Net 30 explained (and other payment terms)

"Net 30" is the most common payment term on US business invoices. It sounds technical, but it's simple: the full amount is due 30 days after the invoice date.

This guide explains Net 30 and the other terms you'll see, how to work out due dates, and how to choose terms that get you paid on time.

What "net" means

"Net" refers to the net amount — the full invoice total after any discounts. The number is the number of days the client has to pay it.

Term	Meaning
Due on receipt	Pay as soon as the invoice arrives
Net 7	Due 7 days after the invoice date
Net 15	Due 15 days after the invoice date
Net 30	Due 30 days after the invoice date
Net 45 / Net 60	Due 45 or 60 days after the invoice date
2/10 Net 30	2% discount if paid within 10 days, otherwise due in 30

How to calculate a Net 30 due date

Count 30 calendar days from the invoice date (not the date the client opened it). For example:

• Invoice date: September 24, 2026
• Net 30 due date: October 24, 2026

Always print the actual due date on the invoice, not just "Net 30". Clients' accounts systems work from dates, and it removes any doubt. Invoice Native calculates it automatically when you pick the terms, and you can set custom terms such as Net 10.

Which terms should you choose?

Due on receipt or Net 7 works well for:

• small jobs and one-off clients,
• consumers (not businesses),
• situations where you've already done the work and want to close it out.

Net 15 is a good default for freelancers with small-business clients.

Net 30 is standard for business-to-business work, especially with established companies whose accounts teams run weekly or monthly payment cycles.

Net 45–60 is sometimes demanded by large companies. Price the wait into your rates, or ask for a deposit.

Whatever you choose, agree the terms before you start, put them in the quote or contract, and repeat them on every invoice.

Early-payment discounts

Terms like 2/10 Net 30 reward fast payment. On a $5,000 invoice, a client paying within 10 days pays $4,900; otherwise $5,000 is due by day 30.

Early-payment discounts can speed up cash flow, but they cost you real money. They make most sense when cash now is worth more to you than the discount.

When an invoice is late

1. Send a friendly reminder a few days before the due date.
2. Follow up on the due date with a copy of the invoice.
3. Call or email your contact once it's a week overdue — sometimes an invoice is simply stuck in approvals.
4. Apply your late-fee policy if you agreed one in advance and it's allowed in your state.
5. Pause new work for clients with seriously overdue invoices.

Invoice Native accounts (coming soon) will show overdue invoices on a dashboard so you know who to chase.

Tips for getting paid on time

• Put the due date, not just the terms, on the invoice.
• Include the client's PO number if they use one.
• Offer fast ways to pay — ACH, a payment link or a QR code for Venmo, Cash App or PayPal.
• Send invoices promptly — the clock only starts when the invoice is issued.
• For larger projects, bill deposits and milestones — see partial payments.

Net 30 vs. "Net 30 EOM"

You may also see EOM (end of month) terms. With Net 30 EOM, the 30 days usually start at the end of the month in which the invoice is dated, not on the invoice date itself. An invoice dated September 24 on Net 30 EOM terms would typically be due 30 days after September 30 — October 30. If a client proposes EOM terms, confirm how they calculate the due date and write the actual date on the invoice.

Should you offer longer terms?

Longer terms can help you win work with large companies, but they stretch your cash flow. Before you agree to Net 60 or Net 90, consider:

• whether a deposit or monthly billing would reduce the wait,
• whether your price covers the cost of waiting, and
• whether the client pays reliably — a slow payer on Net 60 can mean waiting three months.