Payment Terms
Also called: Payment Schedule · Invoicing Terms
Payment terms set when money is due, what triggers each payment, and what happens when payment is late. They govern the cash-flow reality of a contract — often mattering more to a smaller party than any other provision in the document.
In more detail
The structure matters as much as the amount. Upfront deposits, milestone payments, and payment-on-delivery distribute risk very differently, and a supplier taking 100% on delivery from a new client is carrying the entire credit risk of the engagement.
Late-payment consequences are what give the clause teeth. Interest on overdue amounts, the right to suspend work, and recovery of collection costs each change the economics of paying late — without them, late payment is effectively free for the payer.
Watch for terms that make payment conditional on something the payer controls entirely, such as acceptance without a deemed-acceptance backstop, or payment "upon receipt of client’s own funding".
Some jurisdictions impose statutory payment terms or interest entitlements for certain business relationships, particularly for small and medium enterprises. These can override what the contract says, in either party’s favour.
What our lawyers check
- Payment schedule and whether risk is distributed reasonably
- Late-payment interest and the right to suspend performance
- Whether payment triggers are objective or controlled by one side
- Disputed-invoice procedure — can the payer withhold everything over one line item?
Contracts where this clause matters
Related terms
This definition is general information about commercial contracting practice, not legal advice. How a clause operates depends on the specific wording of your agreement and the law that governs it. For advice on your contract, have it reviewed by a lawyer.
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