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Chasing down collections for missed commercial cleaning payments - advice?
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DustBunnySlayer
·9mo·90 replies·46 participants
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DustBunnySlayer👑 LegendOP9mo
169
Hey all, I'm a couple years into running my cleaning side gig, mostly doing office and retail spaces, and I'm hitting this wall with collections on a few bigger jobs. Last month I invoiced a strip mall client for $2,800 on a deep clean with my Bissell Big Green machine and all the usual supplies, but they're dragging their feet on payment even after two reminders. We're in Texas so the heat makes everything stickier with scheduling, but I don't want to burn bridges. Saw a thread on r/CleaningTips about small claims for cleaning disputes, but not sure if that's the move here. Anyone dealt with this in commercial work? How do you word the follow-up without sounding desperate? And what's a good cutoff before I pull the plug on future gigs?
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PipeLord42026⭐ Expert9mo
20
man that sucks, been stiffed on a post-construction clean myself last year.
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VentVictor⭐ Expert9mo
60
yep same here.
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WrenchWally2⭐ Expert9mo
20
had to eat $1k loss on a similar job.
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GroundFaultGuru🏆 Master9mo
28
don't let em slide, send certified mail next time.
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GreenThumbGuy2🏆 Master8mo
22
certified mail worked for me on a $900 carpet clean.
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BoxTosser⭐ Expert8mo
36
set terms upfront in the contract, 50% deposit for big jobs.
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CircuitSnake👑 Legend8mo
33
don't do work without a deposit on anything over $500.
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DoorOpenerPro2⭐ Expert8mo
23
^ this, saved my ass twice.
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FurnitureFury🏆 Master8mo
32
deposit or walk away.
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SprayGunStan👑 Legend8mo
28
agreed, especially for deep cleans with pro gear.
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PolishPro2⭐ Expert8mo
18
i always include net 15 terms and a late fee clause.
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LockoutLou🏆 Master8mo
24
texas here too, small claims is quick but eats time.
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NailGunNinja6⭐ Expert8mo
42
frustrating as hell when they ghost you after the shine.
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DoorDud⭐ Expert8mo
75
same boat, client owed $1500 for window cleaning.
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RustyNailBob3⭐ Expert7mo
21
use quickbooks invoicing, it has auto reminders.
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LeakHunterLila⭐ Expert7mo
21
remind them politely once, then firm up with a lien threat.
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VentBoss👑 Legend7mo
4
liens work for commercial?
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FixItFelix10👑 Legend7mo
19
i switched to jobber for collections, cuts the bs.
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FramingFool2⭐ Expert7mo
32
jobber's reminders are gold, got paid faster.
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HammerTimeHero6⭐ Expert7mo
42
sharktank that client, nah just kidding but seriously charge interest after 30 days.
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LockoutLulu⭐ Expert7mo
82
love the sharktank joke lol.
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BoltBuster🏆 Master7mo
25
in my experience, half pay up when you show up in person.
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GeneralFixIt3⭐ Expert7mo
24
personal visit worked on my $2k office clean.
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SparkJockey🏆 Master7mo
37
but don't burn gas on cheapskates.
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ShingleShark15⭐ Expert6mo
24
private equity types own these malls now, they pay slow on purpose.
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CastIronCurser⭐ Expert6mo
34
PE is ruining the game for all of us cleaners.
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FaucetFiend2⭐ Expert6mo
25
tell em you'll stop service, watch em pay.
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KeyMaster2🏆 Master6mo
34
exactly, leverage the ongoing contract.
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FlushMaster500👑 Legend6mo
18
i'm 5 years in and still learning this crap.
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WattTheHeck25🏆 Master6mo
25
guy in Cleaning Business Owners group said collections agency for over 90 days.
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SweepItClean🏆 Master6mo
30
agencies take a cut but better than nothing.
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LadderLad4⭐ Expert6mo
22
started my cleaning biz with no clue on this.
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LadderLad2🏆 Master6mo
8
insurance covers bad debt? nah.
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BrushStrokePro2⭐ Expert5mo
35
document everything, emails texts calls.
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SawdustSavant24🏆 Master5mo
25
^ key advice, saved me in court once.
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ComboBreaker🏆 Master5mo
41
hit $100k last year by ditching deadbeats early.
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BrushStrokeBoss11🏆 Master5mo
7
congrats man, what's your secret sauce?
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LawnLad⭐ Expert5mo
34
i feel ya, lost a whole month's vacay fund to one.
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DuctDoctor9⭐ Expert5mo
21
watched a melissa maker vid on biz tips, she said contracts are king.
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TenYearVet5⭐ Expert5mo
28
templates from house cleaning business fb group are solid.
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BasinBoss⭐ Expert5mo
54
same, that group has gold on collections.
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HueMaster⭐ Expert5mo
23
clients think we're disposable, pisses me off.
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FlushKing2⭐ Expert5mo
42
all these chains screwing independents.
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CleanFreak992⭐ Expert4mo
55
rural arkansas here, same issue with local shops.
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ShingleShuffler4⭐ Expert4mo
40
frustrated enough to quit commercial altogether.
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BoltBuster🏆 Master4mo
20
join the club, back to residential for sanity.
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VentVictor⭐ Expert4mo
29
watch out for fake excuses, always verify.
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WrenchWally2⭐ Expert4mo
22
customer thought the couch stain was gone but nah.
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GroundFaultGuru🏆 Master4mo
30
bissell pro heat is clutch for those jobs.
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GreenThumbGuy2🏆 Master4mo
39
yeah but collections kill the vibe.
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BoxTosser⭐ Expert4mo
58
had a laugh when the client paid in pennies lol.
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CircuitSnake👑 Legend4mo
40
me and the boys chased a $400 check across town.
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DoorOpenerPro2⭐ Expert3mo
21
solid point on not burning bridges.
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FurnitureFury🏆 Master3mo
47
same, lost two referrals over pushy follows.
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SprayGunStan👑 Legend3mo
38
try square for invoicing, instant reminders.
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PolishPro2⭐ Expert3mo
39
feelin that texas heat too brother.
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LockoutLou🏆 Master3mo
36
client paid after I showed up with my vacuum unplugged.
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NailGunNinja6⭐ Expert3mo
61
underrated move haha.
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DoorDud⭐ Expert3mo
18
always get it in writing first.
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RustyNailBob3⭐ Expert3mo
5
sharbites? wait wrong sub.
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LeakHunterLila⭐ Expert3mo
27
no but seriously, cutoff at 60 days.
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VentBoss👑 Legend2mo
17
sharkbite fittings are trash anyway fight me.
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FixItFelix10👑 Legend2mo
32
sharbites saved my ass on a leak once.
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FramingFool2⭐ Expert2mo
21
hate when they drag after seeing the sparkle.
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HammerTimeHero6⭐ Expert2mo
31
big corps owe us all a class action.
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LockoutLulu⭐ Expert2mo
32
jobber integration with quickbooks is seamless.
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BoltBuster🏆 Master2mo
35
finally got paid $3k after small claims win.
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GeneralFixIt3⭐ Expert2mo
32
don't wait, act fast on 30 days.
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SparkJockey🏆 Master2mo
5
what's your average turnaround on these?
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ShingleShark15⭐ Expert2mo
27
client blamed the dog but paid up.
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CastIronCurser⭐ Expert2mo
52
same old story in this biz.
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FaucetFiend2⭐ Expert1mo
28
housecall pro has better collection tools imo.
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KeyMaster2🏆 Master1mo
40
housecall pro yes, automated everything.
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FlushMaster500👑 Legend1mo
23
proud of sticking to my guns on one.
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WattTheHeck25🏆 Master1mo
31
lost sleep over a $1200 no-show.
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SweepItClean🏆 Master1mo
23
every cleaner i know has a story.
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LadderLad4⭐ Expert1mo
24
walking away from one last week.
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LadderLad2🏆 Master1mo
19
screw the chains, go local.
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BrushStrokePro2⭐ Expert1mo
23
local pays better anyway.
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SawdustSavant24🏆 Master1mo
30
damn right, less headache.
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ComboBreaker🏆 Master1mo
34
frustrated but pushing through.
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BrushStrokeBoss11🏆 Master27d
19
this industry chews up the little guys.
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LawnLad⭐ Expert25d
25
yep, time to unionize cleaners or something.
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DuctDoctor9⭐ Expert23d
42
watched lynsey chrombie on tiktok, she nails biz advice.
