Late payments can cause serious cash flow issues for a small business. You can’t afford to wait around for overdue invoices. So, what do you do when a customer won’t pay?
There are several steps you can take to collect late payments. As a small business owner, you know that most customers intend to pay you. But for customers who pay late, try our tips below.
当客户不支付时的提示
If you have a late-paying customer, stay positive and professional as you pursue the payment. Being respectful can make the collection process easier for both you and the customer.
Here are eight tips for when a customer won’t pay:
1. Set up payment terms
To get paid on time, start out on the right foot.Prompt payments begin with establishing payment terms before you perform a service or deliver a good.付款条款概述您对客户的期望和客户对您的期望。
付款条款包括：
- The services or goods being provided
- The forms of payment you accept
- Where customers should send the payment
- Your contact information
- The payment due date
- If you enforce late fees or penalties
- 如果您提供early payment discounts
Forinvoice payment terms, you should clearly outline the transaction. Your customer should understand and agree to the terms in writing.
Include the payment terms in the invoice. Send the invoice immediately after completing a service or delivering a good. You can write “invoice enclosed” on the envelope so it doesn’t get tossed aside. If you email the invoice, use the word “invoice” in the subject line.
2.记录付款流程
您需要从付款条款到收到付款的付款条款，记下付款过程的每一步。文件包括合同，发票和交货收据。
You don’t need a complicated system for tracking payment documents. But, you do want complete records of each transaction. You can keep records on paper and file them. Or, you could use onlinevwin158 to easily send and track invoices to customers.
3.发送付款提醒
一种fter invoicing a customer, send a payment reminder before the due date. A good time to send a reminder is one week before the due date. Include all the information the customer needs to pay you. That way, they can get the payment ready without having to find the original invoice.
4. Contact late payers
如果付款已迟到，请发送收集需求信。第一个字母应该提供有关付款的有用信息。客户可能简单地忘记或丢失了发票。第一个联系人应该是友好的提醒，以汇款。
每封信，增加您对付款的担忧。您可能需要通过电话，电子邮件或亲自联系客户。
5. Be professional
无论付款都发生了什么，仍然是专业人士。您可能对客户感到沮丧，但您的业务的声誉是危险的。您如何对待客户可能会影响您的整个品牌。在达到迟到的客户时，请礼貌，清晰和理解。
TheFair Debt Collection Practices Act(FDCPA) sets guidelines for collecting late payments. The Act protects customers’ rights to be treated fairly during debt collection. You could be sued for violating the FDCPA.
6.建立付款计划
一种customer might not be able to pay the full invoice amount at one time. Instead, it might be easier to pay several installments of the total amount. Make sure you have a written and signedcustomer bill payment policybefore you begin work.
一种common payment plan type is a 30/30/40 payment. The customer gives you a 30% deposit of the total bill up front. Halfway through the project, you collect another 30% of the bill. When you complete the project, you collect the final 40% of the total amount due. You can make payment adjustments for your customer throughout the project.
7. Hire outside help
If you cannot collect the money yourself, you may need to recruit professionals to help withinvoice collections。一种collection agencywill pursue the customer’s payment for you. You will owe a portion of the customer’s payment to the collection agency.
You can also hire a lawyer to help you collect the payment. Before hiring a professional, be sure the cost is worth it. If the amount owed to you is small, you might want to handle the late payment yourself.
在一个小额索赔法院提出诉讼可能更便宜。您不需要为一个小额索赔法院聘请律师。确保客户住在您附近，因为您必须前往客户所在的法庭。
8. Know when it’s time to quit
Sometimes, pursuing a late payment is no longer worth it. Know when it’s time to let the payment go. Decide if your efforts to collect the money are costing you more than the amount owed. You don’t want to end up without the payment amount plus owing a ton for your collection efforts.
您需要一种简单的方法来跟踪您的发票吗？爱国者online accounting softwarelets you create invoices, track money owed to you, and record payments. And, we offer free, U.S.-based support. Try it for free today.