A 50/50 deposit system cut average days-to-payment from 38 to 9

A 50/50 deposit system cut average days-to-payment from 38 to 9
We pulled 6 months of invoices: net-30 terms, actual average pay time 38 days, two write-offs totaling $1,900.

We switched everyone to a standardized 50/50 system:
— 50% deposit before work begins (no deposit, no calendar slot)
— 50% due on delivery of final files, payable before the master is released
— Files held in a preview-only link until paid

Across the next 40 invoices: average days-to-payment dropped to 9, write-offs went to zero. The preview-hold step did the heavy lifting — nothing leaves until the second half clears.

Save the 50/50 + preview-hold rule. Standardize it into every SOW.