Attn: Offline Marketers

Dexx · 08-21-2009, 03:15 PM

Just a quick poll/question for the offline marketers, I'm curious as to whether the majority of us prefer to complete services then invoice after, collect payment in advance, or some variant of the two.

What do you prefer to do?

How many of you actually use merchant accounts for payment processing, and how many just use paypal?

MichaelHiles · 08-21-2009, 03:40 PM

Credit cards are a must, and particularly in the US, American Express - because they have such a huge presence in the small business market and so many owners use them to manage cash and accounting.

I ask for 50% on the start of a particular project and 50% is invoiced and due 30 days following the completion.

Jagged · 08-21-2009, 06:01 PM

I replied here instead of the survey because my payment options vary by service rendered...

50% up-front for any webdesign....Balance invoiced, due 30 days following completion...
For Any One Time Set-ups...it's 100% up-front...
For any monthly recurring payments...I invoice...due on the 1st of the month...

I accept payments by:
Company Check (7 days clear)
All Major Credit Cards (POS)
PayPal

Good luck,
Ken

Kyle Tully · 08-21-2009, 07:14 PM

I always get paid up-front.

Check, Paypal or direct deposit.

Andyhenry · 08-21-2009, 07:20 PM

Deposit up front and the rest on completion.

I've found that many businesses in Europe avoid Amex like the plague because they charge more per transaction that most other card companies. I use an Amex in most countries too but sometimes they're refused, so I always try to accept payment in the most convenient form for the client/customer because I know what a pain it is to get messed about.

Andy

Jason_V · 08-21-2009, 07:20 PM

Yes, ALWAYS try to get the full payment up front if you can. You should even offer up to a 10% discount for full payment up front. (This is a standard practice for most companies, to encourage complete payment up front.)

If you can't get all of it up front, as others have mentioned, accept no less than 50%. Trust me, you don't want to have to do collections, it's really not fun.

DukeNasty · 08-22-2009, 01:27 PM

I generally never ask for 100% up front? Why, because my fee is large and my clients generally do not pay 100% up front for any other type of big ticket consulting work. 50% upfront, and the balance is due upon completion. I am working on several opportunities now that are 12 month contracts where the client is essentially outsourcing their entire marketing effort to my firm so there will be an initial payment (not likely to be 50%) and a monthly retainer. Big money to be made here.

E.

BrashImpact · 08-22-2009, 08:03 PM

Dexx,
i am a firm believer in payment in full up front.
we do not want to have any account recieveables,
and it also keeps us in the drivers seat at all times.

I voted for payment in full, the service we deliver is
so strong, very few other business's can compete
with the delivery and results.

Regards,
Robert Nelson
"The Maverick Motivator"

Tyler Horn · 08-22-2009, 08:34 PM

If I am consulting for a Brick and Mortar business in the area that I actually visit face to face I do accept checks, mostly because that is what small businesses are used to. If I am doing some small one time work (like installing a CMS) I ask for payment upfront.

If I am doing any type of SEO I usually ask for 50% up front and the remainder when the client ranks for keywords (that I have suggested) Though I never guarantee a certain ranking, only that I have done the work.

Ed Gibbs · 08-23-2009, 12:26 AM

Personally, I would look at several factors: what you're offering the business, what the price is, how long that business has been around, and how known they are in the area.

If it's a well-known local business, perhaps one that I've used in the past and know to be reliable and trustworthy, I may very well say "you can pay me as soon as you see what I do and are satisfied with the results." On the other hand, if I consider a business to be riskier and less likely of actually paying the bill, I would ask for a portion (probably 50%) up-front.

I'd never ask any business to pay 100% up-front unless I myself had a well-known name in the community. Asking someone to pay $5K up-front for Web design and other services could be suspicious.

It's all about managing risk wisely. It's difficult to have to sue a client to get the funds.

View Poll Results: How do you prefer to collect your cash?
Payment in Advance	6	35.29%
Invoice After Services	0	0%
50% Before and then Remainder Upon Completion	8	47.06%
Other (Explained Below)	3	17.65%
Voters: 17. You may not vote on this poll

08-21-2009, 03:15 PM	#1
Dexx Offline Consultant War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,860 Thanks: 583 Thanked 573 Times in 307 Posts Social Networking	Attn: Offline Marketers - When Do You Collect Your Payments? Just a quick poll/question for the offline marketers, I'm curious as to whether the majority of us prefer to complete services then invoice after, collect payment in advance, or some variant of the two. What do you prefer to do? How many of you actually use merchant accounts for payment processing, and how many just use paypal?
	[NEW WSO] Easily Generate a Full-Time Income Working Less Than 5 Hours a Week! [WOWZA] Offline Marketing Tool That Automatically Lands High-Paying Clients EASILY! [OFFLINE BLOG] Offline Marketing PLR Tools, Courses, Videos, and Business Growth Advice. [FREE OFFLINE RESOURCES] Marketing Software, eBooks, Videos, Case Studies and More!

08-21-2009, 03:40 PM	#2
MichaelHiles Battle Scarred Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,563 Thanks: 665 Thanked 1,780 Times in 744 Posts Social Networking	Re: Attn: Offline Marketers - When Do You Collect Your Payments? Credit cards are a must, and particularly in the US, American Express - because they have such a huge presence in the small business market and so many owners use them to manage cash and accounting. I ask for 50% on the start of a particular project and 50% is invoiced and due 30 days following the completion.
	FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER!!! @MichaelHiles Circle Me on Google+... http://gplus.to/michaelhiles >>>>>>>> GET THE STRAIGHT TALK at http://www.michaelhiles.com

08-21-2009, 06:01 PM	#3
Jagged Ken Perry War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Tucson, Phoenix AZ Posts: 844 Blog Entries: 11 Thanks: 151 Thanked 406 Times in 197 Posts Social Networking	Re: Attn: Offline Marketers - When Do You Collect Your Payments? I replied here instead of the survey because my payment options vary by service rendered... 50% up-front for any webdesign....Balance invoiced, due 30 days following completion... For Any One Time Set-ups...it's 100% up-front... For any monthly recurring payments...I invoice...due on the 1st of the month... I accept payments by: Company Check (7 days clear) All Major Credit Cards (POS) PayPal Good luck, Ken

08-21-2009, 07:14 PM	#4
Kyle Tully ConsultingTycoon.com War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Vaucluse, Australia. Posts: 2,343 Thanks: 98 Thanked 268 Times in 128 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Attn: Offline Marketers - When Do You Collect Your Payments? I always get paid up-front. Check, Paypal or direct deposit.
	Thought About Offline Consulting? Fiona - $5,500 + $600/m 1st Week... Anthony - $7k + $594/m... Liz - $12k 1st Month... Rob - $7k + $800/ 1st Month... Scott - $45,000 in 3m... 20/yo Jock 6-Figure Client 2nd Month Don't you deserve the same unfair advantage?

08-21-2009, 07:20 PM	#5
Andyhenry Beware - Straight Talker War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 9,263 Blog Entries: 25 Thanks: 1,180 Thanked 4,492 Times in 1,497 Posts Social Networking	Re: Attn: Offline Marketers - When Do You Collect Your Payments? Deposit up front and the rest on completion. I've found that many businesses in Europe avoid Amex like the plague because they charge more per transaction that most other card companies. I use an Amex in most countries too but sometimes they're refused, so I always try to accept payment in the most convenient form for the client/customer because I know what a pain it is to get messed about. Andy
	Get The Real Truth About SEO In 2012

08-21-2009, 07:20 PM	#6
Jason_V Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: , , USA. Posts: 1,467 Blog Entries: 5 Thanks: 129 Thanked 207 Times in 78 Posts	Re: Attn: Offline Marketers - When Do You Collect Your Payments? Yes, ALWAYS try to get the full payment up front if you can. You should even offer up to a 10% discount for full payment up front. (This is a standard practice for most companies, to encourage complete payment up front.) If you can't get all of it up front, as others have mentioned, accept no less than 50%. Trust me, you don't want to have to do collections, it's really not fun.

08-22-2009, 01:27 PM	#7
DukeNasty HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 189 Thanks: 17 Thanked 53 Times in 28 Posts	Re: Attn: Offline Marketers - When Do You Collect Your Payments? I generally never ask for 100% up front? Why, because my fee is large and my clients generally do not pay 100% up front for any other type of big ticket consulting work. 50% upfront, and the balance is due upon completion. I am working on several opportunities now that are 12 month contracts where the client is essentially outsourcing their entire marketing effort to my firm so there will be an initial payment (not likely to be 50%) and a monthly retainer. Big money to be made here. E.

08-22-2009, 08:03 PM	#8
BrashImpact Make It Happen War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 739 Thanks: 153 Thanked 220 Times in 127 Posts	Re: Attn: Offline Marketers - When Do You Collect Your Payments? Dexx, i am a firm believer in payment in full up front. we do not want to have any account recieveables, and it also keeps us in the drivers seat at all times. I voted for payment in full, the service we deliver is so strong, very few other business's can compete with the delivery and results. Regards, Robert Nelson "The Maverick Motivator"
	Only 39 Left The Ultimate WSO - "Over 1600+ Sold"...."WSO of the DAY..." Amazing Reviews

08-22-2009, 08:34 PM	#9
Tyler Horn LCSW War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: USA Posts: 180 Thanks: 4 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Attn: Offline Marketers - When Do You Collect Your Payments? If I am consulting for a Brick and Mortar business in the area that I actually visit face to face I do accept checks, mostly because that is what small businesses are used to. If I am doing some small one time work (like installing a CMS) I ask for payment upfront. If I am doing any type of SEO I usually ask for 50% up front and the remainder when the client ranks for keywords (that I have suggested) Though I never guarantee a certain ranking, only that I have done the work.
	Tyler Horn, LCSW I am a child and family therapist, and internet marketer who specializes in small targeted internet presences for people in the helping professions. If your mission is to enhance the lives of the people around you PM me

08-23-2009, 12:26 AM	#10
Ed Gibbs Warrior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Attn: Offline Marketers - When Do You Collect Your Payments? Personally, I would look at several factors: what you're offering the business, what the price is, how long that business has been around, and how known they are in the area. If it's a well-known local business, perhaps one that I've used in the past and know to be reliable and trustworthy, I may very well say "you can pay me as soon as you see what I do and are satisfied with the results." On the other hand, if I consider a business to be riskier and less likely of actually paying the bill, I would ask for a portion (probably 50%) up-front. I'd never ask any business to pay 100% up-front unless I myself had a well-known name in the community. Asking someone to pay $5K up-front for Web design and other services could be suspicious. It's all about managing risk wisely. It's difficult to have to sue a client to get the funds.