See how Kelo works for any service business
You did the work. The money is still on site somewhere.
See what you are owed across overdue invoices and unaccepted quotes in one view, and chase it with drafts you approve.
Built for builders, electricians, plumbers and contractors who invoice on terms and can't afford to carry a client's cash flow.
Why trades are busy all year and still short on cash
- ✓Overdue invoices and unaccepted quotes in one recovery view
- ✓Prioritised by value, so the biggest amount owed gets chased first
- ✓Retentions and staged payments tracked to their release date, not forgotten
- ✓Plain, firm drafts you approve, sent from your own inbox
- ✓A 10-minute weekly review instead of chasing from the van at 9pm
- ✓Reads Xero or QuickBooks, no new system to learn on site
Where trade and construction cash gets stuck
Why do construction invoices get paid so late?
Main-contractor payment culture, retentions held to sign-off, applications for payment stuck in approval, and invoices sent late because the job came first. The fixable part is the last one: bill on completion and chase on a schedule.
Retentions: the money most trades forget
How should I track a retention?
Treat the release date as the due date and flag it when you invoice, so the held-back amount resurfaces automatically instead of being written off in your head when the job feels done.
Chasing a main contractor without losing the next job
How do I chase without damaging the relationship?
Early and factual beats late and angry. A short reminder with the invoice number, amount and due date is normal business. For the wording, see how to chase politely.
The legal backstop when a client won't pay
Can I charge interest on a late invoice in the UK?
Yes, under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998: Bank of England base rate plus 8%, plus fixed compensation per invoice. Work out the figure with the interest calculator, and if it comes to it, the letter before action guide. General information, not legal advice.
Coming next
Cold-enquiry tracking
Overdue invoices and unaccepted quotes are live today, in one queue. Tracking the enquiries that never turned into a quote is next, tell us if you want it and we will let you know when it lands.
Frequently asked questions
Why do construction and trade invoices get paid so late?
A mix of main-contractor payment culture (long or pay-when-paid terms), retentions held back until the job signs off, applications for payment that stall in approval, and invoices sent late because the work came first. Naming a due date and an approver on every invoice, and chasing on a schedule, recovers most of the lost time.
Can I charge interest on a late invoice as a sole trader or limited company?
Yes. On business-to-business debts in the UK you can charge statutory interest at the Bank of England base rate plus 8%, plus a fixed compensation sum per invoice, under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998. Work out the figure with the late-payment interest calculator.
How do I chase a builder or main contractor without losing the next job?
Keep it factual and early. A short, polite reminder that quotes the invoice number, amount and due date rarely damages a relationship; silence and a sudden final demand does. Put chasing on a system so the first nudge goes out on time, every time, not weeks later.
What about retentions held back at the end of a job?
Track them like any other overdue amount, with the release date as the due date. Retentions are the money most often forgotten because the job feels finished. Flag the release date when you invoice so it resurfaces automatically instead of slipping.