Unpaid Business Invoice in India: Documents to Prepare Before Recovery

Confirm who owes the amount

Identify the exact company, firm or individual that placed the order and accepted the goods or services. Keep the contract, purchase order, proposal, tax details and correspondence showing the authorised contact.

Match the invoice with performance evidence

Collect the invoice, delivery proof, timesheets, acceptance record, work product, emails and any objection raised by the customer. Prepare a simple ledger showing the invoiced amount, credits, part-payments and balance claimed.

Preserve the demand and response record

Send or retain a factual written request for payment that identifies the invoices and a response date. Keep delivery proof, replies, settlement discussions and any promise to pay without changing the original records.

Check the route before escalating

The contract, parties, amount, dispute history and business status can affect the available recovery route. An advocate can assess whether a negotiated resolution, contractual process, statutory mechanism, arbitration or court action is suitable.

Official sources

• Ministry of MSME ↗
• India Code — central legislation database ↗