01
Take a deposit up front
Ask for enough to cover materials and a fair share of labour before cutting. A deposit changes the relationship because the client has committed and you are not financing the garment yourself.
Most studios lose money to late payment because the studio invoices late, sets no due date and chases inconsistently. The client never feels the work is actually owed for.
The method, plainly
02
Invoice the day the work is finished
The longer the gap between finishing and invoicing, the colder the payment feels. An invoice that arrives at collection feels attached to the work.
03
Put a clear due date on every invoice
A named term gives you something to follow up against and gives the client a clear line.
04
Follow up on a rhythm
Send a polite reminder at the due date, a clearer one a week later and a direct one after that. Consistency is what makes chasing less awkward.
05
Match the tone to the client
A good client who is simply late gets a gentle nudge. A repeat late payer gets a firmer line.
The part that quietly breaks this is keeping it in your head. Which invoice is due, which client owes what, who has been chased and who has not.
The studios that get paid on time are the ones where the invoice, the due date and the follow up are recorded in one place. TexoIQ raises the invoice, sets the term and chases the unpaid ones, so getting paid stops depending on your memory.
Common questions
Should a small studio always take a deposit
Yes, especially for bespoke work where materials and labour begin before the client collects the garment.
When should the final invoice be sent
Send it as soon as the work is finished or ready for collection, while the value of the work is still immediate.
How often should unpaid invoices be chased
Use the same rhythm every time, with one reminder at the due date and firmer follow ups after that.