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
·1y·90 replies·46 participants
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DustBunnySlayer⭐ ExpertOP1y
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⚒️ Journeyman1y
20
man that sucks, been stiffed on a post-construction clean myself last year.
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VentVictor⚒️ Journeyman1y
60
yep same here.
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WrenchWally2⚒️ Journeyman1y
20
had to eat $1k loss on a similar job.
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GroundFaultGuru⚒️ Journeyman1y
28
don't let em slide, send certified mail next time.
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GreenThumbGuy2⚒️ Journeyman1y
22
certified mail worked for me on a $900 carpet clean.
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BoxTosser⚒️ Journeyman1y
36
set terms upfront in the contract, 50% deposit for big jobs.
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CircuitSnake⭐ Expert1y
33
don't do work without a deposit on anything over $500.
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DoorOpenerPro2⚒️ Journeyman1y
23
^ this, saved my ass twice.
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FurnitureFury⚒️ Journeyman1y
32
deposit or walk away.
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SprayGunStan⭐ Expert1y
28
agreed, especially for deep cleans with pro gear.
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PolishPro2⚒️ Journeyman1y
18
i always include net 15 terms and a late fee clause.
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LockoutLou⚒️ Journeyman1y
24
texas here too, small claims is quick but eats time.
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NailGunNinja6⚒️ Journeyman1y
42
frustrating as hell when they ghost you after the shine.
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DoorDud⚒️ Journeyman1y
75
same boat, client owed $1500 for window cleaning.
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RustyNailBob3⚒️ Journeyman1y
21
use quickbooks invoicing, it has auto reminders.
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LeakHunterLila⚒️ Journeyman1y
21
remind them politely once, then firm up with a lien threat.
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VentBoss⭐ Expert1y
4
liens work for commercial?
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FixItFelix10⭐ Expert1y
19
i switched to jobber for collections, cuts the bs.
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FramingFool2⚒️ Journeyman1y
32
jobber's reminders are gold, got paid faster.
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HammerTimeHero6⚒️ Journeyman1y
42
sharktank that client, nah just kidding but seriously charge interest after 30 days.
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LockoutLulu⚒️ Journeyman1y
82
love the sharktank joke lol.
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BoltBuster⚒️ Journeyman1y
25
in my experience, half pay up when you show up in person.
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GeneralFixIt3⚒️ Journeyman1y
24
personal visit worked on my $2k office clean.
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SparkJockey⚒️ Journeyman1y
37
but don't burn gas on cheapskates.
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ShingleShark15⚒️ Journeyman1y
24
private equity types own these malls now, they pay slow on purpose.
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CastIronCurser⚒️ Journeyman1y
34
PE is ruining the game for all of us cleaners.
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FaucetFiend2⚒️ Journeyman1y
25
tell em you'll stop service, watch em pay.
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KeyMaster2⚒️ Journeyman1y
34
exactly, leverage the ongoing contract.
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FlushMaster500⭐ Expert1y
18
i'm 5 years in and still learning this crap.
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WattTheHeck25⚒️ Journeyman1y
25
guy in Cleaning Business Owners group said collections agency for over 90 days.
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SweepItClean⚒️ Journeyman1y
30
agencies take a cut but better than nothing.
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LadderLad4⚒️ Journeyman11mo
22
started my cleaning biz with no clue on this.
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LadderLad2⚒️ Journeyman11mo
8
insurance covers bad debt? nah.
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BrushStrokePro2⚒️ Journeyman11mo
35
document everything, emails texts calls.
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SawdustSavant24⚒️ Journeyman11mo
25
^ key advice, saved me in court once.
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ComboBreaker⚒️ Journeyman11mo
41
hit $100k last year by ditching deadbeats early.
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BrushStrokeBoss11⚒️ Journeyman11mo
7
congrats man, what's your secret sauce?
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LawnLad⚒️ Journeyman11mo
34
i feel ya, lost a whole month's vacay fund to one.
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DuctDoctor9⚒️ Journeyman11mo
21
watched a melissa maker vid on biz tips, she said contracts are king.
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TenYearVet5⚒️ Journeyman11mo
28
templates from house cleaning business fb group are solid.
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BasinBoss🔧 Apprentice11mo
54
same, that group has gold on collections.
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HueMaster⚒️ Journeyman10mo
23
clients think we're disposable, pisses me off.
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FlushKing2⚒️ Journeyman10mo
42
all these chains screwing independents.
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CleanFreak992🔧 Apprentice10mo
55
rural arkansas here, same issue with local shops.
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ShingleShuffler4⚒️ Journeyman10mo
40
frustrated enough to quit commercial altogether.
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BoltBuster⚒️ Journeyman10mo
20
join the club, back to residential for sanity.
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VentVictor⚒️ Journeyman10mo
29
watch out for fake excuses, always verify.
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WrenchWally2⚒️ Journeyman10mo
22
customer thought the couch stain was gone but nah.
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GroundFaultGuru⚒️ Journeyman10mo
30
bissell pro heat is clutch for those jobs.
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GreenThumbGuy2⚒️ Journeyman10mo
39
yeah but collections kill the vibe.
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BoxTosser⚒️ Journeyman9mo
58
had a laugh when the client paid in pennies lol.
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CircuitSnake⭐ Expert9mo
40
me and the boys chased a $400 check across town.
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DoorOpenerPro2⚒️ Journeyman9mo
21
solid point on not burning bridges.
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FurnitureFury⚒️ Journeyman9mo
47
same, lost two referrals over pushy follows.
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SprayGunStan⭐ Expert9mo
38
try square for invoicing, instant reminders.
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PolishPro2⚒️ Journeyman9mo
39
feelin that texas heat too brother.
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LockoutLou⚒️ Journeyman9mo
36
client paid after I showed up with my vacuum unplugged.
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NailGunNinja6⚒️ Journeyman9mo
61
underrated move haha.
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DoorDud⚒️ Journeyman9mo
18
always get it in writing first.
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RustyNailBob3⚒️ Journeyman9mo
5
sharbites? wait wrong sub.
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LeakHunterLila⚒️ Journeyman8mo
27
no but seriously, cutoff at 60 days.
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VentBoss⭐ Expert8mo
17
sharkbite fittings are trash anyway fight me.
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FixItFelix10⭐ Expert8mo
32
sharbites saved my ass on a leak once.
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FramingFool2⚒️ Journeyman8mo
21
hate when they drag after seeing the sparkle.
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HammerTimeHero6⚒️ Journeyman8mo
31
big corps owe us all a class action.
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LockoutLulu⚒️ Journeyman8mo
32
jobber integration with quickbooks is seamless.
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BoltBuster⚒️ Journeyman8mo
35
finally got paid $3k after small claims win.
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GeneralFixIt3⚒️ Journeyman8mo
32
don't wait, act fast on 30 days.
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SparkJockey⚒️ Journeyman8mo
5
what's your average turnaround on these?
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ShingleShark15⚒️ Journeyman7mo
27
client blamed the dog but paid up.
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CastIronCurser⚒️ Journeyman7mo
52
same old story in this biz.
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FaucetFiend2⚒️ Journeyman7mo
28
housecall pro has better collection tools imo.
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KeyMaster2⚒️ Journeyman7mo
40
housecall pro yes, automated everything.
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FlushMaster500⭐ Expert7mo
23
proud of sticking to my guns on one.
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WattTheHeck25⚒️ Journeyman7mo
31
lost sleep over a $1200 no-show.
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SweepItClean⚒️ Journeyman7mo
23
every cleaner i know has a story.
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LadderLad4⚒️ Journeyman7mo
24
walking away from one last week.
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LadderLad2⚒️ Journeyman7mo
19
screw the chains, go local.
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BrushStrokePro2⚒️ Journeyman7mo
23
local pays better anyway.
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SawdustSavant24⚒️ Journeyman6mo
30
damn right, less headache.
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ComboBreaker⚒️ Journeyman6mo
34
frustrated but pushing through.
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BrushStrokeBoss11⚒️ Journeyman6mo
19
this industry chews up the little guys.
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LawnLad⚒️ Journeyman6mo
25
yep, time to unionize cleaners or something.
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DuctDoctor9⚒️ Journeyman6mo
42
watched lynsey chrombie on tiktok, she nails biz advice.
