D
Deleted member 23452
Guest
Anyone take a deposit before confirming a start date?
Up to now I've gone with a fairly typical 30% - 30% - 30% - 10% payment schedule for anything substantial with no upfront or deposits. There have been a couple of PITA late cancellations or delays, but no real issues.
I have a job due to start in a couple of weeks that's going to be delayed. Customer not getting organised, architect taking longer than they thought. Niggly stuff, completely out of my control though not a massive issue for me at the moment as I have other stuff to fill in with.
It has got me thinking though. Another time under different circumstances and it could throw a bit of a spanner in the works. Cash flow, delaying other stuff as a knock on, messing people I've booked about, plant hire issues etc.
So I'm considering going down the route of not booking a date until I have a deposit in the bank. 15% non-refundable if they cancel, treated as part of the job payment if all goes to plan, added to the job if the start is delayed by x amount of time. I'd only do it on jobs where more than a week's work was involved, or where I have to order something on account up front.
Having a scout about the 'net, and asking at the merchants it seems quite a few already work this way. Mostly it seems because of the 'once bitten twice shy' rule.
Up to now I've gone with a fairly typical 30% - 30% - 30% - 10% payment schedule for anything substantial with no upfront or deposits. There have been a couple of PITA late cancellations or delays, but no real issues.
I have a job due to start in a couple of weeks that's going to be delayed. Customer not getting organised, architect taking longer than they thought. Niggly stuff, completely out of my control though not a massive issue for me at the moment as I have other stuff to fill in with.
It has got me thinking though. Another time under different circumstances and it could throw a bit of a spanner in the works. Cash flow, delaying other stuff as a knock on, messing people I've booked about, plant hire issues etc.
So I'm considering going down the route of not booking a date until I have a deposit in the bank. 15% non-refundable if they cancel, treated as part of the job payment if all goes to plan, added to the job if the start is delayed by x amount of time. I'd only do it on jobs where more than a week's work was involved, or where I have to order something on account up front.
Having a scout about the 'net, and asking at the merchants it seems quite a few already work this way. Mostly it seems because of the 'once bitten twice shy' rule.