Engaging a debt collection agency for business purposes works faster, harder, and cheaper than private collection — provided your legal homework is correct. Statutory commercial interest is higher, contractual collection costs can be agreed upon more generously, and you do not need to send a 14-day notice. The question, therefore, is not whether it works, but whether your invoice, general terms and conditions, and correspondence are drafted in such a way that the agency can get to work immediately.
Piet the plasterer learned during his time in general terms and conditions that a solid set of terms and conditions is the cornerstone of business debt collection. Since his terms are in order, an unpaid B2B invoice goes into collection within two weeks — and is collected within four weeks in 80% of cases. Previously, he spent six months emailing. Below is how that works.
The short answer
Business debt collection follows the same step-by-step plan as private debt collection, with three differences:
- No mandatory 14-day letter. For consumers, that letter is mandatory; for B2B, it is not. However, it is good practice.
- Statutory commercial interest rate (~12% per year in 2025/2026) instead of the ordinary statutory interest rate (~7%) — substantially more.
- Contractual collection costs may be agreed upon in general terms and conditions, often 15% with a specific minimum. This may exceed the WIK scale, provided it is reasonable.
The conditions: make sure this is in order
Business debt collection revolves around evidence and paperwork in order. What a debt collection agency needs from you to take swift action:
- A correct invoice. Name, VAT, address, invoice number, due date. Businesses still regularly lose business due to errors regarding due dates — see the rules for the due date on an invoice.
- An order confirmation or agreement. Documenting in writing what you have delivered and at what price is your most important piece of evidence. Read also why you should always confirm an order in writing.
- General terms and conditions that apply correctly. This is where most mistakes are made. Conditions do exist, but have not been provided in a timely manner. Result: no right to contractual interest or collection costs. The practical errors in the hassle of dealing with the applicability of general terms and conditions twice.
- First reminder(s) and any correspondence, for the evidentiary position.
The statutory commercial interest rate: the business difference maker
For B2B claims, Article 6:119a of the Dutch Civil Code: statutory commercial interest. For years, this has been well above the standard statutory interest rate — currently around 12% per year. That adds up: for a claim of €10,000 that has been outstanding for six months, that amounts to approximately €600 in interest alone, on top of collection costs.
Commercial interest accrues from the due date until payment, without the need to send a formal demand. In the case of a statutory payment term (standard 30 days) or an agreed shorter term, it counts from the expiration thereof. Concrete figures and current percentages: statutory commercial interest on unpaid invoices.
Contractual collection costs: more than WIK
For consumer claims, the WIK scale applies as a ceiling. In B2B, you may deviate contractually — for example, 15% collection costs with a minimum of €250. Conditions:
- The agreement is in your general terms and conditions, not just in your head.
- Your General Terms and Conditions have been correctly declared applicable and provided.
- The agreed costs are not unreasonably burdensome (assessed in B2B via the open standard, not the black/grey list).
High contractual collection costs can be reduced by a judge if they prove manifestly unreasonable in a specific case. A reasonable percentage with a reasonable minimum is generally well received.
The relationship: how do you separate business from the professional relationship?
A difference between consumer and B2B debt collection: with a business client, you often have an ongoing relationship to manage. Three principles to work with:
- Communicate professionally, not emotionally. A formal reminder “on behalf of our administration” feels different from a personal reproach.
- Offer a way out, not just a threat. For a good customer with temporary problems, a payment arrangement without an immediate collection agency sometimes works better — faster, and preserves the relationship.
- Be consistent. A regular customer who never pays on time asks for agreements in advance (short-term, factoring, prepayment), not for collection after every invoice.
For clients with serious financial problems: see limiting debtor risk. Prevention is better than cure.
How much does business debt collection cost?
For B2B claims, the same fee models apply as for consumer collections — no cure no pay, fixed rate, or subscription. The difference lies in what is charged to the debtor: due to statutory commercial interest and any contractual collection costs, the amount quickly adds up on top of the principal sum. Consequently, upon full recovery, the debtor takes a bigger hit than with consumers — which typically contributes to the leverage available.
For prices and break-evens: what does a debt collection agency cost and from what amount to engage one.
Referral to the judge
If out-of-court collection fails, legal proceedings come into play—just as with private individuals. In B2B, this is often done via a summons before the sub-district court (up to €25,000) or the district court. In cases of strong suspicion of unwillingness to pay on the part of a solvent debtor, summary proceedings are sometimes faster—see collection summary proceedings.
In certain cases, a bankruptcy petition can serve as leverage if the debtor consistently fails to pay and has multiple creditors. Not as unfounded pressure, but as a last serious step. See filing for bankruptcy.
Honest recommendation
Business debt collection works lightning fast if your groundwork is in order: invoice, general terms and conditions correctly applied, reminders in order. Is the groundwork not up? Then you will face formal objections in proceedings and find yourself in a judicial phase sooner than you would like. An investment in your administrative discipline pays for itself with every unpaid invoice.
Unsure if your General Terms and Conditions or invoicing procedure are in order for effective B2B debt collection? Request a quick check when starting debt collection at MKB Juristen. For a more detailed explanation: engage a debt collection agency.
Frequently Asked Questions
The same step-by-step plan as for private debt collection: file building, formal demand, telephone contact, possible payment arrangement, and referral to court in the event of non-payment. Difference: no mandatory 14-day notice, higher statutory commercial interest, and often higher contractual collection costs.
Not mandatory, but good practice. The WIK regulation regarding 14-day notices applies only to consumers. In B2B, you may start collection immediately after the due date, provided your reminder(s) are in order and your General Terms and Conditions apply correctly.
The interest you are legally permitted to charge on late payment in B2B situations (Art. 6:119a BW). Substantially higher than the standard statutory interest — currently around 12% per year. Runs from the due date until payment, without the need to send a formal demand.
Yes, provided that is stated in your general terms and conditions and they apply correctly. A common percentage is 15%, with a personal minimum. A judge can reduce manifestly unreasonable agreements, but reasonable contractual collection costs generally hold up well.
Out-of-court collection usually takes two to four weeks. A large proportion of B2B claims are resolved after the demand letter and one round of phone calls — companies do not want to escalate the dispute and avoid legal proceedings.
Not if you handle it professionally. For a one-off problem, a conversation plus a payment plan often works even better than formal debt collection. For recurring defaulters, the considerations change: the relationship is already damaged anyway, and recovering what you have earned is the main priority.
As a last resort with a solvent debtor who systematically refuses to pay and there are multiple creditors (requirement: plurality of creditors). Not as unfounded pressure tactics — that is an abuse of procedural law. Always seek legal advice beforehand.
