Ep. 109: Show Me the Money: Getting Paid & Collecting Before It's Too Late with Matt Darner

In this episode, Ruby Powers sits down with Matt Darner, co-founder and CEO of CollBox — the ABA Tech Show Startup Alley winner helping law firms recover what they've already earned but haven't collected yet. Matt has seen the inside of hundreds of law firm billing situations. And what he finds is almost always the same: a growing number on the aging report, closed matters with unpaid invoices, and attorneys who know the problem exists but keep putting off fixing it. In this conversation, he breaks down why that happens — and exactly what to do about it. What we explore: ✅ The $800K Blind Spot: Why small and mid-size firms consistently have $300K–$800K sitting in invoices over 90 days past due — and why most attorneys don't act until it's almost too late. ✅ The Leverage Window: Why the moment a matter closes is the moment your ability to collect starts shrinking — and what to do before you lose all your leverage. ✅ The Ick Factor: Why 99% of attorneys hate chasing clients for money, why the wrong person is usually doing it, and how to fix the system so it doesn't have to be you. ✅ Upstream Fixes: The retainer policies, intake conversations, and billing habits that prevent collections problems before they start. ✅ When to Cut Your Losses: At 90 days, you've already lost 47% of collectability. At two years, you're down to a 15% success rate. Matt breaks down exactly when to act — and when to write it off. If you've got invoices sitting unpaid and you're not sure what to do about it — this episode is for you. 📌 Connect with Matt Darner: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/matthewdarner  Website: collbox.co 📣 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:  🚀 Law Firm Retreat: Design Your Future – August 2026: Stop the daily grind and start architecting your next era. Join Ruby in Denver for an intimate, 15-firm-only strategic laboratory.  👉 Secure your spot: https://powersstrategygroup.com/law-firm-retreat-august-2026/  📊 We Love Your Feedback! Help us design the next year of the podcast. Take this 2-minute audience survey: https://forms.gle/EgMgxd3tbXCsmqgp9 📌 Join the conversation in our Power Up Your Practice community! Hosted by Ruby Powers, your guide into the heart of law practice management. Each week, learn insights from leading legal minds, trailblazing attorneys, and expert guests who provide you with actionable advice, out-of-the-box solutions, and a fresh perspective on running your firm more effectively and efficiently. Prepare to open your mind, be inspired, and power up your practice to the next level. Watch more episodes of Power Up Your Practice on:  🌐 Website: powersstrategygroup.com  📺 YouTube: @powersstrategygroup  💬 Join our Skool Community - Power Hub: https://www.skool.com/powerupyourpractice  Connect and learn more from your host, Ruby Powers:  🔹 LinkedIn: /rubypowers  🔹 Facebook: /poweruppractice  🔹 Website: rubypowers.com  🔹 Ruby's Book: Power Up Your Practice on Amazon Trusted Resources from Our Toolkit: Stafi https://calendly.com/d/csbk-3y4-35w/staffing-strategy-session-stafi-ruby-powers?month=2025-07  Filevine https://www.filevine.com/partner/powers-referral/  CandleAI https://www.trycandle.ai/powers Vonage https://share.vonage.com/zones/friend_landing_experience_microsite?extole_share_channel=%5C%22SHARE_LINK%5C%22&extole_shareable_code=wzq4f&referral_id=wzq4f&source=%5C%22direct%5C%22&utm_source=Power+Up+Your+Practice+by+Power+Strategy+Group&utm_campaign=a7c6feafe9-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_04_13_07_58_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3b4d3388ea-a7c6feafe9-746189731