Businesses often tout that they are "customer-focused" but in fact, they may only be focusing on what they assume the customer wants. Unless they're really taking the pulse of those they serve, through surveys and communication, the business may be more internally focused than keeping clients happy. Can business leaders help change the focus?
Commercial credit analysis evaluates corporations to determine if they can pay their financial obligations. Although this is pre-engagement and on the front end of the A/R and collection process, it’s still an important part of any B2B accounting process. To help reduce delinquencies and bad debt write-offs, businesses should put focus on the front-end credit analysis process prior to contracting with a new client.
When hiring a qualified accounts receivable specialist, it's important that they have the right skill sets. They're going to be speaking with your customers directly about one of the most uncomfortable topics - money. They need confidence, persistence and enthusiasm, and also they need the proper training. We took a look at A/R job descriptions for a better idea of what's required.
There are numerous red flags that could signal a late payment from your clients. Red flags, however, could be easily ignored. Green flags, on the other hand, provide a sense of safety and trust. The more green flags, the more you know that your business is working with the right clients - those who respect your time and value your partnership - and that you're doing A/R right.
Before we dive in, do you ever run cash flow reports on your business? If your organization is earning revenue, it does not necessarily mean that you have that much cash in the bank. A simple statement of cash flow report is available through any accounting software and will present a clear picture of your inflows and outflows, including accounts receivable. Quite simply, if your clients aren't paying on time, you may have less cash than you think.
Have you ever deep cleaned your house and found coins in the couch cushions or bills in the laundry? The same can be done for your business! With a few extra tasks, you can increase working capital and breathe a little easier for the rest of the year.
As if starting and running a successful business isn't challenging enough, sometimes life throws curveballs. Whether it be illness, an accident, world events, or caring for family, entrepreneurs must prioritize their health and well-being. These practices can also be expanded to form a well-being program to include the employees who keep your growing business afloat.
Enterprise Recovery is a debt collections agency that specializes in B2B account recovery. We do our best to recover what's owed to hard-working companies so they can retain working capital and continue their successful business ventures. We also educate on the best practices required to collect those debts before turning to a professional debt collections company.
While individuals attempt to keep their New Year's resolutions, new and growing businesses can also prepare for the year ahead. By setting up for success in January and February, you and your business are getting ahead of the curve so the rest of the year runs smoothly.
Every year, we take a look back at the previous year's blog entries to learn more about what you, our readers, want to see. In 2020, we observed that our readers were interested in building out their own successful A/R departments and first-party collections efforts. We're here to help!
