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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Getting your clients to pay you
Phil Hawkins, Photographer
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Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 4:44 PM on 12.13.10 |
->> From time to time folks here rage about someone not paying them. I saw this little article about how to help ensure you get paid in a timely manner... seemed like a great checkllist of basics to put to good use to encourage payment. It's amazing how sometimes the little things affect how people respond to you.
http://tinyurl.com/2a2bd8d |
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Phil Hawkins, Photographer
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Delane B. Rouse, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | US | Posted: 5:09 PM on 12.13.10 |
->> I read a similar list a few weeks ago. The best thing I ever did for my other business (Washington DC Business Headshots) is to:
A) Require a deposit for EVERY job
and
B) started adding on an administrative fee*** to the invoice when I send it. The fee is 10% of the total invoice and they are instructed to deduct that fee if they pay within the agreed upon time.
I just had a client that I invoiced for a tad over $6,000 on 12/3 and I received the check on 12/10. I've NEVER had them pay in less than 60 days before, and aways with repeated phone calls and emails and junk...but this time I added on a $600 administrative fee and look what happened.
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Administrative Fee -We are now building into the invoice the cost to repeatedly follow up with accounts payable departments on past due invoices, and float the cost of payment to our vendors, which require 30 days payment. This fee is approximately 10% of the total invoice ($100 minimum). If payment is made before your INVOICE DUE DATE, you may deduct this amount.
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***In the interest of openness and thankfulness, I 110% "borrowed" this idea from John Harrington. Thanks John!!!
Delane |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 5:15 PM on 12.13.10 |
| ->> damn phil, I thought this would be a thread about buying firearms... |
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Phil Hawkins, Photographer
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Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 5:20 PM on 12.13.10 |
| ->> That was going to be my next one! Item #11... |
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Phil Hawkins, Photographer
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Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 5:28 PM on 12.13.10 |
->> Delane, I started doing that exact same thing, and folks asked me to redo the invoice. I did it, but they paid in a timely manner. It had the intended effect.
I swear, every single photographer in the world should read Harrington's book. I can honestly say it has directly made a difference in my survival. I lost about $2,500 worth of work this summer due to pricing myself over what the company wanted to pay (they choked, actually), but I WILL NOT budge. That is one thing Harrington stresses, do NOT buckle! Even if you need the money desperately...
I love the phrase "If you think hiring a professional to do the job is expensive, wait till you hire an amateur". (from Red Adair, the famous oil drilling fire consultant) |
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Mark Loundy, Photo Editor
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San Jose | CA | USA | Posted: 5:53 PM on 12.13.10 |
->> For all new clients I require 50% payment up-front and the remainder upon delivery. I will allow net 30 days for clients with proven on-time payment records.
--Mark |
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Mark Loundy, Photo Editor
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George Bridges, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | USA | Posted: 7:31 PM on 12.13.10 |
| ->> Back in my freelance days I included a line on my quote that the client had to sign and return that said failure to pay within 30 days of the invoice date would incur a late penalty of 50 percent of the quoted day rate. I don't think I ever received a late payment. |
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