A brand deal isn't finished until the money lands. Most late payments are admin, not bad faith: the invoice went to the wrong inbox, a PO number was missing, or your contact changed jobs. A calm, written follow-up sequence fixes most of them and leaves a clear paper trail for the few that don't. This is general information, not legal advice; laws differ by state and city, and your contract matters. If a lot of money is at stake, talk to a lawyer or your local court's self-help center.
Keep everything in one folder per deal. The IRS lists invoices among the supporting documents for business income, so you'd want them organized anyway.
A suggested cadence, not a legal requirement. Adjust the timing to your contract and your relationship with the brand. Keep every step in writing, even if you also call.
| When | Step | Send to |
|---|---|---|
| A few days before the due date | Friendly heads-up that the invoice is coming due | Your contact + billing email |
| Day after the due date | Reminder 1: polite, invoice attached | Your contact + billing / accounts payable |
| About a week later | Reminder 2: ask for a payment date | Accounts payable, contact cc'd |
| About two weeks after due | Escalation: ask what is blocking payment | Your contact's manager or the person who signed |
| About a month after due | Final notice: state the amount, the due date and your next step | Everyone above, in one email |
| After the final notice | Use a formal route: platform dispute, state or city complaint, or small claims | See below |
The brackets are placeholders. Replace them with your own details. Read each email before you send it.
Subject: Invoice [invoice number] for [campaign name], due [due date] Hi [contact name], Quick heads-up that invoice [invoice number] for [deliverables, e.g. 2 TikTok videos] is due on [due date]. I've attached it again here. Is there a PO number or anything else your accounts team needs from me so it goes through on time? Thanks, [your name]
Subject: Payment reminder: invoice [invoice number], due [due date] Hi [contact name] and [billing team], Invoice [invoice number] for [amount] was due on [due date] and I haven't seen the payment yet. The work was delivered on [delivery date] and approved on [approval date]: [link]. The invoice is attached. Could you let me know when it's scheduled to be paid? Thanks, [your name]
Subject: Second reminder: invoice [invoice number] is [number] days past due Hi [billing contact], Following up on invoice [invoice number] for [amount], due [due date] under our agreement dated [agreement date]. Can you confirm the date it will be paid and the payment method? If anything is missing on my side, tell me and I'll send it today. Thanks, [your name]
Subject: Unpaid invoice [invoice number] for [campaign name] Hi [manager or signer name], I worked with [contact name] on [campaign name]. Invoice [invoice number] for [amount] was due on [due date] and is still unpaid after reminders on [dates]. Could you help me find out what's holding it up and when I can expect payment? The agreement, delivery links and invoice are attached. Thanks, [your name]
Subject: Final notice: invoice [invoice number], [amount] past due since [due date] Hi [names], This is my final request for payment of invoice [invoice number] for [amount], which was due on [due date] under our agreement dated [agreement date]. I delivered [deliverables] on [delivery date]. I sent reminders on [dates]. Please pay the full amount by [new date]. If I haven't received payment or a written payment plan by then, I plan to [your next step, e.g. file a complaint with [agency] / file a small claims case]. [your name] [your contact details]
Only name a next step you're actually willing to take, and keep the tone factual. If a brand offers to pay over time, get the plan in writing with dates and amounts.
If the deal ran through a creator marketplace or agency, check its payment terms and dispute process first; it may hold the brand's money or have its own deadlines.
NYC's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) says that under the city's Freelance Isn't Free Act, contracts worth $800 or more (including agreements with the same hiring party that total $800 in any 120-day period) must be in writing, and that you must be paid on or before the date in the contract, or within 30 days after you complete the work if the contract has no payment date. You can file a complaint with DCWP online, by email or through 311. DCWP says it sends your complaint to the hiring party, which must respond within 20 days, and that if the complaint isn't resolved you can sue in court. DCWP also says it can't act as your attorney or give legal advice. Check DCWP's page to see whether the law covers your situation.
The New York State Department of Labor says the statewide Freelance Isn't Free Act took effect on August 28, 2024, adding Article 44-A to the General Business Law, and that freelance workers who believe their rights were violated can file a complaint with the New York State Attorney General. The Department of Labor publishes a model Freelance Worker Agreement; its definition of a freelance worker refers to contracts of $800 or more, alone or combined with the same hiring party over the preceding 120 days, and its payment options include a set date or no later than 30 calendar days after the work is completed. If you're in New York, using that model agreement (or its terms) for future deals puts the payment date in writing from day one.
Every state runs its own small claims court, with its own limits and rules, so look up your state court's official self-help pages. California's courts publish a clear example:
Last checked 2026-11-03. TikTok changes its programs often; confirm in your own TikTok Shop and TikTok Studio dashboards.