Credit control: the art of asking for your money.
Dear Customer, Pay Up. Love, Finance.
(Credit Control Sucks — But Matters)
Credit control is the broccoli of business finance — good for you, essential even, but rarely anyone’s favourite dish. Still, unless your business is secretly funded by a mysterious benefactor named "Dad", getting paid is non-negotiable.
Cash flow is the lifeblood of your business. And unpaid invoices? That’s business anaemia.
There are few things more soul-crushing in business than chasing money you already earned.
You have the best team since the Avengers assembled. You delivered the goods. You nailed the service. The client loved it, left a glowing testimonial, and maybe even gave you a hug (too much?).
And then… nothing. Radio silence. Just you, staring at an ageing invoice like it’s going to walk itself to your bank account. Welcome to credit control:
The awkward art of politely screaming “Hi there! Pay us. Please. Kind regards”.
Why nobody likes doing it.
There’s something inherently awkward about asking for money. It triggers a discomfort, like waving at someone who wasn’t actually waving at you.
Let’s break down why it’s universally hated:
You feel like a pest. You'd rather be seen as a visionary, not as that annoying voice asking, "Just wondering if you had a chance to look at that invoice from 43 business days ago…?"
You’re scared of ruining the relationship. “What if I follow up and they never work with me again?” Well, friend, if they're ghosting you after taking your service, that’s not a relationship. That’s a financial mugging.
You’re emotionally invested. You worked hard. You delivered value. And now you’re being financially gaslit by a client who “thought someone else paid it.”
Credit control: Where finance meets passive aggression.
There are no high-fives, no TED Talks, no “World’s Best Chaser” mugs. But make no mistake: it’s one of the most important levers in your business.
Cash is king, but guess what? Kings get dethroned when customers don’t pay their bills.
The emotional journey of a late invoice:
Day 1: “No worries, it’s only just due. Probably just an oversight.”
Day 7: “Just following up. Let me know if you need anything!”
Day 14: “Per my previous email…”
Day 21: “Hey. Quick one. WHERE IS OUR MONEY?”
Day 30+: You're practising voodoo over the aged receivables report.
Sound familiar? Credit control isn’t just admin — it’s diplomacy. It’s relationship management.
The Danger of being “too nice”.
You don’t want to upset the client. You’re hoping they’ll just remember. Maybe the accounts team’s on holiday. Maybe there’s a good reason. But here’s the truth:
Sometimes, If you don’t chase it, they don’t pay it. Bad paying customers pay the people who shout the loudest.
No one’s out there thinking, “Oh wow, we forgot to pay them — better send that £5k right away!” They’re busy. Dis-organised. Or conveniently “forgetful.” And if you don’t show that your invoices matter?
Well, neither will they.
Credit control systems: Not the movie star of finance, but absolutely necessary. Tips to get paid without losing your mind (or your clients).
You don’t need a full-blown collections agency — you just need a proper system. Something that says:
“We’re watching.”
“We noticed.”
“We care enough to follow up. Repeatedly.”
Whether that’s:
Automate the Awkwardness: Use accounting software that sends reminders for you. Let the robots be the bad cops while you play good cop with great hair.
Set the Tone Early: Your payment terms should be clearer than a billionaire’s prenup. Make sure clients know exactly when, how, and what to pay, before any work starts.
Charge Late Fees (Not a fan but it is an option): A little financial consequence goes a long way. Suddenly your invoice isn’t just “one of many” — it’s urgent.
Outsource the Pain: Let someone else be the bad guy (spoiler: that’s us). Modern accountants — like us — handle credit control without guilt or awkwardness, armed with data, tact, and a steel spine.
Don’t Take It Personally (But Also, Take Notes): Late payers can be habitual offenders. Track trends, and don’t be afraid to say no next time.
Weekly debtor reviews and escalation protocols: aka: bringing out the Big Guns aka you’re the boss.
Credit control is not optional. It’s the thing keeping your cash flow from becoming a sad cautionary tale.
Signs your credit control needs a hug.
You find invoices from 2024 lurking in your aged debtors.
Your team refers to customers as “slow payers” instead of “overdue.”
You rely on “hope” as a strategy.
You chase manually… when you remember.
Your reminders are so polite, they sound like love letters.
Example:
“Hi Chris, just a friendly reminder. No rush! Whenever suits. We love you.”
(No, Chris. You pay now.)
Why credit control isn’t just a finance problem.
Late payments affect everything:
Cash flow
Hiring plans
Investment decisions
Your ability to sleep at night without checking the bank app like it’s the lottery numbers
And when credit control isn’t working, your business feels it; across ops, sales, strategy, and sanity.
Ask for your money (like you mean it!).
It’s time to drop the fear, tighten the follow-ups, and start treating credit control like the business-critical function it is.
If asking for money makes you break out in hives or start stress-baking banana bread, you’re not alone. But avoiding it is like ignoring a leak in your boat because you don’t want to bother the ocean.
We get it — you didn’t start a business to become a collection agent. But we did start a firm to help businesses like yours stay solvent, strategic, and just a little bit smug when the bank balance looks healthy.
At Enubilous, we help businesses put proper credit control in place - without turning you into a finance villain.
Because yes, credit control sucks. But so does being broke.
