Archive for the ‘Collections’ Category
How to Make Collection Calls That Get Results
Thursday, September 3rd, 2020Any 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…
When Is a Payment Bond Claim a Better Choice than a Mechanics Lien?
Thursday, June 25th, 2020When 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…
The Right Collection Agency Can Mean the Difference Between Debt Recovery or Write-Off
Wednesday, June 26th, 2019You’ve weighed your options and realize that without the help of a credit agency, you likely won’t retrieve the money owed to your business. So, where do you start? What should you be looking for in a collection agency? When is it time to call in a collection agency? Businesses are often hesitant to call…
4 Ways to Improve Your Profits Through Strong Collection Practices
Wednesday, March 1st, 2017One major challenge in extending credit to customers is maximizing collection returns. Meanwhile, you need to have strong credit policies in place to minimize risk. Here are four ways business leaders can improve their profits: 1. Analyze collection trends. Collection trends provide great data about credit policies. Chances are you’ll see both positive and negative…
Get Your Business Collections on the Global Scale
Wednesday, October 5th, 2016Living in a truly global economy has international commerce on the rise. While it’s great for business, a unique set of risks comes with this new marketplace. Extending credit to a company leader overseas takes extra care because of the added risk and logistics involved in business collections on a worldwide scale. Global commerce can…
Collection Agencies: Friends or Foes?
Wednesday, September 21st, 2016If you have heard anything about commercial collection agencies, chances are it was not necessarily positive. Maybe you heard collection agencies are expensive or their employees ruthless — or perhaps that they are simply unnecessary. As a result of these misgivings, collection agencies often suffer poor reputations. However, these agencies and the professionals their directors…
To Get More On-Time Payments, Make Collections a Priority
Tuesday, May 24th, 2016Have you ever procrastinated on a work task — even if it was important? We’re guilty, too. Procrastinating is common, especially with tasks we don’t like. All kinds of theories seek to explain why, but chances are it’s not because you’re lazy. Many researchers believe there are underlying psychological reasons1 for avoiding certain tasks: We fear…
3 Standard Questions for Screening Commercial Collection Agencies — Plus 1 You Can’t Skip
Tuesday, December 1st, 2015Choosing the right commercial collection agency is a tricky step to take, especially with the number of agencies there are. It’s an important decision; in order for the partnership to work, you must turn over confidential information about your company and your customers, which means you must know that the agency has the integrity and…
Should Your Company Outsource Collections to an Agency?
Tuesday, November 17th, 2015How many of your accounts are past due? How many are seriously past due? If you aren’t sure how to answer, you’re not alone. Despite having sizeable outstanding past-due accounts, many credit professionals in smaller and midsize companies still find themselves leery of working with commercial collection agencies. They may think that turning a customer…
How to Collect Debt Without Losing Your Customer
Wednesday, May 27th, 2015For commercial enterprises, customers are truly the lifeline of the business. Pleasing them and meeting (or even anticipating) their needs is what keeps your company thriving. So when a client pays later and later each month, or fails to pay at all, it can be very difficult to make the decision to send that account…