Turning broken glass into real cash (not just unpaid invoices)
If you run a glass shop or glazing company, you already know the pattern:
-
Your crew rushes out for an emergency board-up.
-
A windscreen gets replaced in a driveway at 7 a.m.
-
A storefront door is fixed before the store opens.
The work is done on time, the customer is happy… and then you spend the next 60–90 days chasing the money.
If overdue glass invoices are quietly piling up, you’re not alone. Glass repair and replacement is a multi-billion-dollar industry, but many shops are still writing off a painful amount of small and mid-sized jobs every year.
If you’re tired of being an unpaid bank for your customers, it’s time to treat Accounts Receivable (A/R) as seriously as you treat safety glass.
Need a good debt collections agency: Contact us
Why glass repair invoices fall through the cracks
On paper, most glass jobs look simple: send estimate, do the work, send invoice, get paid. In the real world, several things go wrong:
-
“Insurance will pay, right?”
Customers often assume insurance is covering everything and are shocked by a high deductible or a coverage gap. Once the glass is in, they stop taking your calls. -
Mobile jobs with no one ready to pay
Techs complete the job at home or on site, but the person with the card or authority to pay isn’t there. A “just invoice me” quickly turns into radio silence. -
Construction payment games
For glazing contractors, invoices disappear into the Net 30 / Net 60 / retainage blender. You did your part, but the GC or owner is waiting on their own money—and you’re at the bottom of the priority list. -
Quality disputes (real or imagined)
Noise, distortion, leaks, scratches on frames, or a door that doesn’t close quite right can delay payment, even if the underlying work is sound. -
Weak paperwork
No signed work orders, fuzzy change orders, or vague scope language give customers excuses to stall or refuse payment altogether.
None of these problems fix themselves. Without a plan, your A/R just gets older, and older invoices become suggestions, not obligations in the customer’s mind.
The real cost of slow-paying glass customers
A lot of glass owners shrug at a few unpaid tickets. But run the math:
-
Average auto glass job: $250–$600
-
ADAS or high-end windshields: $800–$1,500+
-
Small commercial/storefront work: $1,500–$5,000
-
Larger glazing packages: $10,000–$50,000+
Now imagine every month you lose:
-
3 auto glass jobs at $400 each
-
2 small commercial invoices at $2,500 each
That’s $7,700 a month, or over $90,000 a year quietly leaking out of your business.
Add to that the time your office spends sending statements, making reminder calls, and arguing with adjusters. You’re not just losing revenue—you’re losing hours that could be spent booking profitable jobs.
Auto glass vs. commercial glazing: two very different A/R headaches
Glass businesses usually sit in one (or both) of these worlds, and each has its own A/R traps.
Auto glass and mobile glass services
-
Insurance-driven work
Jobs billed directly to insurance with the customer owing only the deductible. Trouble starts when:-
Coverage isn’t what the customer expected
-
Deductibles are higher than they realized
-
Claims get denied or delayed
-
-
Retail and fleet work
-
Retail customers sometimes ask to “be billed later” for mobile jobs.
-
Car dealers, body shops, and fleet accounts demand Net 30 or Net 60 terms and pay when it suits their cash flow, not yours.
-
-
Customer psychology
Once the glass is in, the urgency disappears—for them. For you, the clock just started ticking.
Flat glass, storefronts, and glazing contractors
-
Construction payment chains
Glass subs often don’t get paid until the GC or owner gets paid. “Paid when paid” or “paid if paid” language can push your invoices out for months. -
Retainage
It’s common to see 5–10% retainage held until final completion and sign-off. That’s real money tied up because of punch-list delays. -
Change orders
Extra openings, upgraded glass, faster lead times—these are approved verbally on site, installed, and then disputed later because nobody captured a clean change order. -
Owner cash-flow issues
Some customers simply use you as a free line of credit. If you’re not firm, you’re the one financing their project.
Why unpaid glass invoices keep stacking up
A few root causes show up again and again in glass and glazing:
-
No clear payment policy
Terms, deposits, and late-payment consequences are vague or missing from estimates and invoices. -
Too much trust, too little structure
“We’ve worked with them for years” turns into months of chasing an overdue account when that customer hits a cash crunch. -
Slow follow-up
Invoices age quietly because nobody owns the follow-up process. Calls start at 60 or 90 days instead of at 5–7 days past due. -
Fear of losing the customer
Owners delay firm action because they don’t want to upset a GC, fleet manager, or property owner—even though that client is already costing them money. -
No escalation path
Staff keep trying the same friendly reminder long after it stops working. There’s no process to move accounts from gentle reminders to serious collection.
Legal tools glass companies can use (without becoming a lawyer)
You don’t need to practice law, but you should understand the outline of your options when customers still don’t pay.
Mechanic’s liens on buildings and storefronts
For commercial and construction work, a mechanic’s lien can be one of your strongest tools:
-
It creates a legal claim against the property you improved (e.g., a storefront, office, or building).
-
Owners usually can’t refinance or sell easily without dealing with recorded liens.
-
Knowing you are willing and able to use lien rights often gets your invoice moved up the priority list.
Important:
-
Lien rules are very state-specific.
-
You usually must send a preliminary notice and file within strict deadlines.
-
If you miss those dates or file incorrectly, your lien can be invalid.
Use wording like “Talk to a construction attorney or lien service in your state” in your contracts and internal procedures, and treat lien deadlines as sacred.
Vehicle liens and possessory rights
Some states give auto repair shops a form of mechanic’s or artisan’s lien on vehicles:
-
In some places, you may have the right to hold a vehicle until paid, or even auction it after following proper steps.
-
In others, rules are more limited or heavily regulated.
Because this area is sensitive, keep it high level in your messaging and always confirm specifics with a local attorney.
Small claims court and judgments
For smaller jobs:
-
Small claims court is often the most practical legal option if reminders and collections fail.
-
A judgment can sometimes be enforced through wage garnishment or bank levies, depending on state law.
Legal tools are the last mile of your strategy, not the first step—but it helps to know they exist.
When it’s time to hand glass invoices to a collection agency
A good collection partner doesn’t just “chase people.” They:
-
Know how to speak to consumers, property owners, and contractors in a firm but professional way.
-
Understand how glass jobs, construction draw schedules, and insurance claims actually work.
-
Have tools like skip-tracing, structured call campaigns, and payment plan management that your office doesn’t have time to run.
Typical triggers for placement:
-
No response after 2–3 solid follow-ups
-
Disconnected phone numbers or returned mail
-
Customers making endless promises but never paying
-
Commercial clients that are happy with your work but constantly pay 60–90+ days late
By the time an invoice is 120 days old, your odds of getting paid drop sharply. Moving accounts to collections earlier—when they’re still relatively “fresh”—usually results in higher recovery and fewer total write-offs.
FAQs: getting paid for glass repair and glazing jobs
How long should I wait before sending a glass invoice to collections?
For most consumer and small commercial jobs, many glass businesses aim to send accounts to collections around 60–90 days past due if reminders haven’t worked. For larger construction jobs, timing may be tied to mechanic’s lien deadlines and contract terms.
Can I file a lien if a customer doesn’t pay for window or storefront work?
In many places, yes—if you’ve supplied and installed glass or glazing that improved the property and you follow your state’s notice and filing rules. Because lien law is technical and state-specific, talk to a construction attorney or lien service before relying on this.
What should I send to a collection agency for a glass invoice?
At minimum, provide:
-
Signed estimates or work orders
-
Invoices and statements
-
Proof of completion (photos, delivery notes, job tickets)
-
Any emails or texts about changes or warranty work
The stronger your documentation, the easier it is for an agency to collect.
Will using a collection agency scare off my good customers?
Handled poorly, yes. Handled well, no. A professional agency focuses on firm, respectful communication and payment solutions, not harassment. Most serious customers understand that if they ignore multiple reminders, the account will eventually be escalated.
Should I sue or use collections for small auto glass jobs?
For small tickets (e.g., under a few thousand dollars), collections or small claims court are usually more practical than full-blown lawsuits. Many shops reserve lawsuits for larger commercial or construction disputes and rely on a collection agency for smaller, repeat-pattern debts.
Need a good collections agency: Contact us
How Nexa helps glass businesses recover what they’re owed
If you’re seeing more “broken promises” than broken glass, it’s probably time to rethink how you handle overdue invoices.
Nexa is an information portal that helps businesses—including glass repair shops and glazing contractors—find suitable collection agencies for their type of A/R. We are not a collection agency ourselves and we don’t collect money from your customers. Instead, we:
-
Ask about your average job size, customer mix, and A/R problems
-
Shortlist reputable, compliant collection partners that understand construction, insurance, and trade businesses
-
Leave it completely up to you whether or not to work with them
If overdue glass invoices are becoming a monthly headache, share a few details about your situation. You focus on making glass look perfect—we’ll help you move closer to getting every job paid in full.