Payment terms set the deadline for when an invoice is due — Net 30 means payment is due 30 days from the invoice date, Net 15 means 15 days. The terms you choose directly affect your cash flow.
Net 30: the default for a reason
Net 30 is the most common standard in B2B invoicing, especially with larger clients whose accounts payable processes run on monthly cycles. Demanding shorter terms from an enterprise client can create friction without actually getting you paid faster, since their internal payment run schedule may not change regardless of what your invoice says.
When Net 15 (or shorter) makes sense
- You’re a freelancer or small business more exposed to cash flow gaps than a large client would be
- You’re working with a new client without an established payment history
- The work itself is short-term or one-off, rather than an ongoing retainer relationship
The trade-off to know
Shorter terms don’t guarantee faster payment — a client’s internal payment cycle often matters more than what your invoice specifies. What consistently helps: clear terms stated up front (before the work starts, not just on the invoice), a small early-payment discount, and consistent, professional invoicing through BizInvoiceGen so there’s no ambiguity about what’s owed and when.