When the customer leaves to "take a walk."

[Stumpsprouts]

30% deposit when quote is approved, most pay online after the work is done when they are invoiced. You float a little money, but it’s classy to not have to bring it up when you’re packing up. If they have ya a check, sweet. Don’t lose it!

 

[Bart_]

I had one guy who suddenly had to go shopping (turned out to be a deadbeat) and another who after three times me saying I'm almost done conveniently went for a dog walk. Dawdled for 20 minutes and gave up and left. Later when I was working next door the husband asks me to do some work to which I replied you didn't pay me from last time. Payment received customer put on mental "no work for you!" list (Seinfeld soup nazi ref).

 

[ATH]

So you aren't recording/reporting cash sales? OK.

Keeping 2 books sounds too complicated. I'd rather keep it all above the table.

 

[ATH]

As to the OP...we invoice due in 30 days. People offer to pay when we finish "whatever is easiest for you...check now is great or I can email or text an invoice" (super easy in Jobber).

Probably about 60%/38%/2% check/card/cash. No price difference. I do despise CC fees, but love the simplicity...it's just done.

 

[southsoundtree]

I prefer checks. No fees.

I'll change for cc processing fees.

Bank transfers are rare.

Sometimes there is a remote- issued check from a bank, sent by mail.


Someone's people don't have the check ready because they think that there might have been an unagreed to add-on. I always ask about add-ons unless it's a "just send a bill when you're done customer"/ no bid.

 

[Al_trees]

People still use checks?

Yeah. Maybe you live somewhere where the extra 3% on a job to cover the credit card fees doesn't matter. But there is a tight margin around here. Also if you did 50k a month in sales at the end of the month the 1,500 paid to the credit card processor is a payment on a piece of equipment. That 18k a year could be better invested back into the company or your retirement.

 

[Al_trees]

I prefer checks. No fees.

I'll change for cc processing fees.

Bank transfers are rare.

Sometimes there is a remote- issued check from a bank, sent by mail.


Someone's people don't have the check ready because they think that there might have been an unagreed to add-on. I always ask about add-ons unless it's a "just send a bill when you're done customer"/ no bid.

True good point about the add ons.

 

[Al_trees]

A week isn’t too bad, and it’s better when you look at the post mark date.
I do get irritated when the client just has to be home for the job, and screws around with schedules for when it’s most convenient for them.
“This is why I outline a detailed scope of work”
“Yeah, I know, i just really want to be there when you’re here working. Can we schedule it for Saturday?”
They get pissy when the answer is ‘no’.

The worst was just this, and had to back up hill, on a trail of a driveway that was about 1000’ long. Greet the client, and get up to my 70’ tip when I hear “hey, I’m going to run a few errands, mind moving your truck?”
So back down the tree, out the driveway and then have to back in all over again.
Never saw the client again after accommodating their ‘I just really need to be here’ scheduling needs. Obviously no payment, and it took them 4 weeks to run a check to the mail box. ‘Oh, I only pay my bills once a month’..

Yep those are the people you try to avoid.

 

[Al_trees]

99% of customers are great but the others not so much and the longer your in the business the more crazy things you will see!
14 years and still see and hear new things every year. Last week a customer was paying and asked for a $200 discount for no reason at all and even said we did more than he expected so I responded with asking him for a $200 tip for me and the crew? And I said well I thought since you asked for free money I would also!
Might have made him upset but he really ticked me off.

Sometimes it can't be helped. Although not the most professional thing to do being an ahole to an ahole helps is sleep at night sometimes.

 

[Stumpsprouts]

Keeping 2 books sounds too complicated. I'd rather keep it all above the table.

I thought it was less of a ‘book’ and more of a ‘wad’ under the ‘mattress’

Great way to hand out holiday bonuses!

 

[Mick Dempsey]

I knock on the door, tell them we’re done, get them to approve the work so so speak, then say something along the lines of ‘ok, so we’re all set then……’ then silence.
Usually they’ll say ‘ok….would you like a chèque?’
’That would be lovely, thank you!’

 

[Boomslang]

I thought it was less of a ‘book’ and more of a ‘wad’ under the ‘mattress’

Great way to hand out holiday bonuses!

I think it's more you have "the books" and then you have "a book", which is a notepad with names, addresses, and random numbers.

As an employee I always knew which book work was coming from because some mornings you had a professional work order/invoice outlining the days work and other times you get a sheet of lined paper with some vague notes scribbled on it.

 

[Al_trees]

As to the OP...we invoice due in 30 days. People offer to pay when we finish "whatever is easiest for you...check now is great or I can email or text an invoice" (super easy in Jobber).

Probably about 60%/38%/2% check/card/cash. No price difference. I do despise CC fees, but love the simplicity...it's just done.

Im glad that works for you but I just can't see financing a customer job with our capital. Payroll is due weekly as well as every other cost incurred daily. It costs more to invoice people as well especially if you have an office person you have to pay to do it.

 

[Al_trees]

33% income tax

That is wicked high. A sales tax would be so much better. Even CT looks like a gem compared to that.

 

[Al_trees]

It’s worth it for sure

I want to add it to my estimates the next batch I order. I am going to put in a $100 charge to pick up dog shit. Don't want to pay it? Well we don't want to step in it. Easy enough to avoid the charge.

 

[Al_trees]

Our state decided that in order to save the people money that businesses cannot charge extra for credit card processing fees.

As a result most prices are all 3% higher than they need to be in order to cover the costs that the consumer seems to think is free.

Gas stations will offer a "cash discount". But paying cash at a gas station is terribly inconvenient. However knowing ahead of time of the savings when a srrvice provider is coming to your house people would like to save the money by writing a check.

The norm higher prices must have been exactly what the big banks wanted to put people further into debt.

 

[VenasNursery]

I want to add it to my estimates the next batch I order. I am going to put in a $100 charge to pick up dog shit. Don't want to pay it? Well we don't want to step in it. Easy enough to avoid the charge.

My next batch will say we clean dog shit off our shoes with your bbq scrapper
Jk
I do joke and say it sometimes but have never done it

Dreamed about it though

 

[ATH]

Im glad that works for you but I just can't see financing a customer job with our capital. Payroll is due weekly as well as every other cost incurred daily. It costs more to invoice people as well especially if you have an office person you have to pay to do it.

I uess it becomes a matter of managing cash flow. If I complete $XYZ thousands worth of work this month and receive payment for $ABC, but ABC = XYZ, it doesn't really matter which job I'm getting paid for. Just sent the money is flowing in. A lot of people are at work when we are finishing the job. I'm not going to sit around and wait for them to come home. Sending an invoice and moving on to the next job. Rinse and repeat. I used to really struggle with getting invoices sent... But with appropriate software it makes things really quick and easy. I prefer jobber... But there are several other options out there as well. As much as I don't like paying the credit card fees, the fact that when I sent an invoice and it gets paid and I don't have to do anything else makes them less distasteful.

 

[Treetopflyer]

My next batch will say we clean dog shit off our shoes with your bbq scrapper
Jk
I do joke and say it sometimes but have never done it

Dreamed about it though

My stomach , it hurts

 

[Stumpsprouts]

It costs more to invoice people as well especially if you have an office person you have to pay to do it.

I feel you, but damn jobber makes it easy. Invoiced the client in the driveway on my phone in about 20 seconds this morning.