Invoicing & getting-paid answers
100 straight answers to the invoicing questions Australian businesses actually ask — search by keyword or filter by topic.
- Getting Paid
Can I Charge a Deposit Before Starting Work?
Deposits are legal in Australia when agreed in writing up front, and they protect your cash flow and time.
6 min - Getting Paid
How Much Deposit Should I Ask For?
Most Australian deposits sit between 10% and 50%; base yours on your real upfront costs and job size.
6 min - Getting Paid
How Do I Ask for a Deposit Politely?
Frame the deposit as a standard booking step, state it in your quote, and make it effortless to pay.
5 min - Getting Paid
Should I Invoice Before or After the Work?
Invoice up front for risk, on completion for trusted customers, and in stages for larger projects.
6 min - Getting Paid
How Soon Should I Send an Invoice?
Invoice the same day you finish; payment clocks start from the invoice date, not the work date.
5 min - Getting Paid
What Is the Fastest Way to Get an Invoice Paid?
Speed comes from removing friction — instant invoices, easy payment, short terms and automatic follow-up.
6 min - Getting Paid
Should I Offer an Early Payment Discount?
Early-payment discounts can speed cash flow, but only if the margin you give up is worth it.
6 min - Getting Paid
How Do I Set Up Automatic Payment Reminders?
Pick a reminder schedule, draft a template per stage, and let software send them off the due date.
6 min - Getting Paid
What Payment Methods Should I Offer?
Offer bank transfer and card at minimum; more options mean fewer reasons for customers to delay.
6 min - Getting Paid
Should I Accept Credit Card Payments?
Cards usually pay for themselves through faster payment and fewer lost sales, fee aside.
6 min - Getting Paid
How Do I Take Payment Online?
Add a pay-now link to invoices via a payment provider so customers settle in a few clicks.
6 min - Getting Paid
Can I Require Payment Upfront?
You can require upfront payment if agreed before work starts — common for new or custom jobs.
6 min - Getting Paid
How Do I Invoice a New Customer Safely?
Agree written terms, take a deposit when warranted, confirm the billing entity, and invoice promptly.
6 min - Getting Paid
Should I Credit Check Before Invoicing?
Credit-check large jobs and new business customers; for small work, a deposit usually suffices.
6 min - Getting Paid
How Do I Invoice for a Large Project?
Stage the billing — deposit, milestone progress claims, then a final invoice — never one big bill.
6 min - Getting Paid
What Are Milestone Payments?
Milestone payments are instalments tied to defined project stages, paid as each milestone is reached.
6 min - Getting Paid
How Do Progress Claims Work?
A progress claim invoices work done to date at an agreed stage, keeping a project's cash flowing.
6 min - Getting Paid
Should I Use a Retainer?
Retainers suit ongoing or on-call work — a regular fixed fee that smooths cash flow and cuts admin.
6 min - Getting Paid
How Do I Bill for Ongoing Work?
Match the model to the work — retainer, interval invoices or per-job — and bill on a consistent cycle.
6 min - Getting Paid
How Do I Reduce the Time It Takes to Get Paid?
Cut the delay at every stage — agree terms, invoice instantly, ease payment, set short terms, follow up.
7 min - Payment Terms & Late Fees
What Payment Terms Should I Use?
How to pick payment terms that suit your industry, your cash flow and your customer's risk.
5 min - Payment Terms & Late Fees
Net 7 vs Net 14 vs Net 30: Which Should I Choose?
A side-by-side comparison of net 7, net 14 and net 30 terms for Australian SMEs.
5 min - Payment Terms & Late Fees
What Does Net 30 Mean?
A plain-English explanation of net 30 terms and how the 30-day period is counted.
4 min - Payment Terms & Late Fees
Can I Change a Customer's Payment Terms?
How to change a customer's payment terms properly without breaching your agreement.
4 min - Payment Terms & Late Fees
Should Small Businesses Offer 30-Day Terms?
When 30-day terms make sense for a small business — and when they cost you more than they win.
5 min - Payment Terms & Late Fees
How to State Payment Terms on an Invoice
Exactly what to write on an invoice so your payment terms are clear and hard to dispute.
4 min - Payment Terms & Late Fees
Can I Charge a Late Payment Fee?
When you can charge a late payment fee in Australia and how to put the right in place.
5 min - Payment Terms & Late Fees
How Much Late Fee Can I Charge?
How to size a late fee that is reasonable, enforceable and worth charging.
5 min - Payment Terms & Late Fees
Can I Charge Interest on Overdue Invoices?
When you can charge interest on overdue invoices and how to establish the right.
4 min - Payment Terms & Late Fees
How to Calculate Interest on a Late Invoice
A step-by-step method for working out daily interest on an overdue invoice.
5 min - Payment Terms & Late Fees
Do I Need Late Fees in My Terms?
Whether to include late-fee clauses in your terms of trade and what they actually achieve.
4 min - Payment Terms & Late Fees
What Is a Payment Due Date?
What a payment due date is, how it is calculated, and why it should be on every invoice.
4 min - Payment Terms & Late Fees
Can I Shorten Terms for Risky Customers?
How to apply shorter or stricter payment terms to higher-risk customers, the right way.
4 min - Payment Terms & Late Fees
Should I Offer Payment Plans?
When a payment plan is the right call and how to keep it from becoming an excuse to stall.
5 min - Payment Terms & Late Fees
How to Set Up a Payment Plan
A practical, step-by-step way to set up an enforceable payment plan with a customer.
5 min - Payment Terms & Late Fees
What Is a Credit Limit?
What a credit limit is, how to set one, and how it protects your business from bad debt.
4 min - Payment Terms & Late Fees
How to Put a Customer on Stop Credit
How and when to place a customer on stop credit to protect your business from mounting debt.
5 min - Payment Terms & Late Fees
Can I Add a Card Surcharge?
When and how you can add a card surcharge to invoices without breaching the rules.
4 min - Payment Terms & Late Fees
How to Handle Customers Who Always Pay Late
A practical playbook for dealing with customers who are persistently, predictably late.
5 min - Payment Terms & Late Fees
What to Put in Your Terms of Trade
The key clauses to include in your terms of trade so they actually protect your business.
5 min - Tax & Compliance
What Must a Tax Invoice Include?
The fields a valid Australian tax invoice needs so a GST-registered buyer can claim a credit.
5 min - Tax & Compliance
Invoice vs Tax Invoice: What's the Difference?
How an everyday invoice differs from a GST tax invoice, and which one you should issue.
4 min - Tax & Compliance
When Do I Need to Charge GST?
The basics of when GST applies to your sales, and why registration is the trigger.
5 min - Tax & Compliance
How to Show GST on an Invoice
Two accepted ways to display GST on a tax invoice so the amount is unmistakable.
4 min - Tax & Compliance
What Is a Recipient-Created Tax Invoice?
When the buyer, not the seller, issues the tax invoice — and the conditions that apply.
5 min - Tax & Compliance
Do I Need an ABN to Invoice?
Why an ABN belongs on your invoices and what happens to payments if it is missing.
4 min - Tax & Compliance
What If I Don't Have an ABN?
Your options when invoicing without an ABN, and why getting one usually helps.
4 min - Tax & Compliance
How Long Must I Keep Invoices?
Why you must retain invoices, how to store them, and where to confirm the time periods.
4 min - Tax & Compliance
Can I Invoice Without GST Registration?
How to invoice when you are not registered for GST, and what to leave off.
4 min - Tax & Compliance
How to Invoice as a Sole Trader
Practical steps for sole traders to issue clear, compliant invoices that get paid.
5 min - Tax & Compliance
How to Invoice as a Company
What changes when a company, rather than an individual, issues the invoice.
5 min - Tax & Compliance
Do I Charge GST to Overseas Customers?
Why sales to overseas customers are often GST-free, and the conditions that apply.
5 min - Tax & Compliance
How to Invoice International Customers
The practical points to get right when billing customers in other countries.
5 min - Tax & Compliance
What Is a Credit Note?
What a credit note does, and how it relates to a GST adjustment note.
4 min - Tax & Compliance
How to Issue a Credit Note
Step-by-step on issuing a credit note that reconciles cleanly with the original invoice.
4 min - Tax & Compliance
How to Correct a Mistake on an Invoice
The right way to fix invoice errors after sending, keeping records consistent.
4 min - Tax & Compliance
What Records Do I Need for the ATO?
The kinds of business records the ATO expects you to keep, in plain terms.
5 min - Tax & Compliance
Do I Need to Send a Receipt?
How receipts differ from invoices, and when it is sensible to provide one.
4 min - Tax & Compliance
What Is eInvoicing?
A plain-English explanation of eInvoicing and how it differs from emailing a PDF.
4 min - Tax & Compliance
Should I Use eInvoicing?
How to weigh up whether eInvoicing is worth adopting for your business.
4 min - Templates & Scenarios
How to Invoice for Consulting
Plain-English guide to invoicing consulting work in Australia, with a what-to-include checklist.
6 min - Templates & Scenarios
How to Invoice for Trades Work
How tradies in Australia should invoice a job: labour, materials, job reference and clear terms.
6 min - Templates & Scenarios
How to Invoice for Freelance Work
A freelancer's guide to invoicing in Australia: scope, rate, terms and a what-to-include checklist.
6 min - Templates & Scenarios
How to Invoice for a Subscription
How to invoice subscription and membership billing in Australia, with a clear what-to-include list.
6 min - Templates & Scenarios
How to Invoice for Materials and Labour
How to invoice combined materials and labour in Australia, with a what-to-include checklist.
6 min - Templates & Scenarios
How to Invoice for a Deposit and Balance
How to invoice a deposit then a balance in Australia, with a clear what-to-include checklist.
6 min - Templates & Scenarios
How to Invoice for Recurring Services
How to invoice recurring services in Australia, with a what-to-include checklist and a billing rhythm.
6 min - Templates & Scenarios
How to Invoice for Expenses and Disbursements
How to invoice reimbursable expenses and disbursements in Australia, with a what-to-include checklist.
6 min - Templates & Scenarios
How to Invoice for a One-Off Job
How to invoice a one-off job in Australia, with a what-to-include checklist and fast-payment tips.
5 min - Templates & Scenarios
How to Invoice Multiple Jobs on One Account
How to invoice several jobs on one account in Australia, with a what-to-include checklist.
6 min - Templates & Scenarios
How to Invoice for Partial Delivery
How to invoice partial delivery in Australia, with a what-to-include checklist for staged supply.
6 min - Templates & Scenarios
How to Invoice a Government Customer
How to invoice government and council customers in Australia, with a what-to-include checklist.
6 min - Templates & Scenarios
How to Invoice a Large Company
How to invoice large corporate customers in Australia, with a what-to-include checklist.
6 min - Templates & Scenarios
How to Invoice for Hourly Work
How to invoice hourly work in Australia, with a what-to-include checklist and time-logging tips.
6 min - Templates & Scenarios
How to Invoice for Fixed-Price Work
How to invoice fixed-price work in Australia, with a what-to-include checklist and scope tips.
6 min - Templates & Scenarios
How to Write a Statement of Account
How to write a statement of account in Australia, with a what-to-include checklist and timing tips.
6 min - Templates & Scenarios
How to Write a Quote That Converts
How to write a quote that converts in Australia, with a what-to-include checklist and clarity tips.
6 min - Templates & Scenarios
How to Turn a Quote Into an Invoice
How to convert a quote into an invoice in Australia, with a what-to-include checklist.
5 min - Templates & Scenarios
How to Invoice With a Purchase Order
How to invoice against a purchase order in Australia, with a what-to-include checklist.
6 min - Templates & Scenarios
How to Invoice for Progress on a Build
How to raise progress (milestone) invoices on a build in Australia, with a what-to-include checklist.
6 min - Disputes & Chasing
What to Do When an Invoice Is Overdue
A calm, staged process for handling an overdue invoice without burning the relationship.
5 min - Disputes & Chasing
How to Chase an Overdue Invoice Politely
How to chase late payment firmly while keeping the customer relationship intact.
5 min - Disputes & Chasing
How Many Reminders Should I Send?
How many payment reminders to send before you escalate an unpaid invoice.
4 min - Disputes & Chasing
What to Write in a Payment Reminder
The exact elements a payment reminder needs, plus how the wording should escalate.
5 min - Disputes & Chasing
When to Send a Letter of Demand
When a letter of demand is the right next step, and what it should contain.
5 min - Disputes & Chasing
Customer Disputes an Invoice — What to Do
A calm process for handling a customer who disputes an invoice you have sent.
5 min - Disputes & Chasing
How to Respond to an Invoice Dispute
How to write a response that resolves an invoice dispute on the evidence.
5 min - Disputes & Chasing
How to Prevent Invoice Disputes
Practical steps that stop most invoice disputes before they start.
5 min - Disputes & Chasing
Customer Says They Never Got the Invoice
How to handle a customer claiming the invoice never arrived, genuinely or not.
4 min - Disputes & Chasing
Customer Says They Already Paid
How to resolve a customer who insists they have already paid an overdue invoice.
4 min - Disputes & Chasing
What If a Customer Refuses to Pay?
What to do when a customer flatly refuses to pay an invoice you are owed.
5 min - Disputes & Chasing
How to Handle a Partial Payment
How to record a partial payment and keep the outstanding balance clearly owed.
4 min - Disputes & Chasing
When to Stop Work for Non-Payment
When and how to suspend work for a customer who has not paid you.
5 min - Disputes & Chasing
How to Escalate an Unpaid Invoice
The escalation ladder for an unpaid invoice, from reminder to recovery.
5 min - Disputes & Chasing
When to Use a Debt Collector
When handing an unpaid invoice to a debt recovery partner makes sense.
5 min - Disputes & Chasing
How to Write Off an Unpaid Invoice
How and when to write off a bad debt, and why to exhaust recovery first.
5 min - Disputes & Chasing
Can I Charge for Time Chasing Payment?
When you can charge interest or fees for chasing a late-paying customer.
5 min - Disputes & Chasing
How to Keep Records of Chasing Payment
What to record when chasing payment, and why the trail matters for recovery.
4 min - Disputes & Chasing
Customer Going Out of Business — What to Do
What to do when a customer who owes you money is going under.
5 min - Disputes & Chasing
How to Protect Against Non-Paying Customers
Practical ways to lower the risk of non-payment before it happens.
5 min
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