And you can concentrate on other aspects of your business. Other business owners contend that no one can do the job like the boss. Kathleen Shelby, owner of FlexTime Solutions Inc., a Maplewood, N.J., temporary help agency, says she tried to pass along the collections process to underlings but didn't get the best results from customers. So she's doing it herself. It's painful on my end, but it's getting easier.
Collection is never an easy game.
But some smart entrepreneurs have taken steps to make it easier. For advice, we went to 30 small-business owners to learn their secrets. Here are some ways to reduce the hassle and avoid using a collection agency or getting tied up in court. The traditional steps of early prevention still can save the most time and aggravation. And nowadays, there are plenty of low-cost accounting software packages that can easily organize receivables so falling behind is no excuse.