[lee_dewing]

At title.

Thinking of Standing order only for new custies.

I have 230-ish custies and have been putting up prices most are £1

but do have 15% of custies under priced by more than £2-5.

Will address these this month but will lose some/all.

So getting leaflets done for new work.

Will mainly go for work in the roads i'm already in.

Was thinking of offering S/O ONLY no exception.

Do you guys think this will be a total flop?
Would add that leaflets would have my address name of my insurer (not sorted yet  )

And reference to my website.
So do you think standing order would attract new custies or put em off.
Thanks lee (hope you've all had good easter, i didn't get any eggs have to help daughter eat hers )

P.s  I'm finding standing order a great way to rid the messer's
I send bad payers a s/o letter and nothing; don't have to have the
"you stopped cleaning my windows!"
chat you know
"you always forget to pay me"

"i've always paid you"

"yes when i see you, but you won't send cheque in the s.a.e"

"yes i do!"
 

[bobplum]

i have a lot on standing orders,could do with more.
i only take people on with standing orders,you may get less customers but you will get a better type of customer and less hassle.
went canvassing yesterday,guy says how much,£14.00,i say,well the other guy does it for £13.00,....fine £13.00 it is...............but you pay by standing order...........oohh,i will have a chat with the wife.........good bye messer
he was the only "customer" i picked up but you could see what was going to happen,so no thanks

[richard jagger]

I think a standing order will send a message out of a business minded window cleaner.We need more to do it,in my mind.Keep me posted.

[g.brookes]

It's a great idea. Probably gonna work best with customers you've had for a while.
My big concern is how you deal with being tied to a certain day

[one eyed window cleaning]

A standing order can only be stoped by the suplier not the customer, a direct debit can be stoped by the customer  so I think this would be the best option.

[Paul H]

Been going on my window cleaning side nearly a year now

When I set out I made it clear ... Bank transfer , cheque , or cash on completion ... Had no issues other than the odd chase up here n there but nothing excessive

Educate them from  the outset and you'll be fine it really isn't an issue in the modern day ..

Personally I couldn't do collection it makes no business sense at all to me ....

[bobplum]

A standing order can only be stoped by the suplier not the customer, a direct debit can be stoped by the customer  so I think this would be the best option.

sorry standing order the customer is in total control and its a fixed price not variable like a direct debit

[bobplum]

It's a great idea. Probably gonna work best with customers you've had for a while.
My big concern is how you deal with being tied to a certain day

your not tied to a day
so long as you clean in the month and they pay in the month
it would be better if you clean lets say week one and they pay in/on week one

[one eyed window cleaning]

A standing order can only be stoped by the suplier not the customer, a direct debit can be stoped by the customer  so I think this would be the best option.

sorry standing order the customer is in total control and its a fixed price not variable like a direct debit

the customer cant stop a standing order I have tryed in the past but yes you are correct wist the increase

[bobplum]

A standing order can only be stoped by the suplier not the customer, a direct debit can be stoped by the customer  so I think this would be the best option.

sorry standing order the customer is in total control and its a fixed price not variable like a direct debit

the customer cant stop a standing order I have tryed in the past but yes you are correct wist the increase

all mine have,when they leave me,i have never stopped a standing order they simply do it thru there internet banking system

[bobplum]

a standing order is an "instruction" from the bank account holder to pay  a "payees " account a set amount at set times and at  set amounts
the customer as full control over a standing order

[bobplum]

A standing order can be set up to run for a set period of time, or indefinitely, and can be cancelled at the account holder's request. Standing orders are standardized by the trade body UK Payments Administration. In 2008 a number of banks began to introduce Faster Payments as the method of transfer for standing orders when available, in place of the slower BACS system; with this method payments reach the receiving account the same day, rather than after a delay of three days or more.[1]

[home6442]

A customer can stop a standing order.
Its a recurring payment thats hard for a customer to stop.

[one eyed window cleaning]

Then I stand corrected.

[Paddy Woods]

A standing order can only be stoped by the suplier not the customer, a direct debit can be stoped by the customer  so I think this would be the best option.

sorry standing order the customer is in total control and its a fixed price not variable like a direct debit

Most of mine are now standing order also bacs ! This last year I insisted on it due to collecting most were unsure to b honest but if you make them aware they are still going to pay you but easier for them/you !!
Remember if you want a mobile phone service you have no choice but standing order (ok dd due to the amount changing each month)
It also shows customer you professional in your dealings .....

[lee_dewing]

Thanks Everyone!

Bobplum I remember now you said you were going to go this way s/o.

I know what you mean about that new custie that dissapeared as you mentioned s/o.

You can spot the messers a mile off.

I have weeded out 98% of messers but the danger of getting new work is going through the weeding out process all over again

If my memory serves me correctly nearly all my lost customers are due to them peeing of by gradually getting later and later with the payment to the point where you think will they pay.

As someone on here said they think payment is optional.

Another reason I think the s/o is good if you can't work/winter due to heavy snow and have a week off you still have money coming into your account the worse way you put the custie in credit and refund when your cash flow improves say march april. (most custies won't realise how many cleans.)

thanks everyone for your input.
Lee (off to work )

Will it ever be warm again; ski gear on didn't think i'd be wearing this in april

[Pro-Poler]

Thanks Everyone!

Bobplum I remember now you said you were going to go this way s/o.

I know what you mean about that new custie that dissapeared as you mentioned s/o.

You can spot the messers a mile off.

I have weeded out 98% of messers but the danger of getting new work is going through the weeding out process all over again

If my memory serves me correctly nearly all my lost customers are due to them peeing of by gradually getting later and later with the payment to the point where you think will they pay.

As someone on here said they think payment is optional.

Another reason I think the s/o is good if you can't work/winter due to heavy snow and have a week off you still have money coming into your account the worse way you put the custie in credit and refund when your cash flow improves say march april. (most custies won't realise how many cleans.)

thanks everyone for your input.
Lee (off to work )

Will it ever be warm again; ski gear on didn't think i'd be wearing this in april

I think it's a silly idea to want all your customers on this, what if the weather is crap and you have been paid by your customers and spent the money you're not going to want to do the work then are you? As an option that's given to the customer yes, it's a good idea and if they are forthcoming by commitment brilliant but as an objective to go 100% s/o would be foolish imo, it would put off most new customers, I wouldn't make a commitment to paying a stranger I couldn't possibly say I can trust through a standing order, I would have thought it would make more sense to ask your regulars first. 

[g.brookes]

its not a silly idea at all.  if you spend all the money and then dont want to clean the windows then youre an idiot and in the wrong business. 
i do however agree with the trust issue.  I think from a customers point of view theyre much more likely to be willing to set up a SO after 3 or 4 cleans, and thats probably when I would like to introduce the idea.  I also think a fair few customers would have a problem knowing the moneys left their account but youve still not been round due to bad weather/holidays etc

[lee_dewing]

G Brookes
I understand what your saying.
And i think the key word is trust.

If the custie doesn't trust me then what's the point?
I know what your saying about 3-4 cleans then hit em with s/o.
But they might all reject it anyway.

I am full.up with work but basically thinking of building a bettet round and that involves most custies paying s/o.
As said this for me is what  the problem of xpanding  holds
More work more cashflow problems.
Thanks for your opimions guys.
Lee

[g.brookes]

i agree.  standing orders are ideal.  i just think the best way to test how good an idea is is to really challenge it and look from as many angles as possible. 
im strongly considering doing it