— Article

How to Chase Overdue Invoices Without Sounding Pushy

15 June 2026·By Ledgerly Pro Team·Updated 15 June 2026·5 min readInvoicingInvoicingCashflowSmall Business

General information only. This is not tax, legal or financial advice. Check HMRC guidance or speak to an accountant for your situation.

Late invoices are stressful, but chasing does not have to feel awkward. A clear, polite process usually works better than a frustrated message sent too late.

Start with clear invoice records

Before chasing, check:

  • invoice number
  • due date
  • customer email
  • payment terms
  • whether the work was approved
  • whether the invoice was already marked paid by mistake

Use invoices and customers to keep details together.

A simple chase sequence

On the due date

Hi [Name], just a quick note that invoice [number] is due today. Please let me know if you need anything else from me.

3–5 days overdue

Hi [Name], I wanted to check you received invoice [number]. It is now a few days overdue. Could you confirm when payment is expected?

10+ days overdue

Hi [Name], invoice [number] remains unpaid. Please arrange payment or let me know if there is an issue we need to resolve.

Use AI carefully

LedgerlyPro can help draft professional chase emails from an overdue invoice. Fully automated send-and-chase sequences are part of the invoice automation roadmap, so always review messages before sending.

Try LedgerlyPro invoices or explore the AI Finance Coach.

— Try Ledgerly Pro

Sort your books in less than a minute.

30-day free trial · no card required