Managing a business from all its aspects is no doubt a challenging job. While you are busy strategizing for the growth of your business, make sure you have an effective trade debtor management policy to reassure your working capital is being invested for the healthier growth of your business.
What Are Trade Debtors?
Trade debtors are, in simple words, the invoices or the customers who owe you money for the services or the products that your company has provided them. So, these are the total amount of money from the unpaid or the outstanding invoices on your balance sheet that your customers or any other third parties are yet to pay you. They are also sometimes alternatively referred to like the accounts receivable or the sales ledger.
Here are some helpful strategies that can help you manage the debtors more effectively.
1. Have Proper Trade Credit Policy
You must be very clear and upfront about your debt recovery policy from the very beginning stage. Try to take a written agreement on the terms from the customers to get a clear message about how serious you are about the collection policy.
2. Provide Detailed Information On The Invoices
Try to provide detailed and proper information (amount, due date, billing address, account details, etc.) on all your documents like invoices, agreements, contracts, purchase orders, etc., for prompt recovery of the money without creating any misunderstanding. You can also contact the customer before generating the bill to know what information they need for easier settlement.
3. Make Sure To Have An Up-To-Date System
Having a well-maintained record system is another secret to an effective debtor management system. These days, many good cloud-based software solutions can help you manage your credit information and minimize the hassle associated with the trade debtor management processes.
4. Implement A Strict Accounts Receivable Method
It is crucial to have a stringent debt collection process. Set reasonable timescales for communicating with the debtors at different stages through phone calls, emails, and letters. Frame a transparent method and make sure that your staff and the customers understand them clearly.
5. Bad Debts Provisioning
At the very initial stage, when framing your terms and conditions for the debtors, take the consultation from your business solicitors to make yourself covered from all the legal perspectives so that you do not get any obstructions while recovering your debts. The whole point behind having a debt management system is to safeguard your profits from the business. Bad debts can quickly escalate out of your control and negatively impact the cash flow of your business.
The Bottom Line On Trade Debt
These five steps can help you set a strict debt-management structure. You will be able to recognize and swiftly take actions against the individual risks from your trade debtors. You must maintain a polite yet professional relationship with your customers. You can send polite reminders of the credit terms and discuss the payment status for clarity. Besides, if you want a better insight into trade debtors' policies and work processes, you can always take professional assistance from the companies like the Pearl Lemon Accountants.
Jeffrey Smith is a junior at New York University where he is majoring in Economics and is currently working for Pearl Lemon Lead. He is interested in business, finance, CBD, sports, and digital marketing.