End of Month Collections Checklist
Run a disciplined month-end collections routine to clear overdue balances, tidy the ledger and start the new month with cash flow under control.
What this checklist covers
- Review the full aged receivables position
- Prioritise which debts to chase first
- Action chases across the overdue book
- Reconcile and tidy the ledger
- Set up the next month for cleaner collections
6 min
Before you start
Month-end is the point to step back from individual invoices and work the whole book. Get your view of the position straight first.
- Run an aged receivables report so you can see every overdue account by age.
- Confirm recent payments are reconciled, so you are not chasing settled debts.
- Flag any accounts already in dispute, on a plan, or handed over.
- Block out enough time to work through the list properly.
A clean, current ageing report is the foundation of the whole routine, so reconcile before you chase.
Work the overdue book
Move through the book in priority order so the most valuable and most overdue debts get attention first.
- Sort overdue accounts by age and value to set your priorities.
- Chase the oldest and largest balances first — they carry the most risk.
- Send the right next step for each account's stage: reminder, call or demand.
- Batch small balances for automated chasing rather than handling individually.
- Update each account with the action taken and any commitment received.
- Note any account that should move to a credit hold or hand-over.
The Merion tools provide reminder and demand templates to speed the run.
Reconcile and prepare next month
Close the loop so the ledger is clean and next month starts on the front foot.
- Reconcile every payment received against the right invoice.
- Write off or escalate debts that are clearly not going to be paid normally.
- Review which customers repeatedly run late and tighten their terms.
- Diarise the follow-ups and promised dates that carry into next month.
For stubborn debts surfaced at month-end, a free debt appraisal can guide the next move.
Common mistakes
Month-end collections lose value when the routine is rushed or skipped. Avoid these.
- Chasing from a stale report, so you pester customers who have already paid.
- Working the list in random order instead of by age and value.
- Treating month-end as the only time you chase, letting debts age in between.
- Reconciling sloppily, so the ageing report stays unreliable.
- Never tightening terms for the customers who are late every single month.
A reconciled report, a prioritised sweep and a tidy close-out are what make month-end collections pay off.
Key takeaways
- Start from a reconciled, current aged receivables report.
- Work the book by age and value, oldest and largest first.
- Reconcile, write off or escalate, and carry follow-ups forward.
- Do not save all chasing for month-end — debts age in between.
Frequently asked questions
Should I only chase invoices at month-end?
No. Month-end is for a full sweep of the book, but individual invoices should be chased from day one of arrears throughout the month. Saving all chasing for month-end lets debts age, which lowers your recovery rate.
Which overdue debts should I chase first at month-end?
Prioritise by age and value: the oldest and largest balances carry the most risk and should be worked first. Small balances can be batched for automated chasing rather than taking up your manual time.
What should I do with debts that will not be paid?
Decide deliberately at month-end rather than letting them linger. Depending on the amount and history, that means escalating to a demand, handing over for recovery, or writing off small debts that cost more to chase than they are worth.
Work the checklist, then get paid
Use the free Invoice Generator, then let Merion recover anything that goes unpaid — commission-only.