[Zeebo]

I am beginning to quote more commercial clients and was wondering how many of you complete a contract with your commerical clients and collect a deposit at signing??

I have two commerical clients that I know and send me business from time to time. I trust them and they have always paid. So I would look at the job, quote them, buy the paint and do the job. No deposit given. The invoice would then follow. I should say that a recent disagreement with one of them resulted in me eating $450...I did this to keep the peace in the working relationship.

However, I'm not sure if I want to do this with new commerical clients. However, I have asked around and it seems that contracts or deposits are not the way to do business... a handshake or verbal confirmation is Ok.

What do you do?? Do you get the commercial client to sign a contract and provide a deposit as you would with your residential client?

How long do you give your commerical clients to pay...upon completion, 10 days, 15 days, 30 days, etc??

Zeebo

 

[Teetorbilt]

My bro-in-law is a commercial GC, specializes in medical buildings. He always gets 30% down, draws and final upon completion. Never put YOUR money into someone elses property, it's too hard to get back if something goes wrong.

 

[AAPaint]

I don't do any big commercial work, so I don't know how it goes...but I'm not working for anyone until they sign my contract. That's the contract in contract-or.....I even use it on small jobs under $1000. What do I know?

 

[ProWallGuy]

Always a contract, always a signature. If the GC balks, ask him how much work he does without a signature or down payment.

Usually pay is net 30.

Look here for my experience with this situation.

 

[slickshift]

...how many of you complete a contract with your commerical clients and collect a deposit at signing??

Me

Do you get the commercial client to sign a contract and provide a deposit as you would with your residential client?

Yup

How long do you give your commerical clients to pay...

Upon completion

 

[Mike Finley]

Would you feel safer putting your fingers into a nice cute puppys mouth or a snarling grown pit bulls?

Homeowners vs GCs - who's more likely to screw you?

 

[Zeebo]

I don't do any big commercial work, so I don't know how it goes...but I'm not working for anyone until they sign my contract. That's the contract in contract-or.....I even use it on small jobs under $1000. What do I know?

Sounds like you know something good ...thanks for the info