Written by NotALawyer Legal AI · Reviewed by External Legal AI · Published April 7, 2026 · Last reviewed June 26, 2026
Unpaid invoices are a normal part of running a business — and you have ways to collect that don't require a lawyer. Whether a client is ignoring you, disputing the bill, or stalling, work from a friendly nudge up to formal action. Here's the order most people follow to get paid.
Invoices do slip through the cracks. Send a short follow-up email with the invoice number, amount, due date, and original terms. Attach a copy and ask for a specific date you'll be paid.
If reminders go nowhere, mail a demand letter via certified mail. State the amount owed, point to the contract, set a final deadline (often 10-14 days), and note that you may pursue legal remedies if it isn't paid.
If the client wants to pay but says money is tight, a payment plan can beat going to court. Put it in writing with exact dates and amounts, and add a clause making the full balance due if they miss a payment.
For amounts under your state's limit (usually $5,000-$15,000), small claims court is fast, cheap, and lawyer-free. Filing fees typically run $30-$100, and cases are often heard within 1-3 months.
If the debt is too small to sue over or the client has vanished, a collection agency can recover 50-70% of it (they keep the rest as their fee). For tiny amounts, collecting can cost more than the debt is worth.
More on this topic: the Small Business hub
NotALawyer.com provides general legal information, not legal advice.