How to get paid faster by clients
The work is done, but the money isn't in. If this sounds familiar, this guide is for you.
Why clients take long to pay
It's almost never bad faith. Late payments happen for three main reasons:
- No clear deadline. If the quote doesn't say when to pay, the client puts it off. Simple.
- Paying is inconvenient. If the client has to ask you for your IBAN, copy it down, and log into their banking app separately, they'll do it "tonight" and forget.
- The total amount feels big. On a €3,000 job, the client may have the money but not want to hand it all over at once.
The good news: all three problems have solutions, and none of them require chasing the client.
Set payment terms before starting
The golden rule: agree everything before picking up a tool.
In the quote, always include: • Payment deadline (e.g. "payment on day of completion" or "50% before, 50% on handover") • Accepted method (bank transfer, cash) • What happens if it's late (no need to be aggressive, just clear)
For larger jobs, ask for a deposit. 30% to 50% before buying materials is common practice and no serious client refuses. It protects you from buying materials for a job that then gets cancelled.
With Prummo, every quote sent in Ireland includes your IBAN automatically, so the client has your bank details the moment they accept, no separate message needed.
Make bank transfer as easy as possible
The easier it is to pay, the faster the money arrives.
Bank transfer is the standard method for tradework in Ireland, and it's also the fastest when done right. The friction usually isn't the transfer itself, it's the client not having your details to hand at the right moment.
With Prummo, your IBAN and account name are included automatically on every quote you send. The client receives the link via WhatsApp, sees your bank details right there alongside the breakdown, and can transfer straight from their own banking app. You mark the quote as paid once it lands, so you've a clear record without any spreadsheet.
Ending the "I'll transfer it later" habit starts with removing every small bit of friction between the client deciding to pay and actually doing it.
Deposits: the trump card for big jobs
Jobs above €1,000 are the ones that delay the most. The client wants the work done but doesn't want to pay it all at once.
The solution: split the payment into a deposit and a balance, not a full amount upfront. A typical structure is 30% to 50% deposit before materials are bought, and the remainder on completion. A €3,000 renovation becomes €1,000 to €1,500 upfront and the rest when the job is signed off.
This protects you too: if a client cancels after you've bought materials, the deposit covers your cost. And it removes the psychological barrier of one large transfer, which is often what stalls a decision in the first place.
State the deposit and balance clearly in the quote itself, with the bank details for both. Prummo includes this structure automatically when you set a deposit on a quote, so the client sees exactly what's due and when.
Practical result: more jobs approved, fewer "let me think about it" replies, and materials paid for before you're out of pocket.
Frequently asked questions
What if the client wants to pay in cash?
No problem. Prummo works for creating and sending the quote even if the payment is in cash. In those cases, there's no fee at all.
How long does a bank transfer usually take to land?
Transfers between Irish bank accounts (and most SEPA transfers across the eurozone) typically land within the same working day, often within a couple of hours. It depends on the client's bank rather than anything Prummo controls.
Should I always ask for a deposit before starting?
For jobs above roughly €500, yes. It's common practice and protects you if the client cancels. For small jobs, payment on completion works fine.