Account Review Checklist
Credit limits set at onboarding drift out of date — a periodic account review catches the accounts that should be tightened, raised or watched before they cost you.
What's included
- A repeatable review checklist for existing accounts
- The payment-behaviour signals to look for
- When to raise, hold or cut a limit
- How to prioritise which accounts to review
6 min read
Why review existing accounts
The risk you assessed at onboarding is not the risk today. Customers grow, slow down, change ownership or run into trouble in their own markets. A periodic review keeps limits matched to current reality — raising them for customers who have earned it and tightening them before a deteriorating account becomes a bad debt. Reviewing limits is one of the cheapest forms of credit risk control you have.
The account review checklist
- Current balance vs credit limit
- Days-to-pay trend over recent months
- Any dishonoured payments or broken promises since last review
- Disputes raised or unresolved
- Order volume trend (growing, flat, falling)
- Any external adverse signals (news, court listings)
- Guarantee/PPSR still in place and current
- Limit decision: [ ] Raise [ ] Hold [ ] Reduce [ ] Stop
- Reason recorded and next review date set
How to use it
Prioritise by exposure: review your largest accounts quarterly and the rest at least annually. Worsening days-to-pay is the earliest reliable warning — act on it before the account is badly overdue. Use your credit limit worksheet to recalculate a number when you adjust a limit.
If a review reveals an account already sliding, tighten the limit and follow your stop credit decision checklist; refer for recovery promptly if it is beyond reminders.
This is general business information, not legal advice.
Tips
- Review your largest accounts quarterly and the rest at least annually.
- Worsening days-to-pay is the earliest reliable warning — act on it.
- Raise limits for earned trust; cut them at the first sign of trouble.
- Record the decision and set the next review date every time.
FAQ
How often should I review accounts?
Quarterly for your top accounts by exposure, at least annually for the rest, and immediately on any adverse signal.
What is the best early-warning sign?
A rising days-to-pay trend. Customers usually slow payment before they stop entirely, so it gives you time to react.
Should I ever raise a limit at review?
Yes — reward a clean payment record with more capacity when the customer needs it and your cash position allows.
Templates are a head start — not legal advice
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