[Soupy]

As for the 1% this is usually less than return postage, less than half the cost of processing a card payment and I'm sure in many cases less than the cost of processing a cheque.

No brainer.

[8weekly]

I certainly see the benefit of direct debit btw.

[Soupy]

Factoring has absolutely nothing to do with anything.

It's simple:

1. No need to collect
2. Customer can't 'forget'
3. Customer retention generally increases when there is a direct debit in place.
4. If you have it set up through cleaner planner or another automated system it removes any time whatsoever processing payments.

Domestic window cleaning should have no cash flow issues.

So why type "nope" to my point above which was in relation to Rogue Trader saying that Gocardless would solve his cash flow issue?

Because, 8 weekly, I hadn't bothered my arse to read the post properly.

[HampshireWindowCleaning]

8 weekly, you seem to have a negative view of gocardless and assume that customers would not want to do it, it is in fact the opposite for some customers, they pay all their other bills by direct debit and are actually very pleased when I've suggested it as they really can't be bothered remembering to pay me after each clean. In other words, there is a benefit to the customer as well as the window cleaner.

[8weekly]

8 weekly, you seem to have a negative view of gocardless and assume that customers would not want to do it, it is in fact the opposite for some customers, they pay all their other bills by direct debit and are actually very pleased when I've suggested it as they really can't be bothered remembering to pay me after each clean. In other words, there is a benefit to the customer as well as the window cleaner.

No, I see the benefit of direct debit as I have typed two posts above. I do think that some customers would like it, but equally some customers won't like it, but most of all I can't see why I would want to pay for it. I have free banking from Santander and I don't have any cashflow issues. I have 450 customers currently and it takes me 5 minutes a day to tally payments received with deposits into my account. Gocardless doesn't solve any problems for me. If I needed something like that I would ask for standing orders.

[HampshireWindowCleaning]

You're right, it doesn't solve any problems as such, but if some customers like the idea then that is a plus in my opinion, the fee is only 1% of the transaction.
Happy customers = healthy round

[Smudger]

8 weekly - gc is a good additional payment option - its brilliant for slow payers (genuine although they may be) a lot of new clients do prefer this method of paying, they don't have to remember to make payment as its taken automatically, yes there is a small fee, but this would be less than a price of a stamp or fuel to collect/remind customer - I understand that you have a good trickle of money coming in every day, but if you were to consider offering GC it would help your monies flow rather than trickle - it is certainly an option to keep in your mind, it is a direct debit- they can cancel if the choose - you can claim payment after a clean (which is how we do it) or you can set it for certain days of the month - for us it has reduced the debt list dramatitically- we do not ever go and collect - and if we have certain customers that are always late, they now do not get a reminder letter, they get a letter asking them to switch payment methods or to pay 3 months in advance, yes you can loose the odd customer when it gets to this stage, but if you do they were not a great customer if they continually pay late - and most are happy to switch over, it takes seconds to set up. It might not be for everyone, but is is certainly a good option to be looking at in my opinion. We have over 100 customers on GC and growing weekly, its a very easy option to sell/offer should you choose to use it. Mrs Smudger

[bobplum]

8 weekly - gc is a good additional payment option - its brilliant for slow payers (genuine although they may be) a lot of new clients do prefer this method of paying, they don't have to remember to make payment as its taken automatically, yes there is a small fee, but this would be less than a price of a stamp or fuel to collect/remind customer - I understand that you have a good trickle of money coming in every day, but if you were to consider offering GC it would help your monies flow rather than trickle - it is certainly an option to keep in your mind, it is a direct debit- they can cancel if the choose - you can claim payment after a clean (which is how we do it) or you can set it for certain days of the month - for us it has reduced the debt list dramatitically- we do not ever go and collect - and if we have certain customers that are always late, they now do not get a reminder letter, they get a letter asking them to switch payment methods or to pay 3 months in advance, yes you can loose the odd customer when it gets to this stage, but if you do they were not a great customer if they continually pay late - and most are happy to switch over, it takes seconds to set up. It might not be for everyone, but is is certainly a good option to be looking at in my opinion. We have over 100 customers on GC and growing weekly, its a very easy option to sell/offer should you choose to use it. Mrs Smudger

do you get the customer to set it up or do you do it for them
bob

[Rogue Trader]

My earlier comments relating to cash flow are fact , i have nearly 2000 customers , decent prices, 90% of my work is domestic and payment has been collection at the door , BACS or posting a cheque. I have to cover around 3k of expenses every week before i see any profit. Everybody's business is different but for me a consistency in money collected will be a massive help and DD through GoCardless will be a great advancement for my business. I just need to get as many custys as i can on it.

[Smudger]

bob,

in theory your customers should set it up, but if they are happy with you to do it, you can of course get the details required and set it up as if you were them - it is very very easy to set up so most should be able to do it themselves, ours is linked in our website, they hit a link and then complete the very short "form" but you can email them the link too if you son't have it on your web (Nate did ours and integrated GC) 

[8weekly]

My earlier comments relating to cash flow are fact , i have nearly 2000 customers , decent prices, 90% of my work is domestic and payment has been collection at the door , BACS or posting a cheque. I have to cover around 3k of expenses every week before i see any profit. Everybody's business is different but for me a consistency in money collected will be a massive help and DD through GoCardless will be a great advancement for my business. I just need to get as many custys as i can on it.

My experience is that my income roughly matches my sales. So in a given month if I have £5,000 in sales, my income too is about £5,000. It may not be income from the sales that month, but because of the number of customers there is a balance and a consistency. My cash flow matches my sales. I am sure that has to be normal with domestic work. Is yours similar? If you struggle to meet your outgoings with a cash flow/sales ratio like that,  then something isn't right. I am not trying to be clever/argumentative. Just my thoughts.

[dazmond]

i agree 8 weekly.i get as much in takings every month as work cleaned usually.sometimes more due to rolling debt from previous months.its not an issue and cash flow is really good.i use BACS,SAE and about an hours collecting most weeks.a lot of my customers pay on the day of clean as well.

[PoleKing]

Ive got GoCardLess set up to take payment on the first of the month.
This Friday my entire GoCardLess payment will clear into my account after being taken from the customer last Friday (1st of the month)
I agree with the above posts, its not essential to have GCL but it is nice when thousands of pounds drop in all at once.

[J.D]

I left a detailed letter with each customer I cleaned for and they signed up with ease! It was the easiest most convenient thing I've ever done to benefit my business! 90% of my customers were signed up in no time at all.

[PoleKing]

I left a detailed letter with each customer I cleaned for and they signed up with ease! It was the easiest most convenient thing I've ever done to benefit my business! 90% of my customers were signed up in no time at all.

Really?! that is awesome.
I was pleased when i got past a hundred, 90% would be epic!

[CleanClear]

I've been using my own version of go cardless for a while, i just text the night before and they leave the money out under a pot !! 

[Roy Harding]

With G/C can you alter the amount taken, say if the have the inside done as an extra.

Roy

[Soupy]

With G/C can you alter the amount taken, say if the have the inside done as an extra.

Roy

Yes.

[Roy Harding]

With G/C can you alter the amount taken, say if the have the inside done as an extra.

Roy

Yes.

Thanks Roy

[G.W.C]

I left a detailed letter with each customer I cleaned for and they signed up with ease! It was the easiest most convenient thing I've ever done to benefit my business! 90% of my customers were signed up in no time at all.

Any chance of a look at the letter you have made mate?Or if anyone else has a one made up?
I have just signed up and want to get as many signed up as possible.
Pole kings got the right idea getting a nice chunk paid in before the months even started