When you're growing a business, a late-paying client can be frustrating. You have to dedicate time and resources to figure out what happened and why. You have to pull yourself together enough to have a conversation about money - something that's not easy for many people. The most important thing to remember is that your business fulfilled its part of the deal, and now your client owes your business.
With the "unprecedented" events of the past few years, businesses are looking to become more efficient in all areas of their organizations. An area that is often overlooked due to its manual processes is accounts receivable. Even though payments by check have declined since 2019, thirty percent of B2B clients are still writing checks and sending them in the mail. Automating A/R has the potential to create a smoother, more dependable cash flow.
Debt collections may not be the most enjoyable part of back office operations, but it's absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, some of your business clients will miss a payment or more due to various reasons. If you've signed an agreement and fulfilled your part, they still owe you.
Estimates say that the number of freelancers entering the marketplace is growing at a compound annual growth rate of 15%. Enterprise company layoffs and the demand for more flexibility after the pandemic are two of many reasons that more people are considering freelancing. If you're ready to hang out your shingle, you definitely want to make sure you're on steady ground, so preparation and planning are necessary.
Listed as an asset on financial statements such as the balance sheet, accounts receivable is an important resource to your business. It's considered an asset because it can be converted to cash if collected within the payment terms set in your client contracts. If it's not collected in a timely manner, it becomes a drain on company resources. Policies and procedures must be documented to increase the success of these collections.
A typical services contract requires a retainer or ongoing payments. Businesses selling software-as-a-service (SaaS), or anything else "as-a-service," rely on monthly or annual fees from subscribers. If those subscribers fail to meet their obligations, their accounts can be sent to collections for recourse.
Accuracy and details are crucial when invoicing business clients on retainer or for goods or services provided by your company. In fact, there are some attributes that can be added to invoices to prompt early payment or at least reduce the risk of late payments.
Every industry has its own share of jargon, acronyms, and special terms. There's a level of trust that's gained when a business partner understands your industry or "speaks your language." When companies seek out debt collection agencies that they can trust, they also want to work with those who understand their industry.
The results are in. After a 6-month trial of over 60 companies in the United Kingdom, nearly every company in the pilot study has chosen to continue a four-day workweek. Company revenue stayed roughly the same during the trial but showed a 35% increase compared to similar periods in previous years. Most importantly, employee turnover was reduced by 57% with reports of improved well-being, better work-life balance, and reduced stress.
As accounts receivable (AR) begin to fall delinquent, your business expenses could fall delinquent as well. With every late-paying client, cash flow for payroll, rent, or other vendors falls short, threatening your company's bottom line and growth. The effectiveness of your accounts receivable department may be one of the most important measurements to determine the success of your business.
