What you're legally owed
When a B2B invoice goes unpaid in Denmark, the governing statute is Renteloven //// 3, 5 (transposing EU Directive 2011/7). It gives freelancers and small suppliers automatic rights to statutory interest and a flat compensation fee on every overdue invoice — no contract clause required.
- Statutory interest
- Nationalbanken's official lending rate + 8 percentage points (B2B)
- ~10.35% per year in early 2026
- Flat compensation fee
- DKK 310 (≈€40)
- kompensationsbeløb
- Default payment term
- 30 days from receipt of invoice; max 60 days B2B
- Public sector max
- 30 days
These amounts accrue automatically from the day after the invoice due date. You do not need a contract clause to invoke them — the statute creates the right directly. A contract can set a higher rate, but not a lower one.
How to enforce it in Denmark
The primary enforcement path for freelancers in Denmark is the Betalingspåkrav (fogedretten).
For undisputed debts up to DKK 100,000, file a betalingspåkrav at the local fogedret (bailiff court) with a fee of DKK 400–750. If the debtor doesn't object, you receive an enforceable order within weeks.
Small claims limit: DKK 50,000 (småsagsproces).
Official portal: www.domstol.dk
What to do this week
- Add a late-fee clause citing Renteloven to your contract template. Use the freelance contract template as a starting point.
- Add one line to your invoice footer: “Late payments accrue interest under Renteloven at Nationalbanken's official lending rate + 8 percentage points (B2B), plus a DKK 310 (≈€40) kompensationsbeløb.”
- When an invoice goes overdue, use the free late-fee calculator to get the exact amount owed, then send a formal demand letter citing the statute. The demand letter guide walks through exactly what to include and what to leave out.
- If the letter's deadline passes, run the escalation playbook — or file directly via the Betalingspåkrav (fogedretten), which is designed to be used without a lawyer for undisputed debts.
One thing most freelancers don't know
Denmark has one of the lowest average payment-times to small suppliers in the EU — statutory teeth plus a cultural norm of paying on time.
This guide is a plain-language summary of Renteloven as it applies to freelancers and small suppliers. It is not legal advice. For disputes over larger amounts, or anything with a contested fact pattern, consult a lawyer admitted in Denmark.