Is it all worth it...?
Discussion
Feeling fairly disillusioned at the moment. If all the companies that promise work actually meant what they said, I'd have a significant business. How are you ever supposed to plan for growth when companies continually string you along? Why can't they just say no if they mean no, yes if they mean yes, and come back in a few months if they mean maybe? Securing business right now seems to be more of a minefield than wooing women ever was. Is the rest of the world like this or is it just reserved for public relations/my business in particular? Maybe it's something I'm doing wrong?
Of the clients I have, if they all paid their bills in the time they commit to paying their bills, I wouldn't have any cashflow problems. The VAT office wants money I haven't received yet, the bank won't extend the overdraft, even though it's pathetically small, the outstanding invoices more than cover it and the company has been significantly in the black for most of the last six years. People to whom I owe money want it NOW, no ifs, no buts, no discussion. Have a fine if you are a few days late. People who owe me money dive more than premiership footballers on ice.
The problem is that I'm good at doing what I do. I'm not good at selling or being a credit controller, and I can't afford to hire a salesman or a financial director. Where can I find high quality customers who value a good service and can be relied on to pay their bills in time?!!
Of the clients I have, if they all paid their bills in the time they commit to paying their bills, I wouldn't have any cashflow problems. The VAT office wants money I haven't received yet, the bank won't extend the overdraft, even though it's pathetically small, the outstanding invoices more than cover it and the company has been significantly in the black for most of the last six years. People to whom I owe money want it NOW, no ifs, no buts, no discussion. Have a fine if you are a few days late. People who owe me money dive more than premiership footballers on ice.
The problem is that I'm good at doing what I do. I'm not good at selling or being a credit controller, and I can't afford to hire a salesman or a financial director. Where can I find high quality customers who value a good service and can be relied on to pay their bills in time?!!
srebbe64 said:
I seem to recall Mon Ami Mate, that you were considering a career in politics (unless it was someone else). If you ever did, it'd be great if you took these real life experiences into the political arena and made a difference to normal people in business. I get sick to death of The Revenue, Health & Safety, absurd employers legislation, etc...
My political career died with David Cameron. I didn't make the shortlist for candidacy on account of being too white/male/heterosexual. Back to business then...
Edited by Mon Ami Mate on Tuesday 13th March 16:13
superlightr said:
I take a hard line, pay on time or get sued.
If we have done the work, you pay us. If you dont you get sued.
If you try to pay less than we have agreed, you get sued.
can you see a trend here?
Works for me. But most of our clients dont mess us around. We dont 'sell' a product but provide a service.
Sure some clients may decide to instruct us, some do some dont. Some a year or so later. Thats part of it and not anything I can do apart from use my not inconsiderable charm to get them to come to us. Once they have signed the dotted line then we roll with the contract and do what we say we will do and expect them to do likewise or else we sue them - have I said that before?
Does help having been in the legal ide of things when you know who is bluffing or when you can push things or when your onto a good hiding.
If we have done the work, you pay us. If you dont you get sued.
If you try to pay less than we have agreed, you get sued.
can you see a trend here?
Works for me. But most of our clients dont mess us around. We dont 'sell' a product but provide a service.
Sure some clients may decide to instruct us, some do some dont. Some a year or so later. Thats part of it and not anything I can do apart from use my not inconsiderable charm to get them to come to us. Once they have signed the dotted line then we roll with the contract and do what we say we will do and expect them to do likewise or else we sue them - have I said that before?
Does help having been in the legal ide of things when you know who is bluffing or when you can push things or when your onto a good hiding.
I'm a service provider too. My two worst debts are with companies that used to pay monthly retainers within 30 days. Both then experienced sticky patches, stopped the retainer and use me for odd bits of project work as and when. I've always had good relationships with them, until now. THere's no doubt in my mind that I'm not being paid because they don't have the money. They both dangle the carrot of improving circumstances and a return to the monthly retainer, which I'm sure you'll understand is something I very much look forward to. I don't want to chuck the baby out with the bath water, but I need the money. When (if?) these companies experience an upswing, I want to be the person they turn to for their PR consultancy.
What annoys me more than anything is the potential client who strings me along, gets me to research and write a proposal (which I always make as comprehensive as possible) and then takes the proposal and tries to do it himself on the cheap. This is happening more and more regularly at the moment, one shopfitting company recently had the brass neck to tell me in my first follow-up call that they had no intention of hiring me and had "just been looking for fresh ideas". Strange that wasn't mentioned before the proposal was sent!
khushy said:
guys guys guys
I can see that things are a bit tough for the original poster and I truly hope that he/she gets things sorted - but I have to say that what you are moaning about is just life, its the real world, its business - if you cant hack it - jack it!
Feeling sorry for yourself, or getting others to feel sorry for you, aint going to solve any of your problems now is it - in fact sympathising with you is probably going to make you feel worse - what you need is a kick up the arse!
Focus on what you are good at and, more importantly, focus on what makes money - sub the rest out (get a good accountant and if you cant sell - ask yourself - should I really be in business - if you cant sell you wont get any decent business and no business = no profit and if you are not making a profit - you shouldnt be in business) - but stop moaning and asking "where are all the good clients" - nobody in their right mind is going to tell you the answer to that one - thats what having YOUR OWN business is all about!
Its a tough world - get used to it!
khushy
PS - I hope that you get it all sorted btw - dont mean to be disrespectful.
I'm not interested in making people feel sorry for me, I'm interested in helpful solutions and wise advice. Thank you for yours. I can see that things are a bit tough for the original poster and I truly hope that he/she gets things sorted - but I have to say that what you are moaning about is just life, its the real world, its business - if you cant hack it - jack it!
Feeling sorry for yourself, or getting others to feel sorry for you, aint going to solve any of your problems now is it - in fact sympathising with you is probably going to make you feel worse - what you need is a kick up the arse!
Focus on what you are good at and, more importantly, focus on what makes money - sub the rest out (get a good accountant and if you cant sell - ask yourself - should I really be in business - if you cant sell you wont get any decent business and no business = no profit and if you are not making a profit - you shouldnt be in business) - but stop moaning and asking "where are all the good clients" - nobody in their right mind is going to tell you the answer to that one - thats what having YOUR OWN business is all about!
Its a tough world - get used to it!
khushy
PS - I hope that you get it all sorted btw - dont mean to be disrespectful.
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