Hello All,

I have a job coming up. I don't know the client at all. How do I prevent from getting burnt (i.e. not getting paid)?

Thanks

That is a complicated question coondog. What type of job are you doing? The more money the more folks like to get
1/2 down at least. Lots of variables though, many get a cc# first.

Details?

You can not prevent it, but you might be able to reduce the risk.

Coondog6

Like HD said many variables.

Here is one that I always keep in mind what a particular set up in a yard cost in traps plus my windshield time getting their twice and back. You should also be offering as many ways to take payment too like CC,Paypal, Check and Cash. You can also offer to work with a relative or close friend to get some security to get started. Windshield time is a big variable all by itself considering the cost of gas in this slow growth period of Obamanomics.

On every job I have my time, gas and my equipment left on site to consider. This is the raw cost of a job the money and equipment to recreate the job less the profit. When your small and don't have a lot of equipment customers with payment issues can cost you money stopping you from working with someone else with Money instead of them.

I may have a single squirrel trap on one job and some wire fabric mesh and some staples [o/a $60], two of Steve's Gophinator traps [o/a $15] or two of Kirk's double cages and a bunch of funneling equipment at the other [o/a $300]. Each of these jobs have minimal numbers I know I need to start a job, for them to use my equipment and how far away they are from my base. That gopher job may take 2 traps and half hour of my time or less ($90) and that armadillo job during hurricane season is gonna cost $350 or I won't set it up because I keep setting traps somewhere paid every time until I run out anyway.

If I can't get that much out of them upfront and they can't BARTER with something worth my while then I don't consider walking off the job leaving any money on the table either. I have walked away with and bartered for working chainsaws, an Ipad even a canoe once. Try to make a deal!

Most of this can be prevented simply by on first contact not being afraid and be straight up ask how they plan on paying you when you get out there!

It's a beaver job. I will be using live traps/conibears. I will probably have north of $600 in traps on site. It is going to be a big beaver job for me. Probably $1,500 plus. I charge by the beaver $175 and $25 an hour for drive, set up etc. The site is an hour from my house.

I can't afford to get burnt, but who can afford to get burnt?

I thought of having the client put down a $500 retainer.

I appreciate the input.

Thank you,

It is the cost of doing business and your prices should reflect the risk. You will bet burnt 2% of the time.

On the flip side, the customer is concerned about them getting burnt. This is the reason you have a contract and credentials, etc. An initial service call and pay as you go is fair.

When someone owed me money I would talk them into at least writing me a check and tell them they could post date it, even for month ahead and even tell them if they need another week or two, just call me and tell me not to cash it. My goal was to have a check in hand to prove the deal if needed and writing a bad check is bad news in some states. I always cashed checks at their bank so I could find out right away if it was good and not get charged by my bank for a bad check.

Technically, a retainer is a fee paid to "retain" your service for a specific time period, say one year. During that year the customer may not even use your service but you still get to keep the retainer fee. If the customer uses your service, there are charges over and above the retainer for each use. For example, a lawyer on retainer guarantees he is available to handle the retainee's problems. He then charges the retainee for each problem.

The $500 you mention is simply money up front. I always try to get something up front regardless of the job size.