5 Ways Oilfield Crews Can Get Paid Faster (Without Taking on Debt)

You did the job. Now you’re waiting to get paid.

Burned fuel. Floated payroll. Wrapped the job 6 weeks ago. Still no check.

If you’ve ever chased down a net-30 that turned into net-never, you’re not alone. But there are ways to keep your cash flowing—even if your customers are dragging their feet.

Here are five real-world strategies we’ve seen oilfield crews use to stay liquid, keep growing, and stop sweating payday:

1. Invoice the Same Day — Not “Next Friday”

Most companies lose 7–14 days just sitting on their invoices. That’s free money for the operator and slow pain for you.

Here’s how to fix it:

• Send the invoice the same day the job wraps

• Use a real due date (e.g., “Due June 10”)

• Put payment instructions right at the top

• Send it by email and text

• Follow up after 3 days—don’t assume they saw it

2. Break Big Jobs Into Smaller Bills

Don’t wait until every bolt is tight to send one big invoice.

Instead, use progress billing:

• Invoice when mobilized

• Invoice again halfway

• Invoice once more when it’s all wrapped

Even stingy operators are quicker to pay in chunks. Plus, it gives you leverage to pause work if they fall behind.

3. Offer a Quick-Pay Discount

You can’t force AP to move faster—but you can give them a reason to.

Try this:

It gives them something to justify the early payout, and you trade a small fee for faster access to your cash.

4. Negotiate Payment Terms Before You Mobilize

Don’t let the default be “net-30.” That’s not law—it’s just lazy.

What to ask for:

• ✅ Net-15 instead of 30

• ✅ Partial payments tied to milestones

• ✅ Deposits up front for jobs over $10K

You’d be shocked how many companies say yes to better terms if you ask before the work starts.

5. Use Factoring the Right Way

Factoring gets a bad rap—but if used right, it’s a good tool.

Here’s how it works:

• You finish the job and invoice $50,000

• A factoring company pays you $47,500 right now

• They collect from the operator when the invoice clears

• They keep that 5% as their fee

You're not borrowing. You're just selling an invoice at a little bit of a discount.

Why the Fee?

That 1–5% covers:

• The risk your customer might pay late (or not at all)

• The cost of fronting you cash immediately

• Their back-office staff chasing down the money

You’re trading a small fee for speed and certainty. It’s not always cheap—but it’s often cheaper than missing out on the next job.

When It’s a Good Tool:

• You’ve got slow-but-reliable customers

• You need cash now to take on more work

• You’re tired of using credit cards to float payroll

When to Skip It:

• Your margins are razor-thin

• You don’t trust your customer to pay

• You haven’t read the contract

Who We Recommend

We’ve looked at the rates, the fine print, and how these companies treat oilfield contractors.

[INSERT PARTNER NAME] is the one we’d actually recommend.

• No junk fees

• No long contracts

• They don’t spam your customer

• And they pick up the phone

  
  

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Final Word

There’s no magic wand for cash flow—but there is a smarter way to run your business.

Invoice faster. Negotiate better terms. Know when to use tools like factoring. And stop waiting around for money you’ve already earned.