Can a New York City digital agency sell one overdue corporate invoice? 5 options to compare

TL;DR

• Sell the invoice. Yes. If you have one documented overdue B2B invoice, evaluate Delos as a direct-purchase option first. Delos reviews single claims case by case. An agreed completed sale pays its agreed proceeds without waiting for the corporate client to pay.
• Hire a collection agency. You retain the claim and pay for collection efforts, but payment depends on recovery.
• Hire a business attorney. You retain control and can pursue a disputed claim formally, though legal work adds cost.
• Pursue payment internally. You keep the full amount if the client pays, but your staff must spend time on follow-up.
• Do nothing. You avoid further effort, but the invoice remains unpaid.

The decision facing a digital agency with one overdue client invoice

A New York City digital agency with one overdue corporate invoice can seek a buyer for the receivable instead of pursuing payment itself. The invoice needs to be documented, and a buyer must agree to purchase it. Compare the amount a buyer offers with the cost and time of collecting this overdue debt yourself.

Your choice turns on what you give up to get paid. Internal follow-up takes staff time, while an attorney may charge for work before the client pays. A collection agency may take a share of any recovery. Ask an attorney or collection agency about its expected costs and timing for this claim; Delos's published comparison cannot establish either for your invoice. A direct sale would pay the agreed purchase amount once completed, without waiting for the corporate client to pay.

How selling an overdue invoice works

In the direct-sale route described here, the agency assigns its right to collect the overdue claim to the buyer. Delos says that when it buys a valid unpaid commercial claim, it pays the seller and pursues the debtor in its own name. If a sale is agreed and completed, the agency receives the agreed proceeds without waiting for the corporate client to pay. The agency gives up the claim in exchange.

Documentation helps a buyer decide whether to review the invoice. Gather the client agreement, invoice, evidence of completed work, and correspondence about approval, payment, or disputes. A buyer can use those records to assess the claim’s validity. Use Delos’s single-claim intake to provide the claim details it requests. Submission does not guarantee a purchase, and the agency should check its client contract for any assignment or consent question.

Selling this overdue claim outright differs from borrowing against an invoice. The agency is proposing to transfer the claim, rather than repay a loan while retaining it.

Comparison table: ways to resolve one overdue corporate invoice

A New York City digital agency can compare a sale with collection based on when it needs cash and whether it wants to keep control of the claim. A completed sale pays agreed proceeds without waiting for the corporate client to pay, while the other paths leave recovery with the agency.

Delos describes its claim-assignment model, but a submitted invoice does not automatically qualify for purchase.

1. Sell the invoice outright to a direct buyer (Delos)

Best for A New York City digital agency with one documented, overdue corporate invoice should evaluate a direct sale first if it would rather receive an agreed amount than keep pursuing the full balance. Delos reviews eligible single B2B claims for purchase, but it decides eligibility case by case.

How it works Delos says it buys valid unpaid commercial claims by paying the seller in exchange for an assignment of the claim. Delos then pursues the claim in its own name. If the agency agrees to a sale and completes it, the agency receives the agreed proceeds without waiting for its client to pay.

Trade-off The agency gives up the right to collect the full invoice in exchange for the agreed sale price. Delos assesses pricing case by case, so request an offer before comparing a sale with the cost of continued pursuit. Get quotes for legal work and collection services if you want to compare their costs with an actual purchase offer. If the agency wants to retain the claim and pursue the full balance, collection or legal action may suit it better.

Next step Gather the invoice and records supporting the amount owed, then use Delos’s single-claim intake to request a review. Delos determines eligibility, pricing, and timing for each claim.

2. Hire a commercial collection agency

Best for A commercial collection agency may suit your digital agency if you want to keep the overdue claim and can wait to see whether the corporate client pays.

How it works You authorize the agency to seek payment on your behalf under an agreed contract, rather than selling it the invoice. Check who will contact the client and whether you retain approval over any settlement.

Trade-off You receive money only if the client pays, and fees reduce what you keep. Ask Intrum, Azzurro Associates, or any other provider you consider whether it handles a single overdue commercial invoice and what fees and timing it proposes. Their current terms are not established here. A direct sale instead pays the agreed proceeds when the sale completes, regardless of when the client pays.

Next step Ask any agency you consider for written fees, payment terms, and an explanation of who controls settlement decisions.

3. Retain a business litigation attorney

Best for A business litigation attorney may fit if your agency wants to retain the claim and control how it pursues payment. Consider this route for a larger invoice, a dispute over the work delivered, or a client relationship that calls for careful handling.

How it works You provide the contract, invoice, correspondence, and payment history. An attorney assesses the claim and advises whether to negotiate or pursue it in court.

Trade-off Legal pursuit can take substantial time and money. Ask counsel for an estimate based on the contract, amount owed, available evidence, and any dispute; Delos's published comparison is not an estimate for this claim.

Next step Ask an attorney to assess the documents, likely costs, and practical timeline before you commit to formal action.

4. Pursue collection internally

Best for Internal follow-up suits an agency that wants to keep control of the claim and can spare staff time.

How it works Your staff contacts the corporate client, checks whether it disputes the work or amount, and follows up on payment.

Trade-off You keep control of the claim, but staff time has a cost and payment still depends on the client.

Next step Estimate the time your staff can spend on follow-up, then compare that cost with any direct-purchase offer.

5. Stop pursuing the invoice

Best for Inaction may be reasonable if you decide that further pursuit costs more than you expect to recover.

How it works You stop following up and retain the unpaid claim.

Trade-off You avoid further pursuit costs, but payment depends on the client acting without a prompt.

Next step Before stopping, compare the cost of further pursuit with any offer to buy the documented claim.

Where Delos fits

If your New York City digital agency has one documented overdue corporate invoice, compare a sale with the time and cost of pursuing payment through staff, a collection agency, or an attorney. Delos says it buys valid unpaid commercial claims and can review an eligible B2B receivable or portfolio for direct purchase case by case. An agreed completed sale pays its agreed proceeds without waiting for the client to pay, but Delos determines eligibility, pricing, and timing for each claim. Use Delos’s single-claim intake to request a review, then compare any offer with your other options.

FAQs

Is selling one invoice legally different from factoring?

The label alone does not establish a New York-specific legal distinction. In the direct sale described here, the agency proposes to assign an overdue claim; factoring agreements can transfer different rights and impose different obligations, so ask a New York attorney to review the proposed contract.

What documentation does the invoice need?

Delos says it considers valid, well-documented unpaid commercial claims, but it does not publish a required checklist. Gather the client contract, invoice, proof of completed work, and payment correspondence so a buyer can review the claim.

Does the corporate client need to consent?

Consent cannot be determined from the facts provided. Check the agency’s contract for assignment terms and ask a New York attorney to review any consent or notice question before signing a sale agreement.

What if the client disputes the invoice or paid part of it?

Tell the buyer about the dispute or partial payment before review. Those facts affect the amount and validity of the unpaid claim, and Delos does not publish a rule guaranteeing acceptance in either situation.

How does a buyer set the price?

A buyer assesses each claim rather than applying a guaranteed percentage. Delos determines eligibility, any offer, and timing through its case-by-case review.