Net 30 means payment is due 30 days after the invoice date, and Net 15 means 15 days. Agree the terms in your contract before work starts, write the actual due date on the invoice, and ask for a deposit if the terms are long or the client is new. A late fee only helps if the contract already allows it, so put it there first.
Free to use. A template to adapt, not tax or legal advice. See every section.
Example Net 30 invoice
A hypothetical invoice on Net 30 terms with a deposit already received and a late fee taken from the contract. The names and amounts are fictional placeholders.
The example, in numbers
Line items
$2,450
Usage and whitelisting
$850
Subtotal
$3,300
Deposit already received
−$1,250
Balance due
$2,050
Terms
Net 30, due December 12, 2026
Hypothetical figures from the fictional invoice shown. They illustrate the arithmetic, not what to charge.
InvoiceINV-0429Issued November 12, 2026 · Net 30 · PO PO-7731
FromJamie Morgan@jamiemakesjamie@jamiemakes.co
Bill toNorthwind OutdoorAlex Rivera, Brand Marketingap@northwind.example
1
Deliverables
Description
Qty
Rate
Amount
Vertical UGC video, up to 30 seconds, edited and ready to post
4
$500
$2,000
Raw footage from the shoot
1
$300
$300
Extra hook variations
3
$50
$150
2
Rights
Usage rightsPaid usage for 90 days from first use
$450
WhitelistingAds through creator's account for 30 days
$400
3
Total
Subtotal$3,300
Deposit received−$1,250
Balance due$2,050
4
Terms
Net 30: payment due by December 12, 2026. Overdue balances accrue a late fee of 1.5% per month. Billed under signed agreement UGC-0428.
5
Payment
Pay by Bank transfer (ACH): ACH · Routing ending 0210 · Account ending 4471. Due December 12, 2026.
Thanks for a great collab. Content delivered November 12 via the shared folder.
✦
Thank you
Thank you for the collaboration.
Made with UGC Invoices · ugcinvoices.com
Fictional creator, brand and amounts. Not a rate guide.
What "Net" terms mean
"Net" followed by a number is the number of days the client has to pay, counted from the invoice date. Net 15 is 15 days, Net 30 is 30 days, Net 60 is 60. "Due on receipt" means payment is expected straight away, though in practice finance teams still need time to process it.
Larger brands and agencies often have standard terms built into their payment systems, and Net 30 or longer is common for them. Smaller brands may pay faster. Whatever the brand's default, the terms that bind you are the ones in your agreement, so negotiate them there rather than on the invoice.
Long terms are a cash-flow cost for you. Two ways to soften them are a deposit on signing, so part of the fee arrives before the work, and a late fee for balances paid after the due date, which gives the brand a reason to pay on time.
For creators and for brands
If you’re the creator
Raise payment terms when you agree the fee, not when you send the invoice. Once work is delivered you have less leverage.
Write the due date as a calendar date next to the terms. "Net 30, due December 12" leaves nothing to interpret.
Invoice the day you deliver. The terms count from the invoice date, so every day you wait is a day added to the wait.
If you’re the brand or its finance team
Tell creators your standard terms before they quote. Surprising them with Net 60 after delivery damages the relationship.
If you can pay faster than your standard terms for small invoices, say so. Creators notice which brands pay on time.
Pay deposit invoices promptly. The deposit is usually what lets the work start on schedule.
Setting and writing payment terms
How each part of the payment terms works, and how it shows up on the invoice.
Net 15 vs Net 30
The only difference is the number of days. Shorter terms get you paid sooner, and longer terms may fit the brand's payment runs better. Agree one in the contract. In the example, the contract says Net 30, so the invoice says Net 30 and gives the date.
Creators: If a brand insists on long terms, a larger deposit is a fair counter.
Brands: If your system only pays on certain days of the month, tell the creator so their expectations match.
Writing the due date
Write the terms and the resulting date on the invoice: the issue date plus the number of days. Some brands count from when the invoice is received or approved, which is another reason to agree the trigger in the contract and state the date on the invoice.
Deposits
A deposit is part of the fee paid before or at the start of the work, agreed in the contract and invoiced on signing. The final invoice then shows the full total, subtracts the deposit as received and leaves the balance due, as in the example.
Creators: Make the deposit invoice its own invoice number, and reference it on the final invoice.
Brands: Check the deposit amount on the final invoice matches what you actually paid.
Late fees
A late fee is a charge on balances paid after the due date, usually written as a percentage per month. It is far easier to apply if the contract allows it, and some US states and other countries limit late fees or interest, so check what applies to you before setting one.
Creators: Put the late fee in the contract first. On the invoice, repeat it and cite the contract.
Brands: Read the payment clause before signing. If a late fee is included, the date on the invoice matters.
Payment method
Terms are only useful if the brand can pay in the way you've asked. Agree the method up front, put full details on the invoice, and say who covers any transfer fees.
Tax details before the first payment
Many brands can't pay a new vendor until they have tax details on file: commonly a Form W-9 from US creators, and usually a W-8BEN from creators outside the US. Sending it early keeps it from eating into the payment terms. Check with an accountant for your own situation.
Sample payment terms wording
For your contract and your invoice. Fill in the brackets and keep the two consistent.
Contract: payment clause
Brand will pay each invoice within [30] days of the invoice date. A deposit of [50]% of the fee is due on signing. Balances unpaid after the due date accrue a late fee of [1.5]% per month, or the maximum allowed by law if lower.
Invoice: terms line
Net [30]: payment due by [December 12, 2026]. Overdue balances accrue a late fee of [1.5]% per month as set out in agreement [UGC-0428].
Invoice: deposit line
Deposit of [50]% on signing, per agreement [UGC-0428]. The balance is invoiced on delivery.
Negotiating shorter terms
Happy to go ahead. My standard terms are Net [15]. If Net [30] is fixed on your side, could we do a [50]% deposit on signing so production can start right away?
Set your terms on a real invoice
Pick Net 15 or Net 30, add a deposit and a late fee, and the builder writes the due date and terms for you.
The client has 30 days from the invoice date to pay. Net 15 means 15 days. The terms should be agreed in the contract and the resulting due date written on the invoice.
Is Net 15 or Net 30 better for creators?
Shorter terms get you paid sooner, so Net 15 is better for cash flow. Some brands can only pay on Net 30 or longer, in which case a deposit on signing is a common way to balance it.
Can I charge a late fee on an invoice?
You can include one, but it's much easier to enforce if your contract already allows it, and some places limit late fees or interest. Put it in the contract, repeat it on the invoice, and check the rules where you are.
Should creators ask for a deposit?
Many do, especially with new clients or long payment terms. Agree it in the contract, invoice it on signing, and show it as received on the final invoice.
When does the Net 30 clock start?
Usually from the invoice date, but some brands count from when they receive or approve the invoice. Agree the trigger in the contract and write the due date on the invoice.
What if the brand's terms are longer than mine?
The contract decides. If you sign their terms, those apply. If you want shorter terms or a deposit, negotiate them before signing.