[andyjm1]

One of my customers handed me a cheque for then next six cleans yesterday.

It was entirely his idea, said it would save me keep on calling back for my money.

I wish all my customer were like him, as I'm trying to cut down on the amount of time I spend collecting.

This got me thinking maybe I should try and get more customers to pre-pay.
 
Maybe I could give them a small discount if they pay for six cleans in advance?

Would be interested to hear if anyone else does this, or has tried it?

[stephen s]

how about 6 cleans for the price of 5 if paid in advance

[andyjm1]

how about 6 cleans for the price of 5 if paid in advance

Yes that is a good idea. Enough to make it worthwhile for them and saves me a whole load of messing about.

Everyones a winner! 

[stephen s]

give it a try mate,   get some sort of leaflet knocked up and post the results on here,   you really could be on to something mate.

[pingu]

6 cleans for the price of 6 cleans and pay on time should be order of the day...

[Sunshine/Cleaning]

I did this a couple of years ago. It was ok for the first couple of cleans or so, but I soon felt like I was working for nothing thereafter.
I did it in winter to keep revenue the same( Slight drop in income in winter), 10% off every 3 months in advance. Spring was not so good as income didn't match the work I was doing.

[stephen s]

Pingu  I hear what you say


but there's nothing wrong with the guy for using his inishetive  to try and get his customers to pay in advance.

Good luck to the guy and I for one will be interested in his results.

[pingu]

Yep it is a hard one..but I just feel that 'we' agreed a service and it should only be fair they pay on time and I keep my end of the deal.

And lets face it...I think that it'll be very unusual for someone to want to pay for a load of cleans upfront...yes it does happen but not very often.

Cheers
Dave.

[mark dew]

The trouble with building a round is that the customer can choose when to post payment, if at all.
Once established, there is no reason to go collecting or offering discounts for prompt payment. The people who faff about with payment are generally weeded out.
It takes time but can be done.

[Gleaming windows]

Im with Dave on this, if we're taking sides  I cant help but feel if you need to offer your customers an incentive of that nature to get round the nasty issue of reluctant payers then they surely arent the type of customer you'd wish to have?

As has been said, the price has been agreed, they have accepted it, are happy to think its value for money, why lower it?

[stephen s]

your not lowering it and price aint the issue, if you read andyjm1's  post properly you will see he's offering an incentive to customers to pay in advance for future cleans and get a discount.

happens in all walks of business and if the customers go for it then its classed as a success,   it really isn't about taking sides its about someone putting an idea they have had forward and for fellow W/Cs  to give him some encouragement

[rise@shine]

dont think its a good idea, if all of your customers took you up on the offer (which i doubt they wll) every 6 weeks you wouldnt have a wage

[stephen s]

why are all your jobs on a weekly basis ?   mine are monthly 6weekly and 8 weekly.

maybe you meant every 6 months   but not every round is a straight forward 4 weekly clean  so you always have overlaping work.


I still think he has a good idea and good luck to him for his positive approach

[simon knight]

If any of my customers offered me 6 cleans money in advance I'd take the dosh and they wouldn't see me ever again

[jouk45]

and what if, this is a dodgy  w/c and is just dong this over the summer period, as they still get dole money, and sees this idea on here, they could walk away with a lot of money, great idea, but i still like the feeling of cash in my hand at the end of a hard working  day

[stephen s]

what you actually work hard 


I think you would have to be well established and the customers to know you well before they would even consider it,  and I'm sure it would be by cheque  so very traceable

[jouk45]

what you actually work hard 


I think you would have to be well established and the customers to know you well before they would even consider it,  and I'm sure it would be by cheque  so very traceable

of course i work hard    i agree wth you there, no one will hand out 6 weeks money if they dont know you well enough,

[stephen s]

just joking mate 

[windowswashed]

I have a customer that always pays for 12 x 1 monthly washes in advance. I've only seen them a handful of times in 9 years as they work in the Far East a lot. They trust me to turn up everytime which I do. I wish more would pay so far in advance. I have a couple others but they are only 4 times in advance.

[Gleaming windows]

price aint the issue,

It is if it involves a financial incentive, which in this case is a lowering of the price, as he said maybe he could offer them a discount; that may not be a price issue to you but it is to me.

Perhaps you shoud re-read the initial post again