Comments on: To Charge or Not to Charge? http://www.awesome-seo.com/to-charge-or-not-to-charge/ Because anything less would not be awesome Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:54:12 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: pratt http://www.awesome-seo.com/to-charge-or-not-to-charge/comment-page-1/#comment-92 pratt Sun, 10 Feb 2008 14:22:01 +0000 http://www.awesome-seo.com/to-charge-or-not-to-charge/#comment-92 @Gab - I think the best thing you can do when it is your fault is to take responsibility and not charge, just like you said. I think it shows great character on your part. @Gab – I think the best thing you can do when it is your fault is to take responsibility and not charge, just like you said. I think it shows great character on your part.

]]> By: Gab "SEO ROI" Goldenberg http://www.awesome-seo.com/to-charge-or-not-to-charge/comment-page-1/#comment-91 Gab "SEO ROI" Goldenberg Sun, 10 Feb 2008 06:33:31 +0000 http://www.awesome-seo.com/to-charge-or-not-to-charge/#comment-91 What about if it's your busy period that prevented work getting done? It's happened to me and I've not billed them. What about if it’s your busy period that prevented work getting done? It’s happened to me and I’ve not billed them.

]]> By: pratt http://www.awesome-seo.com/to-charge-or-not-to-charge/comment-page-1/#comment-90 pratt Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:35:31 +0000 http://www.awesome-seo.com/to-charge-or-not-to-charge/#comment-90 I like that scenario, Hannah. It gives you the ideal situation, because (like you said) even if they do call and complain, you can still be the good guy and cancel the invoice if they are very upset. I think it is really important to stand your ground and prove your worth. I like that scenario, Hannah. It gives you the ideal situation, because (like you said) even if they do call and complain, you can still be the good guy and cancel the invoice if they are very upset.

I think it is really important to stand your ground and prove your worth.

]]> By: Hannah http://www.awesome-seo.com/to-charge-or-not-to-charge/comment-page-1/#comment-89 Hannah Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:07:15 +0000 http://www.awesome-seo.com/to-charge-or-not-to-charge/#comment-89 I would take the approach of sending the invoice as usual - after all you have a contract and they should be expecting the invoice. If they pay without questioning you - great. If they call and query it - you can always offer to either cancel the invoice (only do this if they seem very upset); or come to some arrangement - ideally I'd suggest spending double the time on the project this month - that way no one loses out. I would take the approach of sending the invoice as usual – after all you have a contract and they should be expecting the invoice.

If they pay without questioning you – great.

If they call and query it – you can always offer to either cancel the invoice (only do this if they seem very upset); or come to some arrangement – ideally I’d suggest spending double the time on the project this month – that way no one loses out.

]]> By: pratt http://www.awesome-seo.com/to-charge-or-not-to-charge/comment-page-1/#comment-88 pratt Thu, 07 Feb 2008 02:43:12 +0000 http://www.awesome-seo.com/to-charge-or-not-to-charge/#comment-88 @Lea Nice rebuttals for the reasons nice to charge. It seems like there is very little reason not to. You make a great point about them being ecstatic to have me. @Ron Keeping the customer happy is a tough task, mostly when it comes to money. Thanks for the tip! @Lea Nice rebuttals for the reasons nice to charge. It seems like there is very little reason not to. You make a great point about them being ecstatic to have me.

@Ron Keeping the customer happy is a tough task, mostly when it comes to money. Thanks for the tip!

]]> By: Ron Dean http://www.awesome-seo.com/to-charge-or-not-to-charge/comment-page-1/#comment-87 Ron Dean Thu, 07 Feb 2008 02:36:59 +0000 http://www.awesome-seo.com/to-charge-or-not-to-charge/#comment-87 I think the key here is #3 under why not to charge "Keeping the customer satisfied." I thinkit goes beyond that, I would assume I am paying for the months no matter what, if I was called and told "Hey you know we weren't able to get much down otgether this month, because of how buy you were. This one's on me" That is a good phrase because it limits it to that onemonth and does not encourage them not getting back to you I think the key here is #3 under why not to charge “Keeping the customer satisfied.” I thinkit goes beyond that, I would assume I am paying for the months no matter what, if I was called and told “Hey you know we weren’t able to get much down otgether this month, because of how buy you were. This one’s on me” That is a good phrase because it limits it to that onemonth and does not encourage them not getting back to you

]]> By: Lea de Groot http://www.awesome-seo.com/to-charge-or-not-to-charge/comment-page-1/#comment-86 Lea de Groot Thu, 07 Feb 2008 02:26:16 +0000 http://www.awesome-seo.com/to-charge-or-not-to-charge/#comment-86 In 99% of cases I will send the invoice. The only time I don't is if I know (and not just through their whining) that the company is having a tough time financially and my invoice might make the difference between them closing or staying open. Of course, if I were currently in the same situation, then I would charge them. Feeding my kids comes before feeding their kids :) "You didn’t do any work." But you did keep the time slot open for them, possibly turning down other income because they had reserved your time. "Your reputation." i do not believe that anyone worth listening to will slag you with "he billed us just like the contract said!! who'd have thought!". if this worries you, make the contract a little more explicit. :) "Keeping the customer satisfied." Ah, see - you haven't sold hard enough - they should be ecstatic to have you :) But I did like Ross' idea. Ultimately, keeping the customer satisfied is the goal that keeps meat on the table. You just have to make sure that what satisfies them isn't taking advantage of you. Hope it helps :) Lea In 99% of cases I will send the invoice.
The only time I don’t is if I know (and not just through their whining) that the company is having a tough time financially and my invoice might make the difference between them closing or staying open.
Of course, if I were currently in the same situation, then I would charge them. Feeding my kids comes before feeding their kids :)

“You didn’t do any work.”
But you did keep the time slot open for them, possibly turning down other income because they had reserved your time.

“Your reputation.”
i do not believe that anyone worth listening to will slag you with “he billed us just like the contract said!! who’d have thought!”. if this worries you, make the contract a little more explicit. :)

“Keeping the customer satisfied.”
Ah, see – you haven’t sold hard enough – they should be ecstatic to have you :)
But I did like Ross’ idea. Ultimately, keeping the customer satisfied is the goal that keeps meat on the table. You just have to make sure that what satisfies them isn’t taking advantage of you.

Hope it helps :)
Lea

]]> By: pratt http://www.awesome-seo.com/to-charge-or-not-to-charge/comment-page-1/#comment-85 pratt Thu, 07 Feb 2008 01:35:45 +0000 http://www.awesome-seo.com/to-charge-or-not-to-charge/#comment-85 @Ross Dunn - I think that is a good point, and it allows you to do two things: collect your money and keep your client satisfied. It is a really tough situation that I have been in before and seen many others, too. Thanks for the advice! @Brian Chappell - That's also a good idea, and even if it doesn't happen a lot, it might still be in your best interest to include it in the contract. It seems like no matter how much you tell them that you need their help, they always forget a month or two into the project. Thanks Brian! @Ross Dunn – I think that is a good point, and it allows you to do two things: collect your money and keep your client satisfied. It is a really tough situation that I have been in before and seen many others, too. Thanks for the advice!

@Brian Chappell – That’s also a good idea, and even if it doesn’t happen a lot, it might still be in your best interest to include it in the contract. It seems like no matter how much you tell them that you need their help, they always forget a month or two into the project. Thanks Brian!

]]> By: Brian Chappell http://www.awesome-seo.com/to-charge-or-not-to-charge/comment-page-1/#comment-84 Brian Chappell Thu, 07 Feb 2008 01:27:41 +0000 http://www.awesome-seo.com/to-charge-or-not-to-charge/#comment-84 If this sort of thing arises a lot then it might be worth noting very explicitly in the contract, that if this sort of situation arises they still have to pay you. As well as reiterating that on the phone to them so the client understands ahead of time. If this sort of thing arises a lot then it might be worth noting very explicitly in the contract, that if this sort of situation arises they still have to pay you. As well as reiterating that on the phone to them so the client understands ahead of time.

]]> By: Ross Dunn http://www.awesome-seo.com/to-charge-or-not-to-charge/comment-page-1/#comment-83 Ross Dunn Thu, 07 Feb 2008 01:10:06 +0000 http://www.awesome-seo.com/to-charge-or-not-to-charge/#comment-83 Hi Taylor, you are in a tough position that I have been in before. What I did was charge the client according to the schedule. I felt that making any exception in the schedule of the contract would set a bad precedent so I chose to move ahead and charge them. This way there was never a breach in the contract on my behalf. Ultimately once the contract was officially over I extended my services to make up for the lost time but I did this because their delays were understandable and I felt the investment in the client was worthwhile. I hope that helps. Hi Taylor, you are in a tough position that I have been in before. What I did was charge the client according to the schedule. I felt that making any exception in the schedule of the contract would set a bad precedent so I chose to move ahead and charge them. This way there was never a breach in the contract on my behalf.

Ultimately once the contract was officially over I extended my services to make up for the lost time but I did this because their delays were understandable and I felt the investment in the client was worthwhile.

I hope that helps.

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