Credit Control

Credit control is one of those jobs that quietly slips down the list when you are running a small business. Fairbook Accounting Solutions is an AAT qualified team based in Hastings, helping sole traders, limited companies, and small businesses across East Sussex and the wider UK get their invoices paid on time.

How Fairbook Handles Credit Control for Your Business

Our credit control service is built around one simple goal: getting the money you are owed into your bank account without damaging the relationships you have with your customers. We start by reviewing your aged debtors so we know exactly who owes what and for how long, then we send statements and polite payment reminders on your behalf and follow up on overdue invoices at stages we have agreed with you. If a customer raises a dispute or query, we flag it early so it gets resolved before it stalls payment, and you get a clear picture every month of what is coming in and what is still outstanding.

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Chasing Invoices the Right Way

There is a difference between chasing invoices and harassing clients. Our team has handled these conversations for plenty of small businesses, and we know how to be firm without being rude. Most customers pay once they get a professional reminder from a third party. For the ones who do not, we agree an escalation plan with you so there are no surprises.

Working Alongside Your Bookkeeping

Good credit control needs clean books. If we already look after your bookkeeping and VAT, your aged debtor report is always up to date, which means we can chase the right amounts at the right time. If your books are elsewhere, we can still help. We just need access to your sales ledger so we know what we are working with.

Signs Your Business Needs Credit Control

Most small business owners do not go looking for a credit control service. They end up needing one because something starts to go wrong. If you recognise yourself in any of the situations below, it is probably time for a conversation.

Your aged debtor report keeps getting longer, and the amount owed in the over-sixty-day column is creeping up. You find yourself dipping into personal savings or an overdraft to cover VAT, payroll, or supplier payments that should be comfortably covered. You are spending evenings or weekends sending reminder emails instead of switching off. Customers who used to pay on time are now paying later and later, and you have let it slide because you did not want an awkward conversation. You have written off invoices in the last year that you probably should have recovered, or you have taken on new work for a customer who still owes you money from the last job. Any one of these on its own is a warning sign, and two or more usually means credit control has become a real problem for the business rather than a minor annoyance.

Who We Work With

Our credit control service suits small businesses, tradespeople, freelancers, and growing limited companies who invoice other businesses on credit terms. That includes construction firms working on CIS, design and marketing agencies with monthly retainers, consultants and coaches invoicing project fees, suppliers and wholesalers with net thirty terms, and service-based businesses where the work is done before the money comes in. If you send out invoices with a payment deadline attached, credit control is relevant to you, whether you have five customers or five hundred.

How Credit Control Fits With the Rest of Your Accounting

Credit control does not sit in isolation. It works best when it is connected to the other parts of your finances, which is why most of our clients combine it with their bookkeeping, VAT, and cash flow support. Clean bookkeeping means your aged debtor report is accurate, so we are chasing the right customers for the right amounts. Good cash flow reporting shows you the impact of late payments on your bank balance in real terms, and makes the case for tighter credit control obvious. And when payroll and VAT are handled by the same team, you get a joined-up view of what is going out of the business as well as what is coming in. If you already work with Fairbook Accounting Solutions for your bookkeeping and VAT, adding credit control is a small step. If you are new to us, we can take on as much or as little as you need.

Why Small Businesses Choose Fairbook for Credit Control

Every client gets a dedicated account manager who takes the time to understand your business and, just as importantly, your customers. We are AAT qualified, based in Hastings, and work with businesses right across the UK, so whether you are just down the road in St Leonards-on-Sea or further afield, you get the same level of attention. We keep our updates in plain English, without jargon or spreadsheets you have to decode, and we stay flexible, whether you need ongoing credit control or a one-off clean-up of overdue invoices. Most importantly, we approach your customers calmly and professionally, because the relationships you have built matter.

What Good Credit Control Actually Gets You

Proper credit control means invoices paid closer to their due date rather than weeks or months late, and a much clearer view of cash flow so you can plan with confidence. You spend less time and energy chasing payments yourself, which frees you up to focus on the work that actually grows the business. Over the year, fewer debts end up being written off, and you have a sensible process you can rely on month after month rather than a scramble every time money gets tight.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need Credit Control if I Only Have a Few Customers?

Yes, often more than if you had lots of them. When a handful of clients owe you money, a single late payer can cause serious cash flow problems. A light-touch credit control process still makes a real difference.

Will You Chase My Customers Directly, or Prepare the Reminders for Me to Send?

Both options are available. Some clients want us to handle everything from their accountant’s email address, others prefer to send reminders themselves with our wording. We agree this with you up front.

Can You Start Credit Control Mid-Year if My Invoices Are Already Overdue?

Yes. We can take on existing overdue invoices as a one-off tidy-up, set up ongoing credit control going forward, or both. We will review where you are now and agree a sensible plan.

How Much Does Credit Control Cost?

That depends on how many customers you invoice, how often, and whether you need ongoing support or a one-off tidy-up. We agree a clear scope and a fixed price with you before any work starts, so there are no surprises. Your first consultation is free.

How Long Does It Take to See Results?

Most clients see the biggest improvement within the first two to three months, because that is usually long enough for us to work through older overdue invoices and for your customers to get used to the new, more consistent payment routine. Some invoices come in almost straight away once a professional reminder is sent.

What Happens if a Customer Still Refuses to Pay?

We agree an escalation plan with you up front, which usually includes formal written demands and, as a last resort, guidance on using the small claims court or a commercial debt recovery service. We do not take legal action on your behalf, but we make sure your paperwork is in order so you have the best possible case if it comes to that.