One down, three more to go

This year for some reason has been horrible with non-payment or late payers from customers. *Must be something in the water this year. I sent out a very stern letter to one lady, that was 4 months past due, and believe it or not I received the total amount due for the services provided, except that she didn't pay any late fees, which I am fine with. *At least she finally paid. *So after her I have three more left to go. Case 1: $165 due back in April, stopped keeping track of late fes in August. *Have sent her numerous letters, late payment notices, threaten small claims, etc. *I am contacting credit bureau tomorrow * Case 2: $27 due back in July, $87 with late fees. *Sent past due notices and left many phone messages. *Will be sending a stern letter in 2 weeks (after the current due date for the invoice that I just sent out with late fees is due) Case 3: $26 due back in August, $66 with late fees. *I serviced her back in May, and she was a month behind payment then. *She ended up paying finally and then stopped service, but then reactivating service again in July. *I should not have took her back as a customer. *Will be sending a stern letter in 2 weeks (after the current due date for the invoice that I just sent out with late fees is due) Case 4: $35 due, $115 with late fees. *CASE CLOSED; the lady mentioned above that paid me today after I sent a very stern letter

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

Did these customers have any similarities besides being late? Like I mean did you get a bad feeling about them when they signed up?

__________________
- Subscribe to my Lawn Care Marketing Blog Feed and get daily tips sent to you. Free!
Download your Free trial of Gopher Lawn Care Software.

There was only one that I really had a "bad" feeling about, and she is Case 1.

The other two that are still past due I didn't get a bad feeling. *The one owns a cleaning business, while the other one works at a doctors office that I have been servicing for the past 7 years.

But something that is similar to these three that are still left, all of them were lawn application customers.

[Steve]

Do you feel you have learned any new things from working with the customer base you had this year and if so how will you alter your business next year to counter act problem customer behavior?

Well, I am thinking customers that did not come without a referral I am thinking about how the first service or month paid up front. I still haven't totally come to a conclusion exacting I am going to handle things after what happened this year. All of the past due customers, except one were fertilization. So I am thinking that perhaps all new customers must be a lawn maintenance customer in order to receive fertilization.

Any ideas would be great

[Steve]

It is an interesting concept. If it works, that would be great.

Do you know of others that offer a similar plan?

I do know some companies that only offer customers full service only, and no mow and go services.

[Steve]

Very interesting, maybe it would be something to experiment with!

Two down....two more to go. *I closed Case #3 above. *I got paid from another cusotmer today. *I expect payment from another (Case #2) one by the end of the week. *

The large account, I am pursuing that with the local credit bureau. *It will only cost me between 25 to 50% of the amount due that the customer owes

[Steve]

What steps did you take to work with the local credit bureau? I am sure others reading this would find that interesting to know.