Got my first gig!

[rnai]

I posted a few weeks back about starting up a cleaning business: post

Just got an email asking for my services to clean a few open apartments. I'm wondering at the moment how I should go about making a contract so that I'm solid on getting paid for the job. I've heard stories about people who do jobs like these and then don't get paid because they didn't create a contract or sign anything.

How should I go about this?

 

[pastorpontibus]

@rnai Get paid up front. Contracts are only as good as your ability to defend them.

 

[vantai324]

@pastorpontibus Absolutely not. This is his first ever job and has no reputation. This will scare away any decent customer.

 

[kabriana]

@vantai324 Still a contract isn’t going to help him unless he’s willing to sue.

A contract is basically I’m charging X dollars for this job and payment is due on Y date and if not Z fees apply legal fees to be paid by customer.

Both parties sign and date.

 

[pastorpontibus]

@vantai324 This is silly. There is no trust relationship established either way. Ton of businesses do this. Or at least some kind of partial payment. You get it just prior to starting.

This is especially true when dealing with another business. Unless a property manager is going to be available to provide payment immediately after the work, you’re giving that business credit. Be flexible, ask questions but be firm in getting paid. A contract will not fix this problem. If someone won’t pay, that paper won’t make them either.