Home/Operations/✨ Cleaning/Chasing down collections for missed commercial cleaning payments - advice?
Chasing down collections for missed commercial cleaning payments - advice?
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DustBunnySlayer
·11mo·90 replies·46 participants
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DustBunnySlayer⭐ ExpertOP11mo
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⚒️ Journeyman10mo
20
man that sucks, been stiffed on a post-construction clean myself last year.
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VentVictor⚒️ Journeyman10mo
60
yep same here.
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WrenchWally2⚒️ Journeyman10mo
20
had to eat $1k loss on a similar job.
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GroundFaultGuru⚒️ Journeyman10mo
28
don't let em slide, send certified mail next time.
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GreenThumbGuy2⚒️ Journeyman10mo
22
certified mail worked for me on a $900 carpet clean.
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BoxTosser⚒️ Journeyman10mo
36
set terms upfront in the contract, 50% deposit for big jobs.
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CircuitSnake⭐ Expert10mo
33
don't do work without a deposit on anything over $500.
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DoorOpenerPro2⚒️ Journeyman10mo
23
^ this, saved my ass twice.
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FurnitureFury⚒️ Journeyman10mo
32
deposit or walk away.
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SprayGunStan⭐ Expert10mo
28
agreed, especially for deep cleans with pro gear.
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PolishPro2⚒️ Journeyman9mo
18
i always include net 15 terms and a late fee clause.
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LockoutLou⚒️ Journeyman9mo
24
texas here too, small claims is quick but eats time.
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NailGunNinja6⚒️ Journeyman9mo
42
frustrating as hell when they ghost you after the shine.
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DoorDud⚒️ Journeyman9mo
75
same boat, client owed $1500 for window cleaning.
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RustyNailBob3⚒️ Journeyman9mo
21
use quickbooks invoicing, it has auto reminders.
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LeakHunterLila⚒️ Journeyman9mo
21
remind them politely once, then firm up with a lien threat.
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VentBoss⭐ Expert9mo
4
liens work for commercial?
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FixItFelix10⭐ Expert9mo
19
i switched to jobber for collections, cuts the bs.
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FramingFool2⚒️ Journeyman9mo
32
jobber's reminders are gold, got paid faster.
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HammerTimeHero6⚒️ Journeyman9mo
42
sharktank that client, nah just kidding but seriously charge interest after 30 days.
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LockoutLulu⚒️ Journeyman8mo
82
love the sharktank joke lol.
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BoltBuster⚒️ Journeyman8mo
25
in my experience, half pay up when you show up in person.
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GeneralFixIt3⚒️ Journeyman8mo
24
personal visit worked on my $2k office clean.
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SparkJockey⚒️ Journeyman8mo
37
but don't burn gas on cheapskates.
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ShingleShark15⚒️ Journeyman8mo
24
private equity types own these malls now, they pay slow on purpose.
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CastIronCurser⚒️ Journeyman8mo
34
PE is ruining the game for all of us cleaners.
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FaucetFiend2⚒️ Journeyman8mo
25
tell em you'll stop service, watch em pay.
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KeyMaster2⚒️ Journeyman8mo
34
exactly, leverage the ongoing contract.
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FlushMaster500⭐ Expert8mo
18
i'm 5 years in and still learning this crap.
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WattTheHeck25⚒️ Journeyman7mo
25
guy in Cleaning Business Owners group said collections agency for over 90 days.
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SweepItClean⚒️ Journeyman7mo
30
agencies take a cut but better than nothing.
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LadderLad4⚒️ Journeyman7mo
22
started my cleaning biz with no clue on this.
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LadderLad2⚒️ Journeyman7mo
8
insurance covers bad debt? nah.
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BrushStrokePro2⚒️ Journeyman7mo
35
document everything, emails texts calls.
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SawdustSavant24⚒️ Journeyman7mo
25
^ key advice, saved me in court once.
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ComboBreaker⚒️ Journeyman7mo
41
hit $100k last year by ditching deadbeats early.
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BrushStrokeBoss11⚒️ Journeyman7mo
7
congrats man, what's your secret sauce?
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LawnLad⚒️ Journeyman7mo
34
i feel ya, lost a whole month's vacay fund to one.
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DuctDoctor9⚒️ Journeyman7mo
21
watched a melissa maker vid on biz tips, she said contracts are king.
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TenYearVet5⚒️ Journeyman6mo
28
templates from house cleaning business fb group are solid.
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BasinBoss🔧 Apprentice6mo
54
same, that group has gold on collections.
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HueMaster⚒️ Journeyman6mo
23
clients think we're disposable, pisses me off.
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FlushKing2⚒️ Journeyman6mo
42
all these chains screwing independents.
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CleanFreak992🔧 Apprentice6mo
55
rural arkansas here, same issue with local shops.
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ShingleShuffler4⚒️ Journeyman6mo
40
frustrated enough to quit commercial altogether.
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BoltBuster⚒️ Journeyman6mo
20
join the club, back to residential for sanity.
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VentVictor⚒️ Journeyman6mo
29
watch out for fake excuses, always verify.
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WrenchWally2⚒️ Journeyman6mo
22
customer thought the couch stain was gone but nah.
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GroundFaultGuru⚒️ Journeyman5mo
30
bissell pro heat is clutch for those jobs.
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GreenThumbGuy2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
39
yeah but collections kill the vibe.
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BoxTosser⚒️ Journeyman5mo
58
had a laugh when the client paid in pennies lol.
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CircuitSnake⭐ Expert5mo
40
me and the boys chased a $400 check across town.
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DoorOpenerPro2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
21
solid point on not burning bridges.
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FurnitureFury⚒️ Journeyman5mo
47
same, lost two referrals over pushy follows.
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SprayGunStan⭐ Expert5mo
38
try square for invoicing, instant reminders.
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PolishPro2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
39
feelin that texas heat too brother.
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LockoutLou⚒️ Journeyman5mo
36
client paid after I showed up with my vacuum unplugged.
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NailGunNinja6⚒️ Journeyman4mo
61
underrated move haha.
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DoorDud⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
always get it in writing first.
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RustyNailBob3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
sharbites? wait wrong sub.
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LeakHunterLila⚒️ Journeyman4mo
27
no but seriously, cutoff at 60 days.
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VentBoss⭐ Expert4mo
17
sharkbite fittings are trash anyway fight me.
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FixItFelix10⭐ Expert4mo
32
sharbites saved my ass on a leak once.
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FramingFool2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
21
hate when they drag after seeing the sparkle.
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HammerTimeHero6⚒️ Journeyman4mo
31
big corps owe us all a class action.
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LockoutLulu⚒️ Journeyman4mo
32
jobber integration with quickbooks is seamless.
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BoltBuster⚒️ Journeyman4mo
35
finally got paid $3k after small claims win.
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GeneralFixIt3⚒️ Journeyman3mo
32
don't wait, act fast on 30 days.
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SparkJockey⚒️ Journeyman3mo
5
what's your average turnaround on these?
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ShingleShark15⚒️ Journeyman3mo
27
client blamed the dog but paid up.
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CastIronCurser⚒️ Journeyman3mo
52
same old story in this biz.
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FaucetFiend2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
28
housecall pro has better collection tools imo.
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KeyMaster2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
40
housecall pro yes, automated everything.
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FlushMaster500⭐ Expert3mo
23
proud of sticking to my guns on one.
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WattTheHeck25⚒️ Journeyman3mo
31
lost sleep over a $1200 no-show.
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SweepItClean⚒️ Journeyman3mo
23
every cleaner i know has a story.
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LadderLad4⚒️ Journeyman3mo
24
walking away from one last week.
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LadderLad2⚒️ Journeyman2mo
19
screw the chains, go local.
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BrushStrokePro2⚒️ Journeyman2mo
23
local pays better anyway.
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SawdustSavant24⚒️ Journeyman2mo
30
damn right, less headache.
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ComboBreaker⚒️ Journeyman2mo
34
frustrated but pushing through.
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BrushStrokeBoss11⚒️ Journeyman2mo
19
this industry chews up the little guys.
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LawnLad⚒️ Journeyman2mo
25
yep, time to unionize cleaners or something.
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DuctDoctor9⚒️ Journeyman2mo
42
watched lynsey chrombie on tiktok, she nails biz advice.
