My 30 Day Blogging Challenge continues.
The tag [TIME SAVED] shows you where a Virtual Assistant (such as Virtual Hand) can save you time by doing these elements. This allows you to do what you love in your business as well as what you are good at.
Creating and sending the invoice is the first step (either before the event or after the completion of the work). If you missed the first one on doing this here’s the information on doing this. However, getting invoices paid is sometimes a time of stress.
Working with lovely clients that pay when you send the invoice, or at least by the due date is ideal and makes your work all the more rewarding. However, there is not a 100% guarantee of this every time.
But what can you do to go towards getting it paid?
Process
Have a process in place – what are the timescales for your invoices to be paid, when do you start applying charges, when do you get a solicitor on board and more importantly when do you stop working for them (for an ongoing client)? I’ve heard of so many businesses that continue to carry out work but yet have invoices outstanding for months!
Stage 1
Create and send [TIME SAVED], at the agreed time, with a “payment due date” that has also been agreed. Agreed being the optimum word – if it is agreed they can’t ask you to amend therefore delaying payment.
Make sure it is accurate – in respect of amount, client details, your bank account details and T&Cs.
Stage 2
Contact the client a day before the invoice is due [TIME SAVED] – to ensure they are aware and ensure there are no problems with payment. This contact can be by email or telephone.
Stage 3
Contact the client when payment is not made [TIME SAVED] advising that it is now overdue and advise them of any charges that will be applied.
Stage 4
Apply the charges if still unpaid and re-issue your invoice [TIME SAVED]. Again this needs to be followed up by an email and/or telephone call [TIME SAVED].
Stage 5
There will be a time when you have decided you are not getting the result you want so perhaps a solicitor’s letter may get the desired result. I have a link with a Solicitor that will send out a simple demand for payment for a small charge [TIME SAVED].
Stage 6
A solicitor can then advise you further should more formal communication be required – depending on the amount this could mean another letter or application through the courts for payment.
Using a VA
Using a VA is ideal for this process – you can take a step back and keep your relationship for work alive; blaming your VA for the ‘communication for payment’. Sometimes that 3rd Party contact produces the result. It also makes your business appear larger (not a bad thing). Asking for money can put extra pressure on a relationship and if it is just a blip then you don’t want to sacrifice that relationship by having to broach that conversation.
I’ve also experienced business owners being ‘fobbed off’ to a junior credit control person and not getting paid. When I then contacted the ‘top person’ an arrangement was agreed straight away – because that is the person that can agree payment.
Business Owners can only earn money when they work (if they get paid). Spending time chasing payment takes them away from this very important aspect of their business.
I firmly believe people should do the work they do best and outsource the rest. Getting invoices paid is an ideal task for a VA (like Virtual Hand).
Here cometh the end of Number 10 – getting invoices paid
Here’s a link to the Start in case you missed it.
What’s your experience in getting paid and is using a third party an option you’ve used?
Employing staff is a whole new ball game with its own set of rules. Working with a VA is an option that a great many business people are turning to. Check out my book on How to Hire a Virtual Assistant. Available on Amazon by clicking here.
Connect with Michelle on other platforms too: Learn how you can work with Virtual Hand; how your business can grow and how you can communicate better with your audience.
