Debt recovery by industry
Every industry has its own payment norms, dispute patterns, and recovery levers. Pick yours below for a sector-specific playbook covering what causes late payment, what works, and what to do when an invoice goes past 60 days.
Nine industry playbooks for Australian businesses
Each guide is written for the operators in that sector — not generic copy. Average DSO benchmarks, common dispute types, and the specific legislation that helps you (where applicable) are all covered.
Construction & trades
SOPA payment-claim rights, retention money, progress claims, and adjudication for builders and subcontractors.
Open guide →Professional services
Recovery for consultants, agencies, accountants, lawyers, and other B2B service providers on retainers or project fees.
Open guide →Healthcare
Patient billing, insurer and Medicare delays, and recovery for clinics, allied health, and specialist practices.
Open guide →Hospitality
Function deposits, supplier disputes, and recovery for venues, caterers, and event operators.
Open guide →Retail
Trade-account defaults, return and chargeback disputes, and B2B retail recovery from non-paying stockists.
Open guide →Transport & logistics
Freight invoices, demurrage and detention, and recovery from non-paying shippers and brokers.
Open guide →Real estate
Commercial rent arrears, agent commission disputes, and strata levy recovery.
Open guide →Media & creative
Recovery for designers, freelancers, photographers, video, and production companies on milestone-based work.
Open guide →Education
Tuition arrears, RTO fees, and recovery for private training providers, tutors, and course operators.
Open guide →Freelancers & solo operators
IP leverage under the Copyright Act, NCAT access for sub-$40k claims, and contract terms that prevent late payment.
Open guide →Small business
Payment Times Register as evidence, statutory demand on company debtors, factoring trade-offs, and GST write-offs.
Open guide →Three quick rules of thumb
You build, fix, or install
Pick Construction & trades. SOPA gives you payment-claim rights most other industries don't have — use them.
You invoice on time, not units
Pick Professional services. Recovery turns on scope, deliverables, and engagement-letter terms.
You sell physical product
Pick Retail for B2B trade accounts, or Transport & logistics for delivery-based pricing.
Ready to send a letter of demand?
A formal letter of demand takes 5 minutes and costs $29 — across every industry.
Send a letter of demand