Guides for UK freelancers
Practical, no-nonsense guides to help you get paid. Written for freelancers, not lawyers.
Start here
Read these first. They cover the basics every freelancer should know.
How to Prevent Late Payments
Recommended9 practical steps to stop late payments before they happen. Deposits, vetting clients, automated reminders, and more.
Mar 2026
Your Late Payment Rights
The Late Payment Act explained in plain English. Statutory interest, compensation tiers, and how to enforce them.
Feb 2026
Payment Terms Guide
How to set payment terms that actually get you paid. Net 14 vs Net 30, deposits, milestone payments, and late payment clauses.
Feb 2026
How to Vet a Client Before You Work
Check if a potential client pays on time before you accept the work. Companies House, payment data, and red flags.
Mar 2026
Retainer Agreements and Contracts
How to structure retainer agreements that protect you from late payment. Essential clauses and payment terms.
Mar 2026
When a client pays late
Templates, email scripts, and step-by-step guides for chasing overdue invoices.
How to Chase an Invoice Politely
Copy-paste email templates for every stage, from friendly first reminder to formal final warning.
Feb 2026
Overdue Invoice Email Templates
15+ copy-paste email templates for every stage of chasing a late payment. Gentle reminders to final demands.
Feb 2026
Client Won't Pay?
Complete escalation guide for unpaid invoices. From polite reminders to legal action, every step covered.
Feb 2026
Taking legal action
When chasing hasn't worked. Letters Before Action, court claims, and your legal options.
Letter Before Action Template
Free LBA template with step-by-step instructions. What to include, how to send it, and what happens if they ignore it.
Feb 2026
Small Claims Court Guide
Step-by-step guide to filing a claim online, court fees, what happens at a hearing, and enforcing a judgment.
Feb 2026
Statutory Demands and Winding-Up Petitions
The nuclear option for company debts over £750. How to issue a statutory demand, costs, and when to use it vs small claims.
Mar 2026
How to Handle Invoice Disputes
What to do when a client disputes your invoice. Professional responses, gathering evidence, and when to escalate.
Mar 2026
Invoice Factoring and Bad Debt Insurance
Alternatives when chasing is not enough. Invoice factoring, discounting, and bad debt insurance explained.
Mar 2026
Winding-Up Petitions
The nuclear option for unpaid company debts. Costs, process, risks, and when this is the right approach.
Mar 2026
Tax, VAT and compliance
Invoicing requirements, VAT rules, and tax obligations for UK freelancers.
Making Tax Digital (MTD ITSA)
MTD becomes mandatory from April 2026. What freelancers and sole traders need to know about quarterly updates and compatible software.
Mar 2026
VAT Invoicing Requirements
Required fields for VAT invoices, the £90,000 registration threshold, simplified invoices, and bad debt VAT relief.
Mar 2026
CIS Invoicing for Subcontractors
How to invoice correctly under the Construction Industry Scheme. Deduction rates, required fields, and materials vs labour.
Mar 2026
Charging for Materials and Expenses
How to correctly invoice for materials, expenses, and disbursements. Markup, VAT on recharges, and best practices for trades.
Mar 2026
IR35 Basics for Contractors
Off-payroll working rules explained. How IR35 affects your invoicing, payment terms, and late payment rights.
Mar 2026
Reference
UK law and regulation updates relevant to freelancers.
Late Payment Calculator
Calculate exactly how much statutory interest and compensation you can claim on an unpaid invoice.
Use the free calculator →Invoice Template
Generate a professional invoice PDF with a built-in late payment clause. Free download.
Create your invoice →Compare Software
Side-by-side comparison of UK invoice chasing tools. PennyFetch vs Chaser vs Paidnice vs Satago.
See the comparison →Payment Checker
Look up any large UK company and see if they actually pay their suppliers on time.
Check a company →Bad Debt VAT Relief
Calculate how much VAT you can reclaim from HMRC on invoices unpaid for 6+ months.
Calculate your relief →Industry statistics
Late payment data by sector, based on official government reports.
Late Payment Statistics by Industry
Which UK industries are the worst for late payments? See average payment days, the slowest-paying companies, and practical advice for 13 sectors.
Mar 2026