How to get customers to pay on time in Nigeria
Late payment hurts cash flow, especially for small businesses. You cannot control every customer, but you can make paying on time easy and chasing rare. These habits do most of the work.
Take a deposit before you start
For custom work, orders and bookings, ask for a deposit upfront (30% to 50% is common). It protects you if the customer disappears, and it makes them commit. See deposits and part payments.
Agree the price in writing
Most payment arguments start with "that is not what we agreed". A written quotation prevents them.
Send the invoice immediately
Send it the moment the work is done or the goods are delivered, not days later. The sooner the invoice arrives, the sooner it is paid.
Put a due date on every invoice
"Due on receipt", "Due in 7 days" or a real date. A deadline beats a vague request. See what to put on an invoice.
Make paying easy
- Put your account details on the invoice itself.
- Offer more than one way to pay if you can: transfer, card link, or POS.
- Keep the invoice short so the amount is obvious.
Follow up on a schedule
Remind before the due date, on the day, and shortly after. Use polite, ready-made messages. See our payment reminder scripts.
Look professional
Customers pay a business that looks organised faster than one that sends a typed list in a chat. A clean, branded invoice signals that you are serious, and that you keep records.
Know who owes you
Keep a simple list of unpaid invoices and review it weekly. Aurum shows who still owes you in one screen, and tells you when a client has opened their invoice, so you know whether to nudge them.
Protect yourself from fake transfers
Never release goods because a customer sent a screenshot of a transfer. Confirm in your own bank app first. This one habit saves many sellers real money.
Questions people ask
What is the best way to avoid non-paying customers?
Take deposits, agree prices in writing, send invoices immediately with due dates, and follow up politely. Most problems are prevented before they start.
How much deposit should I ask for?
Thirty to fifty percent is common for custom work. For small, low-risk sales, full payment upfront is also normal.
What if a customer still will not pay?
Stay polite and in writing, offer a payment plan if it helps, and keep your documents. For large amounts, ask a lawyer about your options.
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