Do you Invoice ?

[ozthecoz]

HI,

Im a taxi driver - i mainly do airport runs and business travel and deal in cash.

I want to approach some local businesses and offer them work on a pay later basis - ie, i drive their clients, staff, documents around and invoice them at the end of the month.

However i have never set up this kind of thing before so does anybody know the ins and outs of setting up a good invoicing system, what terms should I be offering, what info do i need from them etc

complete novice at this so any info would be greatly appreciated

Dave

 

[Mr_Wistles]

I used to have a contract with a taxi firm.

They asked for £200 deposit. With the balance to be settled in full at the end of each month.

Tricky situation as you are touting for business not the other way round. I would be alarmed if a firm asked me for a deposit if they contacted me out of the blue.

Personally I would offer 28 days to pay on receipt of invoice. You could look into establishing a deposit buffer system once you are more established.

 

[shahedz]

Do a credit limit. You don't to run up a credit with them for thousands for them not to pay up. Maybe for the first 3 months a limit of £500

 

[hodg100]

HI,

Im a taxi driver - i mainly do airport runs and business travel and deal in cash.

I want to approach some local businesses and offer them work on a pay later basis - ie, i drive their clients, staff, documents around and invoice them at the end of the month.

However i have never set up this kind of thing before so does anybody know the ins and outs of setting up a good invoicing system, what terms should I be offering, what info do i need from them etc

complete novice at this so any info would be greatly appreciated

Dave

Are you VAT registered? It makes it much simpler if you aren't...

 

[ozthecoz]

Are you VAT registered? It makes it much simpler if you aren't...

no no no - my turn over is no where near 67k ( at the moment he says hopefully lol)

 

[Solomon Grundy]

If you need the software I can highly recommend using THIS program as it is very easy to use and looks pretty professional too...and it doesn't cost very much either!

 

[Deleted member 30535]

no no no - my turn over is no where near 67k ( at the moment he says hopefully lol)

You can be VAT registered at any time you like. It's only a requirement if you exceed a certain turnover.

That said, I'd expect processing VAT returns for many small jobs would be a royal PITA!

 

[Badger0-0]

Do a credit limit. You don't to run up a credit with them for thousands for them not to pay up. Maybe for the first 3 months a limit of £500

This is good advice imo.

I'm not a taxi driver, but do invoice as part of job of being a subby.

You can only do things on a trust/my word's my bond basis, essentially, but you get to know people/companies who can be trusted over time.

That said, I've been done for a couple of grand by contractors (both went bankrupt) twice in about 15 years, but not too bad I guess.

I've generally found that if you do a job, they tend to pay, no problem.

But there are always iceholes who'll try and have you over, so make sure any agreed terms are very clear, even if it's only a spoken thing.