Why Your A/R Team Needs a Collection Call Notes and Coding System
It’s not the size of the backlog. It’s not which accounts are the oldest. One of the first things we notice when we step into a new engagement is this: collection calls are being made, but almost nothing is being written down. That gap is costing companies more than they realize. Why Notes Matter More […]
Do I Have to Be Mean to Make a Collections Call?
One of the most common responses I hear when I tell people that I’m in collections is: “But you seem too nice for collections” There is a stereotype that collectors are aggressive and every collection call is a conversation that may involve yelling. The stereotype exists for a reason. Many traditional collection agencies and call […]
The 60-Day Past-Due Threshold: 4 Signs Your A/R Has a Process Problem (Not a Customer Problem)
Every business has a slow-paying customer. That’s not a problem. The problem is when “slow” stops being a customer and starts being a pattern, and the 60-day past-due mark is where that shift usually shows up. Past 60 days, invoices get statistically harder to collect, customer conversations get more awkward, and the cash that’s supposed […]
You Hire Help for Everything Else. Why Not Past-Due Invoices?
We hire people to clean our houses.Mow our lawns.Deliver dinner when the week gets away from us. Not because we can’t do those things.Because our time is better spent elsewhere. Past-due A/R works the same way. Important. Repetitive. And usually the first thing that falls off when your team is stretched thin and someone has […]
The REAL Reason Your Company Has Too Many Overdue Invoices
Making collection calls sounds simple. So simple, in fact, that most companies don’t give it much thought. Reactive rather than proactive. And that’s where things start to break down. Simple → No Process Because it seems simple, collections often get treated like a loose task instead of an actual function. It gets handed off […]
Will I Offend a Good Customer By Calling Them About a Past Due Invoice?
An invoice is 30 days past due. Someone notices. Someone else says, “They’re a really good customer.” And the follow-up gets pushed to next week. Not because payment isn’t expected. But because no one wants to risk the relationship. The hesitation usually isn’t about the customer. It’s about the conversation. Money is a loaded topic […]
Interim CFOs: Why Accounts Receivable Is the Fastest 90-Day Win for Improving Cash Flow
Interim CFOs are brought in to stabilize, clarify, and move organizations forward, often times while facing compressed timelines and real cash pressure. Amid competing priorities, a common challenge they inherit is misaligned accounts receivable processes that are creating daily operational drag. Past-due invoices, inconsistent follow-up, unclear ownership, and teams stretched thin all contribute to delayed […]
What’s the most effective way to collect on a past-due invoice?
One of the questions I get asked often is: “What’s the most effective way to collect on a past-due invoice?” My answer is always the same. Pick up the phone. It sounds simple, maybe even old-fashioned, but after spending years in accounts receivable, especially in high-pressure situations like liquidations and wind-downs, I’ve learned this: results […]
What To Do When You Know You Will Be Late Paying an Invoice
Cash flow problems can happen to any business. Losing a key customer, shifts in the marketplace, seasonality, or even the loss of a top salesperson can all throw things off balance. When that happens, tough decisions follow — including which bills get paid on time and which ones have to stretch. Over the years, I’ve […]