The middle of December is a strange time for business. The emails slow down, the phone stops ringing, and for many, it’s the only quiet time of the year to actually think.

Stop chasing last-minute payments from unavailable clients. Use this downtime to assess your processes. If you want a clean slate in 2026, create a plan and take action now. The first step toward that clean slate is an honest review of your receivables.

Planning for a Clear Slate in 2026

At Gilliam & Mikula, we find that the clients who see the best results are the ones who are organized before they even pick up the phone to call us. Here is how you can use the next two weeks to organize your Accounts Receivable (A/R) and prepare a strategy that leaves bad debt behind in 2025.

Conduct the “Hard Reality” Audit

Pour some coffee and review your A/R aging report line by line.

Separate ‘slow pays’ from ‘no pays.’ If a client has claimed, ‘the check is in the mail’ since August, identify them as a non-payer. Now is the time to mark which accounts require a shift from relationship management to debt collection. Recognize which debts hurt your books.

Draw Your “Line in the Sand”

One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is vague deadlines. They say, “I’ll send it to collections eventually.” Eventually never comes.

As you plan for 2026, set a specific date. Decide: “If Client X hasn’t paid by January 15th, send the file to Gilliam & Mikula.”

Writing this date down creates a policy. It removes the emotion from the decision next month. You aren’t being “mean”; you are simply following the plan you made in December.

The Documentation Hunt

Nothing stalls a collection effort faster than missing paperwork. When January hits and business speeds up, you won’t have time to dig through old filing cabinets or search archived emails.

Use December to collect necessary evidence for accounts flagged in Step 1.

• Where is the signed contract?
• Do you have the original invoices?
• Do you have a record of the last email they sent acknowledging the debt?

Organize these files into a digital folder now. If you need our help in the New Year, provide a complete package to accelerate collection efforts.

Shift Your Mindset to Revenue

The most important part of your “Clean Slate” plan is mental. Decide now that 2026 will be about new revenue, not chasing old money.

Commit: Do not spend Q1 debating 2025 invoices. Plan to outsource difficult accounts and reclaim your time for growth.

Get Your Plan in Place

Organize now. Audit your list, set deadlines, and gather files for 2026 success.

When the calendar turns and you are ready to execute your plan, contact Gilliam & Mikula to get tailored support for your collections. Take the first step towards a healthier A/R—reach out to us and let’s set your business up for success in 2026.

Enjoy your holidays, and remember: when you’re ready to move forward, Gilliam & Mikula is here to help you build a stronger financial future in 2026.

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Gilliam & Mikula is centrally located in Richmond, Virginia, and serves clients throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Our attorneys have over forty years of combined experience in various practice areas, representing individuals and businesses. We are licensed to practice in all General District Courts and Circuit Courts of the Commonwealth of Virginia including, Central, Tidewater, and Northern Virginia areas.

The attorneys at Gilliam & Mikula are here to smoothly guide you through the “legal maze” and ensure that you achieve the most favorable outcome.

The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only.  Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. 

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