Paid in front

[THL4KEL]

Just let the customer who pays you upfront for the year have it at that price for the year. All other new starts during that year pay the new increased price if you need to increase. Put up that customer in year 2 if it needs to happen.

 

[mike007]

I have one couple who pay nearly a years worth at a time and as Part Timer says, it does sometimes feel as though you are working for nothing, even though you are not.

 

[AndyD]

Hi I'm working on a project and just need a bit of feedback.

Do you ever get payments for next time?

I have 1 customer who pays in front but that's it so just want to know if that's the norm or not

One chap pays as soon as I say I’ll be there tomorrow morning. I’d rather have that any day of the week than having to hound someone for two weeks for a payment (like I do every month with one of my customers).

 

[K in Kent]

One chap pays as soon as I say I’ll be there tomorrow morning. I’d rather have that any day of the week than having to hound someone for two weeks for a payment (like I do every month with one of my customers).

Quite right. I understand the sense of working for nothing but that's just how our minds work. All that matters is being paid. Getting knocked for your money - now that's when it becomes a problem

 

[A D]

Hi I'm working on a project and just need a bit of feedback.

Do you ever get payments for next time?

I have 1 customer who pays in front but that's it so just want to know if that's the norm or not

Hello
No most pay after completion.
My customers all commercial (I only do 1 very large house) pay after work done except 2 who pay monthly standing order and 1 pays 6 monthly.

 

[Swasher]

It's not the norm but it isn't totally unusual. Personally hate it as when I turn up to do the job it doesn't feel like I'm making anything.

Same .

 

[Clean zero]

Hi I have some who pay for a year had one today who done that . They say they then don’t have to worry about paying and they say if I have to put the price up in the year just let them know and they will pay the difference for the year .

 

[eson]

How would it work getting paid a year in advance if you need to raise the price, if inflation takes off to 20 percent or something horrendous?

You by accepting the full in-advance payment from the customer are creating a legal contract. You are to do the same work to the same standard each time, for the agreed number of times for the year. However, even though a contract has been created by doing this, there is nothing preventing you from conducting a simple contract review anytime in the future - if you and the customer both agree new work/pricing or whatever then the new contract is binding not your initial one. If the customer does not agree to any change, and does not accept any money back you just have to compete the full years work as initially agreed otherwise you would be in breach of contract. The 'way out' is prevention . . . at the start simply say subject to change or subject to review, better still is 'Subject to availability such that work not done will be refunded'. Always get things in writing/text so there is no shenanigans by anyone - life is then easy !!!