Engage a debt collection agency as an SME entrepreneur
We collect the money you are entitled to
As an entrepreneur in the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector, you are busy every day with your core business: delivering projects, managing your team, and securing new assignments. It is therefore a major frustration when customers pay your invoices late or not at all. While large multinationals have complete departments to chase outstanding items, in the SME sector that task often rests on the shoulders of the entrepreneur themselves. On this page, you can read how SME debt collection works, from what amount a process is profitable, and how you can collect your outstanding invoices with our online app.
Submit your invoice immediately
Prefer direct contact for more information?
Call 0348-486425
Why SME entrepreneurs deal with late payers more often
The SME sector is the engine of our economy, but it is simultaneously the most vulnerable to overdue payments. Our recent figures show that the average payment term in the Dutch B2B sector hovers around 45 days, while the agreed term is usually 30 days. According to figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS), more than 35% of SME companies have to deal with invoices that are more than 30 days past their due date.
For a company with 5 to 50 employees, this has an immediate impact:
- Stagnant working capital: Money tied up in outstanding invoices cannot be used for other matters, such as materials, new machinery, or extra staff.
- Chain reaction: A significant portion of SME entrepreneurs indicate that they are forced to pay their own suppliers later because their own customers exceed the payment term.
- Loss of time: Manually following up on reminders costs your administration an average of 4 to 6 hours per week in unproductive paperwork.
Would you like to know what a debt collection procedure generally looks like? Then read our main explanation on engaging a debt collection agency.
From what amount is a collection agency useful for SMEs?
Many entrepreneurs in the small and medium-sized enterprise sector wait too long to outsource a claim because they think it is only worth it for thousands of euros. However, that is not correct. There are no rules regarding the invoice amount for starting a collection process.
This means that you can start a collection process at incasso.nl for all your invoices, regardless of the amount.
This is how we collect your SME claim
At incasso.nl, we understand that as an SME entrepreneur, you do not have time for complicated manual procedures. Our online application is designed to make the collection process as transparent, fast, and simple as possible.
When you transfer an outstanding invoice to us, the file goes through a number of clear steps:
-
Digital submission within 30 seconds
You open the incasso.nl app to easily share the outstanding invoices and your customer's contact details. -
WIK-letter for private customers
Is your customer a private individual? Then you are obligated to send a WIK-letter (Statutory Collection Costs Act notice) before starting a collection procedure. This gives customers one last chance to pay the invoices without extra costs. You can send these 14-day letters directly to the customer via the app. -
Data enrichment
Our system immediately enriches the collection file with information from relevant sources. This information, for example regarding debt assistance or known payment problems, is then used in the collection process. -
Amicable phase
This is the actual collection trajectory. Based on your customer's profile, a set of communication tools is deployed to compel your customer to pay. This includes letters, telephone contact, and in some cases, a physical visit. -
Legal phase
Should the customer fail to pay during the amicable phase, we provide expert advice on the chances of a legal trajectory. Upon your approval, a summons is drawn up. This happens in only 1% of the total number of collection cases. -
Step 6: Your customer pays
As soon as your customer has paid, we process this as quickly as possible in the collection file. Typically, we deposit the money into your account within 72 hours.
Which SME sectors are at the highest risk?
Payment morale varies significantly by sector. In some SME industries, the risk of non-payment or extremely long payment terms is structurally higher. According to statistics from Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the following sectors stand out:
- Construction and installation technology: Large partial invoices and discussions about additional work often arise here. The risk of delayed payments by main contractors is highest in this sector. Discover more about debt collection services in the construction sector.
- Transport and logistics: Razor-thin margins and long international payment terms (sometimes up to 60 or 90 days) continuously put pressure on cash flow here.
- Business services: Offices that supply to freelancers or smaller companies often see invoices left unpaid when the end customer enters liquidity distress themselves.
Does your company face specific sector challenges? Please contact one of our colleagues for a tailored solution.
Frequently asked questions
Below you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions from SME entrepreneurs regarding debt collection procedures.
Are we required to sign up for a fixed subscription?
No, at incasso.nl we believe in flexibility for SMEs. You are not tied to contracts, annual fees, or subscription costs. You only pay based on results (no cure, no pay) when you actually submit a file to us.
If you frequently deal with unpaid invoices or need extra (legal) services, one of our subscriptions might suit you well.
What documents do we need to provide upon transfer?
For a successful start, we basically only need the outstanding invoice and your customer's contact details. If there is a signed quotation, general terms and conditions, or written correspondence (such as emails), you can also easily upload these to your dashboard to legally strengthen the file.
If you have any relevant information about the payment arrears later, you can always pass it on to us via the chat window in the incasso.nl app.
What happens if the claim is partially paid?
If your customer pays part of the invoice after our intervention, we calculate the no cure, no pay commission only on the amount actually collected. We will of course continue with the remainder of the trajectory to collect the rest of the principal sum, the collection costs, and the interest.
Can we also submit international SME claims?
Yes, through our platform you have direct access to an international network of specialists and native speakers. We collect your invoices all over the world, simply from your central Dutch dashboard.
How much does it cost to seek advice in advance?
Discussing an outstanding item or having a file assessed by our advisors is always completely free and without obligation for SME entrepreneurs.
Submit your first claim immediately?
Choose a healthy cash flow and unburden your own administration. With the online application from incasso.nl, supported by the operational strength and 30 years of experience of Ultimoo, your claim is in trusted hands.
Do you have a specific situation or would you like to consult with a specialist first?
Then please contact us at 0348-486425.
