Cash Flow Strategies to Improve Accounts Receivable Turnover

Offer alternative payment options

What does a business do when the customer does not pay them? Some businesses do nothing others call customers and reach out with alternate options such as paying by credit card. When a customer pays with a credit card they are given one month to pay the bill and the business pays the processing fees for a credit card. This means when a business accepts credit cards on past due to companies they are effectively giving them one more month to pay and incurring the cost associated with this. It is not an effective cash flow strategy to cover the cost of credit cards from customers when you are extending terms to them.

Implementing a compliant credit card surcharging solution allows businesses to extend terms to customers without incurring the fee associated with it. This means that when the customer is ready to pay the businesses do not carry additional costs. Also, keep in mind some people pay with credit cards not because they need to but because they want points or rewards. A surcharging solution disincentivizes the customer to pay with a credit card while giving them the option to do so. A win-win for the business.

Tighten up a credit policy

Customers who do not pay are a function of who you are extending terms to. Make sure you have parameters for businesses you are extending terms to. Many businesses make the mistake of extending terms for large transactions because they want to earn the business, the problem is that these large transactions can be detrimental to a company if they do not get paid on time.

Offering a compliant credit card surcharging solution allows businesses to extend terms without carrying the cost or risk of not getting paid. The business gets paid the total amount upfront and the customer has 30 days to pay the credit card bill.

Pay by credit card link in invoices

Most B2B businesses avoid accepting credit cards because the transaction fees have a huge impact on their bottom line. When you have large transaction amounts and low-profit margins paying credit card fees can eliminate all your profits. When businesses set up a compliant surcharging solution they are actually paying zero cost to process credit cards because the customer is covering the fees for the credit card.  This means that businesses pay less to process a credit card than they would process an ACH or wire transaction.

By implementing a compliant credit card surcharging solution the business can advertise accepting credit cards on large transactions without hurting their bottom line. When they send out invoices they can include a link to pay by credit card. This link gives customers options to easily pay the invoice and in many times pay it before its due. In turn, improving receivable turnover.

Can I just accept credit cards and charge customers more?

In order to pass on the fee to customers, you need to make sure you are following all compliance requirements set by the card brands. You cannot simply just add a fee. If you do not follow all the rules set by the card brands you run the risk of being terminated by them for accepting credit cards and/or fined.