What is Net 15?
Net 15 means payment is due within 15 days of the invoice date. It offers a middle ground between Net 7's speed and Net 30's flexibility. Learn when Net 15 is the right choice and how to enforce it.
What Is Net 15?
Net 15 is a payment term indicating that the full invoice amount is due within 15 calendar days of the invoice date. It sits between Net 7 and Net 30 in the payment term spectrum — faster than the corporate standard but more flexible than the tightest freelance terms. If you issue an invoice on May 1, a Net 15 invoice is due by May 16. The "Net" prefix means the net amount owed (no early-pay discounts or deductions unless separately specified), and "15" is the number of days in the payment window. Net 15 is particularly common among: - Independent contractors billing mid-size businesses - Creative services providers (designers, writers, photographers) with repeat clients - Consultants with established ongoing relationships - Trade contractors (plumbers, electricians, HVAC) for residential and small commercial projects
Net 15 vs. Net 7 and Net 30
| Term | Days | Cash Flow | Best Relationship Stage | |---|---|---|---| | Due on Receipt | 0–48 hrs | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | New clients, small amounts | | Net 7 | 7 days | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Most freelance work | | Net 15 | 15 days | ⭐⭐⭐ | Established clients, mid-size business | | Net 30 | 30 days | ⭐⭐ | Corporate clients, large invoices | | Net 60 | 60 days | ⭐ | Enterprise, government | Net 15 vs. Net 7: Net 15 gives clients an extra 8 days — meaningful for businesses that process invoices weekly rather than daily. The cash flow cost is modest: on a $5,000 invoice, Net 15 means your money arrives about a week later than Net 7. Net 15 vs. Net 30: Net 15 halves your average receivables compared to Net 30. On $8,000/month revenue, that difference is about $4,000 in cash you have access to. Most clients who can pay in 30 days can pay in 15 — the extra 15 days typically just means the invoice sits in someone's unread email folder.
When to Use Net 15
Use Net 15 when: - The client is a small-to-mid-size business with a simple AP process - Your invoice is in the $2,000–$15,000 range - You have an established relationship (2+ successful invoices paid on time) - The client explicitly requests "a couple of weeks" to process invoices - You want a professional middle ground between the urgency of Net 7 and the slowness of Net 30 Stick with Net 7 when: - The client is new and you are still assessing their payment reliability - The invoice is small (under $2,000) - Cash flow is tight and every day counts Upgrade to Net 30 when: - The client is a large enterprise with a formal multi-step AP process - The relationship is long-established and the client has a perfect on-time record - The invoice is very large ($20,000+) and you have sufficient working capital to wait
Net 15 in Action: A Real Example
A freelance graphic designer completes a brand refresh project for a 50-person marketing agency. The invoice: $7,500 for logo redesign, brand guidelines, and social media asset pack. The designer sends Invoice INV-2026-048 on April 11 with Net 15 terms. The specific due date: April 26, 2026. The agency's AP coordinator receives the invoice, gets approval from the marketing director, and initiates a bank transfer on April 23 — 3 days before the due date. The designer receives the funds on April 24. Total time from invoice to cash: 13 days. Under Net 30, this same invoice would have been due May 11 — 15 additional days of cash the designer could not access.
How to Add Net 15 to Your Invoices
A complete Net 15 invoice includes: 1. Payment Terms label: "Net 15" or "Payment due within 15 days" 2. Specific due date: "Due: April 26, 2026" — always write the calendar date, not just "Net 15" 3. Accepted payment methods: Stripe link, ACH routing details, PayPal — with direct links when possible 4. Late fee policy: "1.5% per month on balances unpaid after the due date" 5. Invoice number: For client AP processing and your records The specific due date is the most important element after the total amount. "Net 15" is abstract; "Due April 26, 2026" is a deadline.
Net 15 in Your Contract
Your contract should match your invoice terms. A standard Net 15 payment clause reads: "Invoices are due and payable within fifteen (15) calendar days of the invoice date. Invoices unpaid after the due date will accrue a finance charge of 1.5% per month on the outstanding balance." If you also require a deposit (recommended for projects over $3,000), add: "A deposit of 50% of the total project fee is required before work commences. The remaining 50% is due within fifteen (15) calendar days of project delivery."
Early-Pay Discounts with Net 15
To accelerate payments further, you can offer an early-pay discount on top of Net 15 terms: "1/7 Net 15" means: 1% discount if paid within 7 days; full amount due within 15 days. On a $7,500 invoice, paying within 7 days saves the client $75. For clients who manage their cash actively, this is a meaningful incentive that costs you less than the interest on a business line of credit.
Setting Net 15 as Your Default with Eonebill
Eonebill's invoice platform lets you configure Net 15 as your default payment term. Every invoice you create automatically shows the correct due date (15 days from the invoice date), your Stripe payment link, and your late fee policy — without any manual calculation. You can override the term for any specific invoice if a client has different contractual terms. Related: Net 7 Explained · Net 30 Explained · Payment Terms Guide · How to Set Payment Terms · Contractor Invoice Template