How to Spot Clients Who’ll Drag Their Feet on Payment

The Impact of Payment Delays on Tradies

When payments are delayed, the impact is immediate and far-reaching. Tradies often face cash flow problems when clients don’t pay on time, making it difficult to pay for materials, wages, or even other jobs. 

Chasing payments also wastes valuable time that could be spent on other work, adding unnecessary stress to your workload. Furthermore, unresolved payment issues can lead to damaged business relationships and negative reviews, which can harm your reputation and make it harder to secure future work.

How Feed4ward Helps You Avoid Payment Issues

Feed4ward is a simple tool that helps tradies avoid clients who may delay payment. By reading real reviews left by other tradies, you can spot clients who have a history of slow or missed payments.

Real reviews:
Tradies leave honest feedback on Feed4ward, sharing their experiences with clients. If a client has a history of delaying payments, you’ll see it in the reviews.

Client behaviour insights:
Feed4ward lets you check if a client has a pattern of slow or non-payment. By reading feedback from others, you can make an informed decision about whether to take the job.

Avoid problem clients:
The app helps you avoid clients who could cause payment headaches. If there are signs of potential issues, Feed4ward gives you the information you need to make better decisions before you start the job.

Protecting Your Income from Payment Delays

There are steps you can take to protect your income from delays:

• Set clear payment terms upfront:
  Always be specific about when and how you expect to be paid. Outline payment terms clearly in the quote, and make sure the client understands what’s expected.
  
  

• Request a deposit:
  For larger jobs, ask for a deposit before starting the work. This shows that the client is committed and will help cover your costs.
  
  

• Send invoices promptly and professionally:
  Don’t wait to send invoices. Send them as soon as the job is finished, and be clear about the payment terms. Follow up regularly if payment is overdue.
  
  

• Set consequences for late payments:
  Make sure your terms include penalties for late payments. Be firm about enforcing these penalties if the client delays payment.

Conclusion

Payment delays are a major issue that tradies must deal with regularly. However, by spotting warning signs early and using tools like Feed4ward to check client reviews, you can avoid working with clients who delay payments. Setting clear expectations upfront and maintaining good communication throughout the job can also help protect your income. 

Feed4ward provides an easy way to check client behaviour before agreeing to a job, allowing you to focus on the clients who respect your time and your work. Start using Feed4ward today—it’s free and can help you protect your business from payment delays.