Topic
Getting Paid
Deposits, progress billing, late payers and liens. The mechanics of turning finished work into money in the bank, and what to do when a customer will not pay.
12 articles · browse the full archive
Lead GenerationContractor Financing Companies Compared: 12 Fees
Rate sheets from 12 contractor financing companies show dealer fees of 0% to 26.6%, and the ranges overlap. Here is what really separates them.
15 min
Custom CRMHow to Get Paid Faster as a Contractor: 4 Clocks
Four clocks sit between finishing a job and banking the money. Three are negotiable, one is entirely yours, and it is usually the longest of the four.
19 min
GrowthHow to Handle a Chargeback From a Customer
A chargeback gives you about 7 days to respond, not 30. The deadlines, the evidence that wins, and why the standard 1% ratio advice is wrong for trades.
16 min
GrowthShould I Accept Credit Cards as a Contractor?
At a 10% net margin, a 3% card fee eats roughly 30% of the profit on the job. Here is the math, the rules in Canada and the US, and when to say no.
16 min
Lead GenerationShould I Offer Financing to Customers? 4 Numbers
Financing lifts close rates from 38% to 49%. A 25% dealer fee wipes out every dollar of that gain. Here is the break-even math to run before you sign.
17 min
GrowthWhen Should a Contractor File a Lien? 4 Triggers
Your lien clock starts on a date the statute picks, not the day you lose patience. The 4 triggers, the deadline by province, and the break-even math.
16 min
Custom CRMHow to Run Payroll for a Contracting Business
The 8 steps, plus the three things generic payroll guides skip: job-coded hours, workers comp payroll separation, and when certified payroll actually applies.
16 min
GrowthCustomer Short Paid the Final Invoice: 5 Moves
Before you chase the balance, decide whether to deposit the cheque. In the US, cashing one marked 'paid in full' can legally erase what you are owed.
16 min
GrowthProgress Payment Schedule: 6 Rules That Get Paid
Eight states cap what you can collect up front. California's limit is $1,000. How to build a draw schedule under your legal ceiling and stay cash positive.
15 min
GrowthCollect a Deposit Before Starting Work: 5 Rules
A contractor with a written deposit policy still ended up unloading his truck unpaid. The fix was not a better script. It was a due date on the calendar.
16 min
GrowthContractor Cash Flow: Why Profit Isn't Money
A contractor of twenty years fronted labour and materials with $200 left in his account, living in his van to cut costs. He had plenty of work. He had no cash.
11 min
GrowthWhat to Do When a Customer Won't Pay
Work finished, walkthrough done, thanked on the way out. Then silence. A contractor asked where the line is and got 121 replies. Everyone has been there.
12 min