DUE editorial / Practical guide
Net 30 From What? A Creator’s Payment-Term Checklist
Thirty days is not a usable due date until you know which event starts the clock.
The short answer
Net 30 means payment is due 30 days after an agreed starting event, so the term is incomplete until you know that event: the invoice date, Finance receiving a valid invoice, approval, or a month-end stated in the agreement. Confirm the starting event, where the invoice goes and how the due date is counted before the campaign starts.
Name the starting event
“Net 30” alone does not tell you whether the clock starts on the invoice date, Finance's receipt of a valid invoice, approval, or a month-end event expressly stated in your agreement. Ask before accepting the campaign. Publication and approval are separate events; only use either as a billing trigger if agreed.
Record the number of days, the starting event and how the actual due date is calculated. Australian Government payment terms guidance is a useful general reference; your agreement determines your terms.
Make the invoice receivable
Confirm the correct legal entity, PO or campaign reference, AP email or portal, and who can tell you whether Finance received and accepted a valid invoice. Ask whether a rejected invoice must be corrected and resubmitted before the agreed clock starts. Confirm payment method and currency; do not assume an approver's “looks good” means AP has accepted the invoice.
Same words, different due dates
From invoice date
An invoice dated 1 October with 30 calendar days from invoice date points to 31 October, subject to the agreement's counting rules.
From valid-invoice receipt
If AP receives a valid invoice on 5 October, 30 calendar days from receipt points to 4 November under the same counting assumption.
These are illustrations, not a universal interpretation. A contract may specify approval or month-end instead. Confirm the event and any weekend/public-holiday rule with the client.
Copy the pre-campaign questions
Net 30 payment-term checklist
Payment-term check — [campaign] [ ] Contracting and billing entity: ____ [ ] Billing trigger (delivery, approval, go-live or other agreed event): ____ [ ] Net 30 starts on (invoice date / receipt of a valid invoice / approval / contractually agreed month-end / other): ____ [ ] Invoice destination (AP email or portal): ____ [ ] PO or campaign reference and required invoice details: ____ [ ] Who confirms Finance/AP receipt and acceptance: ____ [ ] Due-date calculation and any agreed non-business-day rule: ____ [ ] Payment method, currency and remittance contact: ____ Next action: ____ Owner: ____
If the term is unclear
Ask the brand to confirm the starting event, submission path and due-date method in writing before the work begins. If an existing invoice is in dispute, check its actual submission and acceptance first; then choose an appropriate follow-up.
Track your next collab
Keep the agreed billing trigger and invoice due date with the collab. You still check the terms and send the invoice yourself.
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