Dealing with payments?!?!?!

[fieroboi]

Originally Posted by Steve That is very interesting. Do you ever offer a discount to those who are willing to give you the post dated checks? We don't often talk about this payment option, how did you come up with this idea? I have not given a discount for post dated checks. I can not take credit for this payment option as it was one of my clients that asked if she could give me post dates rather than getting bills every month. I thought great ... I like this idea. I find that sometimes the best ideas come from others, which is why I really enjoy this forum. I feel why re-invent the wheel, when it is already out there.

[justin_time]

Lawn care business tips

Originally Posted by Fresh Cut Collect money how? Go back by all your yards and ring the bell? Call ahead and have them leave payment under the mat or in the grill? You bill them? Invoices? Most of my people aren't on contracts. As I'm growing, I'm getting all my new people on contracts, do I need to start billing my customers an invoice? If so, how do I get them to pay on time without causing pressure and jeopardizing the business relationship? I'm a one man show right now, my time is tight. How do I fit a billing schedule/system into my routine seamlessly? What's the most convenient route? I use gopher and send them an invoice. If they don't pay within 15 days they get a late charge and I stop cutting.

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Justin Pitre
Just in Time Yard Services

[majoe7]

Originally Posted by Steve

Does this apply to all new customers? If not, how do you determine who will be on the probationary period?

All new clients are this way. I was burned once and I learned. No one has had an issue with this policy I have set up. I will allow clients to move to the end of the month payment after I have gained their trust. By that I mean they haven’t missed a payment or sent in a payment late.

The only down fall is that I have to be on my toes to who pays at the beginning and who pays at the end of the month. My invoice system tracks this for me, so it only takes a second to separate them.

John

[Steve]

All new clients are this way. I was burned once and I learned. No one has had an issue with this policy I have set up. I will allow clients to move to the end of the month payment after I have gained their trust. By that I mean they haven’t missed a payment or sent in a payment late.

Over what kind of period of time do you feel it should take for the average customer to gain your trust if they always pay on time? One month? Two? Or maybe more?

[Fresh Cut]

Originally Posted by majoe7

All new clients are this way. I was burned once and I learned. No one has had an issue with this policy I have set up. I will allow clients to move to the end of the month payment after I have gained their trust. By that I mean they haven’t missed a payment or sent in a payment late.

The only down fall is that I have to be on my toes to who pays at the beginning and who pays at the end of the month. My invoice system tracks this for me, so it only takes a second to separate them.

John

What kind of invoice system do you have?

[Fresh Cut]

Originally Posted by justin_time

I use gopher and send them an invoice. If they don't pay within 15 days they get a late charge and I stop cutting.

How does Gopher work? How easy is it? Seamless to implement?

Does it email invoices or Print them and you have to fold, envelope, & mail? Or do you just leave bill in person when you cut their yard?

[justin_time]

Originally Posted by Fresh Cut

How does Gopher work? How easy is it? Seamless to implement?

Does it email invoices or Print them and you have to fold, envelope, & mail? Or do you just leave bill in person when you cut their yard?

It all depends if the customer has an e-mail or not.

If the customer has an e-mail, i have to option to save it as a PDF than I fire up my Microsoft Outlook (where I access my e-mail account) and send the customer his invoice.

If the customer doesn't have e-mail, i just basically print the invoice on perforated paper that I got done 3 inches from the bottom so they can detach the bottom portion and return it to me. Then I fold then invoice in 3 and mail it with a double window envelope.

You can get a free demo of Gopher for 30 days on http://www.gophersoftware.com

If you have anymore questions with Gopher, just ask Steve or post it here, i will try to answer your question