I've always dealt with smaller mom and pop businesses who pay when the job is done. Recently I've been doing a lot more larger commercial accounts. I have to submit invoices to their billing department and usually have to wait a while for a check to appear. Someone told me I should put "Net 10" on the invoices and another new client has ask me to be billed "30 Days." I think I understand that this is how many days they will pay in. I also think people usually charge more or less depending on the days it takes to pay. What I would like to know is how you guys deal with these situation and what I should include on my invoices to comply with these larger business needs.

Thank you,
Michael

PS, Rick, if you'll bill me 30 days for your "CMS Commercial Marketing System" I'll buy it. Otherwise I'll have to wait until some of these larger businesses pay me... It looks like what I've been looking for to help land some of these big contracts!

It's frustrating being a smaller business and having to wait so long for the checks but at least the checks will come in...


(BTW we've been members here as well as clients for quite some time but our username/email address has changed several times do to forgetting passwords)

double post...

Mike-
Most of my commerecial accounts are 30 days, I suggest you get a signature when completed, I also generally take before and after pictures on new accounts in case they claim not satisfied may help if you ever need to go to court. I look at 30 days this way, Ferris Wheel fill all the seats with business and the 30 days will also revolve receiving checks throughout the month on different days. Some cleaners give a discount for early pay such as a percentage off if paid within 10 days. If an account exceeds 30 days I make a call if it exceeds 45 days I don't clean until balance is paid if it exceeds 60 days and was set up for 30 days and calls have not produced a check I do no further work once paid.

hello. my opinion/experience has been:

if i put on the invoice something to the effect "payment due within 30 days" or "net 30 days" - maybe it's my imagination but that seems to give them a license to wait 30 days to pay me, and if i hadn't mentioned a time frame they would'a popped the check in the mail the next afternoon.

i no longer mention time limits for payment. if and when they go over 30 days, which my clients do sometimes, i call and ask about it, stating, "just want to make sure it didn't get lost in the mail".

thanx --- Derek.

Mark your terms as "Due On Receipt" of course this means they are to pay as soon as they receive the invoice.

With these terms some will pay in about 14 days and some will pay at 30. Some will even pay right away

We will always have those who pay in 60 for some reason the smaller invoices get pushed to the bottom of their pile.

Charge more then Ken.

Make you own luck,

Del Scrivner
Owner/Operator
Cowboy's Carpet Care