We’ve all experienced it: the untraceable client who never seems to pay his invoice on time, or at all. He’s the equivalent of that guy who pulls a ghostie when its his turn to shout beers at the pub – and when you have to deal with him in your business, he becomes more just than just a walking face palm.
You see, cash flow is key in small business. When somebody doesn’t cough up what they owe you, it can be seriously damaging to your business. If you can’t pay your vendors or upkeep your payroll, you might have to take out a loan – complete with rip-off interest rates. This can put you in a vicious cycle of borrowing and repayments that can spell doomsday for your business.
So how do you make sure your invoices are paid like clockwork? And what do you do if they’ve already reached red stamp territory? Our professional debt collectors are here to save you and your business’s finances. Like superheroes – just a little less ripped.
Help Your Payer Along
Your client or debtor may just need a bit of a nudge (or an all-out shove, but we’ll come to that later.) Setting up automated invoice reminders is the simplest fix – and can be surprisingly effective. Instead of assuming a business is purposely putting off your payment, first consider things from their point of view. We all get a bit scatty when we’re under the pump – maybe they genuinely forgot.
Most accounting software will send out automated invoice reminders, but at Fusion Group we highly recommend Xero’s reliable software for this purpose. It also helps to have a few human bookkeepers and live-action Xero-heroes on hand in case of confusion.
Another simple way to receive invoices on time? Just be decent! Send a confirmation and a friendly ‘thanks!’ after each successful payment. This will show the debtor respect, and – fingers crossed – they’ll show it to you in return.
Make It Easy
Still waiting for payment? Think about your invoicing process. Is it simple enough to allow clients to pay you quickly and efficiently? Or would they have to whip out the magnifying glass and an Oxford dictionary? If your invoices and payment requirements are simple, clients will continue to come back – and debts will be paid. If your payment processes have more steps than Jacob’s Ladder, debtors will be less likely to prioritise your business.
To be safe, make sure you have a few different payment methods to present to your client for a smooth transfer. Direct debit is pretty always a convenient payment method, working especially well for small business partnerships.
Have Your Own Back
While nudging debtors along is an upstanding thing to do, you need to look after yourself too.
First, develop comprehensive – but simple – payment terms and conditions. This single step will save you big time. If a client is balking, simply refer them to the payment terms they agreed to at the outset – and watch the money roll in.
A mistake many small business owners make is to prioritise profit over cashflow. Cashflow is as vital to a business as a blood supply is to your survival – no exaggeration! Setting yourself clear cashflow targets is an awesome way to check up on your cash status.
A good way to get steady cashflow trickling in? Consider payment plans. Your client will love the convenience and savings – and you’ll reap all the benefits of regular, predictable cash flow.
Finally, your bank can be your best friend in a period of financial strife. Keep them updated on payment statuses. They have the authority and ability to pursue overdue invoices that would normally be out of your control.
If All Else Fails…
Hire a professional debt collector. We’re not just spruiking ourselves – when your business’s survival is at question, it’s crunch time.
At Fusion, our professional debt collectors will be across all your accounts, constantly checking in to make sure none are overlooked. When invoices are late, we create personalized options that recoup the funds in the most affordable and effective manner for you – starting with a reminder email and building up to the big guns. Even better? We don’t take a cent if we can’t get your money back for you.
After a professional debt collector to get you back the money you’re owed? Our Perth bookkeepers have both one-off and add-on debt collection services that will see your business soaring to infinity and beyond. BYO cape!
Contact Numbers
Office Phone: (08) 6243 0444
Contact Addresses
Address: 1st Floor, 7 Ventnor Avenue, West Perth WA 6005
Address: PO Box 316, West Perth WA 6872
E-Mail: fusionaccounting@fusiongroup.net.au
Business Information
Office Hours: Weekdays 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
ABN: 80 257 539 344
18 comments. Leave new
I will right away grab your rss feed as I can not find your e-mail subscription link or
e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Kindly let me
recognise so that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
Ahaa, its nice discussion regarding this post here at this web site, I have read all that, so now
me also commenting here.
Amazing! This blog looks exactly like my old one! It’s on a totally different subject but it has pretty much
the same layout and design. Excellent choice of colors!
Great beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your web
site, how could i subscribe for a weblog website? The account helped me a appropriate deal.
I have been tiny bit familiar of this your broadcast provided shiny transparent idea
You’re so interesting! I do not believe I’ve truly read through something like that before.
So great to discover another person with unique thoughts on this topic.
Really.. thank you for starting this up. This web site is something that’s
needed on the web, someone with a little originality!
Wow that was odd. I just wrote an very long comment but after I clicked
submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all
that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say excellent blog!
Hi my friend! I wish to say that this article is awesome, nice written and include approximately all important infos.
I’d like to see extra posts like this .
Greetings! Very helpful advice within this article!
It’s the little changes that make the most significant changes.
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for your great information. They’re very useful.
Do you mind if I quote a couple of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your
website? My blog is in the exact same niche as yours and
my visitors would certainly benefit from a lot of the information you provide
here. Please let me know if this ok with you.
Thanks a lot!
Hello! I just desire to give an enormous thumbs up for the excellent info you have here on this blog.
I will be returning in your web site for additional information in the near future.
Great beat ! I would like to apprentice at the same time as
you amend your web site, how could i subscribe for a weblog site?
The account helped me a appropriate deal. I have been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered vivid clear
concept
I’m glad I found your article. I would not have made sense of this topic on my own.
I’ve read other articles on this subject, however I was
puzzled till I read yours.
Hey there I am so glad I found your weblog, I really found you
by accident, while I was researching on Bing for something
else, Anyways I am here now and would just like to say many thanks for
a tremendous post and a all round exciting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have
time to read through it all at the minute but I have saved it
and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the excellent work.
This is my first time to visit here. I found a variety of engaging stuff
as part of your blog, specifically its discussion. From
the numerous comments on the posts, I suppose I’m not the only one having most of the enjoyment!
Keep up the favorable job.
I am fortunate that I found this blog, just the correct information that
I was searching for!
Your article has proven useful to me. It’s very informative and you are clearly very educated in this area.
You have opened my eyes to various views on this
topic with appealing as well as solid content.
I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here.
The sketch is tasteful, your authored material stylish.
nonetheless, you command get bought an shakiness over that you wish be delivering the following.
unwell unquestionably come further formerly again as exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this increase.