Manage Receivables For Better Profitability | Bookkeeping

By MargotBrandlin
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Word Count: 533

If you want to be successful in business, your customers have to pay you on time. If you're like most businesses, you sell products on a credit basis, and then ask your customer to pay you later, such as within 30 days. During this time, you essentially lend money to the customer, and expect that you are going to be paid back. Only when the invoice is paid do you have the money you need to successfully run your business.

It's unfortunate that sometimes, getting what you're owed isn't always as easy as simply giving the customer an invoice. Almost all businesses have customers who don't pay or simply pay slowly. If you don't proactively manage your receivables, you can quickly deplete ready cash. Here are some ways you can protect your company from delinquent accounts and late payments.

1. Make sure customers are worth credit you give them and avoid customers that aren't. Before you accept orders, you can do credit checks and require credit applications. If the amount of purchase is big enough, you can ask for and receive financial statements. You should also set credit limits and hold to them.

2. Run aging reports and take a look at them regularly. Aging reports will help you know what the makeup of your accounts receivable is, and show which invoices are less than 30 days old, then those that are 30 to 60 days old, 60 to 90 days old, and later. Make sure you know how you should interpret these reports so that you can spot problems early. Have someone specifically on staff to follow up with late payers. As invoices get older, they become much more difficult to collect on.

3. Send out invoices right away. If you are promptly getting invoices out, payments will come in sooner. You should also make sure that your bills are very clear and accurate. Include as much detail as possible. The more detail you include, the harder it will be for the customer to dispute the amount of the bill.

4. Reward customers to pay on time or early and penalize those who don't. Include an incentive for customers to pay promptly, such as a 2% discount if payment is made within 10 days. You can also penalize late paying customers with a late fee. Stay within legal limits when you do this.

5. Moderate your growth. If you have a significant increase in sales, this can greatly impact your company's receivables and needs for cash. Utilize the advice of a seasoned financial professional. He or she can help you develop a plan for growth. You can consider additional financing, utilize a line of credit at the bank, or consider price adjustments. You may need to sacrifice some growth in the short term to make sure that you don't overshoot your ability to pay your bills.

When companies are successful, they seek new ways to improve Accounts Receivable functions. By improving this process, they know they can reap significant financial benefit. If you have fewer outstanding, balances, this means you can have fewer bad debt write-offs and greater profitability. If your portfolio of receivables is well managed, this can also boost your cash flow and expand your working capital.

About the Author

Author: Margot Brandlin works in Bookkeeping in Minneapolis with Owl Bookkeeping and CFO allows her to give the highest caliber of service to her clients.

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