How to Get Paid Same Day: A Guide for UK Trades
Stop chasing payments for 60 days. Get money in your account the same day you finish the job.
You finish a job at 3 PM. The customer says "I'll pay you next week." Three months later, you're still chasing that £347 invoice. This stops today. Here's exactly how to get paid within hours of completing work, not weeks.
Stack even more demand by pairing this with Local SEO for Trade Businesses 2026, How to Get Your First 10 Customers, and Customer Review Management Playbook 2026.
Method 1: Card Payment on Site
Bring the card reader to every job. If you don't have one, grab a SumUp/Zettle reader for under £40 and connect it to your invoicing so it’s obvious when a job has been paid.
Best Option: SumUp or Square
- • £29 one-time for card reader
- • 1.69% transaction fee
- • Money in account next working day
- • Takes contactless, chip & PIN, Apple Pay
Script
"All finished. The total is £347. I can take card, Apple Pay, or bank transfer. Card is quickest—shall we do that now?"
Method 2: Bank Transfer Before Leaving
Customer does the transfer while you're there and you confirm before packing up.
Pros
- • Zero fees
- • Instant with Faster Payments
- • Clear paper trail
- • No equipment needed
Script
"I'll email the invoice now. If you open your banking app we can get it squared away while I'm packing up. That way you don't have to think about it later and I can send the paid receipt today."
- Send invoice before leaving site: Customers pay faster when the work is fresh
- Use payment links: Toolfy invoices include pay-now buttons so they don't need to type your bank info
- Offer pre-filled amounts: No mis-typed sort codes or missed pennies
Setting Expectations
"Just to confirm, we take payment on completion of the work. We accept card, bank transfer, or cash. Which works best for you?"
Say this when booking the job, not after you've finished. Put the same language in your quote terms, booking confirmations, and completion checklist so customers hear it three times.
The Bottom Line
Your cash flow problems end the moment you stop letting customers leave without paying. Every extra day you wait to invoice or collect doubles the chance you'll never get paid.
It's more respectful for you and the customer—jobs end with a clear finish and you get clear cash flow.
Action plan (next 48 hours)
- 1. Order a card reader (SumUp Solo, £29)
- 2. Download payment apps (PayPal Business, Revolut)
- 3. Practice your payment request script
- 4. Start requesting payment on completion
Go from quote to cash in 48 hours
- •Instant quote approvals and deposits in a single message thread
- •Auto-create jobs, tasks, and payment reminders the moment a quote is signed
- •Sync payouts to reporting so you know cash position every morning
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