24 Payment Reminder Message Templates that Work

Failing to pay on time is not uncommon for customers and vendors. However, prompt payments are essential to maintaining “business as usual.” 

Whether payments are withheld purposely or accidentally, missed or overdue payments can create financial woes, especially for small and medium-sized businesses.

Fortunately, SMS reminders can help businesses overcome this issue. Text and email reminders gently nudge customers or vendors to pay. 

Below, you’ll find 24 payment reminder message templates to help encourage timely customer payments.

Table of Contents

• The Importance of Payment Reminder Texts
• 24 Helpful Payment Reminder Templates
• 7 Tips for More Effective Payment Reminder Messages

The Importance of Payment Reminder Texts 

Sending payment reminder texts is a simple yet effective way for businesses to stay on top of their accounts receivable and maintain healthy cash flow. With the rise of mobile phone usage, text messages offer a direct, instant, and non-intrusive way to remind customers about upcoming or overdue payments. 

While most reminder messages help, text messaging specifically ensures your messages are read because they have an impressive 98% open rate and 45% response rate.

Payment reminder texts reduce the risk of late fees, missed invoices, and untimely payments. By sending reminders through SMS, businesses also show professionalism and a commitment to keeping financial transactions organized, which can help improve customer relationships. 

One of the most common reasons for late payments is forgetfulness. With busy schedules and multiple payment schedules, it's easy to miss payment deadlines. This means a simple 160-character text message can significantly impact businesses. 

24 Helpful Payment Reminder Templates

Crafting the perfect payment message can feel like a daunting, time-consuming task. You don’t want to come off as pushy, but you must also be direct.

Below, we provide 24 payment reminder templates to help you reach out before a due date, the day of the due date, and to follow up on overdue payments.

Payment reminders before the due date

Use the following text templates to remind customers about upcoming payments. These can help more customers pay on time. 

Hi [Name]. A friendly reminder that your payment of [Amount] for [Service] is due on [Date]. Please pay on or before that date to avoid any late fees. Let us know if you need any assistance!

Hi [Name]. Your payment of [Amount] is due in [X] days. We emailed your monthly invoice for [service] this morning. Please reach out with any questions.

Due Date Payment Reminders 

Use one of the following three payment reminder templates to encourage customers to pay on the due date. 

Hi [Name], this is a quick reminder that your payment of [Amount] is due today. Please ensure the payment is completed to avoid any disruptions. If you need assistance, feel free to reply to this message. 

Hi [Name]. Your payment of [Amount] to [business name] is due today. To keep your account in good standing, please ensure the payment is completed by the end of the day.

Direct payment request templates

Your business can use one of the following payment reminder templates to inform customers their payment should be made that day.

Hi [Name], your payment of [Amount] is now due. You can pay securely through [Payment Method/Link]. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter!

Hello [Name]. We request that you make the payment of [Amount] for [Service/Product] by [Due Date]. To complete the payment, please visit [Payment Method/Link].

Gentle reminders for overdue payments

Often, you will need to track down late payments from customers. Use one of these text templates to let customers know their payment is past due.

Hi [Name]. Your payment of [Amount] is now overdue. Please take a moment to settle the balance as soon as possible.

Hi [Name]. Your bill from [Business] was due [Date]. To avoid late fees, please pay now: [link]

Hello [Name]. Your payment of [Amount] was due on [Date] and is now [X] days overdue. Please review your invoice and submit payment. Thank you! 

Hi [Name]. We understand that sometimes things slip through, but your payment of [Amount] for [Service] is overdue. Please pay now: [link]

Incentivized payment reminders

You can also use a text message to incentivize customers to pay early to improve cash flow. Let’s look at several payment reminder text examples in this scenario.

Hi [Name]. Your payment of [Amount] is due on [Date]. If you complete the payment by [Incentive Deadline], you’ll receive a [X]% discount on your total balance! Don't miss out on this offer. Make your payment now: [Link]

Hello [Name]. Your payment of [Amount] is due soon, and we’d love to offer you a special incentive! If your payment is completed by [Date], you’ll receive [Incentive].

Hi [Name]. Your payment of [Amount] is due on [Date]. If you settle the payment by [Incentive Deadline], you’ll be eligible for [Incentive, e.g., a free service, bonus points, etc.].Enjoy the reward: [Link]

Strong outstanding payment request templates

Despite several follow-ups, sometimes you still face overdue invoices. In this scenario, consider one of these more strongly-worded payment reminders.

Hi [Name]. This is a final reminder that your payment of [Amount] is now overdue. To avoid further action or additional fees, please arrange payment immediately. You can pay here: [Link]

Hello [Name]. Our records show that your payment of [Amount] is now [X] days overdue. We kindly ask that you make the payment as soon as possible to avoid [consequence]. Pay here: [Link]

Hi [Name]. This is your final notice regarding the overdue payment of [Amount]. Your payment was due on [Date], and despite previous reminders, the balance remains unpaid. Please pay now at: [Link]

Hi [Name], your outstanding balance of [Amount] is [X] days overdue. If we don’t receive payment within [X] days, we will be forced to use a debt collection agency.

Templates that share company payment policies

Use one of these text templates if you want to include your late payment policies in your message:

Dear [Name,] according to our payment terms, the outstanding balance is due by [Date]. -[Business Name] Please pay here: [Link]

Hi [Name}, please be aware that as per our company policy, payments should be settled by [Date] to avoid a late fee.

Hello [name]. As per our agreed-upon contract, all outstanding payments should be paid in full by [Date]. 

7 Tips for More Effective Payment Reminder Messages

While we provided customizable payment reminder texts for your business, you can also craft your own. Keep the following best practices in mind for creating payment reminder messages that work:

• Pay attention to tone. It's important to keep the message tone professional, polite, and respectful, even when the payment is overdue. A friendly or neutral tone helps maintain positive customer relationships.
  
  
• Include a way to pay. To make payment reminders more effective, include a direct payment link in the message and provide simple instructions to ensure the payment process is clear to customers.  The more convenient you make it for them to pay, the more likely they will settle their balance promptly.
  
  
• Keep timing in mind. Timing your payment reminder messages is important; send a reminder a few days before the due date, then follow up immediately after it passes. Spacing reminders appropriately ensures customers have enough time to act while also maintaining urgency if payment is overdue.
  
  
• Automate payment reminders. Scheduling or automating payment reminder messages can save time and ensure consistency in communication. Setting up automated reminders ensures timely follow-ups to help customers stay on track with payments.
  
  
• Include important details. Ensure your message includes relevant details, such as the outstanding payment amount and the due date. Providing this information upfront reduces confusion and helps customers understand what is owed and when.
  
  
• Be concise. Keep your payment reminder texts concise and to the point to avoid overwhelming the customer. Texting is built for short snippets of information, so you’ll want to keep your message that way.
  
  
• Personalize your message. Personalizing your payment reminder messages by using the customer’s name and referencing specific details helps build rapport and shows that the reminder is for them. A personal touch can make the message feel more considerate.

Get Paid Faster and On Time with Textedly 

Written properly, customers will view payment text messages as helpful, professional reminders rather than pushy texts.

If you want to send payment reminder text messages, look to Textedly to elevate your payment reminder system. Textedly offers a Text-to-Pay service that allows businesses to send a direct link via text for clients to pay. This is especially helpful for service businesses who need to collect payment on the go.

Keep the cash flowing and start processing transactions with Textedly now with a FREE 14-day trial. Discover why thousands of businesses just like yours choose Textedly to improve payment collection.