[sapphira09]

Hi,

My boyfriend has been running his own window cleaning business for years now but I have found the way he goes about collecting his money is so time consuming and if he doesnt get people in, he has to keep going back again and again..surely there must be some structured way of collecting money quickly and effectively.. I thought this forum was best place to start as you guys may have more information.. Anything you window cleaners have found effective would be a huge help..
 
Please help..

Sapphira. x

[Oakley Windows]

Self-addressed envelopes with a note inside detailing whats owed.

[Nathanael Jones]

And an option to pay online (Through paypal) should they be too lazy to post a letter.....

[sapphira09]

so you mean whilst workin, go round and post a letter? then go back later to collect?
It may sound silly but Im new to this... any means of not going back around to collect?

[mci services]

no he meant the customer sends a cheque, dont do it myself, but i do the online payment thing

[Nathanael Jones]

When I do a job and no one is home I drop through a self addressed envelope, with a ticket that details what they owe me and when I'll be back next. They can either post the money to me or pay online through paypal.

[ronnie paton]

do you think there is some way we could make payment via a scanning machine that you scan a barcode and that takes the money from a standing order??? any opinions??

[Rogue Trader]

i never collect , custie posts me a cheque they use their own envelope and stamp if they havent paid by next clean then they get a call beforehand , you dont get paid as quickly as collecting so you have to endure a few weeks with not as much cash coming in but catches up with itself in the end. i also give the option for online bank transfer.

[Tosh]

do you think there is some way we could make payment via a scanning machine that you scan a barcode and that takes the money from a standing order??? any opinions??

A Standing Order is a regular payment set up by someone which pays a set amount at a set timescale.

I have a few customers who pay me in this manner.

Other than that, I'm not sure what you mean.

[sapphira09]

so how do u set up an online payment process? With customers who have always just had it collected manually? Is there no way of setting up a direct debit where the money comes out automatically? Or is that more hassle than its worth with customers cancelling etc?

[mci services]

so how do u set up an online payment process? With customers who have always just had it collected manually? Is there no way of setting up a direct debit where the money comes out automatically? Or is that more hassle than its worth with customers cancelling etc?

i have did it with a few and know others are trying to set up standing orders, you basically have to go round all the banks and get thier form because some banks will not accept your own form, then the customer has to take it/ send it to their bank, then if they cancel they have to cancel the standing order. downside is you can never be late which is actually an upside as well as it forces you to work. the online bit i do through my website and they pay with debit/credit card via paypal but i believe you can do it just with an email address but not sure

[sapphira09]

so do you reckon the best thing to do is set it up through our website? Can the customers be reliable? Surely there must be some system set up which all window cleaners can use?... Its a bit of a strange one..

[sapphira09]

A scanning system? When you clean the windows, you swipe the persons details into a system that automaically charges the person on their bill..Having an agreement set up with the bank, so that every time you swipe the machine, the bank gets informed and so does he person.. hmm. Maybe the bank could chase up the moneys for us.... ha ha 

[mci services]

its cut down my collecting but for cash flow i still collect, some are good as gold and pay before your even home, the ones that are bad are still as bad so i stick to collecting, others disagree and do the cheque bit and it works for them

[windowwashers]

Hi,

My boyfriend has been running his own window cleaning business for years now but I have found the way he goes about collecting his money is so time consuming and if he doesnt get people in, he has to keep going back again and again..surely there must be some structured way of collecting money quickly and effectively.. I thought this forum was best place to start as you guys may have more information.. Anything you window cleaners have found effective would be a huge help..
 
Please help..

Sapphira. x

No envelope, text on postal item states that payment made late will incur a late fee, I have not collected since 2003, you need to shape customers to pay on time if they dont they get chrged, same as your crdit card, elec bill an d gas, your late you get charged

[sapphira09]

Do they not just go elsewhere if you charge them?? Do they pay up?

[niceandclean]

do you think there is some way we could make payment via a scanning machine that you scan a barcode and that takes the money from a standing order??? any opinions??

Someone a while ago posted a link to a window cleaning company using such a machine.

[pingu]

All but 6 of my customers pay via intetnet bank transfers...the other 6 pay cash on the day.

Very simple, very each and not leaving the house whatsoever to collect....and all very secure.

Cheers
Dave.

[jsm]

knock on the door - if they are get the payment  ,

if they not in post a stamped address envolope with 2nd class stamp on with the invoice sticking out the top through the door - make sure you put payment terms of 7 days on the invoice - Ive been doing it this way for years and years . you get the odd few send it later that 7 days but 99% get it to you before the next clean so you know where you are.
you can get 2nd class stamps by the 100 - i found by getting 1st class i wasns gaing much as i only tend to bank them once a week anyway so the saving was better in my pocket.

Its nice to come home with a pile of money siting on the mat 

[jefftemperley]

go to post office and set up your own freepost address that way you only pay 22p for envelopes that are used .
also set up online thru website paypal or similar


s/o are sent by someones bank

dd are taken by you from someones bank (you are in control of when and how much) however very expensive an enoromous amount of admin and for a window cleaner virtually impossible to get.
i know as i went through setting up a dd system with barclays when i owned a couple of health clubs and it really wasnt worth the hassle.


the barcode scanning idea is not viable unless you want to go through setting up a dd system then have your own system made up to run with it,  dont bother unless you have 4 or 5 thousand custys.

we all wish we had that !!!