Ask Dr Louise

I run my own business but times are tough and I find my clients aren’t paying their bills and want credit more and more. I’m a real softie and feel sorry for them but the result is that my own family are starting to feel the pinch as we’re really struggling to make ends meet and keep the business afloat.

What can I do to make myself tougher and more resilient so I can be stricter with the people who owe me money? Mike, email It’s an unfortunate reality that people are struggling financially at the moment. But the fact is that business is business, and no business can survive if customers keep living on credit and there’s no income.

It takes a certain kind of person to collect debts and most people find it very difficult. You’ll find it especially difficult if you know your customers on a personal level.

The solution is not that you should change, but rather for you to use the services of a debt-collecting company. Find a professional one with a good track record and you can rest assured they will know the legal rights of your clients and you as a businessman. What they charge generally depends on the amount of money they collect, so it could be worth your while.

What you need to do is focus on your business and what you’re good at, and leave the business of collecting debt to those who know how to handle it. This will give you peace of mind and save you a lot of stress. One thing you can do is to start streamlining the list of clients you can give credit to and those you can’t.

‘The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too’

– ERNEST HEMINGWAY IN MEN WITHOUT WOMEN