How to follow up on a late brand payment

By the My Collabs team · 30 October 2026

You delivered the content, the brand posted it, and the payment date has come and gone. Late payment is one of the most common problems creators and freelancers face, and it's awkward to raise. The good news: most late payments are caused by process, not bad faith. An invoice is stuck in someone's inbox, or a purchase order was never raised. A calm, structured follow-up fixes most of them.

Before it happens: make payment easy

Agree the terms in writing first: the amount, any advance, and how many days after delivery or invoice you'll be paid.
Invoice the same day you deliver. Include an invoice number, the brand's legal name and address, the campaign name, any PO or reference number they gave you, your PAN, your GSTIN if registered, your bank details, and a clear due date.
Ask who handles payments. The marketing person who briefed you often isn't the person who releases money. Get the accounts or finance contact early.
Record the payment deadline somewhere that will remind you. Don't rely on memory.

The follow-up timeline

On the due date: a friendly check

Keep it light and assume a mix-up. Re-attach the invoice so they don't have to search for it.

Hi [Name], hope the campaign is going well! Just checking on invoice [#INV-012] for [campaign], which was due today ([date]). I've attached it again here. Could you let me know when the payment is expected? Thanks!

3–5 days late: a clear reminder

Be specific about the amount and ask a direct question that needs a date as the answer.

Hi [Name], following up on invoice [#INV-012] for ₹[amount], due on [date]. I haven't received the payment yet. Could you confirm the date it will be processed? If it's with your finance team, please share their contact and I'll coordinate with them directly.

About 2 weeks late: escalate politely

Write to the finance contact and copy your original contact. Summarise the facts: what was delivered, when, what was agreed, and what's outstanding.

Hello, I'm writing about invoice [#INV-012] for ₹[amount] for the [campaign] collaboration with [brand]. The content was delivered on [date] and went live on [date]. As agreed with [Name] on [date], payment was due on [date]. It is now [X] days overdue. Please confirm the payment date. I've attached the invoice and the agreement for reference.

About 30 days late: a firm notice

Stay professional, but be firm. Say what you'll do next, and do it.

Pause any further work for that brand until the account is settled.
Apply a late fee only if your agreement includes one.
State a final date, after which you'll pursue the formal options below.

Your formal options in India

If you're registered as a micro or small enterprise on the government's Udyam portal, the MSMED Act, 2006 gives you real leverage:

A buyer must pay by the agreed date, and that date can't be more than 45 days after the work is accepted. If no date was agreed, payment is due within 15 days.
If they pay late, the law entitles you to compound interest at three times the rate notified by the RBI.
You can file a delayed-payment complaint on the government's MSME Samadhaan portal, which sends the case to a facilitation council.

Udyam registration is free and online. If brand work is a regular part of your income, consider registering and mentioning your Udyam number on your invoices. For larger amounts, a lawyer's notice is the next step; for anything substantial, take professional advice.

Keep the paper trail. Save the brief, the agreed rate, approval messages, the live post link and every reminder. Screenshots of WhatsApp chats help, but an email confirming the deal is stronger.

After you're paid

Mark the invoice as paid, note how late it was, and use that next time. Brands that paid late before can be asked for a 50% advance on the next collaboration. That isn't rude; it's ordinary practice.

Track every collab in one place. My Collabs is a free app that shows what each brand has agreed, paid and still owes you, with alerts before deadlines.

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This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change, so check the current position or ask a professional for your situation.