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If you put a contract into play, at what risk of capitol would you stop service? what about the lawyer fees. Small claims court is a hassle and a waste of time! If they like your work, they will pay. Try a letter that states that your business is funded by the business for the business. Put a net 10 day return date on all invoices and mail out your invoice on the 15th or 30th Ask your slow payers if a different due date would help them stay current and avoid disruption in service You can also offer a $2.00 discount if mailed within 10 days - this works well to generate fast cash in a pinch - be selective to only the slow payers with this offer. How is everybody els dealing with deadbeats? Tom

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

Those are some very good points! Is there a monetary point you would suggest other lcos to stop work until payment is made?

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You have to evaluate the customer from the word go. if they seem squirly, than you either take the job and risk, or bid it high and walk away. If a customer calls you for service, they usually will pay you.

to answer your question: I would cut them off after a 60 day extensive attempt to collect (in house letter campaign).

A material based install would require 50% up front to cover material.

Live and learn

[landonkade]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (grounded @ June 05 2007,5:56)]You have to evaluate the customer from the word go. if they seem squirly, than you either take the job and risk, or bid it high and walk away. If a customer calls you for service, they usually will pay you.

to answer your question: I would cut them off after a 60 day extensive attempt to collect (in house letter campaign).

A material based install would require 50% up front to cover material.

Live and learn

i am in the process of sending out referral letters to gain more customers, and then probaly afterwords send out price increase letters. so i hope everything goes good and i gain alot,lol

[rudeboy]

all this info is very good thanks for helping people

[Clean Lawn]

I know this may seem strange but I use contracts for all my weekly, bimonthly and monthly clients. I can even draw up a contract for a single service contract if needed.
If the job is a very large one requiring more then just a lawn service call then I will not go forward with the job until half of the payment is received. As for my lawn service only customers I receive payment in one of two ways only- I am paid before the beginning of next month of service giving the customer a small percent discount for this or they pay me every two weeks. If I do not receive payment then no work is scheduled or done.
Because I live in a large military area I have opted to have a 30 day written notice for clients to break their contract. I know military can come and go in a moments notice. For everyone else I have a lawyer who has nothing better to do then handle legal matters for his clients and would take it to court if I gave the word go.
I hope this helps.