[Lee Pryor]

80% of our customer base now pay us with go cardless. We are in the process of writing to the ones that are not asking them to change over. I hope that will convert another 5-10%. Our goal by the end of next year is to have 100% paying that way, even if that means letting go of the final 5% or so that won't change.

Does anyone else have a high percentage like that or similar goals. I have to say growing my business at the rate we are would not be possible without go cardless, it has literally transformed the business.

[p1w1]

I wouldnt say my percentage is that high but over half now are on it, but i do push go cardless on new customers and any consistent late payers will only get that option if they wish me to continue cleaning. I have loads on Bacs transfers that always pay within 10 days (my payment terms) so i dont really need to try and convert them.

[Marc Stock]

Good one lee. Tbh with your business model id say that direct debit would be essential for you.

For me go cardless is a second option, primarily i am pushing debit / credit card payments as i like the personal contact. For those who arnt home bacs and dd is the options for them.

We are discouraging cash now, and we refuse cheques.

[֍Winp®oClean֍]

Most of mine, if they are not in now pay via bank transfer. It's easier for both parties so I'm happy with it. I do virtually no collecting these days- this does make a big difference and welcome improvement all round.👍

[Arnold Palmer]

I'm at 20%

I'm happy to take payment however the customer wants to pay it. I'm finding more and more that direct debit is their payment method of choice as well as mine.

[Stoots]

I'm at 20%

I would like to be at 100% and I think it's a must for a sizeable business with wages to pay.

However for a sole trader I don't think it's that important. What's more important is good customers who will pay. Obviously Bacs saves fees but I find the odd straggler isn't that important as long as they pay eventually, I would say 90% of my customers pay within a week which I'm happy with the other 10% pay within the month, again I'm fine with that, any customers that don't clean before next clean is due don't get cleaned again and eventually dumped so I keep on top of it that way.

Having said all that if I decide to press on growing a bigger business go cardless will become much more important.

[nathankaye]

Im not that successful yet, even though i have ran a promotion encouraging ones to sign up to go cardless and receive their next clean at 50%.
I also have some on regular standing orders which i prefer as no cost deduction to me. Alongside PayPal and I also use a card reader. Though i would like to migrate my PayPal paying customers onto go cardless as its fees are cheaper.

Any new customer however must sign upto go cardless becore i clean and no other option is available for them to pay

[֍Winp®oClean֍]

As a sole trader I would never insist on any payment method- the method is up to them amd as long as they pay that's fine by me. I wouldn't turn a top paying job down just because the customer wouldn't sign up to GC - nor would I risk losing it to begin with due to an unreasonable insistance on one payment method... that would be really silly.

[Stoots]

As a sole trader I would never insist on any payment method- the method is up to them amd as long as they pay that's fine by me. I wouldn't turn a top paying job down just because the customer wouldn't sign up to GC - nor would I risk losing it to begin with due to an unreasonable insistance on one payment method... that would be really silly.

 I agree, for a sole trader cash flow shouldn't be a massive issue. in lee`s case it's important to stop him becoming a cash flow buffer (Inc in his babble).

[nathankaye]

As a sole trader I would never insist on any payment method- the method is up to them amd as long as they pay that's fine by me. I wouldn't turn a top paying job down just because the customer wouldn't sign up to GC - nor would I risk losing it to begin with due to an unreasonable insistance on one payment method... that would be really silly.

Im sorry as i disagree, depending where your business is. For me if i get new work then great.......but its not needed.  Also there is nothing up with being serious about your business and wanting customers to pay by direct debit. Its SO easy to set up and most people have the capacity to set it up as well. So tying the two together........im not desperate for work to allow customers to dictate how to pay.

[Arnold Palmer]

As a sole trader I would never insist on any payment method- the method is up to them amd as long as they pay that's fine by me. I wouldn't turn a top paying job down just because the customer wouldn't sign up to GC - nor would I risk losing it to begin with due to an unreasonable insistance on one payment method... that would be really silly.

Im sorry as i disagree, depending where your business is. For me if i get new work then great.......but its not needed.  Also there is nothing up with being serious about your business and wanting customers to pay by direct debit. Its SO easy to set up and most people have the capacity to set it up as well. So tying the two together........im not desperate for work to allow customers to dictate how to pay.

Has anybody you buy goods or services forced you to use a particular payment method? Not a loaded question, I honestly can't think of any.

[֍Winp®oClean֍]

As a sole trader I would never insist on any payment method- the method is up to them amd as long as they pay that's fine by me. I wouldn't turn a top paying job down just because the customer wouldn't sign up to GC - nor would I risk losing it to begin with due to an unreasonable insistance on one payment method... that would be really silly.

Im sorry as i disagree, depending where your business is. For me if i get new work then great.......but its not needed.  Also there is nothing up with being serious about your business and wanting customers to pay by direct debit. Its SO easy to set up and most people have the capacity to set it up as well. So tying the two together........im not desperate for work to allow customers to dictate how to pay.

If my milk man tried to force me into a certain payment method I would stop using his service- end of!...And we've used him for years and have a good relationship. Nothing to do with being "serious" about your business it's about mutual respect and harmonious customer relations.

[Scrimble]

As a sole trader I would never insist on any payment method- the method is up to them amd as long as they pay that's fine by me. I wouldn't turn a top paying job down just because the customer wouldn't sign up to GC - nor would I risk losing it to begin with due to an unreasonable insistance on one payment method... that would be really silly.

Im sorry as i disagree, depending where your business is. For me if i get new work then great.......but its not needed.  Also there is nothing up with being serious about your business and wanting customers to pay by direct debit. Its SO easy to set up and most people have the capacity to set it up as well. So tying the two together........im not desperate for work to allow customers to dictate how to pay.

Has anybody you buy goods or services forced you to use a particular payment method? Not a loaded question, I honestly can't think of any.

Which other business let’s you buy a service or product and then let’s you pay when you feel like it?

We are at around 40 percent, wish it was 100 percent

[Arnold Palmer]

Which other business let’s you buy a service or product and then let’s you pay when you feel like it?

True and a fair point. Not really the same point though, I wasn't suggesting 'whenever' payment terms.

I just think it's unusual for any business to force payment methods on their customers. Maybe it's not? I can't think of any other single example (other than cash for the tax dodgers).

[nathankaye]

If you buy online you have to pay online be it Paypal or debit/credit card. Also like the above arguement you can not purchase it and then decide when or how you want to pay for it.
Therefore for me, i let my potential customers know my services, the fees in which i charge and the method in which to pay. The customer has the choice to accept that and agree to my terms of purchase or they are free to choose some body else. Its really that simple. But what some of you are saying is that you have no balls to stand up for your rights as the service provider and your scared of loosing money because of it,

[Lee Pryor]

I just booked a holiday online for April (Dubai again). I had to pay there and then using a debit card. I didn't have the option of PayPal or taking cash into their office or posting a cheque in a few weeks time ect. I wanted the holiday, that was the only payment option. In reality lots of goods and services only offer one payment method.

[Pete Thompson]

True and a fair point. Not really the same point though, I wasn't suggesting 'whenever' payment terms.

I just think it's unusual for any business to force payment methods on their customers. Maybe it's not? I can't think of any other single example (other than cash for the tax dodgers).

Car hire companies force you to use a credit card these days.

Plenty of local shops only accept cash.

Plenty of online shops only accept PayPal.

But even if that were not the case, there’s nothing wrong (in my opinion) on insisting that customers pay by direct debit.

The householder doesn’t have to be a customer if they don’t like it.

For me personally, I don’t have a problem with payers, they all pay within a few days. But if it became an issue, I’d have no hesitation saying “pay by direct debit or find another window cleaner”

[Lee Pryor]

For me it is essential that people pay on time. Our monthly business expenses are now over £35k. One way or another we will have 100% go cardless buy the end of next year.

[֍Winp®oClean֍]

I just booked a holiday online for April (Dubai again). I had to pay there and then using a debit card. I didn't have the option of PayPal or taking cash into their office or posting a cheque in a few weeks time ect. I wanted the holiday, that was the only payment option. In reality lots of goods and services only offer one payment method.

Now imagine you could have booked the exact same holiday with another equally reputable agent but this agent didn't insist on One single payment method but gave you several options including credit card, paypal etc or for instance, like many places only took a deposit initially then full payment within a set period of time?
 Now, if you are totally honest, which would you chosen to book with and which do you think the majority of potential customer would choose?

[Lee Pryor]

I will be totally honest and say it didn't bother me at all. I did have the option to pay a deposit and the rest later but I chose to pay the full amount as I always do. I like knowing it's just done. I had no problem whatsoever with the payment method and it didn't cross my mind to find another firm with different payment methods. The same is true when we sign up new customers. We tell them the payment method is dd and only dd. I think 1 person in the last 100 or so didn't want to use us for that reason. It literally doesn't put anyone off using us. As a result we don't get any cash flow problems.