Delay in paying bills is an evil that is too widespread in Spain, since, despite the current Delinquency Law, it is relatively common to encounter delays that far exceed the legally established deadlines.
The Delinquency Law establishes the maximum payment period for commercial operations in 60 daysIn the case of private companies, and 30 days for Public Administrations, counting from the date of delivery of the products or the provision of services.
Delinquency at both the private and public levels is a gangrene that especially attacks SMEs, which have less capacity to react than large companies, so it generates significant liquidity tensions, leading to the closure of many businesses.
He payment on due date, without delays, should therefore be one of the main objectives of companies, since a sale does not end until the invoice has been collected. To collect your invoices on time, we give you seven tips that can help you do so.
Know your customer before selling to them on credit
There are different ways to obtain information about a customer, but the first source must be what we can obtain from the salesperson or from the way in which the order was placed, since it is not the same as one day receiving a call from a company that We don't even know and he places an important order on credit, so that it is the company's salesperson who, after different efforts, obtains the order. In any case, it is best to make sure if the order is important and request a risk and solvency report to some of the companies that offer this information, which also allow you to consult the RAI, ASNEF and any debts you may have with the Public Administration.
Credit to customers should not be a tool to increase sales
It is relatively common for many companies to succumb to pressure from the commercial area to sell, especially taking into account that in many cases the remuneration of salespeople is linked to sales. In this sense, combine sales incentives with others that reward good collection management, can be a competitive advantage for the company, motivating salespeople to collect invoices as soon as possible.
Charge a portion in advance or not give credit on the first orders
There are companies that buy and are not willing to pay, or simply do not want to do so. In some cases, an order may arise because the company's regular supplier who placed it has cut off credit to the company for non-payment. In this sense, collect a portion of pre-orders or first invoices in cash, can scare away these “customers”, who place orders without the intention of paying for them. Advance payments are common in law firms, architects or solicitors, to give some examples. Likewise, many self-employed workers in the construction sector require their clients to pay material costs in advance.
Invoice immediately and control payment terms
Sometimes, the problem is not with the client, since if it takes a while for them to receive the invoice, the time needed for review and administrative management must be added to this delay. Furthermore, if it is not controlled whether the invoices are paid when due, we may encounter clients who say they have not received the invoices or that they have not paid them because they have been distracted. It is important start collection efforts as soon as possible, but to do this you have to keep strict control of the invoices and their due dates.
Being the first to complain and the most insistent can help you collect
Pressure often works. In this sense, many debtors pay first to the one who insists the most, or to those who exert greater pressure through lawyers or companies specialized in collection management. Although if you have to resort to lawyers or these types of companies, you will no longer collect the full amount of the debt, since you will have to deduct a part to pay these companies or lawyers for their services.
Use credit and surety insurance
This type of insurance is a good option, both to analyze the client's solvency a priori, and to collect quickly in the event of non-payment. In addition, these companies are responsible for putting pressure on the debtor and suing them in court if non-payment of the debt persists.
Use professional templates for your invoices
The use of professional billing invoices or programs that issue invoices with all their requirements, allowing them to be sent quickly by email, is a guarantee to speed up collections. A elegant and professional invoice formatIn addition to making a good impression, will facilitate the review of the invoiceby the client, who will be able to clearly see the payment conditions and all the essential data that an invoice must contain.
The professional templates They can be Word or Excel documents, simple and easy, so that once you have chosen the favorite design, you must include the invoice data and the company logo. The use of this type of templates is widely used by companies in their first commercial operations. By using them, you will ensure that Your invoices contain all the necessary requirements.
But, if in addition to generating invoices, you want to send them from anywhere, forget about completing them manually and saving them, programs like Sage make billing tasks easier for SMEs and self-employed workers, saving time that can be used in other projects. facets of the company. Additionally, when you create and send invoices with these solutions, you create a registration of invoices, orders, clients and pending charges, facilitating administrative management and filing taxes.
Fountain: SAGE
