09/08/2026
One of the biggest lessons I’m learning in business: stop being afraid to have firm payment policies.
As a small business owner, you want to give people grace. You want to be flexible. You want to trust that when someone says they’re going to pay an invoice, they’re going to pay it.
But I recently had an experience that changed the way I look at that.
I provided the service first.
Then I had to follow up about the unpaid invoice.
Then follow up again.
Call.
Text.
Leave messages.
And somewhere in the middle of all of that, I realized: Why am I chasing someone to pay for a service they requested and already received?
As business owners, we have expenses too. There’s equipment, fuel, labor, maintenance, insurance, transportation, supplies, taxes—the list goes on.
Paying a business for the service you requested isn’t a favor. It’s part of doing good business.
So this experience taught me something valuable:
Payment policies aren’t about being difficult. They’re about protecting your business.
Going forward Maddie Eats Catering - Durden's Kitchen Depending on the service, that means signed agreements, payment before delivery/service, clear due dates, and documented payment terms.
I can provide excellent customer service and still have boundaries.
I can be understanding and still expect my company to be paid on time.
And I can value a customer relationship without putting my business in a position where I have to repeatedly chase money that is already owed.
Sometimes growth isn’t just getting more customers.
Sometimes growth is learning how to run your business differently because of the customers you’ve already had.
Business owners, if you’ve ever had to learn this lesson the hard way, you already know. 😩
