How to Appropriately Collect Late Payments at Your Business

Clients who don't pay on time can be a frustrating disruption to your company's cash flow, and collection efforts are a time-consuming and sometimes expensive hassle. Many late payments can be collected, however, if you start collection efforts early and take the right actions.

Start With a Reminder Letter

Some people simply forget to pay, and a reminder letter is a welcome opportunity to settle the debt. You may even want to send a letter a few days before a payment is due. 

A form letter is the best idea because clients may not be offended or take a form letter personally. Be sure to ask the client to contact you if they need to discuss payment arrangements or have a problem with the products or services you provided.

Make a Follow-Up Call

If your letter doesn't get a response within 30 days, a phone call should be the next step. If you can reach a client by phone, they may be willing to explain why the payment has been delayed or give you payment information so they can resolve the issue. 

If phoning is unsuccessful, you may choose to send an email with instructions for paying online.

Use a Collection Agency

Commercial debt collection can be especially difficult because it may involve dealing with big businesses that don't respond well to collection efforts. 

A good debt collection agency that is experienced with commercial debt collection can handle your aged accounts, overflow beyond the capacity of your accounts receivable department, and more. 

Some companies, like Leib Solutions, know that agencies can usually interface with your billing system and communicate with your on-site staff for seamless collection.

Offer Options, Not Threats

Threatening your past-due clients is illegal and unlikely to work anyway. Instead, offer multiple ways and opportunities for payment and the chance to preserve the relationship with your company so they can continue to benefit from your products or services. 

Offer installment plans and easy credit card payments. As a last resort, consider offering to take partial payment to settle the account. Getting something from the client is better than nothing.

The easiest option for your company may be to require payment for all goods and services in advance. Almost as easy is when clients perform as expected and pay on time. 

Even when these things don't happen, you can collect past-due accounts with a simple system and perhaps the help of a collection agency. Late payments are a hassle, but they can be overcome when you make the right collection decisions.

How Business Owners Can Manage Their Monthly Finances

It is essential for business owners to manage their finances properly. Proper financial management ultimately ensures cash flow to the business. It will help them to keep track of their debts and credit. Additionally, it guides them towards a suitable investment to grow their business.

Create a Financial Budget

The business may not be successful if business owners fail to set up a comprehensible financial budget. Moreover, it is about setting up a monthly financial plan and adhering to it. 

A financial budget will help the business to mitigate failure. The process opens their eyes to allocate various finances to be used in the company monthly.

Keep Track of Their Spending

Typically, business owners might lose track of how money is spent daily. If they fail to keep a record of the finances spent, they might find themselves in debt and overspending. Eventually, small expenses might end up accumulating to massive bills. 

To avoid future financial problems, business owners need to record their business transactions in accounting books monthly.

Awareness of Their Deadlines

Most businesses have loans and credit card payments. To avoid these payments from accumulating, business owners should meet deadlines. 

Awareness enables them to plan throughout the month to make the payments and avoid added interests. In addition to this, it helps them to avoid missing monthly payments.

Constantly Reviewing Their Financial Reports

Keeping a close eye on profit and loss reports, receivable and payable reports, and balance sheets is beneficial for giving insight into their business finances. The information will show them the position of the business in the growing market.

Find a Reliable Business Insurance Broker

If someone wants to start a business, it is advisable to get a business insurance broker. It can be challenging to accumulate finances to start a business. An insurance broker will help to obtain affordable insurance cover. 

After getting a compatible insurance cover, the broker will be paid a certain amount. Thereafter, the business owner can start paying the insurance company according to the set terms.

Ensure They Have Extra Savings for the Business

Alternatively, every business needs to save extra finances. The additional savings will be helpful when your business is faced with unavoidable circumstances. 

Business owners need to have separate savings account to cover emergency expenses that arise randomly. They should make monthly deposits to the savings account.

Managing monthly finances is the first step for long-term success as a business owner. Proper financial management prepares the business to face challenges and to avoid making losses. Poor management has led to the downfall of many companies globally.

Buying a New Car? 4 Essentials You'll Need for the Road

There is nothing quite like the feeling of buying a new car. The car offers you endless opportunities while also giving you a chance to express your personality. While you may be itching to take the car for a long drive after leaving the dealership, you need to stock it with a few things. 

These items will help you stay prepared for anything that can happen on the open road. These are the four essentials you must get for your new car.

Spare Tire

While there was a time when every new car came equipped with a spare tire, which is not the case these days. A spare tire is something everyone should have in their vehicle at all times. 

If your new car does not come with a spare tire, then make sure to buy one as soon as possible. You should even be able to get one directly from the dealer. You simply never know when a tire will go flat.

Auto Insurance

It is illegal to drive a car anywhere in the country without having auto insurance. Your current policy will cover the new car for a short period of time, but you will need to eventually get additional coverage. 

Some companies, like The Lofrumento Agency, Inc., know that if this it’s your first car, then you will need to get insurance before the car is allowed to leave the dealership. There is no need to risk tickets or high repair bills when it is so easy to insure your new car.

Emergency Road Kit

It is impossible to predict what will happen when driving on the open road. An accident or car trouble can happen at any time even if you do absolutely nothing wrong. Be prepared for the unexpected by keeping an emergency road kit in the trunk of your car. 

This kit should have jumper cables, flashlights, and a few small tools. It is also a good idea to have some water and snacks in case you are stuck on the side of the road for a long time.

Extra Phone Charger

The security provided by smartphones has vastly improved the driving experience in recent years. Driving to an unknown location is a breeze thanks to GPS directions. 

You can also use the phone to make an emergency call or listen to your favorite music on the road. Since your smartphone is such an important part of your life, you never want it to die while driving. Keep this from happening by getting a spare phone charger.

What Happens When You Fail a Tax Audit?

A tax audit is a thorough examination of your taxable income and deductions by tax attorneys to verify that your tax records are accurate. 

Detection of tax errors in your tax reports could result in heavy penalties, including imprisonment. The following are some of the things that happen whenever you fail a tax audit.

The IRS Issues You With a Written Notification

Once the tax attorneys discover that you have failed in your tax audit, they issue you with a written report informing you of the tax audit findings. 

The tax attorneys normally send their findings to you within thirty days and allow you to fill in for any appeal. The audit report usually highlights the amount that you owe and the reason why you are guilty.

Assessing the Audit Report

As soon as you receive the tax audit report, the tax attorneys expect you to analyze it and send your opinion feedback. If you determine that you are guilty, you can pay the amount you owe and terminate the case. Tax auditors assume that you plead guilty to tax offenses whenever you fail to respond to the notification.

Court Appeal

The court process begins as soon as you fail to respond to IRS notification where you are assumed to be guilty. At this stage, you are allowed to present your case and defend yourself from the litigation process. 

After this, the court of law could determine that you are guilty and you have committed a tax offense. The court judge will give you reasons as to why you are guilty and charge you accordingly.

Jail Imprisonment

The court can imprison you for a term of about one year whenever they discover that you intentionally failed to file your tax returns. You are also subject to spending five years in prison whenever the court determines that you engaged in tax evasion during a specific time.

Hefty Court Fines

You can also be fined heavily in a year for every additional tax return you do not file. The court will add another fine whenever the tax attorney establishes that you filed fraudulent tax returns.

Failing in your tax audits is a severe offense that will result in hefty fines and imprisonment. It is crucial that you file your returns on time and reveal the correct information. You can appeal against the penalties imposed by the IRS in case you fail a tax audit.

When Should You Hire a Lawyer, and When Should You Not?

The law in California does not mandate that you should hire a lawyer when seeking compensation for injuries or damages after a vehicle accident. After a car accident, most victims seek legal representation while others pursue legal action by themselves.

While hiring an attorney doesn’t guarantee you an exact result for your legal case, these experts can help you in several ways and improve your possibility of winning the trial. 

After a car accident, an experienced attorney will gather sufficient evidence to use in the case procedure. The attorney can also negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf when necessary.

When Should You Not Hire a Lawyer?

There are situations where obtaining legal help from an attorney is not necessary. Several circumstances where you might not need obtaining counsel include:

No Injury Occurred

When two vehicles crash and people were not present in either car during the accident, you don’t have to hire an attorney to represent you in such a case if there were no damages. If there is no damage and you are not hurt, it is not worthwhile to pursue an accident injury claim.

You Were Compensated by the Insurance Company

If you are involved in an accident and the insurer agrees to compensate you on time to settle the matter, it is not necessary to hire a lawyer to negotiate for you.

When Should You Hire a Lawyer?

When the insurer isn’t playing nice to you or is providing compensation that does not cover all the injuries and damage suffered, you should talk to a lawyer. 

Personal injury experts like Frank Penney Injury Lawyers can help you gather the necessary evidence that proves why you deserve proper compensation from the insurance company.

You Suffered Injuries and Damage Because of the Driver’s Negligence

If you suffer significant damages from an accident you believe was due to the driver’s negligence, hiring an attorney is necessary. They can investigate your case and come up with sufficient evidence proving the accident was because of the negligence of the other driver.

If you suffer any damages, expenses, or injury that demands compensation, you should cooperate with an attorney since the insurance company will not be on your side.

Get the Legal Representation You Deserve

Getting proper compensation for those injuries or damage you suffer from a car accident can be difficult, especially if you chose to handle the case involved on your own. A skilled car accident attorney will present information the right way if the case goes to court and produce results that guarantee the best chances of success.

What to Look for When Finding a Lender for Your Home

When you are preparing to buy a home, obtaining financing may be one of your biggest obstacles. Depending on the price of your home, your financial situation both past and present, and the economic conditions in your community and across the nation, the process can sometimes be more difficult than you imagined. 

To avoid wasting your time and ultimately being disappointed at not getting a loan, here are some things to look for when seeking a lender for your home.

First-Time Homebuyer Programs

If this is the first home you are buying, look for lenders who offer programs for first-time homebuyers. This is especially important if you are a military veteran, first responder, or even someone who has a student loan since many lenders offer loan and grant options with such features as down payment assistance, lower interest rates, and more.

Transparency and Communication

Since even the slightest mistake or misunderstanding could result in you not being able to purchase a home you've been looking at for some time, always choose a lender that emphasizes transparency and clear communication throughout the process. 

This is always important when private equity representation is being used in conjunction with a real estate purchase since consultants can meet directly with you, learn all details of the potential project, and give you the information needed to make a well-informed decision.

Competitive Interest Rates and Costs

Just as you should not fall in love with a property, you also should not fall in love with a certain lender. Instead, be willing to take a look at numerous lenders, both brick-and-mortar and online companies, to gauge their competitiveness regarding interest rates being offered to home buyers. 

However, don't stop there. Instead, take a close look at the fees associated with your loan application, appraisal, title, and loan origination, all of which will ultimately affect your closing costs.

Compare Options for Pre Approval

Finally, compare any options for a preapproval from a multitude of lenders. For example, see if your lender allows the preapproval process to be handled exclusively online, or if you will be required to make an in-person visit. 

Also, if your credit score is lower or you have other issues, ask your lender to work with you toward a solution. In many cases, lenders will be willing to look at your whole financial picture and any extenuating circumstances in making their decision.

Rather than rushing through the lending process and winding up with a bad deal or no deal at all, take your time and make sure the lender you choose to work with is able and willing to help you from start to finish.