Definition
Accounts receivable (often shortened to 'AR') is the value of all outstanding invoices at a point in time. It is recorded as an asset on the balance sheet, because it is money the business is contractually owed.
AR is normally aged into buckets — current (not yet due), 1–30 days overdue, 31–60 days overdue, 61–90 days overdue, and 90+ days overdue. The shape of the AR aging report tells you whether the business has a collection problem or a customer-quality problem.
Why it matters
AR is real money you have already earned but cannot yet spend. A high AR balance can hide a serious cashflow problem — the business looks profitable on paper because the revenue is recognised, but the bank account is empty because customers have not paid. Track AR aging weekly, not monthly.
Where this appears in your tools
The Late Payment Recovery Bot operates on overdue AR — invoices past their due date. Reports inside the workspace show AR aging totals where applicable.