be stated clearly on the invoice.

Due dates on an invoice

Sometimes setting a due date isn’t as easy as simply choosing the standard 30-day option. If the due date falls on a bank holiday, it can be necessary to extend the due date by a day.

But when setting a due date, there are also a few key things to keep in mind:

• Avoid ambiguity when it comes to payment. It’s very common to see terms such as ‘first working day’, ‘end of month’, etc. but the problem is that these terms are surprisingly vague and arguably open to interpretation. To be more clear, state: ‘30 days from date of invoice issue’.

• State the due date in full. This means day, month and year. Simply putting the month or the day leaves your due date open to unwelcome interpretation.

• State the date of issue in full. Just as important for getting paid on time is the date of issue. This provides a clear window for payment. But keep in mind that if you issue an invoice on a Friday with a 30-day payment period, the due date will inevitably fall on a Sunday, causing you to give your customer an extra day.

• Beware of customers who only pay on fixed dates. This is a technique often used by companies to extend the payment period. However, it can be unavoidable as it’s often used by larger players with more weight to throw around in the market.

• Plan for invoice payments due at the end of December. It’s the holiday season. Not only that but some businesses are wrapping up their fiscal year, both making it difficult to receive or chase payments.

These are just a few suggestions to help you keep your business in the best shape to stay on top of your invoicing and accounts.

Setting the due date in SumUp Invoices

SumUp Invoices offers invoice templates that make it easy to choose from standard payment periods or add a custom date. Select from the drop-down menu or set your own date manually by clicking on the calendar icon.

You can also further clarify your payment conditions in the ‘Terms’ or ‘Notes’ fields on the invoice template.

SumUp Invoices helps ensure that your payment period is undeniably clear by requiring both a full issue date and due date, all with the goal of helping you get paid faster.

You can also choose to accept online payments with SumUp. If you choose this option, a payment link will be included directly on your invoice so your customer can pay instantly online.