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Post by humbleandpure on Nov 30, 2006 0:38:17 GMT -5
Question:
I do not want my employees taking payment from clients, how do I get around that? Credit card?
I am looking to develop a payment system that takes the employee completely out of the equation even when cleaning for new clients.
My concerns:
I am concerned about a new employee taking cash.
I am concerned about employee knowing what I am charging client.
I am concerned about new clients and not taking cash upon completion of the job.
Any suggestions??
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Post by Kevin on Nov 30, 2006 0:56:09 GMT -5
Mail a invoice.
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Post by humbleandpure on Nov 30, 2006 1:11:59 GMT -5
Kevin, this is a residential cleaning service in a big city . . . sending invoices is definitely not the right action in this case. If I was billing a company for office cleaning you are on the money but I find that no one wants to see another bill in the mail.
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Post by Kevin on Nov 30, 2006 1:48:48 GMT -5
Oh.. how about a techno big city answer. On your website create 15+ payment options buttons and prices weekly, bi-weekly, monthly for your average price and schedules. When you sign up the new customer. Take your laptop with you w/ satellite card. From your website plug in the customers debit/ credit card etc to which payment option most fits them. Receive your payment before you even clean via paypal on a rotating basis, charged to their card prior to each visit. That sounds kinda complicated to me, especially if a customer cancels or reschedules,Then you will be writing them a check. or if they want extra services there will be a balance which is not collected online. You will also get paranoid customers who do not want to give you any credit card information. So then were back to checks and cash. You do not want to limit your self to just credit do you? Down here in the backwoods of Detroit, we just send invoices, collect payments online or carry cash and checks. Maybe you can have your clients hide the check in a certain spot. When you or your managers go check the work. You go to the secret hiding spot to get the check. Maybe tell your clients to put all payments in a special non-see thru envelope. Then they will wonder, if you trust your staff, they might think your shady or your staff is crooked. I still kinda like mailing an invoice though. Does bring up some good questions though on employees knowing too much. I look forward to some more responses from other members, maybe they are dealing with the same question and problems.  |
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Post by Linda on Nov 30, 2006 5:40:15 GMT -5
How about leaving a few self addressed stamped envelopes for the client to put check in the mail? Or you could pick one day a week to go around collecting checks from clients yourself so that you are able to speak in person to make sure the client is happy with no concerns or special needs? Having employees taking payments from one job to another could cause a problem so you would rather collect the money or have it sent?
Linda
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Post by Kevin on Nov 30, 2006 8:18:28 GMT -5
Thats not bad either, you could create a payment book similar to a car payment book.
You also could send Guido the online collector around. Using the Paypal send an invoice program. If a person has an email, you can send it right out, you will receive notification when its paid, when its not paid etc. Options for quick re-send if they do not pay timely.
I have heard of some companies offering a small discount for fast pre-payment via credit card or cash. Might be an incentive.
Sleeping on this question last night, it makes me wonder what payment sytems will be more widely used in the future?
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Post by Grizzly on Nov 30, 2006 9:43:09 GMT -5
For our residential clients, most just leave cash or cheque in a sealed envelope addressed to Cynmar Cleaning. This we insist on. It is picked up by staff or owner and deposited at office at end of day. Reconciled at end of day with jobs that were serviced that day. Seems to work well but we are just small potatoes.
Bill
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