Example
An invoice issued 1 September on net 30 is due 1 October, and the invoice should say both.
Also called the payment date, the due-by date, or the payment deadline.
What it means in practice
Net 30 is a term. 30 September 2026 is a due date. The second one is what a client's accounts system can act on and what a reminder can refer to, so put both on the invoice with the date spelled out.
Count the due date from the invoice date unless you have agreed otherwise, and make sure the invoice actually goes out the day it is dated. An invoice sent three days late has already given away three days.
Where it shows up on the paperwork
It sits near the invoice number and the issue date at the top, and again in the terms line at the bottom. Both places should show a date, not just a term.
What goes wrong
- Writing net 30 and no date, leaving the client to count.
- Dating the invoice on Monday and sending it on Thursday, which gives away three days of the term.
- Setting a due date that falls on a weekend, when most payment runs happen on weekdays.
Common questions
What does the due date mean on an invoice?
The date payment is expected. Past it, the invoice is overdue and any late fee in your terms starts to apply.
Due date vs payment terms: what is the difference?
The terms are the rule, Net 30. The due date is that rule turned into an actual date. Put the date on the invoice, because a client should not have to do arithmetic to know when to pay.
How is the invoice due date calculated?
Add the days in your terms to the issue date. An invoice issued on 1 March on net 30 is due on 31 March; one issued on 1 September is due on 1 October. Say which date you counted from if the invoice and the work finished on different days.
Does the due date count from the invoice date or the delivery date?
From the invoice date, unless the invoice says otherwise. That is why sending the invoice the day the work finishes matters.
What happens if no due date is on the invoice?
You are relying on whatever your agreement or local law implies, which is a weak position. State the date, and state it before the work in your terms.