Original article posted on the BuildOps blog.

Looking at data from thousands of invoices, we discovered a clear trend: shops that send invoices within the first 10 days post-job are significantly more likely to be paid faster. 

In fact, our data of hundreds of shops across North America shows that sending an invoice even one day later can add several days to the payment timeline.

Image Source: Buildops

At day 20, the impact becomes especially pronounced. 

Shops that wait more than 20 days to send an invoice experience a steep increase in the time it takes to get paid—adding as much as 30 days to their payment cycle. 

By day 28, the gap widens dramatically, with payments taking an average of 86 days.

Key Takeaways:

• Send invoices within 10 days: Our data shows that this window is the sweet spot for getting paid faster. Invoicing after 10 days results in delayed payments.

• Avoid the 20-day mark: This is a clear inflection point where payment times drastically increase. The longer you wait, the longer you’ll have to chase down payments.

• Early invoicing equals smoother cash flow: Keep the process efficient by automating invoicing where possible and tracking your invoicing practices.

What’s this mean for your shop?

• Set up a process to ensure invoices are always sent within the first 10 days post-job.

• Review your current invoicing practices and identify any bottlenecks that delay invoicing.

• Offer Flexible Payment Methods: Accept multiple payment options, such as credit card, ACH transfers, or mobile payments to make it easier for customers to pay.

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