Hi all -
I typically do a 33% down, 33% 12 weeks before, and a remaining balance 4 weeks before the ceremony. I've had two clients tell me that they are trying to stay on top of their cash flow and would like to make some payments ahead of time in smaller amounts. I.e. if they owe $3,000 three months from now, they'd like to pay $1000 per month leading up to when it's due. How can I allow them to this? When they go to the link to pay with their credit card, it only allows the total due.
Thomas, Im in the same boat here with a current client. They have paid their deposit of $500 already, and I had originally set up 2 other fixed paints at specific dates prior to the wedding day. They have had to re-schedule their wedding to latter in the year due to the father of the groom passing away. So they have asked if they can make 4 monthly payments to pay off the balance.
I have done this before, but it's been a long time since I've done it, so I have to figure it out again, but it can be done. You basically have to admin the contract I believe, and simply change the payment schedule. If I remember correctly, you can show the amount already paid so you don't have to refund the money already paid. I was planning on working on this today, so I'll let you know what I fugue out once I figure it out....unless someone else want to chime in and help us both out before I can figure it out again.
Fixed "paints"? (see what I mean, no editing capability) that should be "fixed payments"
Yeah.. we can always go and fiddle with the contract, but that means the client has to call me they have to tell me when they think they'll want to pay and how much they'll want to pay. Then, I have to change the contract. If any of that changes... then they have to call me and we have to do it all over again. What I'd like to see is that if a client decides they want to pay a partial payment early, that they can go to the payment page and see how much they own... but then type the amount they want to pay in the box. Maybe make it where if they are paying before the due date, they can pay a partial. But, if they are paying on or after the due date, they have to at least pay the amount due.
I mean... we really shouldn't make it difficult for our clients to pay us. After all... that's what we want, right? To get paid!
Okay, well I can see your point of view. And if that WAS an option for us, I personally wouldn't want my client to know that they could change their mind half way through the game and pay different amounts.
Personally, I like the way it currently is. I like them to "have to" commit to a payment plan upfront so I know I can expect that income on that date. I will ask them upfront though if they want to break it down into more than the standard 3 payments in case they want to spread it out.
I'm not saying that they should be able to change their mind when an amount is due. I'm talking about being able to make EARLY payments without me having to be brought into it for changes. Changing the contract is a pain the butt.
I.e. if I have a client that has $2,000 due next April and she gets a bonus at work tomorrow (June 29th) and she wants to pay me $500 now so that she doesn't spend it at the mall... I want her to be able to go in and make an early payment. Maybe that's the solution. Maybe just a button that says, "make early payment" and allow the early payment to be partial. They still have their regular payment due date, but they can make that early payment if desired.
It's honestly not a huge deal. Just something I'm dealing with now, so it was on my mind.
"Maybe that's the solution. Maybe just a button that says, "make early payment" and allow the early payment to be partial. "
Yes I can see where that would be beneficial.
As far as changing the contract, I too remembering thinking that it was going to be a pain in the butt to have to change the contract if the payment schedule changed. But actually, the way I remember I did it was, I re-do the contract, I just had to change the payment schedule and create an amendment stating the changes that had taken place. That way, they do have to sign the amendment, but not re-sign the whole contract. It was pretty slick actually and took no time at all. Really, it was hassle free once I learned how to do it. I can tell ShootQ put some thought into that because they mad a prevision to allow me to show that the client had already made a payment and I was able to insure that was credited to their account versus having to refund or otherwise credit the account.
Hey Thomas, I don't do CC payments. I know with checks (manual payments) I've done it exactly like you suggested. If the payment is for $2000 and they pay $500 early I just apply that $500 to the invoice. Then next month the reminder email will tell them they owe $1500.
Sometimes the payment satisfies invoice 1 of X and I need to do the math and apply the difference to 2 of X. I'm not sure how it would work with CC. Maybe automatically span multiple invoices?
Did this every get worked on? I've had numerous clients make partial payments before the due date with checks, but I'd love to see the same capability with cc's.
I'm checking to see if the ability to make partial payments can be done in ShootQ. Right now I'm sending invoices via Google Checkout (for CC's) and having to manually apply the payment for retainers.
Hi All,
We have something under the hood for this one, but I am not at liberty to give out the details. Let's just say that we heard all your requests! :)
For Jean, currently the only option for partial payments will be to edit the payment schedule to be 2 parts. [1] retainer amount and [2] remaining balance. If you want to talk this through, feel free to call us at 888-974-6687 x2 and we can do an example!
Thanks,
Natalie
Is this the upgrade that is happening on Thursday? How can I plan accordingly?
Natalie, I had a recently booked wedding setup with a retainer and remaning balance.. now the bride wants to pay $2000 of the remaining balance, ~6 months ahead of schedule. Is this possible without re-doing the payment structure and manually adding her previous payments?
-Sara
Sara, your clients can pay an amount other than the payment amount depending on the payment method you've selected. If you're not using P3 or Google Checkout, a client can pay with a credit card by choosing to pay an alternate amount when viewing the invoice. If they're paying by check, you'll just need to manually apply the payment in ShootQ.
I know that much has happened with ShootQ since this post was last visited, but I think there are some things that still apply. Twice last month I had clients who wanted to make their full payment at once rather than the 50/50 split I always use when setting up a proposal. This month I have a client who wants to make a partial payment ahead of the due date for her final balance. I know that there is a button that says "change payment amount", but for some reason, none of my clients have ever noticed it, or it doesn't work properly. Can that link be made more obvious or something?
"Change payment amount" ?? where is this I con not find this option and neither can my clients. I have added the option to create a payment schedule when I talk to clients but they very seldom know how they want to set up their payments. But 30 days later they want to make additional payments, so I have to keep redoing their schedule. For those with this issue; my solution was adding a paypal button to a page on my site
http://www.wedding-photographers-cincinnati.com/make-a-payment
this comical to me since this is what I did 20 years ago with my very first site, but it works.