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⚒️ Journeyman11mo
36
set terms upfront in the contract, 50% deposit for big jobs.
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CircuitSnake⭐ Expert11mo
33
don't do work without a deposit on anything over $500.
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DoorOpenerPro2⚒️ Journeyman11mo
23
^ this, saved my ass twice.
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FurnitureFury⚒️ Journeyman11mo
32
deposit or walk away.
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SprayGunStan⭐ Expert11mo
28
agreed, especially for deep cleans with pro gear.
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PolishPro2⚒️ Journeyman11mo
18
i always include net 15 terms and a late fee clause.
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LockoutLou⚒️ Journeyman11mo
24
texas here too, small claims is quick but eats time.
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NailGunNinja6⚒️ Journeyman11mo
42
frustrating as hell when they ghost you after the shine.
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DoorDud⚒️ Journeyman11mo
75
same boat, client owed $1500 for window cleaning.
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RustyNailBob3⚒️ Journeyman11mo
21
use quickbooks invoicing, it has auto reminders.
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LeakHunterLila⚒️ Journeyman10mo
21
remind them politely once, then firm up with a lien threat.
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VentBoss⭐ Expert10mo
4
liens work for commercial?
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FixItFelix10⭐ Expert10mo
19
i switched to jobber for collections, cuts the bs.
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FramingFool2⚒️ Journeyman10mo
32
jobber's reminders are gold, got paid faster.
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HammerTimeHero6⚒️ Journeyman10mo
42
sharktank that client, nah just kidding but seriously charge interest after 30 days.
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LockoutLulu⚒️ Journeyman10mo
82
love the sharktank joke lol.
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BoltBuster⚒️ Journeyman10mo
25
in my experience, half pay up when you show up in person.
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GeneralFixIt3⚒️ Journeyman10mo
24
personal visit worked on my $2k office clean.
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SparkJockey⚒️ Journeyman10mo
37
but don't burn gas on cheapskates.
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ShingleShark15⚒️ Journeyman10mo
24
private equity types own these malls now, they pay slow on purpose.
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CastIronCurser⚒️ Journeyman9mo
34
PE is ruining the game for all of us cleaners.
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FaucetFiend2⚒️ Journeyman9mo
25
tell em you'll stop service, watch em pay.
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KeyMaster2⚒️ Journeyman9mo
34
exactly, leverage the ongoing contract.
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FlushMaster500⭐ Expert9mo
18
i'm 5 years in and still learning this crap.
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WattTheHeck25⚒️ Journeyman9mo
25
guy in Cleaning Business Owners group said collections agency for over 90 days.
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SweepItClean⚒️ Journeyman9mo
30
agencies take a cut but better than nothing.
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LadderLad4⚒️ Journeyman9mo
22
started my cleaning biz with no clue on this.
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LadderLad2⚒️ Journeyman9mo
8
insurance covers bad debt? nah.
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BrushStrokePro2⚒️ Journeyman9mo
35
document everything, emails texts calls.
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SawdustSavant24⚒️ Journeyman8mo
25
^ key advice, saved me in court once.
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ComboBreaker⚒️ Journeyman8mo
41
hit $100k last year by ditching deadbeats early.
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BrushStrokeBoss11⚒️ Journeyman8mo
7
congrats man, what's your secret sauce?
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LawnLad⚒️ Journeyman8mo
34
i feel ya, lost a whole month's vacay fund to one.
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DuctDoctor9⚒️ Journeyman8mo
21
watched a melissa maker vid on biz tips, she said contracts are king.
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TenYearVet5⚒️ Journeyman8mo
28
templates from house cleaning business fb group are solid.
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BasinBoss🔧 Apprentice8mo
54
same, that group has gold on collections.
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HueMaster⚒️ Journeyman8mo
23
clients think we're disposable, pisses me off.
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FlushKing2⚒️ Journeyman8mo
42
all these chains screwing independents.
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CleanFreak992🔧 Apprentice8mo
55
rural arkansas here, same issue with local shops.
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ShingleShuffler4⚒️ Journeyman7mo
40
frustrated enough to quit commercial altogether.
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BoltBuster⚒️ Journeyman7mo
20
join the club, back to residential for sanity.
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VentVictor⚒️ Journeyman7mo
29
watch out for fake excuses, always verify.
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WrenchWally2⚒️ Journeyman7mo
22
customer thought the couch stain was gone but nah.
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GroundFaultGuru⚒️ Journeyman7mo
30
bissell pro heat is clutch for those jobs.
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GreenThumbGuy2⚒️ Journeyman7mo
39
yeah but collections kill the vibe.
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BoxTosser⚒️ Journeyman7mo
58
had a laugh when the client paid in pennies lol.
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CircuitSnake⭐ Expert7mo
40
me and the boys chased a $400 check across town.
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DoorOpenerPro2⚒️ Journeyman7mo
21
solid point on not burning bridges.
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FurnitureFury⚒️ Journeyman6mo
47
same, lost two referrals over pushy follows.
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SprayGunStan⭐ Expert6mo
38
try square for invoicing, instant reminders.
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PolishPro2⚒️ Journeyman6mo
39
feelin that texas heat too brother.
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LockoutLou⚒️ Journeyman6mo
36
client paid after I showed up with my vacuum unplugged.
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NailGunNinja6⚒️ Journeyman6mo
61
underrated move haha.
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DoorDud⚒️ Journeyman6mo
18
always get it in writing first.
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RustyNailBob3⚒️ Journeyman6mo
5
sharbites? wait wrong sub.
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LeakHunterLila⚒️ Journeyman6mo
27
no but seriously, cutoff at 60 days.
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VentBoss⭐ Expert6mo
17
sharkbite fittings are trash anyway fight me.
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FixItFelix10⭐ Expert5mo
32
sharbites saved my ass on a leak once.
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FramingFool2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
21
hate when they drag after seeing the sparkle.
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HammerTimeHero6⚒️ Journeyman5mo
31
big corps owe us all a class action.
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LockoutLulu⚒️ Journeyman5mo
32
jobber integration with quickbooks is seamless.
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BoltBuster⚒️ Journeyman5mo
35
finally got paid $3k after small claims win.
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GeneralFixIt3⚒️ Journeyman5mo
32
don't wait, act fast on 30 days.
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SparkJockey⚒️ Journeyman5mo
5
what's your average turnaround on these?
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ShingleShark15⚒️ Journeyman5mo
27
client blamed the dog but paid up.
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CastIronCurser⚒️ Journeyman5mo
52
same old story in this biz.
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FaucetFiend2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
28
housecall pro has better collection tools imo.
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KeyMaster2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
40
housecall pro yes, automated everything.
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FlushMaster500⭐ Expert4mo
23
proud of sticking to my guns on one.
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WattTheHeck25⚒️ Journeyman4mo
31
lost sleep over a $1200 no-show.
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SweepItClean⚒️ Journeyman4mo
23
every cleaner i know has a story.
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LadderLad4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
24
walking away from one last week.
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LadderLad2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
screw the chains, go local.
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BrushStrokePro2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
23
local pays better anyway.
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SawdustSavant24⚒️ Journeyman4mo
30
damn right, less headache.
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ComboBreaker⚒️ Journeyman4mo
34
frustrated but pushing through.
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BrushStrokeBoss11⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
this industry chews up the little guys.
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LawnLad⚒️ Journeyman3mo
25
yep, time to unionize cleaners or something.
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DuctDoctor9⚒️ Journeyman3mo
42
watched lynsey chrombie on tiktok, she nails biz advice.
