Credit control for trades and contractors means agreeing the price and payment terms before starting, taking a deposit for materials, invoicing the same day a job is finished, and chasing unpaid invoices on a fixed routine. A simple, automated reminder process gets small firms paid without evenings spent on the phone chasing customers.
Electricians, plumbers, builders, decorators, joiners and other trades usually run lean businesses. The owner is on the tools during the day and doing paperwork at night. Chasing unpaid invoices tends to fall to the bottom of the list until cash gets tight.
Trades work for a mix of homeowners, landlords, letting agents and main contractors, and each pays differently. This guide covers practical steps to get paid faster, whoever the customer is.
Always agree the price and payment terms in writing before starting.
Take a deposit to cover materials on larger jobs.
Invoice the same day the job finishes, with a payment link.
Automated email and text reminders save evenings of chasing.
Business customers can be charged statutory interest; homeowners cannot.