“Autopay or Bust: How I Stopped Chasing Invoices”

In this episode of No Se Habla Taxes, I’m spilling the tea on how I set up my business so I never have to chase another invoice again. Yes, even as a solo CPA doing my own books. 

I’m walking you through: 

💸 Why every client—project-based or monthly—signs an agreement with autopay built in 
📅 How predictable cash flow has saved my sanity (and maybe my rent) 
🤔 Common objections from service providers (and how to lovingly dismantle them) 
🚫 The messy consequences of “send now, pay later” billing 
✅ What tools I use to automate payments and protect my peace 

If you’ve ever waited too long to get paid—or avoided setting up systems because you didn’t want to “seem pushy”—this one’s for you. 

You’re not too small for structure. You’re smart enough to build it. 

🎧 Subscribe to No Se Habla Taxes wherever you get your podcasts. 

Until next time—secure the bag, automate the process, and keep your receipts. 

Let's connect!

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/armstrongmelissacpa/

Website: https://steadyhandaccounting.com/

Coaching Program Waitlist: https://steadyhandaccounting.myflodesk.com/ofgzp2o7tc

Episode Transcript

(00:10):
Welcome to BLA Taxes, thepodcast where A CPA does her own
bookkeeping, confesses her messups, and sometimes sounds more
like a startup founder than aspreadsheet wizard.
I'm Melissa Armstrong, afractional controller solo
practice owner.

(00:30):
And your financial BFF.
Who thinks QuickBooks shouldcome with a margarita?
Cheers.
And today.
I'm confessing somethingradical.
I haven't chased an unpaidinvoice once in this whole year.
That's right.
No reminders.

(00:51):
No checking in emails, no tearsover unpaid invoices and ghosted
Venmo requests.
Why?
Well, because I have builtautopay into every client
engagement.
Let me break it down.
If it's a one-time project, theypay when they sign the

(01:15):
engagement letter.
If it's recurring, their paymentgets processed automatically on
the first of every month, A CHcredit card.
I don't care.
It's their choice.
But either way, it's notoptional.
But won't my clients push back?

(01:37):
Uh.
Isn't that kind of aggressive?
So and so will absolutely notchange to this method.
What if I scare people away?
Listen, let's address all ofthese.
Okay.
Number one, my clients will hateit.

(01:58):
Nope.
Mm-hmm.
They will love knowing exactlywhen money leaves their account.
It's not a surprise.
It is a system.
Oh, but I am too small toimplement autopay.
Friend.
Just stop.
Stop right there.
Okay.
You are not too small to deserveconsistent cash flow.

(02:22):
Second, you're actually toosmall to be taking on the kind
of risk that means you don't getpaid, and you're also smart
enough to set boundaries thatprotect your business.
And the last one.
Oh, but I don't wanna seempushy.

(02:43):
Autopay is not pushy.
It's professional, and it freesup your time to do actual work
in your business and on yourbusiness.
Not play accounts receivabledetective.
Okay, let's think about thisfrom a different perspective.

(03:06):
I'm gonna paint you a picturefrom the other side.
Okay?
You send the invoice, it's net15, you wait day 16, nothing
happens.
Day 21, you send a reminder.
Day 28, you're following upagain, all while trying not to

(03:28):
sound passive aggressive ordesperate.
Sound familiar.
Yeah, I thought so.
Meanwhile, your own bills aredue.
Your utilities are on auto pay,your software subscriptions are
on auto pay, and you, you arestill waiting on that client to

(03:50):
circle back.
That's not cash flow.
That is a hostage situation, onethat you can easily avoid and
that you absolutely do not needto be a part of.
So here is what has worked forme and what you can copy today.
Put it in the contract.
The payment schedule and thepayment method are spelled out.

(04:12):
Clearly, there's no guesswork.
Okay?
Use software that will supportyour autopay, QuickBooks Online
anchor, whatever fits your flow.
Just make sure it supportsrecurring billing.
Make it a non-negotiable.
If someone refuses autopay, thatis a huge red flag, and if they

(04:38):
can't commit to timely payments,maybe they shouldn't be your
client.
Think about it.
Think about it.
Normalize this.
You're not being weird, you'rebeing wise.
Netflix auto debits.
So does your gym and so can you.
Okay.
That's my confession.

(04:59):
I have built a business wherecash shows up on the first of
the month without me lifting afinger, and you can absolutely
do it too.
If you are still sendinginvoices and crossing your
fingers, this is your sign torethink.
Your payment systems, youdeserve ease.
You deserve consistency, and ifyou need help building the

(05:23):
system, keep listening.
I have got more behind thescenes confessions and howtos
coming your way.
In the meantime, go look at yourlast three invoices.
Ask yourself, could this havebeen auto paid?
And if the answer is yes, maybeit's time to make that the

(05:43):
default.
If you found this helpful,subscribe to BLA taxes and share
it with the service provider inyour life who's still sending
PDF invoices like it's 2012.
Yikes.
Until next time, secure the bag.
Protect your piece and automatewhere you can.