Does this apply if I am a sole trader and not a limited company?

Yes. The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 applies to contracts between businesses, and a sole trader acting in the course of their business counts. It does not cover work for a private individual acting as a consumer.

Can I claim interest if my invoice never mentioned it?

Yes. The entitlement is written into the contract by statute, so it does not depend on your invoice, your terms or the client agreeing to it.

The client says cash flow is tight. Should I wait?

That is a commercial decision rather than a legal one, but waiting does not reduce the debt, and interest keeps building. If you agree to wait, put the new payment date in writing and say expressly that you reserve your right to interest and the fixed sum.

How long do I have to bring a claim?

For a breach of contract in England and Wales the limitation period is generally six years from when the cause of action arose. Treat that as an outer limit, not a target.

What if they say the work was substandard?

The argument then moves to what was agreed and what was delivered, and records made at the time decide it. An approval email sent when you delivered carries far more weight than a complaint raised for the first time once payment is demanded.

Will the interest rate change while the invoice is unpaid?

No. The rate is fixed by the base rate on 30 June or 31 December before the debt became late, and it stays at that rate until the debt is paid, even if the base rate later moves.

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