If you're a subcontractor, you already know the drill. You show up, do the work, send the invoice, and then... you wait. Two weeks. A month. Sometimes two months. Meanwhile, you've got material costs, crew payroll, and your own bills stacking up.
You're not alone. The construction industry has a $280 billion late payment problem. The average subcontractor waits 56 days to get paid after completing a job. That's almost two full months of working for free.
It doesn't have to be this way. Here are seven strategies that can cut your payment timeline from weeks down to days.
1. Invoice the Same Day You Finish the Job
This sounds obvious, but most subcontractors don't do it. A study by Atradius found that 52% of B2B invoices are paid late, and one of the biggest reasons is that the invoice itself was sent late.
Every day you delay sending your invoice is a day added to your payment timeline. If your payment terms are Net 30 and you wait a week to invoice, you're really looking at Net 37 — or worse.
The fix is simple: invoice the moment the work is done. If you're still on the job site, even better. Take a photo of the completed work, and create the invoice right there. Tools like SubPaid's Snap to Invoice let you take a photo of your completed work, a materials receipt, or even handwritten notes, and the AI generates a professional invoice in under 5 seconds. No going back to the office, no spreadsheets, no forgetting.
2. Make Your Invoices Impossible to Dispute
Late payments aren't always about cash flow — sometimes they're about confusion. If your invoice is missing details, has the wrong PO number, or doesn't match the scope of work, it gives the GC a reason to put it at the bottom of the pile.
Every invoice you send should include:
The more detailed and accurate your invoice, the harder it is to dispute — and the faster it gets paid.
3. Set Payment Terms Before the Job Starts
Too many subcontractors start working before the payment terms are locked down in writing. Then when the invoice comes due, the GC says "we pay Net 60" and there's nothing you can do about it.
Before you start any job, make sure your contract or agreement clearly states:
Push for Net 15 or Net 20 whenever possible. The industry standard of Net 30 isn't a law — it's a habit. And plenty of GCs will agree to shorter terms if you ask before the job starts, not after.
4. Automate Your Follow-Ups
Here's an uncomfortable truth: most subcontractors are terrible at following up on unpaid invoices. Not because they don't care, but because they're busy doing actual work. Following up means phone calls, emails, and awkward conversations — and it always falls to the bottom of the to-do list.
The most effective follow-up schedule looks something like this:
Most subcontractors never make it past the first email. That's why automated systems are a game-changer. SubPaid's Autopilot feature runs this entire sequence automatically — including having an AI voice agent (called SAM) actually call your client on your behalf. SAM sounds natural, handles objections, and reports back on every conversation. You don't have to make a single awkward phone call.
5. Offer Multiple Payment Methods
If the only way a client can pay you is by mailing a check, you're adding days (or weeks) to every payment. Checks need to be written, signed, mailed, received, deposited, and cleared. That's a lot of steps where things can slow down.
Offer ACH/bank transfer, credit card payments, and online payment links in addition to checks. When your invoice arrives with a "Pay Now" button that lets the client pay in one click, friction disappears. Many contractors who switch to electronic payments see their average time-to-pay drop by 10–15 days.
6. Know Your Lien Rights
Every state gives subcontractors the right to file a mechanics lien if they're not paid. A mechanics lien is a legal claim against the property where you performed work. It's one of the most powerful tools you have — and one of the most underused.
But here's the catch: most states require you to send a preliminary notice within a specific timeframe (often 20–45 days from when you started work) to preserve your lien rights. Miss that window, and you may lose the right to file entirely.
Even if you never have to actually file a lien, sending a preliminary notice sends a clear signal that you know your rights and you're serious about getting paid. Many GCs will prioritize your invoice just because they received that notice.
Keep track of your preliminary notice deadlines for every project. SubPaid's LienGuard feature does this automatically, so you never miss a deadline.
7. Predict Cash Flow Before It Becomes a Crisis
Most subcontractors manage cash flow reactively — they check the bank account and either feel relieved or panicked. But by the time you realize there's a cash flow problem, it's usually too late to fix it without scrambling.
What if you could predict when each invoice would actually get paid? Not the due date — the actual date the money hits your account.
SubPaid's Payment Prophet uses machine learning trained on millions of payment patterns to predict when you'll get paid with 94% accuracy. It looks at the client's payment history, the invoice amount, the day of the week, and industry patterns to give you a realistic forecast. That means you can plan material purchases, schedule crew, and manage your expenses based on when money is actually coming in — not when you hope it will.
The Bottom Line
Getting paid faster isn't about being aggressive or confrontational. It's about having systems in place that make it easy for your clients to pay you and hard for them to forget.
To recap:
The subcontractors who get paid fastest aren't the ones who do the best work (although that helps). They're the ones who have the best systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I wait before following up on an unpaid invoice?
Send your first reminder the day after the payment due date. Don't wait weeks hoping the payment will arrive. A polite, professional reminder on day 1 is expected and appropriate.
Can I charge late fees on construction invoices?
Yes, if your contract includes late payment terms. Typical late fees are 1.5% per month on overdue balances. Make sure the terms are clearly stated in your contract and on every invoice.
What's the fastest way to create professional invoices?
AI-powered photo invoicing is the fastest method. Snap a photo of your work or materials receipt, and the software extracts line items, calculates totals, and generates a professional invoice in seconds.