[lee sobol]

Sorry if this has been asked before but I was wondering what is a good way to collect payment from customers, I seem to remember someone saying to drop a pre addressed envelope un stamped through the letter box but people are so lazy nowadays it might be 2 weeks before you actually get paid. I like to get paid instantly so I can keep weekly accounts, how does everyone else here take payment ?

[bobby p]

i have had my fingers burnt by letting payments drift past 2 cleans ,so my bible is never let it go past 2 . the customers who are never at home i  ask them to leave it under the doormat, or if no mat i  look around for somewhere else,under a brick or  under a plant pot . even tucked away  into a rotten window frame  is all far better than having to return time after time .

[dazmond]

lee the bigger round you get the bigger the debt!you will never get all your money in week to week.i use sae and collecting once a week.i will be setting up online banking soon as the young professionals that i clean for increasely have no money on them and no cheque book!

if they persisently have no money and dont send cheque then they get dumped.im sure these types would still be late paying with online banking as well.

august is by far the worst month for getting paid as a window cleaner as a lot of people are on holiday!! : :

im owed money left,right and centre!!!

dazmond

[DaveG]

I do pretty much as Dazmond says. Anything more than 5 miles from my front door gets left an SAE.
I never do a second clean until I get paid for the first.
Sometimes, customers who get left an SAE, can take up to 6 weeks to pay.
I kind of still like collecting on a Thursday evening and customers appreciate the personnal touch

[darren clarke]

i go collecting on a saturday morning,  and monday evening,  most are fine with this,  am getting a few on to SAE if they aint in and i know they have a cheque book, got  a few do pay pal,  try asking your custy what would be best for them,  i would put a stamp on it makes them post it quicker

[laddermonkee]

Why not give them discount if they pay promptly, or when you price a new job add on 10 per cent or so to the estimate and say to them you will knock 10 per cent off the price if they agree to pay direct
debit,
If you think about it  the time wasted collecting money should be factored into the price.

[gavin pedley]

Although i have not got any custys yet i will be offering payment via my site cash/ cheque on day or left somewhere when not in.

I have also stated on all my stationary that payment needs to be made within 5 days of clean, it may sound harsh but i figure i should try to start as i mean to go on. I don't understand some continuing to clean 2-3-4 months down the line and still not got payed. you wouldn't run a shop allow someone to come in and take something the  continue to allow them to do it for a few more moths just on them saying they will pay soon.

I am sure o sound harsh but the idea of working for free is not appealing lol

[dazmond]

gavin you have a lot to learn mate!you ALWAYS have business debt!if you ve got 300-400 custies as a one man band(as i have!)you always have money owed!custies go on holidays(esp some of my posher custies!),are ill or dont get paid till the end of the month.

as long as you get it in in the end.its only a low percentage normally(not in august though!)some pay in advance so it balances itself out mostly.

regards

dazmond

[chopsie]

I never collect as a rule, Just post a slip and custies either pay online or send a cheque, Obviously quite a few pay on the day if they are in. My round is spread over quite a distance, So it would not be very practical for me to go collecting. I too have had my fingers burned going over 2 cleans without being paid, So now 2 cleans is my limit, If its a new custy I will sometimes only do 1 clean if I feel they are a bit dodgy. Getting everyone to pay on the week of their clean is unrealistic, It will not happen, As Dazmond says August is a bad month for cash flow (This is my first year and am finding this out). I think at least 30-40% of the cleans I have done this month, the customers are away on hols.

[richard jagger]

One needs to set a standard of firmness from the start. If you give them leaway they will take it. Give them a week max and tell them on all paperwork your terms of payment is” you must receive payment in 7 days or else charge a pound more.” If you need to go back to collect its a pound extra each time after the first call. And apply your terms. People quickly respect you for it. If I have a problem with my terms of business all I ask myself work BT or British Gas allow that. This answer quickly gets my mind rite. Act like a big boy in business and you will become a big boy. Your customers will quickly catch you drift. When I start them off I tell them in a matter of fact way how they need to pay me. Keep it short and sweet.
Grow balls and become a businessman they will respect you for it.