How to Plan Invoice Collection | Credit Management Group (2024)

28th June 2023| Jenny Esau | News and Advice, Training

How to Plan Invoice Collection | Credit Management Group (1)

What advice can you give me with regards to asking for money? I’m sure I’m owed lots of money but I send so many invoices, that it is becoming increasingly hard to chase them all?

The trick is to know how to plan invoice collection. Use the Pareto Principle (80-20 rule); that is, often 20% of your customers will account for 80% of the overall money owed to you.

Prioritise

Focus on calling your customers based on the invoices with the highest value. There is simple reasoning behind this, you will get more money paid to you for your one call. Ensure you have all information ready prior to this call so that any questions that pop up during your conversation can be answered straight away, avoiding delays to you in getting paid. Preparation beforehand will also increase your confidence in handling the call by having adequate knowledge of the situation to be able to discuss a solution; don’t end a conversation without plans for a follow up call if the issue is not resolved from the first call.

For smaller value invoices, use a letter or email cycle to collect payments. Most accounts software has the facility to set up an automatic letter cycle, to send three letters out with a pre-determined time gap in between. Click to see our tips on how to produce effective collection letters.

In all cases, call the client prior to sending a final demand to ensure you have sent any letters to the correct address and potentially rescue a business relationship before any court action is taken.

Plan

Set aside time each week in which to focus on your payment collections.

Everyone will plan their week differently but by ensuring you have set aside time to: take stock of all payments due, make calls, send emails as well as writing and sending your collection letters, you will find that you can keep track of which customers you need to chase much more easily. You need to remain flexible to return calls when agreed or when the finance contact is available.

How to Plan Invoice Collection | Credit Management Group (2)

Author: Jenny Esau

Jenny is the Managing Director of Credit Management Group UK, with 35 years' experience in credit management, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Credit Management (CICM) and former Chair of the Merseyside and North Wales branch of the CICM.

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How to Plan Invoice Collection | Credit Management Group (2024)

FAQs

How to Plan Invoice Collection | Credit Management Group? ›

Everyone will plan their week differently but by ensuring you have set aside time to: take stock of all payments due, make calls, send emails as well as writing and sending your collection letters, you will find that you can keep track of which customers you need to chase much more easily.

How to manage receivables collection? ›

11 Tips to Improve Your Accounts Receivable Collection
  1. Automate and Consolidate Receivables. ...
  2. Simplify Invoice Payments for Clients. ...
  3. Receive Payments Fast Through an Early Payment Discount. ...
  4. Consider Accepting Credit Payments. ...
  5. Follow-Up Fast on Past-Due Receivables. ...
  6. Implement a Deposit Amount & Late Payment Penalty.

Is credit management the same as collection? ›

Credit management is aimed at granting credit to clients and building positive relationships with them through the provision of financial services such as loans, finance, and loan sales. Collection management aims to raise outstanding funds from debtors with unpaid debts.

What is a collection policy in receivables management? ›

A collection policy is an official strategy your business uses to meet and exceed its accounts receivable goals. This written document includes clear and detailed guidelines identifying who to extend credit to, how much, and why. It also includes the protocol for tackling owed debts.

How do you ensure the timely collection of invoices? ›

Make sure invoices are mailed on a regularly scheduled basis and that they include all necessary information. Include your payment terms and any past due interest charged on the invoice itself. Some companies have sped up collections simply by changing their billing cycle from twice-a-month to once-a-week.

What is the 10 rule for accounts receivable? ›

The rule states that when a customer has more than 10% of their total balance aged over 90 days, the remaining balance is also deducted as ineligible.

How do you manage a collection team? ›

Collections is no different—clear, centralized communication is the first ingredient to better collections staff management. After all, if collectors don't have clear directions from managers, they don't perform as well as they could. Internal communications affect collector morale, motivation and productivity.

What is the 20 10 rule? ›

However, one of the most important benefits of this rule is that you can keep more of your income and save. The 20/10 rule follows the logic that no more than 20% of your annual net income should be spent on consumer debt and no more than 10% of your monthly net income should be used to pay debt repayments.

What is the role of a credit collection manager? ›

Collections Manager Responsibilities

Review and evaluate delinquent accounts, determining appropriate actions to be taken in accordance with company policies and legal requirements. Communicate with customers regarding their outstanding debts, negotiating payment plans, settlements, or other resolutions.

How should a proper credit management function in an organization? ›

Credit management is the process of deciding which customers to extend credit to and evaluating those customers' creditworthiness over time. It involves setting credit limits for customers, monitoring customer payments and collections, and assessing the risks associated with extending credit to customers.

What is a collection management plan? ›

This policy defines the scope of a museum's collection and how the museum cares for and makes collections available to the public. A collections management policy also explains the roles of the parties responsible for managing the museum's collections.

What are the three general pillars of collections management? ›

In a recent article for Collection Advisor Magazine, Bob Dunham wrote about the three most important aspects of any collection agency. He explained that an efficient American debt recovery should always be built around inventory management, technology, and communication.

What is a good collection policy? ›

A credit and collections policy should include clear, written guidelines that set the terms and conditions for supplying goods on credit, customer qualification criteria, procedures for making collections, and steps to be taken in case of customer delinquency.

What is the formula for accounts receivable collection? ›

(average accounts receivable balance ÷ net credit sales ) x 365 = average collection period. You can also essentially reverse the formula to get the same result: 365 ÷ (net credit sales ÷ average accounts receivable balance) = average collection period.

How to increase collection efficiency? ›

Follow these tips to improve accounts receivable collection in your business.
  1. Systemize Invoicing and Payment. ...
  2. Develop a New Collections Strategy. ...
  3. Ensure a Quality Customer Experience. ...
  4. Align Your Team on AR Collection. ...
  5. Prioritize Your Collection Efforts. ...
  6. Offer Discounts and Payment Installment.
Feb 1, 2024

What is collection strategy? ›

A collection strategy refers to the systematic approach used by organizations or individuals to gather and manage data or information.

How to effectively manage accounts receivable? ›

Best practices to improve your accounts receivable management
  1. Set standards for acceptable credit. ...
  2. Be clear about your payment requirements and deadlines. ...
  3. Make it easier to pay you. ...
  4. Know how to measure accounts receivable management performance with appropriate KPIs. ...
  5. Be proactive and accurate with collections.
Dec 5, 2023

How do you record collections of accounts receivable? ›

For the journal entry, you can document the total amount due from the invoice as a debit in the accounts receivable account. You also list the total amount due from the invoice as a credit in the sales account. Because of this, these entries are beneficial in a double-entry accounting system.

How to speed up collection of receivables? ›

Mastering the Art of Accounts Receivable Collection: 10 Invaluable Tips
  1. Use data effectively. ...
  2. Be flexible in your payment terms. ...
  3. Send invoice immediately. ...
  4. Send reminders well before the due date. ...
  5. Follow up on overdue payments. ...
  6. Manage credit risk. ...
  7. Follow standard procedures. ...
  8. Train your employees.
Apr 10, 2023

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