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This week, What Works is focused on billing and collecting. Although accounts receivable can prove to be a real headache, there are lots of things you can do to help the collections process. Consider automating your billing system to improve efficiency, and get organized by keeping a receivables aging schedule.

"Dear Dan" addresses health insurance basics for small business. Check out the What Works for Business blog for more ideas on how to manage your business and news on the latest solutions for small business. Sign up for the RSS feed to receive automatic updates.




Health Insurance Basics for Small Business

Q. Dear Dan: We’d like to offer health insurance at our small business, but the whole topic scares me. We’re uncertain what the choices are, what plan might be best, and what the costs might be. Can you help? – Unhealthy Insurance

A. Dear Unhealthy: As small businesses struggle over health insurance, a National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) survey finds that two out of three business owners feel clueless about health insurance choices and costs. Here are your basic choices:



Guide to Automating Your Billing System
By Chris Maxcer
Automating your billing system can save time and improve efficiency of billing and receiving payments. If you have a business where your customers are billed at regular intervals, a fully automated recurring bill-pay system is perfect. For companies offering a wider variety of products at different prices, a more hands-on system is the best bet. Learn more.

Receivables Aging Schedules
By LaRita Heet
In today's real business world, accounts receivable, or A/R, are usually paid at a snail's pace. Hence the need for a receivables aging schedule, which keeps track of who owes the money, when the debt was incurred, and how long the debt has been unpaid. A small business owner can utilize the receivables aging schedule to collect debts using these simple steps...

Guide to Improving Your Collections
By Daniel Kehrer
Late or unpaid invoices are a fact of life for any business that doesn't collect in full upfront. But there's much a business can do to head off trouble before it starts, or to speed up payments. The key is to create a clear collections process at your business. It starts by making smart credit-granting decisions in the first place. Click here to learn how!

Guide to Creating Invoices That Get Paid
By Deborah Kurfiss
No matter how superior your product or service, you will not get ahead unless you spend time in vital administrative tasks such as accounting and invoicing. Learn how to create professional invoices and see that your business gets paid..