Debt Recovery for Printing Companies

Low Margins. High Pressures. No Room for Late Payment.

In print, timing is everything. Deadlines are tight. Materials are ordered in advance. Press time is booked. Delivery is scheduled.

But when payment drifts beyond agreed terms, your margins take the hit.

Paper costs rise. Energy costs fluctuate. Equipment finance doesn’t wait. Yet too many printing businesses are expected to wait to be paid.

CPA helps printing companies turn print runs into payment runs — efficiently, ethically and without damaging valuable customer relationships.

The Pressures Facing Print Businesses

The print industry operates in a uniquely exposed position:

• Significant upfront production costs
• Tight margins in a competitive market
• Agency and retail clients demanding extended terms
• Project-based billing open to dispute
• High exposure to SME insolvencies

When an invoice is delayed, the cash is already gone.

At a 5% net margin, writing off £2,000 requires £40,000 of additional turnover just to stand still.

In print, there is no spare margin for bad debt.

Why Late Payment Hits Print Harder

Unlike many service sectors, printers commit resources before they invoice:

• Paper purchased
• Ink and consumables used
• Labour allocated
• Machinery time committed
• Delivery completed

By the time the invoice is due, the financial outlay is weeks behind you.

The longer payment is delayed, the greater the pressure on overdrafts, leasing arrangements and supplier relationships.

Cashflow gaps widen quickly.

That’s where structured, professional credit management makes the difference.

A Typical Case Study: ABC Print Solutions

(a hypothetical case based on existing members)

ABC Print is a regional commercial print company supplying:

• Marketing agencies
• Local retailers
• Event companies
• Property developers

Turnover: £2.4m
Average payment terms: 30 days
Actual average receipt: 52 days

The Problem

Despite strong sales, ABC Print was experiencing:

• Increasing overdraft usage
• Occasional write-offs from agency clients
• Late disputes raised after payment became overdue
• Directors spending valuable time chasing debts

They were profitable on paper — but under pressure in practice.

The CPA Approach

After becoming a CPA Member, ABC Print implemented:

1. CreditCare Reports for New Clients
Before accepting large project work, they checked credit ratings and set appropriate credit limits.

2. Monitoring Key Accounts
They were alerted to deteriorating financial positions early.

3. Putting “We are members of the Credit Protection Association, please observe our credit terms” on their invoices
Their clients were notified early that payment was expected on time.

4. Early Referral of Overdue Invoices
Invoices were referred to CPA shortly after becoming overdue — not months later.

CPA’s Overdue Account Recovery Service contacted customers professionally and directed payment back to ABC Print directly.

The Results (12 Months Later)

• Average debtor days reduced from 52 to 36
• Over 80% of referred invoices resolved quickly
• No need to escalate most cases to collections
• Overdraft usage significantly reduced
• Customer relationships preserved

Most importantly:
The directors regained control of their cashflow without becoming confrontational with their clients.

They stopped replacing lost profit with extra turnover.

Why Print Companies Choose CPA

Protect Tight Margins

In low margin sectors, one write-off can erase weeks of production profit.
CPA helps prevent invoices becoming bad debt.

But its not just the write offs. Late payers can hit the bottom line even harder. As business owners we may remember the pain of that £10,000 write off for a long time.

But how much are we paying for the overdraft that funds the late payers?

How much management time do we lose to chasing late payers?

What opportunity cost are we paying because of late payments?

In most cases those costs far outweigh the memorable write off.

Preserve Client Relationships

Traditional debt collection can damage goodwill — especially in creative and agency-led sectors.

CPA’s model ensures your customer pays you directly, maintaining professional relationships while restoring payment discipline.

Make Better Credit Decisions

CreditCare reports provide:

• Credit ratings
• Recommended credit limits
• Company background
• Adverse data
• Director information

Helping you decide whether to offer credit, request part payment, or trade on pro-forma terms.

Act Early — Not Late

Overdue invoices age badly.

The longer you wait:

• The harder recovery becomes
• The greater dispute risk grows
• The lower the chance of full payment

Early action consistently improves outcomes.

Rather Than Borrow More — Improve Collection Speed

Many print businesses attempt to solve cashflow pressure by increasing facilities or extending overdrafts.

But the more sustainable solution is faster payment.

CPA has been improving business cashflow since 1914.

We combine:

• Ethical recovery methods
• Modern credit technology
• Fixed annual subscription pricing
• Over 80% resolution rate on overdue accounts referred

All designed to improve liquidity while protecting relationships.

FAQ Section

How can printing companies reduce late payment?
Early credit checks, clear terms, and structured escalation through CPA reduce debtor days significantly.

Does debt recovery damage customer relationships?
CPA’s model ensures your customer pays you directly, preserving goodwill while restoring payment discipline.

Should printers run credit checks before large jobs?
Yes. CreditCare reports help printers set appropriate credit limits before committing materials and labour.

From Invoice to Income — Without Damaging Goodwill

If you operate in:

• Commercial print
• Packaging
• Large format
• Digital print
• Litho print
• Promotional materials

and late payment is placing pressure on your cashflow, speak to CPA.

Call Peter Uwins, CPA’s National Sales Manager, on 020 8846 0000 (business hours)
or email nsm@cpa.co.uk

When you see your money come in, you will be glad you used CPA.
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