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At what amount it is wise to engage a collection agency depends on two things: the cost model and who ultimately pays. With a no cure no pay arrangement and statutory collection costs passed on to the debtor, a claim is worthwhile starting from approximately €100 to €250. With fixed rates or if you have to front a significant amount yourself, the threshold is higher — often around €500 or more. Below are the figures, the break-even calculation, and when even small claims are worthwhile.
Piet the plasterer once let an invoice of €180 slide because he thought: “It won’t make any difference.” Two months later, he was told by a colleague that such an amount was perfectly fine collected on a no cure no pay basis, and that statutory collection costs of €40 or more were borne by the debtor. The bottom line: €180 lost for no reason.
The short answer
Three rules of thumb per cost model:
- No cure no pay (commission 10–20%): pays off starting from around €100 — you only pay upon success.
- Passing on WIK to the debtor (minimum €40): pays off from ~€250 — upon full collection, it is free of charge for you.
- Fixed fee or legal process: generally worthwhile from around €500 — smaller amounts do not outweigh the costs.
For very small amounts (under ~€100), a recurring direct debit subscription is the smartest solution, especially if you frequently deal with small defaulters.
The break-even calculation: when is it worthwhile?
Calculate before you start. Three scenarios with realistic figures:
Scenario 1 — Claim € 150, consumer, no cure no pay 15%
- Statutory collection costs (WIK): € 40 (minimum) — added to the debtor's costs.
- Out-of-court success rate: 60–70% on average.
- In case of success: €150 principal + €40 WIK for the debtor. The agency receives 15% of €150 = €22.50.
- Net for you: about €127. Better than nothing.
Scenario 2 — Claim €500, B2B, no cure no pay
- WIK: € 75 (15% of € 500). For the account of the debtor.
- Statutory commercial interest accrues from the maturity date (~12% per year).
- Agency commission: 15% of €500 = €75.
- Net for you upon success: €425, plus any interest. Clearly pays off.
Scenario 3 — Claim € 5,000, B2B
- WIK: € 625 (15% × € 2,500 + 10% × € 2,500). For the account of the debtor.
- Agency commission no cure no pay: ~15% = € 750.
- Net for you: ~€4,250. Substantial.
For higher amounts, a specialized process pays for itself even faster. For the exact scale, see the Debt Collection Costs Act, what does a debt collection agency cost, and the official BIK Decree on wetten.overheid.nl.
Three reasons not to pass up even small amounts
- Signal function. A defaulter who gets away with it spreads the word. Customers who pay you well will start wondering why they are so compliant.
- The extinction of outstanding invoices. A €150 invoice that “gets stuck” rarely suddenly turns into €300. It never becomes less problematic, only older.
- Bookkeeping cleanup. Old debtors misplaced in your records cost you time, accounting fees, and mental space. A collection agency cleans things up.
When is a claim truly too small?
Honest rules of thumb — some things you just let go:
- Claims under €50 from consumers without the possibility of passing on collection costs (no 14-day notice sent). The administrative work does not outweigh the proceeds.
- Claims where the debtor demonstrably has no means of recovery (bankruptcy, debt restructuring). Collection “for show” costs you time. See asset recovery investigation.
- For claims older than five years involving consumers, the statute of limitations often applies. A legal expert can determine exactly whether your case is still current.
The subscription alternative for small amounts
If you have many small defaulters — for example, as a webshop, service provider with many subscriptions, or tenant of individual units — then a fixed rate or subscription with a collection agency pays off. Amounts that are too small individually can be collected efficiently collectively. In any case, ask the agency of your choice about rates for “bulk.”.
Calculating interest: don't forget
In addition to the principal amount and collection costs, the law has provided you with two further instruments:
- Statutory commercial interest (B2B): around 12% per year (2025/2026). Runs from the due date until payment. For a claim of €500 that has been outstanding for 90 days, that is approximately €15.
- Ordinary statutory interest (B2C): substantially lower — around 7% per year.
For concrete, current rates: statutory commercial interest on unpaid invoices. Your collection agency charges these by default, but check your demand letter.
Honest recommendation
For most SME entrepreneurs, a debt collection agency pays off starting from claims of around €100, provided you work on a no cure no pay basis or pass on statutory collection costs to the debtor. Below €100, the calculations become tight; in such cases, a bulk solution or a friendly phone call is often more effective than a formal process.
Unsure if your claim is worthwhile? Request a brief assessment from MKB Juristen via start debt collection. For the step-by-step plan: engage a debt collection agency.
Frequently Asked Questions
With no cure no pay and the passing on of statutory collection costs, a claim is worthwhile starting from approximately €100 to €250. With fixed rates or legal proceedings, the threshold is typically around €500 or higher. For very small amounts, a subscription or bulk arrangement is often more efficient.
€40, regardless of the amount of the principal. That minimum applies to the WIK scale: 15% on the first €2,500 of the principal, with a minimum of €40. For a claim of €50, this is therefore 80% of the amount above that — usually payable by the debtor.
With no cure no pay, this is often the case: you only pay upon success (10–20% commission), and statutory collection costs are borne by the debtor. This is not the case with fixed rates. Calculate the break-even point in advance based on the cost model.
Below approximately €50 for consumers without the possibility of passing on collection costs. And always when the debtor demonstrably has no means of recovery (bankruptcy, debt restructuring) or the claim is legally time-barred.
Yes, for entrepreneurs with many small defaulters (webshops, service providers with subscriptions, landlords), fixed rates or subscriptions are often more efficient than individual no-cure-no-pay cases. Ask your agency about bulk rates.
Yes, provided your legal preparation is in order: a 14-day notice for consumers, and correctly applicable general terms and conditions for business debtors. The minimum of €40 in WIK (Law on Collection Costs) always applies, even for small claims.
An asset tracing investigation provides insight into your debtor's financial position: does he have income, assets, or real estate? If in doubt, this is cheaper upfront than starting proceedings that yield no results. Many collection agencies and lawyers offer this service.
