Every business has a few skeletons in the closet, but when it comes to accounts payable (AP), mistakes can quickly turn into financial nightmares. From duplicate payments to lost checks, AP errors don’t just cost money — they waste time, create compliance issues, and leave businesses vulnerable to fraud.
According to the Institute of Finance & Management (IOFM), 3.6% of invoices processed manually contain errors, and duplicate payments occur in 1–2% of all invoices. While those percentages may seem small, they add up to millions of dollars in losses each year.
This October, let’s shine a flashlight into the dark corners of AP processes and uncover the scariest accounts payable mistakes businesses make — and how to avoid them with smarter automation.
1. Ghostly Duplicate Payments
The scare: Paying the same invoice more than once is surprisingly common. Manual processes and lack of visibility make it easy for duplicates to slip through.
How to avoid it: Checkrun’s automated workflows centralize approvals and provide a full audit trail, ensuring all payments are reviewed before funds are released.
2. The Curse of Missing Approvals
The scare: Chasing down managers for approvals and signatures on paper checks is time-consuming and error-prone. Missed or delayed payment approvals can result in late fees, vendor frustration, and increased fraud risk.
How to avoid it: With Checkrun’s mobile check approvals, managers can quickly and securely approve or decline payments from anywhere, on any device. That means no more bottlenecks, and no more scary surprises.
3. Skeletons in the Filing Cabinet
The scare: Paper-based AP systems are inefficient and risky. Misfiled invoices, lost check stubs, and missing documentation create compliance gaps that can come back to haunt you during audits.
How to avoid it: Checkrun digitizes your AP process, giving you a secure, fast, and auditable record of every transaction. Say goodbye to haunted filing cabinets where files can disappear.
4. Zombie Checks Wandering in the Mail
The scare: Traditional check mailing leaves businesses exposed. Lost, delayed, or stolen checks are among the top drivers of payment fraud, with the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) reporting that over 60% of organizations reported check fraud in 2024.
How to avoid it: With Checkrun’s same-day print and mail service, checks are processed securely, tracked, and delivered with bank-level protection — so your payments don’t get lost in the shadows.
5. Poor Cash Flow Visibility
The scare: Without real-time visibility into outgoing payments, businesses risk strained vendor relationships and budget shortfalls. AP teams operating in the dark are more likely to make mistakes and miss opportunities for better cash management.
How to avoid it: Checkrun provides real-time dashboards and reporting so you can see what payments are pending, what’s approved, and what’s been paid — helping you manage cash flow with confidence.
Conclusion: No More AP Nightmares
Accounts payable mistakes don’t have to haunt your business. By avoiding these common pitfalls — duplicate payments, approval delays, paper chaos, lost checks, and inadequate cash management controls — you can reduce costs, protect against fraud, and run smoother financial operations. With Checkrun’s automated accounts payable workflow, secure check printing, and mobile approvals, you can finally leave the skeletons in the closet where they belong.
Ready to stop the AP nightmares? Book a free Checkrun demo today and see how easy it is to automate and secure your accounts payable.
