Suing a client isn't top of anyone's list of things to do but if a client is refusing to pay, it may be the logical path to getting what's owed to you. Before you take your client to court, you'll need to make sure that you're prepared, have a good case and that it's worth the cost of your time and money.
As a business owner, you're dedicated to managing your relationships with your customers. You've agreed on the products or services that help their business and you've agreed how much they will pay your business. You may have also learned that you have to set boundaries with your customers, especially when it comes to paying their invoices. They need to know how much they owe, how to pay, who to pay and when payment is due.
When working a 9 to 5 grind has got you down, you may be considering how to start your own business. If you've been the expert at something in a corporate job, you could break into the business of speaking about it or even consulting to other businesses. Do you want to make money with your expertise, working on your own terms, and are you ready to get started?
Entrepreneurship starts when you decide what you're good at and how to sell that.
As an owner of a B2B business, or even if you work in accounts receivable for a B2B business, you know the headache of tracking down past due invoice payments. While it would seem that you've done everything necessary to prompt on-time payments, there's always that one client that pays late or not at all. If you've ever considered hiring a B2B debt collection agency, you might have questions about their processes to collect what's owed. What will they do for you? And most importantly, how much does it cost?
Whether you're a freelancer, contractor, startup or small business, tax season is the time of year that reveals any changes in your business over the past year. If you've not kept up with your income and expenses, tax season will kick you into gear. If you're unsure about write-offs, deductions or even how much tax you owe, tax season is the time to get informed.
If yours is a B2B business, it means that you're relying heavily on your valuable business partners. Much like any relationship, you're only going to feel as comfortable as the level of trust you have with these business partners. Getting to know them better also means that you understand their goals, their pain points and what keeps them up at night. Knowing your clients will also give you a heads up if they're facing difficulties that may affect your relationship.
Fan or not, The Walt Disney Company is widely successful. Even with a few movie flops and challenges in management, things have definitely turned around for the better with Bob Iger as their CEO since 2004. Recently, Iger released a memoir entitled, "The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company". Within the pages are intriguing stories and messages of inspiration for any business owner. He details his steps up the ladder at ABC, Disney's acquisition of Pixar and his relationship with Steve Jobs, acquiring Marvel and Lucasfilm, and opening more Disney parks across the world.
If this blog is anything, we hope that it's helpful to small and growing businesses. Our focus is intended to offer education on getting organized, retaining clients and ensuring that your invoices are paid in a timely manner.
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In many growing companies, sales teams acknowledge new business with a mini-celebration. Every little bit of encouragement helps when business development seems to be working. After the celebration, the rest of the organization prepares to bring on the new client. Accounting sets them up as a new customer, the product gets shipped or the agreed-upon service is provided. An invoice is subsequently sent to the client and the wait begins.
If the thought of an uncomfortable meeting with your client makes your stomach hurt, you're probably already shuddering at the title of this post. Invoice disputes usually mean that the client owes you money and is simply unwilling to pay what you're asking. Is it possible to figure out a solution to this situation with an in-person meeting?
