Owed Money by a Florida Business? How Recovery Works, Step by Step
The work was delivered. The invoice went out. Thirty days became sixty, and now your Florida customer has stopped returning calls. Whether that customer is down the street in Tampa or you sell into Florida from another state, recovering the money follows a predictable path. Here is how it works, step by step, and where Florida's deadlines come into play.
First, Check the Clock
Florida sets time limits for filing a lawsuit to collect a debt. They are set out in section 95.11 of the Florida Statutes, and the one that applies depends on what the debt is based on:
A signed, written contract (including a signed credit application or agreement): 5 years.
No signed contract, such as a verbal agreement, an open account, or goods sold on store credit: 4 years.
A Florida court judgment you have already won: 20 years to act on it.
The clock generally starts when the claim arises, which for most unpaid invoices means when payment was missed. A later payment or a signed promise to pay can affect the timing, so the date of the last payment matters. For a specific account, a licensed Florida attorney can confirm the exact deadline.
The legal deadline is the outer limit, not the plan. In practice, accounts get harder to recover as they age: contact details go stale, businesses close or change hands, and other creditors get in line first. The best time to act is while the customer is still easy to reach.
Florida deadline estimator
How much time is left on your account?
Pick what the debt is based on and when payment was missed. You will get a rough idea of Florida's filing deadline and how much of that window has already passed.
Enter a date to see your estimate.
A rough estimate based on Fla. Stat. § 95.11. Partial payments, signed acknowledgments, contract terms and other facts can change the real deadline. This is not legal advice; a licensed Florida attorney can confirm the deadline for a specific account. Nothing you enter here is sent or saved.
Step 1: Gather the Paper Trail
A well-documented account is easier to resolve, whether the customer pays after one call or the file eventually goes to court. Before you place an account, pull together:
The signed contract, credit application, or terms you agreed to
Invoices and statements showing the balance
Purchase orders, work orders, or change orders
Proof of delivery or completion
Emails, texts, or letters where the customer acknowledged the balance or promised to pay
The payment history, including any partial payments
Current contact details, and the names of the owners or officers you dealt with
Ready to place it?
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Tick each item you can put your hands on today. Missing a few is normal. This shows how ready the file is and where to start.
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Start with whatever you have. Even an invoice and a phone number is enough for us to review the account.
Submit an accountNothing you tick here is sent or saved. Can't find the customer's current details? Our skip tracing team can help.
Step 2: Send One Clear, Professional Demand
Before placing the account, send a written demand that states the balance, lists the invoice numbers, sets a firm date, and explains how to pay. Keep it factual and polite. Many past-due accounts resolve at this stage, and a clear demand also helps show the account was handled professionally if it moves further. If you are weighing how long to keep chasing it yourself, our guide to in-house collections vs. a collection agency walks through the math.
Step 3: Place the Account for Pre-Legal Recovery
If the demand goes unanswered, the next step is placing the account with a collection agency. At Key Debt Recovery, that starts with a review of your documents, followed by in-house skip tracing to find current contact details and the right person to talk to. From there, our team handles professional, multi-channel outreach and negotiates payment in full, a structured payment plan, or a settlement within the authority you set. You get regular updates and 30/60/90-day reviews, so you always know where the account stands.
For business-to-business invoices, see how our commercial debt collection works. If the account is a personal debt owed by an individual, Florida's Consumer Collection Practices Act adds rules on top of federal law, such as no contact between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. without the person's consent. Our consumer debt collection process is built around those rules.
Step 4: When the Numbers Support Legal Action
Some accounts do not resolve before legal action. When pre-legal efforts are exhausted and the balance justifies the cost, and only with your written approval, we coordinate with licensed collection attorneys in the correct venue. Key Debt Recovery is not a law firm; legal services are provided by independent, licensed counsel.
Which Florida court hears the case depends mostly on the amount. According to The Florida Bar, small claims covers disputes up to $8,000, county court covers $8,000.01 to $50,000, and circuit court handles larger claims. Our guide on what happens when pre-legal isn't enough explains how that decision gets made.
Step 5: Turning a Judgment Into Payment
A court judgment is not the same as being paid, but Florida gives creditors several tools to enforce one:
A lien on real estate. Recording a certified copy of the judgment in a county's official records creates a lien on the debtor's real property in that county. It lasts 10 years and can be extended, under section 55.10.
A lien on business property. Filing a judgment lien certificate with the Florida Department of State creates a lien on the debtor's personal property in Florida, such as equipment, inventory, and accounts (section 55.202). That lien lapses after 5 years, and a second certificate can be filed once (section 55.204).
Interest keeps adding up. Florida judgments earn interest at a rate the state's Chief Financial Officer sets each quarter. For the quarter beginning October 1, 2026, it is 7.87% per year.
Our judgment debt collection team works with you and your attorney to turn a judgment on paper into money in your account.
Selling Into Florida From Another State?
The same steps apply when your business is outside Florida and your customer is inside it. The right place to file any lawsuit depends on your contract and where the customer is, which is one more reason to work with a team that coordinates with licensed counsel in the proper venue. Our Florida debt collection team covers the whole state, from Miami and Orlando to Jacksonville and the Panhandle.
Ready to Get Started?
If a Florida customer owes you money, the sooner you act, the more options you have. Submit an account with whatever paperwork you have, or contact us for a free quote. We will review the file and recommend the right next step.
This article is general information, not legal advice. For questions about a specific account or deadline, talk to a licensed Florida attorney.