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
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