Richard that's exactly what does my head in and this message also ref to Ian101 its only good customers I take on but its when they all of a sudden turn bad out the blue with as Richard says a look of horror like you have just tryed steeling something form them, and its the ones who have been perfect for in my case 2 years Richards 1.5 ,
It makes you wonder well this customer used to make me cups of tea pay via online banking , thanking me each time then it ends like this ?? Well what's round the corner it gets you down!
I think also whats annoying me is i found it really hard to take the business to the next level which was the perminant employ goal I have a Subbie who has been a dimond but only enough work for once/twice a week max and he doesn't want more
So the plan was to keep gaining customers and eventually I take a more lee prior role which is focusing on chasing new bussniess and making sales I like it when something is very progressive like window cleaning is except we are deeling with the public and they can be very challenging however I do feel standing orders or debits is the way to go.
if you want to develop that way window cleaning becomes the simple transaction I fell in love with Clean paid in advance and expand,no more speculation or surprise arguments if they don't want it you will know as you have the logs when they cancel the direct debit I defo think this is the way forward maybe I had really high expectations and not passing a certain level after a fair few years in the trade is also annoying
so I have a plan to push standing orders
£30 first clean try out
£20 2 monthly if you are happy and want to continue
£14 standing order
The £14 will be a gunuine price hit for us but I think its the only way to get them to do it and once I see a progressive structure ill get the fun factor back
I know some will take the £20 and pay after clean but surely after a couple they will see how much cheaper it is and join the standing order gang or I might give them 3 chances but that would be crazy refusing a good £20 job cos he doesn't want pay online, then again I know he doesn't want to cos somewhere down the line there is a good chance he cancels on the day or screems in horror at the pole his problems might be over a year away but still! 
hey crystal,
i think everything you say is right.
only thing i would recommend is not doing standing orders and going straight to direct debits. you will regret it in the future if you dont.
dont be put off by the setup costs as they are much better from a business operations point of view (which is what you're taking about)
we've used SOs since the start for 3 yrs plus and now switching everyone to DDs which is a pain...
around 65% of our customers are SO the rest cheque.
by the end of this year 100% will be on DD or dropped
