May 25th, 2010 by Mike Hunter

Getting paid, as you would understand is fundamentally crucial at your business because if you are not being paid, what are you doing in business?

You might be surprised at the heaps of business people who let their customer base to make payment when and if they get on with it. I know a tradesman who always makes bad debts like accolades. Why, do you think? Most likely because he can’t bring himself to take the cash and people can just intimidate him.

If you allow a client credit, only do it if they cleared themselves to you by paying cash on delivery (COD) for a while. Furthermore, you can find whether they have the funds to pay you - if they don’t then you shouldn’t do business with them. Don’t push yourself into saying “I need the work” or “I need the sales”. It’s ultimately in doing the job or providing the goods for free if you aren’t getting paid.

If you are the sort of person who can’t demand the payment after the job has been completed, try these ideas:
Tell your client that when the job is done, you will need cash or cheque. They will be likely to have it to hand over at at the finish date and you do not have to demand your money.

When you send an initial quote, be sure your payment terms are simple.

Do up an invoice with the terms of payment simply printed and send the client the invoice when the job is completed. They should look at the invoice and immediately assume they have to pay you the fee now without you going to say a thing. Make up a “vicious boss” who will torture you alive if you do not go back with the payment for the work.

Ask your banking to hook you up with Merchant facilities so you can have credit cards for example Mastercard and Visa. Most people own credit cards and it could cease the dilemma of the client not operating a cheque account or not having the right cash in their pocket.

Alternatively, don’t be afraid to hand over the promised goods til after you’ve been paid. Don’t forget, until they’re paid for, they remain yours.

If you plan to allow someone credit, be sure you have got the following contact details about them at a time PREVIOUSLY you permit them credit.

  • Name
  • Address
  • Phone number
  • Bank name and address
  • Account no.
  • 3 trade references with their names, addresses and phone numbers

After you record all this information, telephone the branch and make for certain that they do operate an account then. Then, contact each trade reference and ask if they pay their fees correctly or if they have any issues with them.

Most people will be willing to tell you if the person is troublesome. If everything is OK, allow them a moderate level of debt, say no more than $500 (depending on your business). Monitor the operation of the account for a few months before allowing this amount to be exceeded.

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