Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Rogue Trader on July 09, 2014, 08:38:19 pm
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I am interested to hear how you have all done with regards to
1. customer take up of go cardless and
2. whether you are using CP invoicing printed or email to domestic and commercial custys.
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For me
1. I think it will really help with cashfloiw and have just signed up today so will be starting to convince customers it would be good for them too!
2. I am currently collecting domestic customners emails in the hope I can go paperless in the near future by invoicing on email.
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Mrs smudger has clearer records as she does the office stuff but
I think GoCardless is 1 in 3 for brand new customers
Yes we use cp invoicing for commercial both paper and virtual
Great program, couldn't be without it now
Darran
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Have u thought about using virtual for domestics?
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As a rule we don't invoice domestic customers.
On the very rare occasions they require a receipt then I think mrs smudger sends them one by email
Darran
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Hi guys,
Although I realise paperless is the end goal one thought I discussed with Rogue was the possibility of being able to automatically print out sheets of receipt slips for domestic customers - i.e. with price, balance, next clean date etc all pre-filled to save you having to fill these out by hand.
As I mentioned to Rogue, we now have a "Collect emails" checkbox in the Cleaner Planner settings which when checked puts an "Ask for email..." field next to the customer on the printed worksheets prompting the guys to ask for an email.
I'm planning on extending this to the mobile app (in the next release, also to include mobile debt list - imminent!) so that when one of the lads marks a job as done the app prompts them to ask for the customer's email which they then input into the app. Then when they upload the data from the app it would automatically update the customer's email in the database.
So basically if you switch this on, within a month or two (on the new app) you should have most if not all of your customer's emails, sort of automatically!
Keen to get further thoughts as always :)
Rob
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Hey Rob,
As you know we used the ask for email function a few weeks ago on the paper worksheets, but one thing you need to add in is a does not have an email - as we found the message was still appearing the next time round "ask for email " only to be told "I told you last time I do not use it!" So a third option needed :)
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Thanks Smudger - good thinking :)
I'll add a "Does not have email" checkbox so that the guys only get prompted to ask once.
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Just to let you know I've added this in.
So in the "Edit Customer" window you now have an "Asked" checkbox next to the email and mobile fields.
If either of these are checked then the respective "Ask for ..." message will not appear on the worksheet.
So, on the paper sheets the guys will need to either write "Asked", "Didn't ask" or the email itself.
If they asked and there's no email then you would click into that customer at end of day and mark them as "Email > Asked" so it doesn't come up on the worksheet again.
As I say I'll carry this through into the mobile app so that way you won't have to update the customer record manually, it will update automatically when they "Upload changes".
Snippet below to show you what I mean. Any questions give me a shout!
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1405009521_email asked.JPG)
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Great stuff Rob
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Hi Rob,
My guys are really enjoying using the mobile app and I have to say it is saving ME so much time at the end of the day, a quick upload (instant) from the tablets and bang end of day is 99% done!
We do not do much collecting but I am thinking it may be useful to have the debt list on the mobile app - also can you have the payment methods broken down (like on worksheet) so the guys can see exactly what they have collected cash / cheque etc ?
Hope this makes some sense any probs just let me know
Mrs Smudger
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Hi Smudger,
Glad you're liking the app as I know you were sceptical about dropping the paper ;) Definitely saves a ton of time not having to do all that end of day data entry, especially if you run a few vans.
Yep - mobile debt list is *the* most requested feature right now and I'm beavering away on it as we speak. Planning to launch mobile app 2.0 by the end of next week to include this and a raft of other improvements such as worksheet totals (broken down by payment method - another top request), expenses, option to collect emails and mobile numbers, and various other little tweaks.
Rob
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For me
1. I think it will really help with cashfloiw and have just signed up today so will be starting to convince customers it would be good for them too!
2. I am currently collecting domestic customners emails in the hope I can go paperless in the near future by invoicing on email.
Invoicing domestic custards is just more work , You will always have to leave a calling card or payment card so they know you have been .
The big leap we all need is for custys to pay on time and the only way to do this is to get as many as possible on www.gocardless.com which puts us in control of collecting monies owed and not having to wait or chase up via text or email .
Think GoCardless is offering £50 credit for a referal to both parties .
Cleaner Planner is sounding better and better all the time , But as a single user the stated features on the website looks limited and offers less than Aworka but costs more . Mike
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hi Mike,
Just a curveball - even as a single user - I guarantee you - the go cardless automation is worth the £25.00 month alone - I am a huge fan of CP and was the initial contact with Rob all those months ago - and of course I think its great, BUT the biggest "time saving" element was obviously end of day with the team using tablets, BUT what really hit me as we ahve lots of customers on GC was that the integration means its literally 2 clicks to claim the payment and it auto updates as cleared when payment is made - and I believe Rob is looking to add the option in for those who want it for CP to auto claim payment too. Serioulsy if you haven't taken CP for a road trip yet, try the 30 day trial and play with all the features - the cost really is soon covered with the TIME cp saves you one man or not. Rob is brilliant at walking you through the system, its sunday take a leap and give it a whirl :)
Mrs Smudger
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We have gone over to tablets as well.. But even the mobile phone app saves time... Could have done with this app years ago...
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Ive been playing with CP for last few weeks and as a die hard WCP i gotta say...its definitely the next step, i work in what seems a different way to most and Rob has accommodated this. Hes helped in every way possible always going the extra mile...hes very patient, and im a real pain in the butt lol.
No but give it a whirl, it works really well.
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in response to not invoicing domestic customers just leaving a slip , i would if i could but as i am VAT reg and a ltd company it is a legal requirement to give a numbered invoice to all my customers domestic or commercial, i am still collecting email addresses but it will take a long time i reckon until i can commence the jump into a paperless admin system.
To Smudger:
How do you sell GoCardless to your customers?
Matt
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in response to not invoicing domestic customers just leaving a slip , i would if i could but as i am VAT reg and a ltd company it is a legal requirement to give a numbered invoice to all my customers domestic or commercial, i am still collecting email addresses but it will take a long time i reckon until i can commence the jump into a paperless admin system.
To Smudger:
How do you sell GoCardless to your customers?
Matt
Is that a VAT requirement or a LTD one?
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As far as I can see you only need to issue vat invoice to other vat reg customers and only to non vat customers if requested
Darran
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As far as I can see you only need to issue vat invoice to other vat reg customers and only to non vat customers if requested
Darran
That's what I thought...
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You got me thinking now , maybe it is a LTD requirement, i know that at some point in the past someone, probably my accountant has told me i need to issue numbered invoices for every customer and keep those invoices for 7 years.
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if that is right RT, on CP you could just click "create invoice" this would then be on the system for your records but you would not have to give it to the customer or print it out - BUT it would be on the system and able to produce at a click if required.
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Just want to say to say Rob that the new addition a star next to new customers details on the database is a real help. Especially as i am in the midst of a leaflet campaign ATM and forgetting about new customers and letting them be swallowed up in my database without prioritising them would be a disaster.
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Thanks Smudger.
Been trying to get iron clad clarification on this on the HMRC website, this is all I can find:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/managing/charging/vat-invoices.htm#3
If you are registered for VAT you must give any VAT-registered customers a VAT invoice for any standard-rated or reduced-rated goods or services you sell them.
If you are a retailer, you do not need to issue a VAT invoice or receipt unless your customer asks for one.
Doesn't actually make clear what non retailers are required to do if the customer isn't VAT registered, so I'm guessing nothing - i.e. it's at the customer's request as Smudger said?
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Just want to say to say Rob that the new addition a star next to new customers details on the database is a real help. Especially as i am in the midst of a leaflet campaign ATM and forgetting about new customers and letting them be swallowed up in my database without prioritising them would be a disaster.
Cheers Rogue :)
Smudger - Rogue asked how you guys "sell" GoCardless to your customers - I'd be interested to know that too ;) I mean it obviously is more convenient for them. I'd go on GC in a heartbeat if my WC did it (I'm working on him!) can't be bothered with all that BACS faffing around every month, I always pay him promptly so I've got no issue with it. But I guess people do worry about giving over their bank details, and GC isn't exactly a trusted household name - yet - almost feel they need to do a TV ad or something to get into the public consciousness! I might suggest that to them ;)
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GC is gaining more presence with paid ads etc , I view a locally published paper online and they have ads on their and they have just made a move into Europe after $7m investment .
Their improved website defo helps and the Fact that they are regulated by the Finanical Conduct Authority which has been mentioned quite a bit on the news recently .
On my site on the Pay Your Bill is almost fully dedicated to GoCardless with extracts from their site , Plus a brief explanation about the security of a Direct Debit it has swayed a few customers since the recent changes . Mike
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The new GC website is OK (on-trend deliriously happy smiling head in the banner of course ;)) but it's still aimed 100% at people taking money, not people who have to part with their bank details.
"GoCardless makes it quick and easy to take Direct Debit"... "Add customers in 2 clicks"... "Take payments effortlessly" etc...
Maybe they're focusing on other channels to build awareness and credibility with consumers such as newspaper ads as you say on the assumption that if you've come directly to the website you probably want to use GC to take payments rather than make them, but what about the people who Google GC after being asked by their window cleaner to sign up with them? There's nothing on there that speaks to them, explains what it's all about, why you should trust them etc.
Think I will ask my contact at GC for his thoughts on this ;)
GoCardless definitely is a good thing for both sides but I think they've got a job to do to convince consumers of this.
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Prompt and helpful response from Ricky @ GoCardless:
It's a really good point and something we are currently working on improving.
This webpage, http://gocardless.com/benefits/paying-through-gocardless may help in the meantime.
Our security page may also shed some light on the measures we take to ensure customer data is safe.
Good page to link customers to that I think :)
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VAT invoices should be produced to any customer who asks for one, whether they are VAT registered or not.
Any VAT registered customer will want one to reclaim the VAT so you should always give them one.
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We really promote GC to all new customers and simply call it a DD just like many other companies ie gas/electric - we stress that we only take payment AFTER a clean has been carried out (so if we get behind they are not paying in advance) as we like this, but you can set it for a fixed day of the month too.
Its really not been a hard sell at all - its a DD they have full control over it and anyone that pays by cheque give out their bank details each time they write a cheque.
Its also a FAB tool for late customers, we simply get the account up to date and then a letter is issued saying that we are swapping to DD and that we would like them to set it up - basically we pop their account on hold until its done, and to be honest we didn;t loose too many and the ones we did were no real loss as were always slow to pay. Genuine people that are late because they forget were pleased to swap over to an automatic payment system.
Mrs Smudger