Why would a tradie business want this?

Tradies say chasing money is what kills their evenings and weekends.

How do you know tradies actually want this one?

4 verified Reddit threads from trade-owner subreddits cite this exact workflow — listed in the evidence section below. It's not a guess; tradies asked.

Which tools does it work with?

It plugs into the job-management, accounting and messaging stack you already run — ServiceM8, Tradify, AroFlo, simPRO, Fergus, Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks, Twilio, ClickSend and the standard SMS / email rails. We confirm the exact integration in the scoping call so nothing breaks your existing flow.

How long does it take to build?

Usually 5-10 business days from sign-off, depending on which tools you're already on. We scope it on a 20-minute call, build it, test it end-to-end with you watching, then it's live. You own the configuration outright — no platform lock-in.

Pricing depends on the integration count and any custom logic — most single automations land between $400 and $1,500 one-off, with no ongoing fees. We quote in writing before any build starts. See the pricing page for site-build tiers; automations are scoped separately.

#2 most asked· 4× cited on Reddit· Invoicing, payments & cash collection

Auto-chase overdue invoices on your behalf

Day 3 polite, day 7 firm, day 14 final notice — sent automatically with the right tone. Get your Sundays back.

By Daniel Hall · Automation builder at Made 4 Tradies

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When an invoice goes overdue, a tone-graduated sequence fires automatically: a polite nudge at day 3, a firmer reminder at day 7, a final notice with late-fee warning at day 14. Each message includes a pay-by-link so the customer can clear it on the spot. You stay in the loop via a daily 'who paid, who didn't' digest — no more spreadsheet, no more chasing on Sundays.

See it in action

The flow, end to end

What your customer sees

3 days overdue — friendly nudge

Hi Sarah, hope you're well! Just a quick reminder — invoice #4821 ($420) is now 3 days overdue. Pay here when you're ready: pay.m4t/4821

9:02 AM

7 days overdue — firmer

Hi Sarah, invoice #4821 is now 7 days overdue. Could you sort this in the next 24 hours? Card payment link: pay.m4t/4821

11:18 AM

14 days overdue — final notice

Sarah — invoice #4821 is now 14 days overdue. If we don't hear back in 48 hours we'll add a late fee and forward this to our collections partner. Easiest fix: tap the link.

3:40 PM

Before

47 days

Average time from invoice sent to payment received.

With chase sequence

9 days

Illustrative — based on benchmarks reported in cited Reddit threads (Swiftimate users, etc.). Your real number depends on customer mix.

Time you get back

One Reddit owner reports “6–8 hours a week” chasing payments. That's a Sunday afternoon back, every week.

How it works

Trigger → actions → outcome

1
Trigger
An invoice in Xero / QBO crosses its due date without being marked paid.
2
Action 1 (day 3)
Polite nudge SMS + email with the original invoice and a pay-by-link.
3
Action 2 (day 7)
Firmer reminder. References the original due date and asks for action within 24 hours.
4
Action 3 (day 14)
Final notice. Late fee applied per your config. Optional: forward to collections partner.
5
Outcome
Most invoices clear at day 3 or day 7. You get a daily digest of who paid, who didn't, and who needs a personal call.

What this means for your business

The numbers behind it

47 → 9

avg days to pay

Illustrative. Real number depends on customer mix and rate of recurrence.

6-8 hrs

saved per week

Reddit small-business owner quote: "6 to 8 hours a week just chasing payments."

awkward phone calls

The system carries the tone. You don't.

The evidence

4 verified Reddit threads

Every quote is traceable to a real Reddit thread. Click any source to read the original tradies asking for this.

r/Accounting
'I think I spend maybe 6 to 8 hours a week just chasing payments. That feels insane to me.'
r/smallbusiness
'I'm sitting here on a Sunday afternoon AGAIN writing follow-up emails for overdue invoices.'
r/GeneralContractor
'Using an invoicing app that sends reminders automatically has taken a load off.'
r/AiForSmallBusiness
'How to automate client invoicing and payment follow ups without being awkward about it.'

Common questions

About this automation

What does the "Auto-chase overdue invoices" automation actually do?: Day 3 polite, day 7 firm, day 14 final notice — sent automatically with an escalating tone.
Why would a tradie business want this?: Tradies say chasing money is what kills their evenings and weekends.
How do you know tradies actually want this one?: 4 verified Reddit threads from trade-owner subreddits cite this exact workflow — listed in the evidence section below. It's not a guess; tradies asked.
Which tools does it work with?: It plugs into the job-management, accounting and messaging stack you already run — ServiceM8, Tradify, AroFlo, simPRO, Fergus, Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks, Twilio, ClickSend and the standard SMS / email rails. We confirm the exact integration in the scoping call so nothing breaks your existing flow.
How long does it take to build?: Usually 5-10 business days from sign-off, depending on which tools you're already on. We scope it on a 20-minute call, build it, test it end-to-end with you watching, then it's live. You own the configuration outright — no platform lock-in.
What does it cost?: Pricing depends on the integration count and any custom logic — most single automations land between $400 and $1,500 one-off, with no ongoing fees. We quote in writing before any build starts. See the pricing page for site-build tiers; automations are scoped separately.

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Want this in your business?

Tell us a bit about your setup and we'll come back with a quote and a build plan. Usually within 24 hours.

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Built only after a scoping chat. No surprise invoices.