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Business DSO Questionnaire

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Business DSO Questionnaire

Recitals

WHEREAS, Company Name: (hereinafter the Company) conducts business and maintains accounts receivable subject to review by the Service Provider; and

WHEREAS, Service Provider Name: (hereinafter the Provider) requires detailed accounts receivable and collections information to evaluate Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) metrics and related services; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to record the responses and related representations in this Business DSO Questionnaire to support operational review and any subsequent agreement.

Respondent Information

Accounts Receivable Summary

Total Gross Receivables (current ledger balance):

Net Receivables (after reserves/allowances):

Average DSO (most recent 12 months):    Average Monthly Sales:

Top Customer Concentration

Billing & Invoicing Practices

Standard Invoice Terms (e.g., Net 30):

Frequency of Invoicing:

Email    Postal Mail    Client Portal    EDI

Credit & Collections

Do you perform credit checks on customers?   Yes No

Do you place receivables with third-party collectors or law firms?   Yes No

Third-Party Financing / Factoring

Are any receivables currently assigned, pledged or factored?   Yes No

Reporting, Systems & Data Access

Accounting system(s) in use:

Do you permit export or read-only access to AR data for due diligence?   Yes No

Scope of Work

Payment Terms

Agreed Fee (flat or maximum):

Payment Schedule (milestones or dates):

Late Payment Fee or Interest:

Term and Termination

Term Commencement Date:    Term Expiration Date:

Termination Notice Period (days):

Termination for material breach shall permit the non-breaching party to terminate after providing written notice and a reasonable cure period as agreed above.

Confidentiality

All non-public information disclosed in connection with this questionnaire, including detailed AR records, customer data, and collection histories, is Confidential Information. The Provider shall use Confidential Information solely to perform the Scope of Work and shall not disclose such information except to employees or contractors on a need-to-know basis who are bound by confidentiality obligations no less protective than those herein.

Confidentiality exceptions: information that is or becomes publicly known through no breach by the recipient, already known without obligation of confidentiality, or lawfully obtained from a third party not under confidentiality restrictions.

Representations, Warranties & Certifications

The undersigned represents and warrants that the information provided in this questionnaire is true, complete and correct to the best of the respondent's knowledge as of the date of signature, and that no material receivable obligations are omitted. Respondent acknowledges that Provider may rely on these representations in evaluating services and structuring any engagement.

Respondent confirms that there are no undisclosed disputes with customers that would materially affect reported AR balances.

Governing Law

This Questionnaire and any subsequent agreement that incorporates it shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of , without regard to its conflict of laws principles.

Entire Agreement

This Questionnaire, together with any subsequent executed engagement letter or agreement that expressly incorporates it, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous communications, proposals, and agreements, whether oral or written.

Acknowledgment

By signing below, the undersigned certifies under penalty of perjury that the information provided in this Business DSO Questionnaire is accurate and complete, and that the signatory has authority to bind the named party.

Company:

By:

Date:

Service Provider:

By:

Date:

Enter text✕

What the Business DSO Questionnaire Is

The Business DSO Questionnaire is a structured form used to collect consistent accounts receivable and collections information from a company. It captures billing practices, credit terms, invoicing cycles, aging details, disputed balances, payment methods, and contact information for receivables management. Lenders, acquirers, auditors, and internal finance teams commonly request it during diligence, underwriting, or vendor onboarding to assess cash conversion performance and credit risk.

Why the Questionnaire Matters and Its Legal Basis

Using a Business DSO Questionnaire standardizes receivables data, reduces follow-up, and supports consistent credit and collection decisions. When completed electronically, e-signatures are legally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA where adopted; confirm any consumer-facing disclosure requirements under 15 U.S.C. §7001(c).

Why the Questionnaire Matters and Its Legal Basis

Typical Users and Stakeholders

Multiple parties may complete or sign portions of the questionnaire; coordinate ownership to avoid duplication and ensure timely responses.

  • Accounts receivable managers responsible for aging, collections, and cash application.
  • Credit analysts and lenders performing underwriting or loan covenants assessment.
  • Buy-side due diligence teams and corporate development during acquisitions.

Essential Sections Every Professional Questionnaire Should Include

A comprehensive Business DSO Questionnaire groups information by company, billing practices, aging, exceptions, collections processes, and supporting documentation to enable rapid risk assessment and verification.

Company Details

Legal entity name, EIN, primary AR contact and billing address. Needed for identity verification and matching to tax and banking records during diligence.

Invoice Practices

Standard invoice terms, billing frequency, electronic invoice adoption, and late-fee policies. This explains contract-to-cash timing and revenue recognition triggers.

Aging Summary

Current AR balance broken into aging buckets (0–30, 31–60, 61–90, 90+), top customer balances, and any concentration risks by customer or industry.

Credit & Collections

Credit approval thresholds, collections escalation, dispute resolution processes, and any factoring or repurchase arrangements affecting collectible balances.

Payment Methods

Accepted payment types (ACH, wire, check, card), remittance instructions, and reconciliation processes that influence speed of cash application.

Supporting Documents

Required attachments such as sample invoices, aging report, contract excerpts, and lockbox statements to substantiate questionnaire responses during review.

Required Fields and Minimum Data Elements

Company Legal Name: Full registered name
Tax Identification: EIN or SSN where applicable
Primary AR Contact: Name, phone, email
Invoice Terms: Net days and discounts
Aging Buckets: 0–30 | 31–60 | 61–90 | 90+
Attachments: Aging report, sample invoices

Step-by-Step: How to Complete the Questionnaire

Follow a clear sequence to gather accurate receivables information and minimize rework.

  • 01
    Collect Documents: Obtain latest aging report and sample invoices.
  • 02
    Populate Fields: Enter legal names, EIN, terms, and balances.
  • 03
    Verify Responses: Cross-check totals against general ledger.
  • 04
    Sign and Submit: Authorized signer executes final page.

How to Configure the Questionnaire in an Online Workflow

Set up the digital version to enforce required fields, route signers, and capture verifiable audit data.

Field Configuration
Required Fields Mark EIN, AR contact, and aging as mandatory.
Conditional Logic Show dispute details if aging shows balances >90 days.
Signer Authentication Use email + SMS OTP or stronger KBA if available.
Notifications Auto-notify AR and requester on completion.

Where to Send the Completed Questionnaire

Route the finished document to the appropriate internal and external recipients depending on purpose.

  • Send to AR Team: Primary storage and collections follow-up.
  • Upload to Diligence Portal: For acquisition or lender review.
  • Deliver to Lender: Underwriting uses for covenant and loan decisions.
  • File with Legal: Keeps a compliance copy and contract cross-reference.

Digital Delivery Options and Integration Needs

Ensure the chosen solution produces a tamper-evident signed file and retains an auditable certificate of completion for regulatory or lender review.

  • Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace
  • Formats: PDF, DOCX, CSV supported
  • Authentication: Email, SMS, KBA options

Typical Timelines and Processing Expectations

Set clear deadlines for responses and verification to keep diligence and lending timelines on track.

Request Timing:

Ask for the questionnaire during initial underwriting or onboarding.

Response Deadline:

Recommend return within 7 business days of request.

Verification Window:

Allow 10–14 business days for internal validation and follow-up.

Quarterly Updates:

Refresh key fields quarterly for ongoing monitoring.

Retention Reference:

Keep records per IRS and applicable industry rules.

Common Errors That Cause Delays

  • Incomplete or mismatched legal names between questionnaire and tax records cause verification holds and additional documentation requests.
  • Missing or out-of-date aging reports that do not reconcile to the general ledger lead to extended validation and potential adjustments.
  • Omitting payment remittance instructions or lockbox details requires manual follow-up and slows cash application.
  • Using personal email addresses for AR contacts increases response time and reduces auditability compared with role-based inboxes.

Risks and Financial Consequences of Incorrect Responses

Backup Withholding: 24% rate applies
1099 Late Penalties: Up to $330 per form
Intentional Disregard: Penalty $660+ per form
I-9 Violations: $281–$2,789 per issue
Contract Risk: Incorrect terms may invalidate claims
Data Privacy: HIPAA or state breaches risk fines

eSignature Vendor Pricing Snapshot for Questionnaire Workflows

Compare common vendor pricing and feature considerations for executing and storing signed Business DSO Questionnaires. Pricing shown reflects published per-user annual billing where available.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Envelope Cap No envelope cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan

Frequently Asked Questions and Troubleshooting

Answers to common questions about completing, signing, and submitting the Business DSO Questionnaire to reduce delays and ensure enforceable records.


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