将近四分之三企业主正在处理rising costsof supplies. To help you pay for higher-than-normal supply prices, you might need to use credit for projects until you get paid. One alternative to racking up liabilities? You can ask customers for an upfront payment.
继续学习：
- 什么是前期付款？
- 要求客户预先支付的优点
- 4 Tips to ask customers for a deposit or full upfront payment
什么是前期付款？
Want customers to pay for part (or all) of a project before you get started? If so, you can ask for an upfront payment. An upfront payment policy requires that customers pay a deposit before you start or finish a project. This is common among contractors, freelancers, and service-based businesses.
前期付款可能是：
- 扁率存款（例如$ 1,000）
- 基于百分比的存款（例如，总估计的25％）
- Complete upfront payments (i.e., 100% of the total bill upfront)
Although it’s called an “upfront” payment, the timing can vary. For example, you can ask customers for an upfront payment to book your services, after booking but before you buy supplies and start on a project, or midway through a project.
要求客户预先支付的优点
Before making upfront payments part of your policy, weigh the pros and cons.
First, the pros. Asking customers to pay upfront can:
- Reduce risk:There’s nothing worse than pouring your blood, sweat, and tears into a job and getting stiffed by the customer. Receiving payment before you start a project negates the potential of customers who won’t pay.
- Help you pay for supplies:Strapped for cash or facing rising supply costs? Getting an upfront payment provides you with enough income to purchase what you need for the job.
- Save time:Say goodbye to hounding customers for payment post-project completion. Asking for full upfront payment can save you time sending out payment reminders and, in some cases, going through an invoice collection process.
- Boost cash flow:In addition to giving you the money you need for the job, getting money upfront can increase your overall cash flow.
And now, the cons. Although an upfront cash payment (or check, card, etc.) can be beneficial for your business, consider the potential drawbacks:
- 损失的业务：如果潜在客户事先向您付款（尤其是您以前从未一起工作），则可能与其他人一起去。
- 意外费用：当然，您可能已经向客户发送了一个估算，但是项目中发生的事情发生在项目中。您可能会受到意外的打击business expense无论如何，您都需要在项目结束时向客户收费的时间承诺。
4 Tips to ask customers for a deposit or full upfront payment
是否想提高您的前期付款请求成功率（假设快三倍！）？给以下四个尝试过的技巧一个机会。
1.创建策略
您要求客户预先支付的第一步是创建一致的政策。您的政策应详细说明：
- 无论您需要预先付款还是全额付款
- The upfront payment amount (e.g., flat rate or percentage)
- 由于前期付款时(例如,之前的书ing services, one week before the project start date, partway through a project, etc.)
- 您是否提供提早付款折扣对于那些全额支付100％支付的客户
- How customers can pay you (e.g., check, card, cash, etc.)
- When you’ll collect the remaining balance due (if partial upfront payment)
2. Show off your credentials
没有人愿意被骗。而且，如果某人以前被烧毁，他们可能对预先付款持怀疑态度。因此，在您甚至要求付款之前，请准备炫耀您的凭据。
通过创建在线形象来通过潜在客户和现有客户建立信任。这样，他们会感到更加安全，您不会拿走他们的钱并跑步。
Create awebsite, social media profiles, and Google Business profileto legitimize your business and let customers learn more about you.
拥有在线形象还可以帮助您展示为什么适合工作的原因。您可以显示工作的照片，提供您和您的业务的简短历史，并提供资源（例如，博客）。
One of the major ways you can show off your credentials online is throughreviews.Ask customers to share their experiences on review sites, social media, and your Google Business profile. Use reviews to help you build trust with potential customers.
不在评论的力量上出售？查看以下内容与审查有关的统计数据:
- 97% of people read reviews of local businesses
- Online reviews influence 67.7% of purchasing decisions
- 78％的人与朋友或家人的建议一样信任在线评论
当向客户（尤其是新客户）询问部分或全额前期付款时，请分享评论以帮助建立信任并放心。
3. Be upfront about your upfront payment policy
When you first start seriously working with a potential customer and discuss pricing, let them know that you require a partial or full upfront payment. That way, there are no surprises.
解释您的政策，包括金额和到期日期。准备为您的前期付款请求做准备。
您可能需要详细说明：
- 为什么您需要部分或全额预付款
- What the payment goes toward (e.g., supplies)
- Whether you offer refunds
- 当您完成项目时
- 如果有意外的延迟或费用会发生什么
4.拥有可靠的记录保存系统
You’re performing services for a customer totaling $5,000. The customer gave you a $1,000 upfront payment and now owes the remaining $4,000. But—oops—you forgot how much they paid and bill them the full $5,000.
Sure, mistakes happen. But the last thing your customer wants to see is a final bill that doesn’t reflect their upfront payment deposit. To prevent repeat billing, you need a reliable recordkeeping system.
Consider usingvwin.com to keep track of paid and unpaid bills from customers. With accounting software, you can easily enter upfront payment dates and amounts.
