Advanced Billing Solutions, LLC

Two Invoice Examples

Does getting paid on time have anything to do with the way your invoice looks?  Does appearance matter to your customer?

You be the judge.

I’ve included two examples of customer invoices, and after you review both of them think of these questions:

1. Which one looks better?
2. Which one conveys a professional image & that you know what you are doing?
3. Which one do you think the customer is going to pay first?

Here is an example of an actual invoice I received from my landscaper:

On a side note, he is not a client.  His business hasn’t reached a point where outsourcing his billing is a viable option yet…

Now, maybe your current invoicing “system” isn’t this, well… bad.  Maybe you’ve got your act together, and actually send out invoices that convey how professional your business is.

In any event, here is another example of an invoice.  Take note of the differences.

Honestly, ask yourself just one question.  Of the two, which one would you willingly pay?

That’s all we’re saying.

By the way, the second invoice is an example of the kind of work we do for you.  We even have an option where payments can be sent to us for processing.  We enter in credit card payment info for you, and checks can be deposited in the bank for you, or sent to you along with a financial account report.

So, if you don’t mind, ask yourself one more question…

Is it time to think about having us handle your lawn service billing for you yet?  We know it’s getting late in the year.  So here’s a suggestion for you if you don’t mind…

give us a call around September or October if that fits your hectic schedule better.  That way you can try us out and have time to evaluate just how valuable our service can be for you… and your business.

And come the spring time you’ll have one less thing on your “to do” list.

Here’s how to get started…

So what key questions should you ask a billing company before signing up with them?  Here’s a short list for your review:

1. What is involved in the fee (i.e. postage, envelopes, etc)?
2. Is there a monthly fee, even during winter months/downtime?
3. What reporting is provided?
4. Will follow up invoices (i.e. Second Notices) be included in the program fee

If you’d like to discover how we can help to automate your lawn service billing process, visit the link to give us a call at 877-262-3712.  We look forward to helping you streamline your billing process.

Two Billing Issues to Consider

Before using a billing services company to handle your lawn maintenance invoices, there are really two important points you need to consider.

What are they?

The first point you need to figure out is what system will be in place to automate your billing process.

Here’s what I mean.

Let’s say you have a list of customers.  You know which schedule they are on (hopefully).  Now, the question is, how will you get your cut list over to the billing company?  Electronically?  By fax?  Log in to the site?

And what about the other maintenance issues that come up (i.e. aren’t regularly scheduled).  How will you notify the billing company so that they can quickly bill for your time and effort.

Why does this matter?

Because the main reason to outsource your billing is to automate your cash flow.

You could use a software program instead of a billing company.  But then you (or someone else) will have to print invoices, stuff envelopes, and stick stamps on all the bills.

Now, maybe you enjoy doing this, but most people don’t.  So automating the process and creating a smooth workflow will ensure that your invoices go out the door on time.

Automate Your Billing Process

The second involves how quickly they will get your invoices out the door and delivered to your clients.  Here’s a simple rule that has yet to be proven false: the quicker you invoice clients, the quicker they will pay you.

But that’s only half the battle.  For example:

1. What system is in place to track unpaid bills?
2. Will they accept payment for you to deposit into your bank account?
3. Do you accept credit cards?  Will they process your payments electronically for you?
4. What type of financial reporting will you receive?
5. What systems are in place to send out “second notices?”
6. Are rebills included in the program fee?

Though it may seem like a lot to consider, setting things up properly in the first place will simplify the most important part — having money in your bank account.

So be sure to ask your lawn service billing company just what you’ll receive by outsourcing your billing headaches to them.

The bottom line is this: you want to maintain (or grow) your business.  You have crews to manage, customers to keep happy, and a thousand other business headaches to deal with on a regular basis.  Worrying about getting paid should NOT be one of them.

So let us help you get paid on time.  And hassle free.

Customer Billing Simplified…

So what key questions should you ask a billing company before signing up with them?  Here’s a short list for your review:

1. What is involved in the fee (i.e. postage, envelopes, etc)?
2. Is there a monthly fee, even during winter months/downtime?
3. What reporting is provided?
4. Will follow up invoices (i.e. Second Notices) be included in the program fee

If you’d like to discover how we can help to automate your lawn service billing process, visit the link to give us a call at 877-262-3712.  We look forward to helping you streamline your billing process.