Remote work has opened up new opportunities for UK B2B companies to hire across regions and serve clients internationally. But as cross-border operations become standard, cash flow problems are becoming more visible.
According to QuickBooks, 62% of small UK businesses are owed more than £21,400 in unpaid invoices. For remote teams, delays often stem from scattered processes, miscommunication, and a lack of clarity around payment responsibilities.
Late payments are not just an inconvenience. They disrupt operations, increase financial pressure, and can quietly stall growth.
This article looks at the key reasons why remote B2B teams struggle with cash flow when working across borders. It also offers practical solutions, including automation tools, credit control processes, and simple changes that make it easier for clients to pay on time.
The Cash Flow Challenges of Remote B2B Work
Even top remote teams can have trouble managing cash flow. This is where problems mostly arise:
Lack of Visibility
When your team doesn’t work together directly, it is easier to miss important issues. An unpaid invoice or a forgotten follow-up are small mistakes that can lead to big problems.
Surprisingly, recent data from Financial Accountant found that nearly 75% of small UK businesses reported issues with late payments during the first quarter of this year. This highlights the financial stress caused by communication problems in remote work.
Time Zone Delays
When your client is wrapping up their day, and your team is just starting theirs, getting approvals, and responses take longer. A simple exchange can stretch over many days.
Disjointed Approvals
Many B2B payments need approval from varied departments. In remote work settings, getting these approvals can be slow and inefficient. Without clear procedures, requests can get stuck in someone’s inbox.
Payment Chases Get Missed
Virtual teams often utilise a variety of tools, conversations, and platforms. If no one is monitoring who owes money and when it is due, it can be challenging to collect overdue payments.
Delays Build Up Quietly
Initially, you may have one or two overdue bills. However, as time passes, these small delays can add up. Soon enough, your cash flow may feel tight, not because you are not making sales but because the money is not coming in on time.
How Remote B2B Teams Can Strengthen Cash Flow Across Borders
Remote teams can succeed if they have the right systems and routines. It’s also vital to clearly define each person’s responsibilities. Here’s how remote B2B teams can solidify their cash flow across borders:
Assign a Dedicated Credit Control Lead
First, make sure someone is in charge of the credit control process. This person doesn’t have to do every task themselves, but they should oversee it. They need to keep track of when invoices are sent, when payments are due, and who needs a reminder.
When there is uncertainty about who is responsible, that is when follow-ups are often overlooked. For international clients, forgetting a reminder can lead to weeks of delays.
Standardise Invoicing and Payment Terms
Ensure that your international clients understand your expectations from the beginning. Clearly communicate:
- When bills are generated
- The duration clients have to make payments
- Which currencies do you accept?
- Any policies you implement regarding late payments
Standardising this information makes everything easier for everyone. It also saves your team the time by reducing the need for back-and-forth communication about payment details.
Automate the Process
Manual processes can create problems when everyone is working from home. Emails may get lost, reminders might not be sent, and spreadsheets can become outdated.
Using invoicing software can reduce stress for your team. Tools like Xero, QuickBooks, or Zoho can automatically create invoices, send payment reminders, and notify users about overdue amounts. This leads to fewer missed calls and faster payments, even if your client’s finance team is far away.
Partner With Experts for High-Value Receivables
If your team is remote but your clients are global, unpaid invoices can quietly pile up. For high-value accounts, partnering with a specialist like Baker Ing ensures payments are recovered professionally without damaging key relationships.
They manage complex international cases, allowing your team to focus on operations. Experts handle payment issues, ensuring compliance and delivering excellent customer service.
Make It Easy for Clients to Pay
Sometimes, a client may seem unwilling to pay, but they might be confused about the payment process. To make the payment process easy, you must offer clear options:
- Include your banking details for both local and international payments like IBAN and SWIFT.
- Use payment platforms that accept different currencies.
- Add a clickable payment link to your invoice.
In the UK, 78% of businesses plan to update their payment systems this year. Whereas, about 40% of these companies want to improve their growth through these updates. This suggests that UK firms are prioritising the ease of payment processes. Helping clients use simple methods can speed up transactions.
Conclusion
Remote work is now common, but managing payments across different countries and time zones can still be challenging. This doesn’t mean you should accept slow cash flow as normal.
Assign clear roles, automate tasks whenever possible, and ease the payment process for clients. Most importantly, treat cash flow as a team goal, not just a back-office task.
With some simple changes, your remote team can stay efficient, flexible, and financially strong, no matter where your clients are located.
Image source freepik