One of my colleagues and I recently had a conversation about slow paying clients and the attempts on collecting from those who have no motivation to pay you after a service is completed.
It happened after a client of mine whom after “window shopping” for a year had finally decided to jump onboard with us to get his website designed. But wanted it done at last year’s price.
I agreed to work within his budget, but made sure the deal was fair for both of us. After an initial round of revisions, the site went for weeks without any word from what was needed to be changed to move forward. I reached out to complete the project, but was met with no responses. I figured when the client was ready to complete it, he would reach out and let me know.
So we took the site down in the meantime. No need in having incomplete, half payed for work out there with our name on it.
Usually when we have a client slow to complete a website, it’s because they don’t have the balance available to pay, so they’ll prolong the revision process. Although that’s none of our business what their financial situation is, we generally hear from them at the end of the project that that’s what they were doing. So I kind of have a feeling about these things.
Out of the blue about 6 weeks after discussing revisions for my client’s site, he calls in a pickle saying he needs to get the site up in 3 days because he has a client that wants to vet him through his website.
So we discuss what needs to be done to meet this newly appointed deadline, and move some projects around to get him to the front of line to hopefully get this new client for him.
We successfully complete the site in time, and to his liking, and everything is fine…until we talk about collecting payment for the balance. He asked could we possibly hold off three weeks for payment because he doesn’t have the funds at the time.
Now I generally don’t take business matters personal. And this situation was no different. We generally have a policy that we don’t launch a completed website until the balance is paid. Plus, in this case, since he came at us with a priority deadline, we moved other projects around to accommodate him. Not to mention we were already cutting him a deal on the rate.
So I politely told him we could wait the three weeks for the payment, and we couldn’t launch the site until payment was received.
He understood and said he would arrange for payment within the three week request.
It was about 6 and a half minutes before the phone rang again and he had somehow found space on his credit card to pay the balance in full and we were able to settle up and launch his site.
But as I was saying about my colleague earlier, we discussed this situation and the nature of clients treating your services like a real bill. He was letting me know he had experienced similar situations. I know everyone’s financial situation is different, but I’m a firm believer in people will pay for what they want, and figure out whatever way possible to get deals done. Whether it’s a new TV, new shoes, a new car, or some other item of great want. We (black people) unfortunately have things already figured out before walking into establishments requesting that must have item.
But when it comes to collecting on a debt, we have every excuse in the book.
It’s not like that with everyone, but I think the majority of you know what I’m talking about.
So are your clients treating your services like a real bill? Or just figuring they can pay you whenever they feel like it? It’s important to establish boundaries, and stick to good practices for your business.
Did you see those crowds of (black) people running for those new Air Jordan tennis shoes? Aren’t we supposed to be in a recession? But hundreds of people found a way to come up with the money for those shoes.
Think about it.
