Sunday, 8 September 2013

Roles Played By Billing Consultants

By Lila Berger


To effectively undertake billing process, there is a need to contact billing consultants. It largely depends on the agreements made between you and the customer. Varied forms of agreements might be involved in the undertaking the process. It might take other forms or a written contract between you and the client.

For example, the agreement may set that; payments should be made at the end of completion of a given milestone. This may be on quarter completion of the project or draft report submission. Such invoices are submitted to the client upon completion of a milestone.

However, individual may choose frequently do billing to the client according to the number of hours or days worked for. This may include the cost of expenses such as photocopying, traveling among others. He or she notes the charges and bills them to the client according to the agreed period or at the end of billing cycle. This may be done on a monthly basis or according to the period agreed.

The following can be done to promote effectiveness of your billing process. Front load your billing. While you can chose to invoice your client after reaching milestones, it is important to load your fee into the front of the project rather than doing so at the end.

This can be effectively done by pushing for advance payments to aid you start the project or making the first initial payments higher than those which will be due later during the project. This will enable you to get financial head start as well as minimizing risks such as, client paying on the later days of the project. The amount of money can also be used to cater for the cost of the project.

Often billing is essential. Often billing enables you to ensure frequent payments and cash flow. Even though standard consultants usually prefer monthly payments however, hourly or daily is preferred as it increases cash flow of individuals.

Immediate invoicing clients are effective. At the end of the billing cycle or on completion of the agreed milestone. Individual should invoice the client to ensure sooner consideration and payments.

Long time ago, invoices were mailed to the clients through the use of post offices. This however lengthens the duration taken before the client receives the invoice. It is important for an individual to use email whenever possible to send their invoices. This will minimize the delivery time and significantly reduces the cost incurred in sending the invoice.

Motivating the clients to pay promptly is important. Therefore, you should consider offering discounts to the clients who makes prompt payments. Cost incurred in giving discount is lower than the returns brought by immediate payments. The discounts can be offered to the clients who make the payments within 10 to 20 days or less.

Monitor client payment closely. It is important for the billing consultants to monitor the status of their invoices to make sure that the clients pay their bills on time. Making phone calls in necessary to ensure that payments are made on time as well as initiating collection procedures.




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