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Understanding Business

A Customer Who Hasn't Paid You Can Still Appear in Your Accounts as Money Owed to You

When a business sells on credit, it records the amount owed by the customer as a trade receivable or debtor — the business has earned a claim for payment, but the cash hasn't necessarily arrived yet.

A sales report can look excellent while the bank account remains under pressure. This is why entrepreneurs need to monitor not just sales but also accounts receivable — how much customers owe and how quickly they are paying.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a debtor in business?

A debtor is generally a person or organisation that owes money to the business.

Is money owed to the business the same as cash in the bank?

No — it is an amount receivable, not necessarily cash already received.

Why are unpaid invoices dangerous?

They can create cash-flow pressure and may eventually become bad debts.

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