Pay me now.

[AkersLawn]

Scott, I love your post dated checks. That is surely the way to go, I'm finally finding out. Next year will be different, I'd rather have my headache be more along the lines of... gosh i'm so overloaded with work.... than.... well I have money, sort of, like when i get paid .... Im able to take credit/debit cards, and of course checks and cash. Next year it will be post dated check, prepaid with a card, or at the time of service, with no revisit until I get paid. Also, I will absolutely not under any circumstances drop the damn tailgate for less than 25$.

[SECTLANDSCAPING]

Lawn care business tips

Originally Posted by AkersLawn Scott, I love your post dated checks. That is surely the way to go, I'm finally finding out. Next year will be different, I'd rather have my headache be more along the lines of... gosh i'm so overloaded with work.... than.... well I have money, sort of, like when i get paid .... Im able to take credit/debit cards, and of course checks and cash. Next year it will be post dated check, prepaid with a card, or at the time of service, with no revisit until I get paid. Also, I will absolutely not under any circumstances drop the damn tailgate for less than 25$. I been burned by debit, paypal, and checks. All 3 options allow chargebacks/stop payments. I wont be surprised the day someone hands me monopoly money.

__________________
South Eastern Connecticut Landscaping /Lawn Care /Pressure Washing /Snow Removal /Gutter Cleaning
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[dpld]

Originally Posted by SECTLANDSCAPING

I been burned by debit, paypal, and checks. All 3 options allow chargebacks/stop payments. I wont be surprised the day someone hands me monopoly money.

my sentiments exactly, there is no substitute for having a signed contract with every detail spelled out.
this way you have all your bases covered in the event you need to get judge wapner involved.

[AkersLawn]

Originally Posted by SECTLANDSCAPING

I been burned by debit, paypal, and checks. All 3 options allow chargebacks/stop payments. I wont be surprised the day someone hands me monopoly money.

Yes i've found that the only way to take plastic is to charge it every time. The thing that gets me the most is people looking at me like im some sort of A-Hole for requesting payment at or before the time of service. I've gotten good at this ....
Client:
So how do i know you will do the work?
Al: Well if you are concerned you can pay at the time of service
Client: I'd be more comfortable billed at the end of the month
Al: What are you eating for dinner tonight?
Client : ..... Uh.... Rocky mtn Oysters ... why?
Al: When you bought those Oysters, did you tell walmart you'd like to be billed monthly or when you picked up your groceries, did you pay then?

Never Fails.

[CHEESE2009]

Originally Posted by AkersLawn

Al: When you bought those Oysters, did you tell walmart

Walmart has Oysters?! :O <3

[wat5150]

Wow...eating bull balls...nice

[lonestarlawn]

Originally Posted by CHEESE2009

Everyone should utilize post-dated cheques, it's so simple!!!!!

Thats how I'd like to have things running. How do you sell this to new customers? I can't get anyone to pay for more than 1 mow at a time.

[CHEESE2009]

Originally Posted by lonestarlawn

Thats how I'd like to have things running. How do you sell this to new customers? I can't get anyone to pay for more than 1 mow at a time.

With speaking to several other people on the forum and out of my city, I have to say that it highly depends on your area.

In my area, it's completely normal for businesses like ours to charge clients for the full season, regardless if we miss a few visits (grass stops growing, etc) we'll still get paid.

I have a feeling it has to deal with the pricing. In my city, our service is 40% less expensive then anywhere else in the world, so I suppose we wouldn't settle for 'pay-per-visit' lawn maintenance.

The majority of you would probably have to quadruple your clientele in order to make what you are making today financially, just in my area.

-

Another example would be snow removal, this is where WE usually have the advantage over most people.

A lot of people (not from my city) charge per job during the winter, this lacks in consistency, $$$. In my city, we charge for the entire season, regardless of how much it snows.

The problem is, the more it snows, the more money WE lose vs the more it snows, the more money YOU make. Both are good and bad, depending on the winter.

Our chances of making more money is greater, but so is our chances of losing it all. lol... Winter is a gamble.

[AkersLawn]

Originally Posted by CHEESE2009

Walmart has Oysters?! :O <3

Hahaha Hell if i know, just trying to make a point !

I wonder how most companies in my area charge, for the season or per visit. I have a hard time getting people to pay me in advance, and it seems more of a trust issue than anything. And snow removal too, I have a large snow removal account. Im hired by a large maintenance company that does thousands and thousands of various corporate stores nationwide, and they pay for the season. However, all the commercial bids I've sent around and all the companies where im trying to get my foot in the door, want either a Per-Push, or an hourly rate.

[CHEESE2009]

I think it's worth a shot to try and bring into your area.

Giving the clients the choice as to when they should require your service is a bad idea.

Your contract should have something like:

Lawn Maintenance
3x $xxx.xx : May 1, 2013 and Jul 1, 2013 and Sep 1, 2013

Checks must be accompanied with a copy of your signed contract and made payable to: «COMPANY NAME»