Another one out in the open! I do have a few maintenance plans in operation. It is nice to see the money going into your account every month, however its not really nice when you have to go and do those free interval cleans. Also when you go to do the bigger annual cleans and get nothing at the end of the job, it sort of doesnt feel very good, even though the instalments do go in every month. You also have to remember that if you are offering a FREE traffic lane clean at the 6 month point, and you have taken Half the full cost at the outset (When you first did the job and set up the plan) then at six months they have made 6 payments, so have paid the full price. This means that at the 12 month point, they have actually made 6 payments in advance. What you have to think about is, what if something happens an accident, business failure or whatever, and you cant do anymore cleaning. You will then have to refund that 6 months payments back to your client. One or two cleints shouldnt be a problem, but what if you had to refund one or two hundred clients. I have reduced the numbers I have on this plan and have not offered for it all for the last couple of years, following afew who when they decided they change their carpet instead of getting it cleaned again, cancelled the payments as soon as I had been out to do the last clean for them, thus in each case leaving me losing 5 months instalments.
Dave.