Net 15 means the full amount on an invoice is due within 15 calendar days of the invoice date. An invoice dated June 1 with net 15 terms is due June 16. The word "net" refers to the total owed, which is the amount the client pays when no early-payment discount applies.
Net 15 sits between the short invoice payment terms freelancers like and the net 30 terms larger companies ask for. This guide covers what it means, how to work out the due date, how it compares with net 14 and net 30, and when it is a good choice.
What does net 15 mean on an invoice?
Net 15 is a payment term that gives the client 15 days to pay. QuickBooks' guide to invoice payment terms describes net 7, 10, 15, 30, 60 and 90 the same way: the number is how many days the buyer has to settle after the invoice date.
Three details cause most of the confusion:
- The clock starts on the invoice date. It does not start when the work is delivered, when the client opens the email, or when their finance team approves the invoice.
- Days are calendar days. Weekends and public holidays count. A term in business days has to say so explicitly.
- 15 is the last day to pay, not a target. A client can pay earlier, and many pay on the final day.
"15 days net" and "net 15 days" mean the same thing.
How do you calculate a net 15 due date?
Add 15 days to the invoice date. When the count runs past the end of a month, carry the remainder into the next one.
| Invoice date | Net 15 due date |
|---|---|
| June 1 | June 16 |
| January 20 | February 4 |
| March 25 | April 9 |
| December 22 | January 6 |
Because months have different lengths, "15 days" does not always land on the 15th of the next month. The simplest habit is to write the actual date next to the term, for example "Net 15, due April 9."
Terms rarely say what happens when the due date falls on a weekend. Decide how you want to handle it and put it on the invoice. Some freelancers accept payment on the next business day. Others keep the date as written, because a bank transfer sent on Friday still arrives on time. Either works if the client knows it up front.
How does net 15 compare with net 14?
Net 14 and net 15 are almost the same length. Pick net 15 for a client that pays vendors twice a month, on or around the 15th and the last day, and net 14 when "two weeks" is easier to explain. For the shorter options, including why net 7 suits weekly billing, see our guide to net 7 and net 10 payment terms. For the very shortest option, read about due upon receipt.
What is the difference between net 15 and net 30?
Net 15 gives the client half the time that net 30 does. That means you wait half as long to be paid.
| Net 15 | Net 30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Days to pay | 15 | 30 |
| Example: invoice dated June 1 | Due June 16 | Due July 1 |
| Typical client | Freelancers, small businesses | Larger companies with accounts payable |
| Average amount waiting to be paid on $4,000 a month | about $2,000 | about $4,000 |
The last row comes from a simplified model. If you invoice $4,000 a month, bill evenly through the month, and every client pays exactly on the due date, you are waiting on about $2,000 at any moment on net 15 and about $4,000 on net 30. Real clients often pay after the due date, so actual waits run longer. Read the full breakdown in our guide to net 30 payment terms.
Should freelancers use net 15?
Net 15 is a reasonable default for freelancers who bill clients with a real finance process. It gives a client two weeks to approve and pay, which is enough for most small teams, and it keeps your cash moving.
Net 15 tends to work in these cases:
- The client is a small business or startup that approves invoices quickly
- The invoice is a moderate amount, not a large one that needs several sign-offs
- You have worked with the client before and they pay reliably
- The client pays vendors on a semi-monthly schedule
Choose a shorter term, such as net 7 or due upon receipt, in these cases:
- It is a new client you have not worked with before
- The project is small or short
- Your cash is tight
- The client can pay by card or PayPal in a few clicks
Choose a longer term, such as net 30, only when the client requires it. Many large companies pay on fixed cycles and will not change them, and refusing can cost you the contract.
For a risky project, terms are only part of the answer. Ask for a deposit, such as 50% upfront, or split the work into milestones with their own invoices. That way no single invoice leaves you exposed, whatever the term says.
How do you write net 15 on an invoice?
Put the term and the due date near the invoice total, where the client sees them before they pay. Spelling out the date removes the arithmetic from their side.
Invoice date: June 1 Payment terms: Net 15 Payment due: June 16
If you want to protect yourself against late payment, add a clause underneath and agree to it in your contract first:
Payment terms: Net 15. Invoices unpaid after the due date are subject to a 1.5% monthly late fee.
Rules on late fees and interest differ by country and state, and some places cap them, so check what applies to you.
How do you get paid on time with net 15?
A short term only helps if the invoice is easy to pay and hard to forget. These steps help:
- Send the invoice the day the work is done. Every day you wait pushes your payment back by a day.
- Write the due date on it. Use the actual date, not only "net 15."
- Add a way to pay online. Card or PayPal links remove the step where a client has to find a checkbook or wait for a bank transfer.
- Remind the client before the due date. A short note a few days ahead catches invoices stuck in an approval queue.
- Follow up the day after it is late. Use a polite message first, then a firmer one. Our guide to handling late-paying clients includes email templates for each stage.
SolidInvoice covers several of these. Clients can pay by card or PayPal straight from the invoice, recurring invoices go out on the same date each month, and on Pro and higher plans, payment reminders send automatically on a schedule you set, counted in days after the due date. Plans start at $9 a month for Solo, $19 for Pro and $39 for Business. See the features page or pricing for what each plan includes.
Net 15 payment terms FAQ
What does net 15 mean?
Net 15 means the full invoice amount is due within 15 calendar days of the invoice date. An invoice dated June 1 is due June 16. The client can pay earlier, but the invoice is only late once day 15 has passed.
Does net 15 start from the invoice date or the delivery date?
Net 15 starts on the invoice date unless the contract says otherwise. The delivery date, the date the client opens the invoice, and the date their finance team approves it do not change the clock. If you want terms to run from delivery, write that into the contract.
Is net 15 calendar days or business days?
Net 15 means 15 calendar days. Weekends and holidays are included. A term counted in business days has to say 15 business days on the invoice or in the contract, because most people will read it as calendar days and the due date would otherwise be disputed.
What is the difference between net 15 and net 30?
Net 15 gives the client 15 days to pay and net 30 gives them 30. The longer window means you wait twice as long for your money. Net 30 is common with larger companies, while freelancers and small businesses often prefer net 15 to keep cash flow healthy.
Is net 15 better than net 7 or net 14?
It depends on the client. Net 7 gets you paid fastest but can be tight for clients with an approval process. Net 14 and net 15 are almost the same length, so choose net 15 for clients that pay twice a month. Pick whichever term the client can realistically meet.
Can I charge a late fee on a net 15 invoice?
You can if the late fee was agreed before the invoice was sent. Put the clause in your contract and repeat it on the invoice. A common clause is 1.5% per month on overdue balances. Check the late fee and interest rules where you and your client are based, since some places cap them.
Send invoices with the due date on them, and let reminders do the chasing. Start a free 14-day trial of SolidInvoice.