When to Hire Your First Employee

Late payment collection is stressful. My process: reminder 7 days before due, formal notice 7 days after overdue, suspend cooperation at 30 days, professional collection at 60 days. Act promptly but professionally.

Cross-border payment options have expanded. T/T remains most common. L/C dominates large deals. New platforms like PingPong offer lower fees and faster settlement. Consider fees, speed, and client preference.

Export credit insurance is your safety net. Premiums are 0.2-0.5% of export value, covering 80-90% of bad debt. For new markets and clients, this small investment lets you sleep at night.

When clients request O/A terms, take precautions. Conduct a credit check, buy export credit insurance, set a credit limit, reconcile regularly. O/A can work but only with proper controls. One bad debt wipes out months of profit.