Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: jay105 on May 28, 2008, 11:29:04 pm
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hey guys i have heared that alot of guys leave self addressed enverlops for clients to pay that sounds a good idear as i clean a mod estate and alot are at work or away do you ad this to the price and tell them that or not how does it work??
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WINDOW CLEANING SERVICES
Your Windows have been cleaned today -------------- (date)
Sorry to have missed you.
Please forward a cheque within the next seven days making it payable to:
................................................
address
................................................
Thank you.
Tel ..........................................
Mob.........................................
Thats what i leave... no envelopes... and they all pay... some not within seven days, but all within 14.
Hope this helps.
Gary
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thats a good idear cheers mate
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I leave a bill and envelopes to everyone who isn't in.... everyone sends a cheque without fail :) You can get 200 envelopes for about £4 from makro... and they can probably be sourced cheaper if you shop around.
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Make sure you dont skimp on the quality ! I was using cheap thin envelopes , and quite a few arrived ripped open ???.
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i tried s.a.e for 18 months....but it can cause cashflow probs...
i now go collecting again (all my work is local ).....if they are not in when i call back , then i leave a stamped addressed envelope.
this is what works for me and my round ;)
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sod collecting! thats another job in it self, i print directly onto the envelope. I can have a huge amount of money outstanding but i get a large constant flow of money in to sustain the debt and keep the business ticking over nicely...you just need capital in the kity to keep things moving along ;)
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i leave a SAE for anything oweing more than a tenner i also use stick on company named address labels from vista print,saves all the writing and looks more proffessional also i write in small letters on the back the address i'm posting it too,its unbeliveable how many custies don't put their address on the back and they expected me to know where the cheque has come from..ok i know some of their names but most of em ive never even met.
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sod collecting! thats another job in it self, i print directly onto the envelope. I can have a huge amount of money outstanding but i get a large constant flow of money in to sustain the debt and keep the business ticking over nicely...you just need capital in the kity to keep things moving along ;)
What do you mean you print straight onto the envelope?
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just as i said, i print my address on one side, then my message of amount owed on the other
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I have tried this in the past and still the same ones don't pay so now i leave it 3 months if no cheque i stop cleaning stating why and usually they post a cheque if not i still get my money and i tell them to get someone else to do their windows that soon sorts em out.! ;D
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if they are new and dont pay me ,.. and they are due again... i get my money and drop them.... as i state clearly i need my payment within seven days... cheque or ring me..... if neither
i drop them after that payment :)
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we print our envelopes, company logo and return address on them.
we also put the stamp on them too.
works out about 30p per envelope.
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we print our envelopes, company logo and return address on them.
we also put the stamp on them too.
works out about 30p per envelope.
Hi Alan gows it going mate ? I am trying to do the printing thing on the envelope , but I cant work out how to include my address in the windows software :'(
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alright jonah me old pal, I think we use ms word - all I do is press ctrl+p and print off 100 at a time - my son set it up.
I could ask him later tonight and maybe get him to reply to you.
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alright jonah me old pal, I think we use ms word - all I do is press ctrl+p and print off 100 at a time - my son set it up.
I could ask him later tonight and maybe get him to reply to you.
I also have a son , who is good on comps , I will get him to have a look ;D cheers mate .
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no problem
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I leave an invoice and envelope with my address label stuck to it. I tell them they can pay by paypal on my website but only about 5% use paypal. Never stamp the envelopes.
Only got one customer who let it get to 3 months. So I always clean them about 430pm as they come home about 445pm every day.
All the rest always pay within 2 weeks.
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:) I print off three of these on computer (then Photocopy them 5p a sheet)
I do it this way because when cut it fits nicely in the envelope without folding!
works out at 1.7p each
Envelopes (good quality 50 for £1)
that's 2p each
Total cost per customer 3.7p
I DON'T PUT A STAMP ON!!! :o
:D :D :D
??? Window Cleaning ??? Road, ???? Kent CT?? ????. Telephone ????? ??????
Date: ________________________
Mr / Mrs / Miss ________________________
Address ________________________
We are pleased to inform you that your windows have been cleaned today:
payment due £ ________________________
PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM and cheque, made payable to:- MR ? ? ???????
in the envelope provided, THANK YOU.
:D :D :D
I also don't give the 7(seven) day deadline
I think some of my customers would think it a cheek! ::)
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www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/shop?catId=9300091&pageType=Others&pageId=shp_prddetails&product=prod40420008&parentCategoryId=cat45940012&categoryId=cat45940047
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i think 7 days is a decent amount of time to pay a small bill for a good service.... even if they are late... at least they are on their toes. :)
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i think 7 days is a decent amount of time to pay a small bill for a good service.... even if they are late... at least they are on their toes. :)
8) I agree with you, but I don't think putting it on the form adds to peoples "desire"
to pay!
I know this sounds ridiculous but I am sure one customer paid "By Post" and it arrived before I got home (or maybe it seemed that way!) 8)
Other not, shall we say, not so eager take two weeks! :-[
But I can live with that! ::)
If they don't pay then ...I send the wife in!!!! :o :o :o
Poor sods! :o
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:) I print off three of these on computer (then Photocopy them 5p a sheet)
I do it this way because when cut it fits nicely in the envelope without folding!
works out at 1.7p each
Envelopes (good quality 50 for £1)
that's 2p each
Total cost per customer 3.7p
I DON'T PUT A STAMP ON!!! :o
:D :D :D
??? Window Cleaning ??? Road, ???? Kent CT?? ????. Telephone ????? ??????
Date: ________________________
Mr / Mrs / Miss ________________________
Address ________________________
We are pleased to inform you that your windows have been cleaned today:
payment due £ ________________________
PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM and cheque, made payable to:- MR ? ? ???????
in the envelope provided, THANK YOU.
:D :D :D
I also don't give the 7(seven) day deadline
I think some of my customers would think it a cheek! ::)
7 days and they would think its a cheek :-X Mine has within 48 hours, I do think because I want them to post the payment, I allow 21 days for payments to come in before they are charged a late payment fee ;)
Ian
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;D I like this bit Ian...
"I allow 21 days for payments to come in before they are charged a late payment fee"
A late payment fee in my books is the WIFE, you don't want her on your doorstep! :D :D :D :o
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;D I like this bit Ian...
"I allow 21 days for payments to come in before they are charged a late payment fee"
A late payment fee in my books is the WIFE, you don't want her on your doorstep! :D :D :D :o
I was being honest ;) so my fees are cheap, no one would want to get nagged by a wife
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I have in the past taken ages to pay bills, as long as people pay I am quite happy. We don't have massive inlation rates here , like Rhodesia for instance, so whats the problem whether someone takes one week or 3 weeks to pay.
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;D I like this bit Ian...
"I allow 21 days for payments to come in before they are charged a late payment fee"
A late payment fee in my books is the WIFE, you don't want her on your doorstep! :D :D :D :o
I was being honest ;) so my fees are cheap, no one would want to get nagged by a wife
On my slips I leave with the sae , I emphasise 7 days payment ! whenever I see somone charging a "fee" it puts my back up ! People are having it hard these days , they are looking to cut costs ( arnt we all ) ? So if you state you are going to charge them a late payment charge , then you are either very brave or very thick skinned ! I cleaned a custys gutters and charged £60 , and told her to pay me over 3 months ! She paid me in two , and it was a nice pickup . IMHO if you are going to fine people for taking a few extra days to pay you , then all the best for the future :-X
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;D I like this bit Ian...
"I allow 21 days for payments to come in before they are charged a late payment fee"
A late payment fee in my books is the WIFE, you don't want her on your doorstep! :D :D :D :o
I was being honest ;) so my fees are cheap, no one would want to get nagged by a wife
On my slips I leave with the sae , I emphasise 7 days payment ! whenever I see somone charging a "fee" it puts my back up ! People are having it hard these days , they are looking to cut costs ( arnt we all ) ? So if you state you are going to charge them a late payment charge , then you are either very brave or very thick skinned ! I cleaned a custys gutters and charged £60 , and told her to pay me over 3 months ! She paid me in two , and it was a nice pickup . IMHO if you are going to fine people for taking a few extra days to pay you , then all the best for the future :-X
I am just the same as any other company m8, I have been doing it long enough now and I am thick skinned. If I pay BT late I get charged, if I pay mortgage late I get charged, same for credit card stor cars and most things, I am no different I dont do it for love I do it for money, not sending the money IMO is not on, I dont charge anyone a late fee that pays for the service I give them. If I dont pay my bills I get charged should I wear that because times are hard I dont think so am I meant to struggle because they dont pay me ? I dont ever want to charge a late fee and I make that clear to everyone, but if they dont pay they are charged as I am.
I cannot understand why everyone does not do this, but I guess all are different and I respect that.
Ian
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;D I like this bit Ian...
"I allow 21 days for payments to come in before they are charged a late payment fee"
A late payment fee in my books is the WIFE, you don't want her on your doorstep! :D :D :D :o
I was being honest ;) so my fees are cheap, no one would want to get nagged by a wife
On my slips I leave with the sae , I emphasise 7 days payment ! whenever I see somone charging a "fee" it puts my back up ! People are having it hard these days , they are looking to cut costs ( arnt we all ) ? So if you state you are going to charge them a late payment charge , then you are either very brave or very thick skinned ! I cleaned a custys gutters and charged £60 , and told her to pay me over 3 months ! She paid me in two , and it was a nice pickup . IMHO if you are going to fine people for taking a few extra days to pay you , then all the best for the future :-X
I am just the same as any other company m8, I have been doing it long enough now and I am thick skinned. If I pay BT late I get charged, if I pay mortgage late I get charged, same for credit card stor cars and most things, I am no different I dont do it for love I do it for money, not sending the money IMO is not on, I dont charge anyone a late fee that pays for the service I give them. If I dont pay my bills I get charged should I wear that because times are hard I dont think so am I meant to struggle because they dont pay me ? I dont ever want to charge a late fee and I make that clear to everyone, but if they dont pay they are charged as I am.
I cannot understand why everyone does not do this, but I guess all are different and I respect that.
Ian
Not having a pop at you Ian , but you will find in the coming months many will be looking to cut costs ! If they happened to forget to pay you ( it happens ) and you charged them a fee , then you can say goodbye to that customer ! I started window cleaning at 16 , and fallen in and out of love with this trade . If you even mention the word "charge" or "fee" then you will wind people up . Many on here can boast that they dont take any nonesence , and if they dont pay up they will drop em , but you have to take each person on merit !
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Not trying to be argumentative but surely once you have an established business and are solvent, don't all the payments even themselves out over the year.
Obviously the first few months are tough but then it all just evens out.
I wouldn't want threats on my bill.
Some ebay sellers seem more keen to tell you their terms and conditions and how they always leave negative feedback for non payers etc than to describe the item that they are selling properly. It just upsets people IMO.
Even Barclaycard give you 28 days or used to.
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Not trying to be argumentative but surely once you have an established business and are solvent, don't all the payments even themselves out over the year.
Obviously the first few months are tough but then it all just evens out.
I wouldn't want threats on my bill.
Some ebay sellers seem more keen to tell you their terms and conditions and how they always leave negative feedback for non payers etc than to describe the item that they are selling properly. It just upsets people IMO.
Even Barclaycard give you 28 days or used to.
I dont put threats on my bill, I am not even going to try and justify something that any business should do.
But even it's self out over time is just a plain wrong way to do business IMO I am an established business for a reason and something I build on, I know it sounds harsh in text on here but it is not really a big deal, everyone I take or are told about this (it says out loud we do not take oh we forgot to send it, thought I would leave it till next time ect.
Been there before got fed up with it and changed it, minimum hassle now with late payments. Right or wrong it works for me and I am not cold hearted at all, I am very aprouchable I just do not like being messed about with money.
Ian
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Not trying to be argumentative but surely once you have an established business and are solvent, don't all the payments even themselves out over the year.
Obviously the first few months are tough but then it all just evens out.
I wouldn't want threats on my bill.
Some ebay sellers seem more keen to tell you their terms and conditions and how they always leave negative feedback for non payers etc than to describe the item that they are selling properly. It just upsets people IMO.
Even Barclaycard give you 28 days or used to.
I dont put threats on my bill, I am not even going to try and justify something that any business should do.
But even it's self out over time is just a plain wrong way to do business IMO I am an established business for a reason and something I build on, I know it sounds harsh in text on here but it is not really a big deal, everyone I take or are told about this (it says out loud we do not take oh we forgot to send it, thought I would leave it till next time ect.
Been there before got fed up with it and changed it, minimum hassle now with late payments. Right or wrong it works for me and I am not cold hearted at all, I am very aprouchable I just do not like being messed about with money.
Ian
You are ok Ian mate ;D
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Not trying to be argumentative but surely once you have an established business and are solvent, don't all the payments even themselves out over the year.
Obviously the first few months are tough but then it all just evens out.
I wouldn't want threats on my bill.
Some ebay sellers seem more keen to tell you their terms and conditions and how they always leave negative feedback for non payers etc than to describe the item that they are selling properly. It just upsets people IMO.
Even Barclaycard give you 28 days or used to.
I dont put threats on my bill, I am not even going to try and justify something that any business should do.
But even it's self out over time is just a plain wrong way to do business IMO I am an established business for a reason and something I build on, I know it sounds harsh in text on here but it is not really a big deal, everyone I take or are told about this (it says out loud we do not take oh we forgot to send it, thought I would leave it till next time ect.
Been there before got fed up with it and changed it, minimum hassle now with late payments. Right or wrong it works for me and I am not cold hearted at all, I am very aprouchable I just do not like being messed about with money.
Ian
You are ok Ian mate ;D
Thanks, it makes me sound really hard faced and i'm not, but I only think it is fair as I said I get charged so why should they not be if they dont pay, fact of life everything costs (especialy diesal :'( )
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i think some of you guys are a bit harsh on your customas.
late payment fee's lol who do you think you are Lloyds TSB? lol
ive only about 3 times had customas not pay within 4 weeks. i think 4 weks is fine. i'm in no rush for it.
although i did have onle lady not send it. when i went back to do them again her daughter came with the enverlope but the stamp had been poorly removed. cheeky cow had tryed to pintch my stamp!! i dont think she wanted her daughter to show me that!lol
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i think some of you guys are a bit harsh on your customas.
late payment fee's lol who do you think you are Lloyds TSB? lol
ive only about 3 times had customas not pay within 4 weeks. i think 4 weks is fine. i'm in no rush for it.
although i did have onle lady not send it. when i went back to do them again her daughter came with the enverlope but the stamp had been poorly removed. cheeky cow had tryed to pintch my stamp!! i dont think she wanted her daughter to show me that!lol
not Lloydstsb , you can undervalue yourself, but my fees and rates will still stick,
I also dont give out free stamps and envelopes (nor do the post office )
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Im in a rush for it !.... of course i am .....i have done a job and i expect my payment just as soon as possible...
7 days to pay for my services is the norm, why would i want to give anyone more time?
In business, some say , you are only as good as your last week.......
i say , you are only as good as your ..next week
if all my cheques came very late... then all my bills will follow suit..
get that money in!
as quick as you can
What i seriously dont understand is , we have all the fundemental questions regarding running a busisness on here....
yet , one of the viital issues, for growth in any business is cashflow. late and non-payment is crippling and expensive.
payments for services rendered are due...... .... now , nice people.. good payers.. bad payers.....are all the same.. thank you... i have cleaned your windows....
Pay.
Gary..
Gary.
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we print our envelopes, company logo and return address on them.
we also put the stamp on them too.
works out about 30p per envelope.
Same as Alanwilson.
Switched to this method about 5 months ago as i only used to leave invoice/bill. Now get payment much quicker with SAE.
Tony
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we print our envelopes, company logo and return address on them.
we also put the stamp on them too.
works out about 30p per envelope.
Same as Alanwilson.
Switched to this method about 5 months ago as i only used to leave invoice/bill. Now get payment much quicker with SAE.
Tony
I could always try this and if they dont send it bill them late fee plus 30p £1 for my time printing them.
I do like the idea of the printed logo on an envelope though and has again got me think about it. still 60/40 against it at the mo but I do listen to what people say, but I will stick with a late fee as I have already explained.
My Logo on it is swaying me
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I think the SAE is good for customer relations too, you make it a little easier/less hassle for them to pay. Also they have no excuse for late payment with SAE. ;)
Tony
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I think the SAE is good for customer relations too, you make it a little easier/less hassle for them to pay. Also they have no excuse for late payment with SAE. ;)
Tony
thats a good point.
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Ian, I read a book written by an accountant. In it he described various ways of improving things for your customers that ultimately makes things better for you.
One thing I remember was to make it easy for your customers to pay you. He suggested prepaid envelopes which worked for him. Now I know you are always telling people not to pay for postage, but it seems to work for some.
I will find the book later and post the title. I found some good ideas in it.
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::) I was just thinking it would be hard to enforce thats all!
The only options are
1/ losing customers if they don't pay
2/ Take them to court (in my opinion not an option!)
So it's a no win.
Just let them pay when they will/desire
It works for me! 8)
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I've never had a problem with people paying (eventually) by letting them pay the stamp & write the envelope. BUT just after xmas & with all the doom & gloom over credit crunch etc i noticed a longer delay in payment, even from the best payers too. Went over to SAE & the result was terrific for me. ;) Payments now come in far quicker & it's just another advantage to me in an ever increasing competitive trade. ;)
Tony
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I have just looked up the title of the book I mentioned in my earlier post.
It is called "Proper coffee and other ways to grow your business". I would recommend it to anyone who is interested.
I have just looked at Amazon and it appears it may be out of print... ::)
However, if you take a look at the amazon page for this book you can take a look inside the book. The second chapter discusses using freepost envelopes! ;)
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i think 7 days is a decent amount of time to pay a small bill for a good service.... even if they are late... at least they are on their toes. :)
8) I agree with you, but I don't think putting it on the form adds to peoples "desire"
to pay!
I know this sounds ridiculous but I am sure one customer paid "By Post" and it arrived before I got home (or maybe it seemed that way!) 8)
Other not, shall we say, not so eager take two weeks! :-[
But I can live with that! ::)
If they don't pay then ...I send the wife in!!!! :o :o :o
Poor sods! :o
I cleaned one customer's windows late afternoon/early evening and got a cheque in the post the following morning. I was a bit puzzled until I realised he worked at the Royal Mail sorting office. Must have taken his envelope into work that night and put it nto the sort - or maybe even straight into the right pigeon hole.
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i am thinking of trying this method.have any of u found customers dont have cheque books.i know i never use mine as its easier 2 use switch or visa.
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When I started working for myself the first thing I did to get payment in quick was pre paid envolope with a stamp on it.
I did this for about 3/4 mth and worked really really well, I then only left pre paid envolopes their after, and yes I have seen a difference with the amount of envolopes that come through the door now. We have a large customer base so over the mth we get a steady flow of chq's in the post...
One thing I will say is, Their must be 2-3000 pounds oweing on my accounts :o.
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I have nearly all my custys sendeing me sae ( with stamp ) but there are a few , who I collect because they dont have chequbook or internet banking . I just collect them at the end of the day , so I am not going back home . . . . .easy peasy lemon squeezy ;D