{"id":85,"date":"2025-10-07T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ashfieldaccoun.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=85"},"modified":"2025-10-07T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T00:00:00","slug":"steps-to-take-before-working-with-a-new-customer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ashfield-accountancy.co.uk\/?p=85","title":{"rendered":"Steps to take before working with a new customer"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Winning new business is always positive, but before you commit to a new customer it is wise to carry out some checks. A little time spent at the start can save trouble later if the customer is unable, or unwilling, to pay. We often advise business owners to put a simple process in place for checking new customers.<\/p>\n

1. Check who you are dealing with<\/strong><\/p>\n

Start by confirming the customer’s legal identity. If it is a company, search Companies House for free to check it is registered and still active. Make sure the person you are speaking with is authorised to place orders. If the customer is a sole trader or partnership, ask for basic details in writing so you know who is responsible.<\/p>\n

2. Review their financial standing<\/strong><\/p>\n

A credit check can reveal whether the customer has a history of paying bills on time. For companies, filed accounts at Companies House can give a sense of size and stability. Trade references are also valuable, especially if the customer is asking for credit terms.<\/p>\n

3. Be clear about terms and conditions<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before supplying goods or services, set out clear terms. These should cover payment dates, late payment charges, and what happens if there is a dispute. Using written contracts or standard terms gives both sides certainty. It also makes it easier to enforce your rights if payment problems arise.<\/p>\n

4. Consider how much credit to offer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Even if the customer appears sound, it may be sensible to limit credit at the start. You can increase limits once they have shown a good payment record. Asking for deposits or stage payments reduces risk, especially for large orders.<\/p>\n

5. Keep records of checks and agreements<\/strong><\/p>\n

Keep a simple file of all checks carried out, copies of contracts and any credit limits agreed. This helps if there are disputes later and shows that your business has acted responsibly.<\/p>\n

6. Trust your instincts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Finally, listen to your instincts. If something feels wrong, take more time before agreeing to proceed. It is usually better to turn away a doubtful customer than to chase unpaid invoices.<\/p>\n

Taking these steps helps protect cash flow, which is vital for every business. We can help design a straightforward customer acceptance process, so you can grow sales with greater confidence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Winning new business is always positive, but before you commit to a new customer it is wise to carry out some checks. A little time spent at the start can save trouble later if the customer is unable, or unwilling, to pay. We often advise business owners to put a simple process in place for […]\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-85","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ashfield-accountancy.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ashfield-accountancy.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ashfield-accountancy.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ashfield-accountancy.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ashfield-accountancy.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=85"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ashfield-accountancy.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ashfield-accountancy.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=85"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ashfield-accountancy.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=85"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ashfield-accountancy.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=85"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}