Developer Shares Simple Math and Logic Behind a Freelance Late-Fee Calculator

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A developer at KunStudio built a late-fee calculator called Invoice Rescue aimed at helping freelancers handle overdue invoices. The tool uses simple daily interest rather than compound interest, as the latter can appear punitive and trigger client disputes. Two key coding decisions — clamping negative day counts and comparing calendar dates instead of timestamps — prevent common calculation errors. The project also includes a three-stage follow-up email framework, escalating from polite to firm to final based on how many days past due the invoice is. The fee calculator and basic email templates are free to use, with a paid tier offering AI-generated follow-up sequences for specific situations.

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