How can you check a client’s solvency before working with them?
Practical checks to assess a client before granting payment terms, without confusing available information with a guarantee of payment.
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Precontentieux Expertise Centre
Resources
Practical, verified guidance to anticipate client risk, protect payments and act when an invoice remains unpaid.
01
Check a client
Assess risk before granting credit or payment terms.
How should you analyse a company’s main financial indicators before granting payment terms?
Liquidity, solvency, profitability and debt: an accessible method for assessing client risk before selling on credit.
Read this resource →Which warning signs should you review before granting a client payment terms?
Legal, financial and behavioural warning signs to consider before granting or increasing client credit.
Read this resource →02
Prevent unpaid invoices
Put sound contractual and commercial practices in place before a delay occurs.
How can you prevent unpaid invoices?
A practical method: check the client, define the order, invoice correctly and monitor due dates.
Read this resource →Deposits: when and why should you request one?
Understand how deposits reduce exposure and which precautions help secure an order.
Read this resource →03
Secure receivables
Organise payment terms and methods more effectively.
Which guarantees can help secure a receivable?
Deposits, staged payments, retention of title and guarantees: choosing proportionate protection.
Read this resource →SEPA direct debit: how can it secure recurring payments?
Mandates, creditor identification, advance notice and rejection handling for well-managed SEPA collections.
Read this resource →04
Manage late payments
Act promptly when a due date is missed.
Unpaid invoice: what should you do at the first late payment?
Checks and actions to take as soon as a B2B invoice passes its due date.
Read this resource →How can you chase an unpaid invoice effectively?
A structured B2B follow-up: correct contact, precise message, dated commitment, traceability and proportionate escalation.
Read this resource →Late-payment penalties and the €40 fixed fee: how do they work?
French B2B rules on when penalties become due, applicable rates and the €40 recovery-cost fee.
Read this resource →05
Recover a debt
Understand amicable debt recovery and the possible next steps.
Amicable debt recovery: what are the main steps?
From reviewing the debt to negotiation and possible referral: the stages of structured amicable recovery.
Read this resource →Formal notice: when and how should it be used for an unpaid invoice?
When to send formal notice, what information to assemble and which precautions to take before possible further action.
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