Bad Debts

Bad debts can create problems for even the healthiest of businesses.;No matter how effective a company's accounting procedures, production, sales and promotion, unpaid debts can undermine everything. Given the importance of cash flow to every business it is essential that bad debt risks are identified and controlled.;This is a guide for smaller businesses, those starting a new business and those who are already well established. The authors bring to bear their legal and business experience to set out the ways in which bad debts may be prevented as well as the extent to which the law assists in collecting them. Donald Williams was in practice as a litigation partner in a West End firm of solicitors until his appointment as a full-time chairman of Industrial Tribunals. He also wrote a humourous book "On the Lighter Side of the Law". He has lectured on debt collection to local branches of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and others.;Laurie Williams is a business counsellor for the Department of Employment - Small Firms Service. He is a visiting lecturer at universities and polytechnics on management subjects.