Forms of payment

What forms of payment do you take and what percentage (roughly) of each is used. So far ive taken two checks and the rest were Credit Cards ....im setting up for credit cards through my business but had to use my other business account to process the first ones I got. Do you bill? Checks the most frequently used? or is it CC's? Do you get many cash jobs?

If I would have to guess off the top of my head, I am about 50/50 on checks versus credit cards. more than 3/4 of my checks are billed out to property managers.

Commercial is always billed, but my residential jobs in the small towns are normally cash while the bigger cities it's credit card.

I still accept checks in the small towns, but not in the larger areas and I will never bill a residential any longer...been burned by some of the wealthiest members in town doing that.

These days, you have to be able to take plastic or you are in trouble.

80% checks, 15% credit, 5% cash

I'd say mine is about the same as Mo's, or 85/10/5..........mostly checks, the way I like it.

That surprises me that your check percentage is so high, mine hasn't been that way in at least 3 years.

Maybe people are struggling more than I realized as all I see is plastic in the high population areas.

Plastic is typically a debit charge isnt it?...I use no credit at all...I have em just in case but use my debit charge rather than money I dont have.



I was going to name my company "CASH" that way when they made out a check I could run to thier bank and "cash" it.But since im really a tax paying merican I decided not to.

You are rare these days Devon.

My Brother operates a boat shop and I was there when a customer rolled in with 40 foot boat being pulled by a Escalade. When I asked what he did for a living, he told me that he was a welder for the city roads dept.

Being a little surprised, I asked what did the city pay? He laughed and told me that he will never actually be able to pay off this boat or truck, he just made sure the payments were low enough that he could enjoy the toys.

It didn't matter that the monthly payments extended out beyond the horizon, he just cared about having the toys today. I think most of the population today share the same philosophy.

I have paid for all my equipment in cash with the exception of this recent box truck which I had to carry paper for half the cost. It makes growth a lot slower and I end up with having to make do without some tools, but it takes a lot of pressure off the business.

I've been mostly a cash type person most of my life, not wanting to be in debt, and owe money.........

But that did some what change when the economy crapped out about 2007 (with bills still being the same high amount, with the income much lower), and I had to start 'owing' to survive. .

I'm currently back to only spending what I have, without any credit cards, but have a good sized mortgage I'm paying.

If I decide to buy a new work truck, which I've been thinking about, I'll have to finance it most likely, and be back in what I conciser debt........but at least it will be a business expense, the way I see it.

And back on topic, If I'm asked what forms of payment I take, or if asked if I take credit cards, my response is "I prefer a check over a card, if possible". And usually it doesn't take much more then that to get paid by check..........that might be why my check percentage is on the higher side, and it sure helps when you're dealing with customers that can pay and afford there service.

I don't care for cards for a few reasons, so I try to avoid them as subtlety as possible.

There is a difference in abusing it and using to run a business or buy a home etc...I just happen to hate banks. I hate corporate greed. Ive always been for the small guy and once you understand what the banks understand you can get filthy rich....I understand it but dont have the soul to sacrifice for it.

Devon07 wrote: Plastic is typically a debit charge isnt it?...I use no credit at all...I have em just in case but use my debit charge rather than money I dont have.



I was going to name my company "CASH" that way when they made out a check I could run to thier bank and "cash" it.But since im really a tax paying merican I decided not to.

 So thats the way around the tax man

LOL...as hard as it is to say....I pay my taxes with pride. I cant say I agree with the way its distributed BUT I pay my share.


I can hear the customer saying...who do I make this check out to??? and I say... make it out to CASH please.

85% credit or debit cards, 15% cash, absolutely no checks !!
I use Amex open for my business purchases and always paid it off at the end of the month even though they said I can make payments on some amounts ( last time I checked around 50 k ? ) but I'd be dammed if I have to pay 15% interests on 50 k loan.
I agree with you Devon, corporate greed is the one who will destroy this great country, and some people call them "THE JOB CREATOR" and you HAVE to hail to them, I call bull sh!t !!!
Ok, I better stop, lol.

Thumbs up on the AMEX for business purchases...I do the same and pay it off each month.

Kind of a cute story on that. When I applied for the card, I still wasn't really happy with the name and was thinking about scraping it when the customer service rep from AMEX called me....from Great Britain.

He actually thought that I cleaned real castles and was fascinated by the thought of it.

The name stuck at that point.

Did you tell him you did...travel fees etc!!! chaching!

It would be a really cool job!

I wonder if an English castle would have pet urine issues?

Hah...only us americans let out pets do that.