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Blog2025-11-21T08:37:18-05:00

Two Decades in Debt Collections: A Career of Purpose, Leadership, and Positive Impact

By Mike Hiller:

When I walked into my first entry-level debt collection job 20 years ago, I never imagined the journey ahead. What began as simply learning the ropes of an industry often misunderstood has turned into a deeply fulfilling career: one marked by leadership, mentorship, and a commitment to showing the world the positive impact our profession brings to people, businesses, and the economy as a whole. […]

September 10th, 2025|Categories: Accounts Receivables, Small Business Collections, Team APR|

Can you build a meaningful and thriving career at a collection agency?

We’re proud to say that, as in many of the past several years, we have earned the distinction of being one of the best places to work in the collection industry. It’s a recognition that we do not take for granted every year and work hard to achieve.

Maintaining an environment and a culture where people want to come to work and are excited about what the day brings them is truly one of the best parts of seeing this organization grow and thrive.

For over two decades, we have provided individuals from all walks of life with the opportunity to build and grow a career that they themselves can be proud of. But we didn’t do […]

September 2nd, 2025|Categories: Team APR|

How to maximize the results from your collection agency

We are often asked how a small business or a larger organization can achieve the desired results from using a collection agency.  And while every business is unique and the challenges that got them to need a collection agency are different as well, there are overall must-haves to make your relationship with your collection agency effective.

If you are a small business owner or someone in a leadership position who is tasked with bringing on a new collection agency, treating that agency as a strategic partner rather than a last resort is your first step.

Here’s how you, as a business leader, can strengthen your recovery outcomes with the collection agency you are working with.

August 13th, 2025|Categories: Accounts Receivables, Small Business Collections|

Understanding the role of respect and dignity in effective debt collections

You never know what an individual is going through and that is certainly true when it comes to consumers struggling with debt. No consumer wants to have a pile of unpaid bills and it’s a stressful place to be at the least.

How every consumer ends up in debt is different depending on the circumstances. While some people have mismanaged their money, other consumers have had various circumstances that could be out of their control.

Because we never know how a person gets to where they are, it is absolutely critical that we treat people with the dignity and respect they deserve. Because most people never wanted to be in the situation they are in.

When a consumer […]

August 8th, 2025|Categories: Accounts Receivables, Small Business Collections|

Reflections from ACA International in Louisville, KY

By Jeff Spurgess:

As I reflect on this past week at the ACA International Convention in Louisville, KY, I can’t help but think back over the 34 years I’ve spent in this industry—and the incredible progress both our profession and my longtime peers and partners have made. It’s been quite the journey since January 27, 1992, when Barry Jennings hired me to be a collector at Transworld Systems. […]

August 6th, 2025|Categories: Team APR|

An insider’s look at managing negative cash flow

Many small businesses with negative cash flow, as well as larger organizations, are making the same costly mistakes.

Handling everything with internal resources.

Leaders, owners and founders tell themselves the same thing over and over again.” If we just keep calling, emailing and sending statements, eventually these customers will pay.”

The problem with that thinking is that it is a false belief, and over time, it proves to be unsuccessful. […]

4 proven tactics to stop negative cash flow in your small business

Every business owner or founder has experienced the effects of negative cash flow at some point.

The question for you is, how long are you going to let this go for and how often are you going to tolerate negative cash flow?

Whether you’re running a lawn care or landscaping company, dental practice, or even a restoration company, you’re not immune to the frustrations of late paying customers and negative cash flow.

Hoping customers will pay is just not a strategy. It’s a recipe for even further financial difficulties for your small or medium-sized business.

What does your business need to do to get back your positive cash flow? Check out our four must-haves! […]

6 clear signs you need to hire a debt collection agency

If you’re a small business owner or leader lying awake at night and stressed out over those unpaid invoices, you are not alone. Your bookkeeper tells you your bank account is shrinking, and your cash flow continuously goes negative.

For many small and mid-sized businesses, late payments are not just a minor inconvenience, they can be a slow bleed that affects areas from payroll to your Peace of Mind.

Many organizations continue to struggle with this and hesitate to talk about how this feels such as frustration as well as fears of what can happen if the financial situation doesn’t change for the business.

Let’s dive into some of the painful and all-too-common problems business owners and leaders […]

June 9th, 2025|Categories: Accounts Receivables, Advice, Small Business Collections|

Reducing the financial stress in your small to medium sized business

There is no doubt that there is a lot of stress when running a small business or a medium-sized organization. Countless areas require the focus of leadership and for many, the list seems never ending.

Financial stress, as you are probably aware, is at the top of the list of challenges and frustrations of small to medium-sized business owners and founders.

Partnering with the right collection agency can make a drastic difference in the amount of stress experienced by not only owners and founders but by other stakeholders involved.

Find out here how building a strategic debt collection strategy can reduce the stress in your organization. […]

June 2nd, 2025|Categories: Accounts Receivables, Small Business Collections|

Are You a Consumer Struggling with Debt? Take Control with These Proven Strategies

If you are a consumer struggling with ongoing debt and a mountain of unpaid bills, please know there is hope. There are effective ways to tackle the stress of debt.

If you have decided that enough is enough and you are ready to be disciplined and become financially healthy, sometimes some simple and consistent strategies can make a big difference in your life.

If you’re ready to tackle the ongoing challenge of being a consumer struggling with debt, check out our simple and highly effective strategies for navigating your way into financial health.

Assess your full financial picture

If you are a consumer continually struggling with debt, it’s time to get serious. For many families, debt can spiral out […]

May 15th, 2025|Categories: Advice for Consumers|
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