Net 60 means 60 days to pay. That's two full months of waiting after you've delivered the work. Here's what it means, whether you can push back, and how to protect your cash flow when you can't.
🐕 TL;DR
Net 60 = 60 calendar days from invoice date. Always try to negotiate to Net 30. If you can't, get a 50% deposit upfront. Once the invoice is past due, Chaser sends automated reminders on day 3, 7, 14, and 30 after the due date.
Net 60 (also written as “N/60”) is a payment term meaning the invoice is due in full 60 calendar days from the invoice date. It is common among:
From the buyer's perspective, Net 60 is a cash flow tool — they're essentially using your invoice as 60-day interest-free financing. From your perspective as a freelancer, it means you're working for a client for 60 days before seeing any money.
Yes — and you should always try. The golden rule: negotiate terms before starting work, not after the invoice is sent.
Script to negotiate Net 60 → Net 30:
“Our standard payment terms are Net 30 from invoice date. Would that work for your team? If Net 60 is a hard requirement from your AP department, we'd typically ask for a 50% deposit on signing to offset the cash flow gap.”
Many procurement teams have flexibility for smaller invoices (under £10K). Large contracts often have set terms, but a 50% deposit is a reasonable middle ground that most enterprise buyers will accept.
When you genuinely can't negotiate:price in the delay. If you'd charge £5,000 for Net 14, charge £5,200 for Net 60. Your time and cash flow have value.
With Net 60 clients, you need runway. Keep at least 3 months of operating expenses in a business account. This isn't optional — it's table stakes for working with enterprise clients.
Structure your project pipeline so a new project starts when the previous one is invoiced — not when the previous one is paid. Smooth incoming cash flow by having multiple clients at different billing stages.
Every day you delay invoicing is a day added to the already-long Net 60 clock. Invoice the same day you deliver. Don't wait until “end of month” batch billing.
Even with Net 60 clients, a 50% deposit before work starts dramatically improves your position. The remaining 50% is then on Net 60 — but you're only waiting on half the money.
For large Net 60 invoices, invoice financing companies (like Liqtech, Bibby Financial) will advance 80–90% of the invoice immediately for a small fee. Useful for one-off large invoices where cash flow is critical.
You've waited 60 days. Day 61 arrives. Still nothing. Now what?
Legally, you are entitled to charge late payment interest immediately after the due date — regardless of whether the client is a large company. In the UK, this is 8% per annum under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Act. Most European countries have equivalent legislation.
The practical solution: automated reminders. Chaser tracks your due date and fires escalating emails from day 3 after the due date — friendly on day 3, firm on day 14, and referencing legal remedies on day 30. Enterprise AP teams respond to systematic follow-up. A manual “just checking in” email from you is easy to ignore. A sequenced reminder system is not.
| Terms | Days to pay | Common for | Freelancer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net 7 | 7 days | Small freelance projects | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ideal |
| Net 14 | 14 days | SME clients, repeat work | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great |
| Net 30 | 30 days | Standard B2B | ⭐⭐⭐ Acceptable |
| Net 60 | 60 days | Enterprise, government | ⭐⭐ Difficult |
| Net 90 | 90 days | Large enterprise, construction | ⭐ Avoid if possible |
Set your due date, and Chaser sends automated escalating reminders when it's overdue — whether it's Net 14 or Net 60. Free for up to 3 invoices.
Start free →Free forever · No credit card · Setup in 2 minutes
Net 60 means payment is due 60 calendar days from the invoice date. If you invoice on January 1st, payment is due by March 2nd. 'Net' simply means the full ('net') amount is due — as opposed to a discounted rate for early payment (e.g. '2/10 Net 60' means 2% discount if paid within 10 days, otherwise full amount due in 60).
Yes, in many cases. The best time to negotiate is before you start work, not after invoicing. Try: 'Our standard terms are Net 30. Would that work for you?' Many enterprise procurement teams have flexibility, especially for smaller invoices. If they insist on Net 60, negotiate for a 50% deposit to reduce the gap.
Net 60 is common in: large enterprises with complex AP processes, government contractors, construction and manufacturing, and companies managing cash flow by delaying payables. It is essentially the buyer using the supplier as a short-term lender. As a freelancer, you are financing their operations for 60 days interest-free.
If a Net 60 client pays on day 75, you've now waited 2.5 months. Your rights: you can charge late payment interest (8% per annum in the UK under the Late Payment Act; similar provisions exist in most countries). Send a formal late payment notice. Chaser's automated reminders start from day 3 after the due date — regardless of whether the original terms were Net 60.
Net 30 means payment due 30 days from invoice. Net 60 means 60 days. For a freelancer, the practical difference is 30 extra days without cash — which on a £5,000 invoice at a 5% opportunity cost is roughly £20 in financial cost, plus the psychological cost of waiting. Net 30 is the standard recommendation for freelancers; only accept Net 60 for large, established clients where the relationship justifies it.