Got a call from a painter 38 days ago frantic to get a window cleaner to clean up a serious mess they made on a decent sized CCU that the last cleaner walked on. I dropped everything to do the job and charged her $1250 to which she wrote a check for at the end of the day.
Before I left the GC came to me and asked me if I could do such and such more before the day was done. Sure I said at 6pm. Did the job, subbmitted a bill for 250 to him at 7:30 and he signed and we left.
30 days later he calls and asks me to do more. Like a wall of glass three stories high all CCU that would have to be done from a ladder as landscaping was done and the lift was gone. I said sure. Did you guys get the bill in the mail? No he says but Iāll see what I can do to get you paid. Good I said. I want the check in my hand before I do this wall.
Well tomorrow is here. Got the job scheduled but still no check from this company Iāve never worked for. Talked to the head of maintanance at the job and he said this company likes to take their time paying. My terms are net 30.
I txted the GM and he said the bill has not been sent out yet but once Iām done tomorrow submit both to their office at the same time. Didnāt answer his txt yet.
Is it possible to deal with the first one who cut you that check instead of gc? Those big corps have usually 30 or 45 net days to pay outside work, (when they feel like it) they dont care what your net is. Im sure its coming. If you pass, youll kick yourself later,providing they pay lol. Get a po signed before u start.
Iād be careful. Especially since the gc approached you. Until I have a working relationship with a new customer that found me, I donāt let them get too deep into my wallet.
Yea, get in the habit of no additional jobs scheduled without payment for the last.
I DO NOT DO NET 30, for this very reason.
Want me to extend credit to you for 30 days or more? There is a charge for that. I donāt discount you for paying on time, I charge you for paying late.
If it was that pressing, theyād find a way to cut that check before u start. Some of my customers i require payment upon completion. But i have a huge client that calls me all the time, for windows, vinyl signage, etc. that i was leary with at first because they were 30 days late the first few times. and now in that contract if not paid by 30 days, thereās 10% of job price late fee tacked on every single day after 30. They are damn sure to pay on time since i did that. And they just keep calling me back too. Im glad i held onto em because it turned out very well for me. Brought me some more big name references like nike, kraft Heinz, last month i prepped the gym for the nba draft combine.
What if you had promised to come that first day and didnāt show up? Then 30 days later they call.
You: āOh, ok, let me see what i can do to get there tomorrow.ā Still donāt showā¦
Email to contact: āPlease note that payment is overdue and no further work will be performed until paid in full.ā
You are well established enough that Iām sure you have other paying work that this would be taking you away from.
I prefer payment due upon completion. I do have a couple of good commercial jobs that pay within a week to 10 days. I am perfectly fine with that. If it takes 30, 40 or more days to sign off on a check? In the words of The Donald, āyouāre firedā.
Sounds like the type of company youāll spend a lot time chasing money .
Also sounds like he needs you more than you need him . Heās seen your work and knows he can rely on you , but you still havenāt seen if they pay . I would just call and tell him ''call me when you got my check in your hand Iāll go do this wall for you āā .