How Much Detail In Invoices?

Lumpy

It is a prickly path. I'll bet the ID is the one pushing the issue. The other side is: Do you want any business from the ID?

fwiw: I can't afford to turn down or alienate any sources. = $.02

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Fran Yetso Construction
professional remodeling

AtlanticWBConst

That information: You receipts, your overhead, your profit, your charges, your returns, etc. - is your PRIVATE Company (or corporate) information. It is part of your books. NO ONE accept a bank or the IRS has a right to see that.

If it was not part of the original contract (time and materials and receipts to be submitted to the client) then they do not have a right to look at it.

It is your company property.

I would tell a client, sorry, it's our COMPANY BUSINESS POLICY that we don't do that....enjoy your home and the hardwork we put into it.

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- Build Well -

Cashking63

That is what I think too. I cannot really afford to alienate anyone either. that being said, I charge what I charge, no one is going to tell me what I am to charge someone. that is what I think he is/was trying to do.
I have said it many times I Hate ID's, they are such a PITA!

DavidC

I agree that the details are in the proposal. Ours is no less than 4 pages and there is no upper limit. Then our contract is another 8 pages and outlines exactly how and when we will be paid. Our invoices may be a simple as Progress Payment $***X.xx per contract.

It sounds to me like you did the job, satisfied your customer, rec'd payment and then the decorator gave them a case of buyers remorse.

You can afford to alienate this designer.

As already suggested, I would call your customer and ask if there is a problem with your work. Any further details would only help the designers case. Make it you and the customer as a team.

But simply put, if the details are in the proposal and contract then all the negotiations are finished and the balance is both parties living up to the agreement.

Good Luck
Dave

Grumpy

Really? I burn my bridges quit frequently. Once I feel I am being taken advantage of in any way... I return the favor.


Just decided to play "hard ball" with a GC who wanted to try to play hard ball with me. I've been doing work for him for 3-4 years. He's been getting attidtude this year and getting slow to pay this year. The other day he tried to pull rank, and I stopped him dead in his tracks. he did a 'bout face and is now playing damage control. I didn't go into business for myself to be treated like a child by people whoa re not my parents.

Want to play hard ball? I play fast pitch. I'm a really easy guy to gt along with but the moment someone starts to mess with my money... watch out.

AtlanticWBConst

Grumpy's right. NEVER EVER allow anyone to take advantage of you, or attempt to exploit you or your work.
The day you do, it will change your attitude everyday you wake up and go to do that work. Everyday becomes stressful.

Face it, we do the work we do, because we are good at it, it gives us a sense of satisfaction, and a pat on the back when we pick up the final check and a "Thank You" for a job well done from the client.
That does not exist with certain types of customers.

Years ago, I allowed myself to get sucked into that with a customer, because I really wanted all the work. Boy, did I regret it. I finished up the contract I was on, took money off for work non yet performed because of material delivery delays, pulled the crew off....and never looked back... WEW...what a sense of relief. Never again!.
The guy wanted us to stay and do: 2 garage addditions, a kitchen remodel, a second floor addition, a wrap-around farmer's porch, and sunroom....all on his idea of what he wanted to pay. (Example: he wanted a large 2 sided wrap-around farmer's porch, with electical, new roof alterations. A large, fully-glassed 4 season sunroom with an attached multilevel deck leading down to his pool....done for $30K, from our quote of $55K-$60K)
All the money in the world, was not worth someone trying to exploit, take advantage of, and manipulate me. That guy was the Town Jerk.

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- Build Well -

Floordude

Sounds like she got her itemized invoice, in the first place. So what's the beef???

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Floordude

I'm the same way Grump!! Only I'll blow the sucker up, and relight it if needed.

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Angus

Our invoices are in great detail. On the other hand, our estimates are materials being bid and a final quote. Too many times a customer will just take your estimate to another store and say "will you beat this". When they get the final invoice, it has everything line itemed. After all, by this time, they have put 50% or more down. So they pretty much "own" the invoice. My 2 cents. Hope it helps.

Forry

I'm not shy about information given to a client if the work is T+M. On my proposal, it states what the hourly rate is, and what the markup on expenses is. I stick to it. Before I make up an invoice, I prepare what is called a "job sheet". This sheet is where I do my math. I total hours, subs, permits, fees, markups, and anything else pertinant to the job, then total it at the bottom. On my invoices for T+M (Not bid work) I have labor total and sub totals, and materials total, and whatever other expenses I want to separate out. I don't provide an itemized materials sheet unless requested (twice now, and not a problem, the "job sheet" is in my clients file right in my briefcase, until final payment), at which point I provide it with a smile, 'cause I've figured all my costs accurately, and am happy to prove it. The key for me is stating in my T+M contract what the invoices will be based on. I think that if a client is paying T+M, they have the right to know where the money went. It wouldn't be right to have an estimate, have the final invoice be different than the estimate, and not be willing to explain where the money went. Just my way I guess...