Why year-end matters for unpaid invoices
Q4 is when stopped accounts get decided. Four things make the next few weeks count.
- Write-off decisions. Closing the books is when aged balances get reserved or written off. A write-off is an accounting and tax event under IRC §166. It books a loss. It does not legally discharge the debt, so writing an account off and working it are not either/or.
- The audit. Auditors look at aged receivables and how you reserved for them. A file that shows which accounts were placed for recovery, and what came back, is easier to explain than a list nobody touched.
- DSO. Old balances that sit untouched weigh on days sales outstanding and on every cash forecast that includes them. Recovering them gives you a cleaner starting point for next year.
- Statute clocks. Every account has a statute of limitations, and it keeps running whether anyone works the file or not. Review the accounts closest to their deadline first.
Steps for accounts you've stopped working
- Pull the full list. Include every B2B invoice nobody is actively working: written off, returned by a prior agency, parked after a dispute, or aged past the point anyone bothers. Your write-offs are the floor of that pool, not all of it.
- Remove what can't be recovered. Take out anything settled, released, or discharged in bankruptcy, and flag accounts that may be near or past the statute of limitations.
- Gather six fields per invoice. Debtor name, invoice amount, invoice and due date, last activity, any dispute or payment history, and the contact on file. No data room needed.
- Split the list. Keep the accounts your team can still move. Hand off the rest (see below).
- Send one clear final notice on the accounts you keep. State the invoice, the amount, and a date. Then follow up on that date.
- Place the rest before you close the books. That way they are being worked during the audit instead of sitting in the reserve.
When to keep an account and when to hand it to Zindo
Keep working it internally when
- The customer is still buying from you.
- They paid recently, or made a partial payment.
- A dispute is actively moving toward a fix.
- Your team has time to follow up every week.
Hand it to Zindo when
- Your team has stopped working it.
- Reminders and calls have gone unanswered.
- It was written off, reserved, or returned by a prior agency.
- It was parked after a dispute and never restarted.
- Together, your stopped accounts total at least $100,000.
What it costs
Zindo works on contingency: 25% of the amount recovered, with custom rates for larger portfolios. There is nothing upfront and no retainer. No recovery, no fee.
Debtors pay you directly, so funds never sit with Zindo. You pay the fee from what came back. For example, if $100,000 is recovered at the 25% rate, the fee is $25,000 and you keep $75,000.
What to expect
Zindo has recovered more than 50% on in-statute accounts, sometimes higher.*
- You approve the file list and every message before it's sent.
- Zindo sends an escalating sequence of attorney-backed demands. A licensed attorney supervises, and judgment stays with lawyers.
- Most files resolve without the cost, delay, or disclosure of court. If a file needs a different path, we tell you rather than bill you.
- You can watch every account, step, and payment in the Recovery Dashboard.
Start with one company and the accounts you've already given up on. You'll have your answer in 90 days.
*Recovery rate measured on accounts within the applicable statute of limitations. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.