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Client won't pay my invoice — what are my options in Florida?

Use the free tool — Invoice Chaser

Your options, in order

You sent the invoice. The customer hasn't paid. In Florida you generally have three moves, in this order: keep asking (friendly, then firm, then final reminder), consider small claims court, and — if you're a contractor or sub who improved real property — check whether a construction lien deadline is coming up. Below is what each one means, using only Florida rules, nothing invented.

Can you add a late fee or interest?

You can charge what your agreement says. If your invoice or contract said nothing about a late fee, you can still ask for one, but you cannot add a fee after the fact just because the customer is late.

• Florida's statutory interest rate on judgments is set every quarter by the Chief Financial Officer, under Fla. Stat. 55.03.
• That rate applies to a court judgment, not automatically to an unpaid invoice by itself.

Confirm with a professional before you tell a customer a specific percentage is "the law."

When does small claims make sense?

Florida county court small claims handles disputes up to $8,000, not counting costs, interest and fees, under the Florida Small Claims Rules (Rule 7.010).

• You can file without a lawyer.
• The filing fee varies by amount and county.
• Free forms and self-help guides for every Florida county are at Florida Courts Self-Help.

Most people move to small claims after a final notice has gone out and a stated deadline has passed with no payment.

Contractors: watch the lien deadline

If you improved real property as a contractor or subcontractor, Florida's Construction Lien Law (Fla. Stat. ch. 713, Part I) has strict deadlines:

• A Notice to Owner may be due within 45 days for most subs and suppliers.
• A claim of lien may be due within 90 days of your last work.

These deadlines are unforgiving. A lien "may be" available — this is not a promise it applies to your job. Confirm with a Florida construction attorney or lien service before the clock runs out.

If the customer disputes the work

If they say something is wrong, ask specifically what. Offer to fix a real defect, and ask them to pay the part they don't dispute. Don't argue by email — get specifics, then decide.

What to do next

The free tool reads the invoice details you paste — amount, dates, what was said — and gives you the reminder that fits where you are: friendly, firm, or final, in English and Spanish. Nothing you paste is stored. It also flags whether you're near a small-claims or lien deadline based on your own numbers, not guesses.

This is not legal or tax advice, and it can be wrong. For a lien deadline or a large dispute, talk to a Florida attorney before you rely on anything here.

Invoice Chaser writes collection messages in plain language and explains Florida rules as published; it can be wrong, and it is not legal advice. Lien deadlines under Fla. Stat. ch. 713 are strict — confirm with a Florida construction attorney or lien service. Nothing you paste is stored.