Commercial Collection and Judgment Enforcement Attorneys
Representing Florida businesses owed money on invoices, notes, and guaranties, from demand through judgment and collection.
A receivable that is not paid is a legal claim with a deadline. Industria Business Lawyers represents businesses in Florida in collecting commercial debts: unpaid invoices, promissory notes, personal guaranties, and the judgments that follow, and defends companies that dispute what they are said to owe. The work runs from the first demand letter through the tools Florida law provides for turning a judgment into money.
Every matter is assessed on its own facts, and the first question in any collection matter is whether the debtor has assets to collect from. A judgment against an empty company is a piece of paper, and the firm says so before a client spends money on one. A consultation is free.
Commercial Collection Matters We Handle
Commercial collection matters come in these forms, and each has its own proof and its own deadline.
Unpaid Invoices and Accounts
Goods delivered or services rendered and not paid for. Proof is the contract or purchase order, the invoices, the delivery or acceptance record, and the account history. A claim on a written contract carries five years under section 95.11(2)(b), Florida Statutes; a claim on an account or an oral agreement carries four years under section 95.11(3)(j).
Promissory Notes
A signed note is the simplest commercial claim: the note, the default, and the amount. Acceleration, interest, and fee provisions in the note usually decide what is recoverable.
Personal Guaranties
An owner who signed a guaranty of the company’s debt is personally liable when the company does not pay. The guaranty’s terms, its notice provisions, and any defenses the guarantor raises are the case.
Disputed Debts
When the debtor claims the goods were defective, the services incomplete, or the amount wrong, the collection matter becomes a contract dispute. Industria Business Lawyers handles both sides of that dispute.
Fraudulent Transfers
A debtor who moves assets out of reach before judgment. Under section 726.105, Florida Statutes, a transfer made with actual intent to hinder, delay, or defraud a creditor, or without reasonably equivalent value when the debtor was left with unreasonably small assets, is fraudulent as to the creditor and can be unwound.
Judgment Enforcement
Collecting on a judgment already obtained, in Florida or domesticated from another state, through the tools Florida law provides after judgment is entered.
From Judgment to Money: Florida's Collection Tools
Entry of judgment is the middle of a collection case, not the end. Florida law provides these tools once a judgment is entered, and the rules on costs and on which court hears the case apply along the way.
Interest. Under section 55.03, Florida Statutes, the Chief Financial Officer sets the rate of interest payable on judgments each quarter, although the statute does not affect a rate of interest established by a written contract or obligation. The rate is fixed when the judgment is obtained, adjusted each January 1, and accrues until the judgment is paid.
Garnishment. Under section 77.01, a creditor who has sued to recover a debt or has recovered a judgment has a right to a writ of garnishment against debts owed to the defendant by third parties, which is how bank accounts and receivables owed to the debtor are reached, although an individual debtor may claim exemptions, such as a head of family’s wages under section 222.11.
Proceedings supplementary. Under section 56.29, a judgment creditor holding an unsatisfied judgment may file a motion and affidavit and bring the debtor and third parties before the court to identify and reach assets, including assets transferred to others.
Liens and levies. A recorded judgment lien attaches to the debtor’s real property in the county where it is recorded, and personal property can be levied on and sold through the sheriff, but Article X, section 4 of the Florida Constitution protects an individual debtor’s homestead from judgment liens and forced sale, except for taxes and debts for buying, improving, or repairing the property or for labor performed on it, and chapter 222, Florida Statutes, exempts other property.
Fraudulent transfers. Section 726.105 and the sections that follow it allow a creditor to unwind transfers made to defeat collection.
Cost-shifting statutes. Section 768.79 allows either side to serve an offer of judgment that shifts fees and costs if it is rejected and the judgment misses it by at least 25 percent. Section 57.105 allows fees against a party and its lawyer for a claim or defense with no support in fact or law. Many commercial contracts and notes also provide for the prevailing party’s fees.
The forum. Under section 34.01, county courts hear claims where the amount in controversy does not exceed $50,000; circuit courts hear the rest under section 26.012.
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They consistently deliver thorough and timely work. We wholeheartedly recommend IBL.”
Felipe Pinto from Revolve Labs
Client testimonials describe individual experiences. You may not obtain the same or similar results.
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I would recommend working with Aaron and team.”
Julien Genestoux from Unlock, Inc
Client testimonials describe individual experiences. You may not obtain the same or similar results.
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As a result, we’ve continued to rely on them as our go-to legal counsel for ongoing corporate matters.”
Zachary Panos from Fourcaster LLC
Client testimonials describe individual experiences. You may not obtain the same or similar results.
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The attorneys were incredibly responsive, guiding me through every step of the process with clarity and professionalism.
They took the time to address all my questions and concerns, ensuring that I felt confident in each decision we made. Their attention to detail and thoroughness were evident in the documents they prepared, which gave me peace of mind. What stood out most was their commitment to my vision. They not only provided legal advice but also offered valuable insights into the industry, helping me navigate potential challenges and seize opportunities.
Overall, working with IBL was a fantastic experience. They made a complex process manageable and stress-free. Thank you for your outstanding support.”
Jeff from Solar Carbon Credit Fund
Client testimonials describe individual experiences. You may not obtain the same or similar results.
How We Work a Commercial Collection Matter
Before anything else, whether the debtor has assets: property records, corporate filings, bank relationships, and receivables. A claim worth pursuing is one that can be collected.
A written demand that sets out the debt, the amount with interest and fees under the contract, and a deadline. Many receivables are paid here.
The complaint in the court the amount and the contract point to, with the note, guaranty, invoices, and account history attached.
Where the debt is documented and undisputed, judgment without trial. Many note and guaranty cases resolve this way.
The judgment entered and recorded, with interest running under section 55.03.
Bank accounts and receivables reached under section 77.01; assets and transferees examined in proceedings supplementary under section 56.29.
Where assets were moved, claims under section 726.105 to bring them back.
FAQ
01 • Creditors and Businesses How long do I have to collect a commercial debt in Florida?
Five years for a claim on a written contract under section 95.11(2)(b), Florida Statutes; four years for an account or oral agreement under section 95.11(3)(j). Once a judgment is entered, the judgment itself has a far longer life, and interest runs on it.
02 • Creditors and Businesses The customer's company has no money but the owner does. What then?
If the owner signed a personal guaranty, the owner is liable on it. If not, the question is whether assets were moved out of the company to defeat creditors, which section 726.105 addresses.
03 • Creditors and Businesses Can I collect interest and my legal fees?
Interest runs on a judgment under section 55.03. Fees are recoverable where the contract, the note, or a statute provides for them; many commercial documents do.
04 • Creditors and Businesses Which court hears a commercial collection case?
Under section 34.01, county courts hear claims where the amount in controversy does not exceed $50,000; circuit courts hear the rest under section 26.012. A contract may also contain a forum or arbitration clause that points elsewhere.
05 • Creditors and Businesses What should I bring to the first call?
The contract, note, or guaranty; the invoices and account history; proof of delivery or performance; every demand sent; and anything you know about the debtor’s assets.
Businesses owed money on invoices, notes, and guaranties. Call (202) 860-1210 or describe the debt briefly through the form, and the firm will ask for the contract, invoices, and account history after its conflict check. Free consultation. Every matter is reviewed on its own facts.
This page provides general information about commercial collection in Florida and does not constitute legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Industria Business Lawyers. Whether a debt is collectible, and by what means, depends on the facts, the documents, and the law in force. Florida statutes cited: sections 26.012, 34.01, 55.03, 56.29, 57.105, 77.01, 95.11, 222.11, 726.105, and 768.79, Florida Statutes (2026), checked against primary sources on October 9, 2026.