Before You Switch On Your Out of Office...

Who's looking after your credit control while you're on holiday?

If you're taking some time off over the summer, I hope you get the chance to properly switch off.

Running a business is hard work and taking a break is important. Whether you're heading abroad, spending time with family or simply taking a few days away from your desk, you've earned it.

Before you turn your out of office on, I'd encourage you to ask yourself one question.

What happens to your credit control while you're away?

For many business owners, the honest answer is... nothing.

Invoices stop being chased.

Payment promises aren't followed up.

Queries sit waiting for someone to come back.

And before you know it, two weeks away has turned into another month before anyone gets back to chasing those outstanding invoices.

That doesn't mean your customers suddenly don't want to pay you.

In my experience, it's usually quite the opposite.

Summer holidays mean people are covering for colleagues, annual leave is in full swing and the person who normally approves your invoice may be sitting on a beach somewhere too. Your invoice simply slips down the priority list.

The problem isn't always the holiday itself, it's losing the momentum.

One of the biggest misconceptions about credit control is that it's about chasing people for money.

It isn't.

Good credit control is about having a consistent process. It's about keeping communication going, following up when you said you would and making sure your invoices don't become forgotten.

That's much harder to do when you're trying to switch off and enjoy some well earned time away.

A little planning goes a long way

How to Keep Your Credit Control Running While You're on Holiday

There are a few simple things I'd recommend doing before you leave:

• Make sure every completed job has been invoiced.

• Follow up any overdue invoices before you go.

• Respond to outstanding invoice queries where you can.

• Know which customers have promised to pay while you're away.

• Decide who, if anyone, will keep an eye on things while you're gone.

You don't need to spend hours doing it.

A little preparation before your holiday can save a lot of stress when you get back.

If you're not quite ready to outsource your credit control, my Credit Control Foundations Kit is designed to help you put simple processes in place so your business isn't relying on hope alone.

Or... let someone else worry about it

Many of the business owners I work with tell me exactly the same thing.

They don't avoid credit control because they don't care about getting paid, they're just busy running their business.

They're looking after customers, managing staff, winning new work and wearing all of the hats that come with being a business owner. Credit control often slips down the priority list simply because there are only so many hours in the day.

That's where outsourcing can make a real difference.

Your customers continue to receive professional, consistent communication, payment queries are dealt with promptly, promised payment dates are followed up, and you get to enjoy your holiday knowing someone is keeping the wheels turning.

Because holidays should be about recharging your batteries, not wondering whether anyone has remembered to chase that overdue invoice.

You did the work. You should be paid.

What if this summer, you didn't have to think about it at all?

If you're planning some time off over the next few weeks and you're wondering who's going to keep an eye on your outstanding invoices while you're away, let's have a chat.

Sometimes the biggest benefit of outsourcing your credit control isn't just getting paid sooner.

It's knowing you can properly switch off, confident that someone is looking after your cashflow while you enjoy a well earned break.