One of the single most important aspects of effective credit control in any business is ensuring that you know exactly who you are dealing with, before any credit is provided.
If you don’t know who your customer is, it is impossible to correctly identify the risk involved in providing credit and means your company is doing business “in the dark”.
Read more: Knowing Your Customer - ICM & BIS Managing Cashflow Series Part One
After ensuring your company really knows your customer, knowing when you can expect your invoices to be paid is the next step in an effective credit control process.
Agreeing payment terms in advance helps to ensure both parties accept and understand their obligations and allows for the creditor to forecast the arrival of funds, a key survival strategy in today’s turbulent economy.
Read more: Payment Terms - ICM & BIS Managing Cashflow Series Part Two
Invoicing is an integral part of every business, so taking the time to ensure that your paperwork really works for you is often a wise investment.
In part three of the Managing Cashflow guides from the ICM and BIS you can find a wealth of useful information to help your company avoid the common invoicing pitfalls, reduce delays and remove excuses for non-payment.
Read more: Invoicing - ICM & BIS Managing Cashflow Series Part Three
When it comes to cashflow, it isn’t just about ensuring your invoices are paid on time. It encompasses the entire flow of money in and out of your business and covers your businesses dealings with your own suppliers.
So do you treat your suppliers as you would like to be treated?
Read more: Treating Suppliers Fairly - ICM & BIS Managing Cashflow Series Part Four
