Mountain States Commercial Credit Management Blog

As businesses struggle to deal with reduced budgets, staff reductions, supply chain disruptions, and transitions to a primarily remote workforce, security issues may take a backseat, leaving your company vulnerable. Without the proper cybersecurity in place to protect your data and systems, your company could be at risk for cybersecurity attacks. These attacks could not…

We all know the importance of regularly checking our personal credit score; but it’s equally important to monitor your business or commercial credit score as well. A business credit score can affect your ability to secure credit or loans, and can influence your interest rates. It’s important that you check your report regularly to ensure…

In recent years, many companies have adopted remote work options, providing greater flexibility for their employees. This year, however, remote work environments were no longer an option, they became a necessity. For accounts receivable teams, working remotely can present unique challenges, not the least of which include the heightened security and privacy measures required for…

There is inherent risk whenever you extend credit to a business. Managers must perform their due diligence to determine whether that risk is justified. Unfortunately, unforeseen circumstances can arise that may force a company to declare bankruptcy, resulting in unpaid debts. Those circumstances will likely become more prevalent as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage…

The ultimate goal of portfolio management is to minimize risk and maximize opportunities to grow the business. Organizations that proactively manage portfolio risk are in a better position to take on more risk, with a greater opportunity for return on that investment. But how? One way companies can be proactive and make better risk decisions…

Any conversation dealing with money, especially money that’s owed, has the potential to disintegrate into ugliness. That’s why understanding human nature is just as important as understanding Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) when it comes to making those difficult collection calls. The number one piece of advice is to be prepared. Check out the following tips…

A business’s cash flow depends on its ability to effectively manage accounts receivable (AR) and collections. But how do you know whether your accounting professionals are effective in their management processes or whether there is room for improvement? Continuously monitoring the performance of AR throughout the year will allow your business to collect performance snapshots…

Despite sound credit-risk policies and proactive accounts receivable management, there will be times when you need to take action to collect past-due debt. However, there is a right way and a wrong way to go about it. One way will enhance your chances of collecting what’s due while maintaining the customer relationship, while the other…

The sudden and unexpected arrival of COVID-19 has thrown the economy into turmoil. Cash-strapped businesses may have to decide between paying employees, landlords, banks, or vendors. The inability to timely bill, collect overdue debt, and obtain supplies likely will hinder efforts to generate revenue and grow as well. There are a lot of unknowns ahead,…

When a supplier or subcontractor doesn’t get paid for materials or work on a construction project, they have two options for securing payment: a mechanics lien or payment bond claim. Both are tools for claiming what is owed in case of a dispute. Although they are similar, there are key differences that will determine which…