10.16.2025 | Posted by Erik

What Can You Expect When You Outsource Receivables? See Real Metrics

If you’re considering whether to outsource receivable services, you’re probably wondering: what kind of AR improvement can I actually expect? We get this question a lot from business owners who are tired of chasing invoices and watching their aging reports grow messier by the month. 

Let’s cut through the speculation and show you real AR numbers from our clients.Things to expect when outsourcing accounts receivables, with real metrics. 

The Starting Point: What Typical AR Metrics Look Like 

When companies first come to us, their aging reports usually tell a clear story: that things have gotten out of hand. We’ve analyzed agings from prospects over the last two years who eventually became clients, and here’s what we found. 

Average Prospect Metrics: 

  • Average # invoices: 677 
  • Average # accounts: 140 
  • Total outstanding AR: $1,911,580 
  • Current (not past due): 38.30% 
  • 1-30 days past due: 21.18% 
  • 31-60 days past due: 11.77% 
  • 61-90 days past due: 6.22% 
  • 91+ days past due: 22.54% 

That last number is the most telling. Nearly one-quarter of their receivables are over 90 days past due. This is money that’s increasingly difficult to collect and often written off entirely. 

The Transformation After Working with Axim 

Once companies outsource receivable services to us and our team of AR specialists has had time to implement our processes, the numbers shift dramatically. 

Average Axim Client Metrics: 

  • Average # invoices: 2,879 (these are active, growing businesses) 
  • Average # accounts: 343 
  • Total outstanding AR: $4,433,921 
  • Current: 77.65% 
  • 1-30 days past due: 18.52% 
  • 31-60 days past due: 2.28% 
  • 61-90 days past due: 0.92% 
  • 91+ days past due: 0.62%

Notice what happened? Even though our clients’ businesses grew (more invoices, more accounts, more total AR), the percentage of seriously past-due receivables dropped from 22.54% to just 0.62%. That’s a 97% reduction in the most problematic category. 

What Drives These Results? 

This improvement doesn’t happen by accident, and it doesn’t happen overnight. Based on years of working with companies who have successfully turned their AR around, we’ve identified what separates the best outcomes from the rest: 

  1. They Trust Us to Manage the Entire Aging: Some companies want to keep certain accounts “hands-off”: house accounts, key customers, etc. But when half your aging is off-limits to us, it’s hard to show marked improvement. The clients who see the best results let us work the entire aging consistently. 
  2. They’re Proactive About Cleaning Up Old Problems: We can’t fix years of accumulated issues overnight. Clients who work with us to address old invoices, write off uncollectible debt, and establish clear processes see their agings improve faster. 
  3. They’re Open to Improving Billing Practices: Often, aging problems start before an invoice goes past due. Are you sending invoice copies? Do you have the right contact information? Are you including PO numbers and reference details? We can put out fires once invoices are overdue, but real improvement comes from fixing these procedural issues. 
  4. They Support Us Internally: When the finance team wants to outsource receivables but the sales team resists, or vice versa, it creates friction. The best outcomes happen when the entire organization is bought in. 
  5. They’re Patient During the Transition: There’s no magic wand. It takes time to implement processes, build relationships with your customers’ AP departments, and work through the backlog. Clients who understand this and give us the support we need during those first few months see the best long-term results.

What’s the Timeline for These Results? 

If you’re wondering how quickly you’ll see improvement after you outsource receivable services, here’s what to expect based on our client experience: 

  • First 3 Months: You should see noticeable differences in your aging report. Past-due percentages will start to decline, and you’ll notice fewer invoices slipping into the 60+ and 90+ day categories. 
  • 9-12 Months: This is when clients typically reach the averages we’ve shown above: 0.62% in the 91+ days category and the overall healthy aging structure. 

It’s important to note that these timelines assume full buy-in on all five points we just covered. If we’re only managing part of your aging, or if internal processes aren’t aligned, results will take longer. The companies that hit these benchmarks are the ones that commit fully to the partnership and implement all the recommendations we make. 

Industry-Specific Considerations 

One important caveat: results vary by industry. Construction invoices typically turn slower than digital marketing invoices, for example. Some clients have Net 60 terms while others work on Net 30. Your specific results will depend on these factors, but the general trajectory holds true across industries. 

Improving Your AR Metrics 

When you outsource receivable services to us, you get a complete AR process that includes tracking, escalation procedures, relationship-building, and strategic holds. The goal is to create a system where you rarely have collection problems in the first place. 

Remember, these results take time and full commitment. Plan for 3 months to see noticeable improvement and 9-12 months to reach optimal performance, as long as you’re committed to implementing all five success factors we’ve outlined. 

Our clients’ metrics speak for themselves: from 22.54% over 90 days to 0.62%. That’s money back in your business, time back on your calendar, and one less thing keeping you up at night. 

Ready to make your accounts receivable work better for you? Let’s talk.