Dunning
Dunning is the process of sending reminders to customers to collect payment on overdue invoices.
Dunning is the polite, persistent follow-up that gets unpaid invoices paid. It's the series of reminder messages you send as a bill goes past due, escalating gently over time. Done well, dunning protects your cash flow without straining the client relationship, and it's one of the most tedious tasks to automate.
What it means
Dunning is a structured collections process: a sequence of reminders timed to when an invoice becomes overdue. Early messages are friendly nudges; later ones grow firmer if the bill stays unpaid.
The goal is to recover what you're owed while keeping the tone professional. A clear dunning schedule means no invoice slips through the cracks and clients always know exactly what they owe and by when.
How it works
A typical dunning sequence escalates on a fixed timeline after the due date.
- A first reminder a few days after the invoice is overdue
- Follow-up reminders at set intervals, such as +3, +7, and +14 days
- A firmer notice if the balance remains unpaid
- Each message restates the amount, the original due date, and how to pay
Example
An invoice due June 1 isn't paid. On June 4 the client gets a gentle reminder, on June 8 a follow-up, and on June 15 a firmer notice, each with a payment link.
Platybooks automates exactly this: overdue reminders go out at +3, +7, and +14 days, plus follow-ups on open quotes. The reminders send themselves on schedule, so you collect faster without chasing clients by hand.
Frequently asked questions
Is dunning the same as debt collection?
Dunning is the routine reminder process you run yourself to collect overdue invoices, usually friendly at first. Formal debt collection, often handed to an agency, comes later if dunning fails and a balance stays seriously overdue.
Can dunning be automated?
Yes. Automated dunning sends reminder emails on a set schedule after an invoice goes overdue, with no manual chasing. Platybooks's Pro plan sends overdue reminders at +3, +7, and +14 days plus quote follow-ups automatically.
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