Why managing your accounts receivable could save your business

Understanding and satisfying customers are essential for any business to flourish and grow. The firm must balance increasing customer demands and increased responsibilities. This will create the harmony necessary for growth and stability. As the customer base grows, so will the need for precise financial accounting. This will be necessary to ensure that the firm can meet its goals. A solid system for managing accounts will help to strengthen the monetary base, which will be the foundation of the company's advancement.

Understanding the flow and ebbs of receivables can help you identify the sources of revenue that they come from. This will help you identify your company's strengths and weaknesses and provide kaleidoscopic insight to evaluate and channel productivity. These factors are essential to managing accounts payable (A/R). An accounts receivables report helps assess a company's financial health and accounts payable. A system that can effectively address dimensional productivity issues and not just maintain an income record is key to financial strength. Here are some of the perks and benefits of accounts receivable timely management:

  • It can strengthen customer and client relationships.

  • It will allow you to maintain a healthy cash flow.

  • This will prevent delays in settlement of suppliers' dues.

  • It will earn interest in your bank account.

  • It will allow for better cash flow forecasting.

  • This will save you from unanticipated expenses without any hassle.

  • It will enable you to plan for the future and draw up your prospects.

These fundamental cornerstones will help you build and sustain a successful business. But, first, businesses need to manage cash flow.

A bank study, which Entrepreneur Magazine cites, found that cash flow management problems are the reason why up to 82% of businesses fail. It may seem obvious, but proactively managing your receivables is one of the best ways to create sustainable cash flow in your industry. These tips help you avoid cash crunch and improve cash flow.

1. Evaluation of customer's creditworthiness

While a company must bring in new customers, it is equally essential that the company assesses the customer's creditworthiness. A company should have a preventive and curative credit policy before extending credit.

  • Assess the credibility/creditworthiness of the customer.

  • Provide clear conditions that define A/R.

  • As per the remedial conditions, set up repayment options and timing.

  • Plan around A/R patterns and available customer patterns.

2. Prompt and punctual invoicing

Sending your invoice promptly reinforces your company's professionalism and thoroughness. However, this also signals the seriousness with which you treat payments. As a result, customers will be less likely to defer payments to companies that take accounts receivable seriously.

3. Monitoring Receivable Accounts

Customers are generally given a window of opportunity to settle their dues after receiving the invoice. A robust calendar-like system that tracks deadlines and alerts customers for the appropriate follow-up actions can help you forecast your cash flow. Following up help identifies any oversights or lost payments. You can also use it to flag problems early in the process and help determine the best way forward for collecting payments.

4. Collections and Corrective Actions

With proper follow-up systems, you'll be able to detect accounts heading towards trouble quickly. There are several ways to handle these accounts and/or delayed payments. For example, granting a brief grace period in which you charge a small interest fee. Understanding where accounts are going astray will allow you to reduce unnecessary ramifications. 

Basis 365 has highly experienced accountants at your disposal round the clock; we cater to all your accounting needs. From notifying you at the earliest onset of any account with an issue, all the way to drawing up sensitive, concurrent remedial measures, we're in for the long haul.

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