Client Wants Net 60 or Net 90 Payment Terms? Email Templates to Respond

A new client sends over their vendor paperwork and the payment terms say net 60, or net 90. For a large company that is normal. For a freelancer it means doing the work now and waiting two or three months for cash. You can often negotiate. The trick is to answer before you sign, stay friendly, and offer a trade instead of a flat no.

Your options before you sign

• Ask for net 15 or net 30 as a small-vendor exception. Many AP teams have one.
• Keep the long terms but take a deposit upfront so you are not financing the whole project.
• Accept the long terms but price them in: a higher rate or an early-payment discount (e.g. 2% off if paid within 10 days).
• Bill monthly or by milestone so no single invoice waits 90 days for everything.

If you accept long terms anyway

• Get the exact due-date rule in writing: is it 60 days from the invoice date, from receipt, or from approval?
• Ask who approves invoices and where to send them, so the clock starts on day one.
• Put a calendar reminder a week before each due date and confirm the invoice is approved.
• Check that the contract says what happens if they pay late.

Free template 1: Ask for shorter terms

Replace every [bracket] before sending.

Hi [Client Name],

Thanks for sending over the vendor paperwork. Everything looks good except one thing: the payment terms are net [60/90].

As a small business, I work on net [15/30] terms with all my clients so I can keep taking on projects like this one. Is it possible to set my invoices to net [15/30]? Many AP teams have a small-vendor option for this.

Happy to fill in any extra forms on my side if that helps.

Thanks,
[Your Name]

Free template 2: Offer a trade: deposit or adjusted rate

Replace every [bracket] before sending.

Hi [Client Name],

Understood that net [60/90] is your standard. I can work with that if we adjust one of these:

1) a [Deposit %] deposit before work starts, with the balance on net [60/90], or
2) monthly invoices for work completed, each on net [60/90], or
3) my standard rate plus [X]% to cover the longer payment window.

Let me know which works best for your team and I will update the proposal today.

Best,
[Your Name]

Free template 3: Accept long terms, lock the details

Replace every [bracket] before sending.

Hi [Client Name],

Happy to go ahead on net [60/90]. So my invoices do not get stuck, could you confirm three things?

- Does the [60/90]-day clock start from the invoice date or from approval?
- Who approves invoices, and which email address should they go to?
- Is a PO number needed on each invoice? If so, what is it?

Once I have that, I will send the first invoice on [Invoice Date] and note the due date on it.

Thanks,
[Your Name]

Free sample: try one email from the full pack before you buy.

Free mini-pack: 3 more follow-up templates (HTML + PDF), no signup.

Related guides

• Net 30 invoice still unpaid
• Emailing accounts payable about an unpaid invoice
• Invoice rejected by accounts payable
• How to ask for a deposit before starting work
• Invoice 60 days overdue

Not legal advice. These are practical communication templates for freelancers and small service businesses. For disputed or large debts, talk to a lawyer in your jurisdiction.