I’m trying to get organized and look professional when it comes time for the customer to provide payment…
Let me back up, I’ve been using Markate for my estimates and invoicing and it’s working great. I have Markate set up to work with Square and that’s working great for those customers that want to pay online using their credit cards.
For those customers that still want use a credit card but want to pay in-person I have the ability to either swipe a credit card or use a chip card with Square. Here’s my challenge - I walk up to their door and have all kinds of electronics gizmos to handle while I’m processing heir payment. I feel disorganized and I’m concerned that I’ll likely forget one of more pieces of the equipment puzzle, etc.
I’m looking for your advice - how do you organize all the electronic payment ‘stuff’ - cell phone, Square swipe reader, Square contactless device, etc.? I’d like to hand over something to the customer where all the parts are locked down so nothing falls to the ground. I’ve looked for some sort of portfolio or other organizer and I can’t find anything that’s more than a zipper case.
When someone plans on paying using a card in person, I let them know that there will be a 3% transaction fee. If the are okay with that and I am ready to collect payment, I use my iPhone with the square App and the square card reader connected. I type in the charge amount for what service I selected and show them the charge, then they or I swipe the card. I turn the phone towards them as it loads and when the tip screen pops up, they select no or click on a set percentage (5,10, or 15%. This can actually make you a lot more money if they select an option). Once it says payment complete, I tell them they will receive a receipt via email (as you should have already collected all of their information) and I Hand them buisness cards, say thank you, and have a good day
Oh I also usually have a clipboard with a paper I created to write down their info and other info about the service that I can input in my computer later. They clipboard helps look professional.
I just email an invoice that evening and they can pay either online using Square (Markate) or mail a check. Some prefer to pay me right there when I’m finished but that’s usually just the elderly. Most people love the convenience of emailing from my website and asking for an estimate, getting one emailed back, accepting it, being scheduled, and then getting an invoice via email or text. They don’t have to worry about being home or even talking to anyone on the phone. Not having to talk to most people is my favorite part of that system…lol. Even if you want paid before you leave just email or text the invoice as you’re rolling up hoses. They can then send payment right away. There’s no need to carry any gadgets around.
Are a lot of y’all’s (you alls) customers just expecting to pay via credit card or online invoice?
I get maybe 1 out of 5 people ask after the job is finished what payment preference. I explain check is great but CC is just as easy with a 3% fee. Almost no one bats an eye and writes a check. Then 1 out of 10 of the 1 out of 5 prefer credit card. Even when I explicitly say that it is very easy and I can invoice them online or take payment right away for CC. Most just whip out a check.
Am I not projecting the “All of our payments are done 21st century stlye” aura?
Am I somehow missing out on a complete demographic of people who assume online or CC payment? Most of my customers are retirees or close to.
I myself a millennial would be a little awkward if a check was expected so I guess there is that.
approx 50% pay cash, 30% by cheque and 20% by credit card
about half who pay by credit card use online payment (from the invoice I e-mail to them)
the other half, either don’t trust online payments OR don’t even have a computer in the first place - their only option is to pay in person when the job is done.
What I’m imagining is a customized portfolio (often seen with a legal pad, etc.) where I can have my cell phone and the Square equipment mounted to keep everything in one place. I could enter the payment amount into the Square app and then pass the whole portfolio over to the customer who can then sign on the screen or enter a pin # or whatever they need to do. I’m not dealing with tech savvy customers sometimes and I want to make things simpler for them and for me.
Anyone already figure this all out and can help me save me from reinventing the wheel so to speak?
I bet if you tell them you’ll just email an invoice that evening then you’ll get more paying online. I don’t pass on the fee to the customer and just eat it myself. It’s worth the convenience to me. I still get some people who insist on writing checks. I’m fine with checks but I would’t want to mess with swiping credit cards. Too much interaction for me…lol
I use Markate and Square as well. I just use the card swipe reader that plugs in to my phone. I show them the invoice that is being sent, I swipe the card, Bob’s your uncle. One device does it all.
Personally what I am going to use is Izettle (I guess this is the European version of some app in the US)
Bad thing is there is a 2% fee and that it doesn’t print the receipt, which in the other hand may be good for marketing as you can get customer email (and using it for marketing) by saying you can send them the receipt by email.
You should have their email already because you’ll need it to send the initial estimate. I have printed a few off and mailed them but it was for some very elderly people with no computer or smart phone. Contact info, including email, is one of the first things I ask customers for. I get contacted a lot through my website and most people would rather have me email an estimate rather than calling so automatically give me all their contact info.
When I initially read the thread title, I was thinking it was going to be along the lines of providing contactless service, due to COVID.
At this point in time, I know a lot of my elderly customers would be uneasy handling my devices and then handing everything back to me. If they’re unable to pay online with a CC or ACH, then they stick a check (cheque? ) under my wiper blade or on the outside of their door, so there can be a contactless service.
But, you could make a really nice custom portfolio type thing with a small slab of cabinet grade plywood, a router, and perhaps some velcro to hold the various devices in place. A few coats of polyurethane, and it’ll look really sharp.
I absorb transaction costs. A lot of CC processors will drop you as a vendor if they find out you’re charging a fee to run cards. If you’re deadset on having a fee, the way around it is to structure it as a discount for paying by cash or check, and just raise your rates across the board by 3%.
) under my wiper blade or on the outside of their door, so there can be a contactless service.
