Performance Pay: Commission vs. Sales Spiff Performance pay might be a good solution if you find that your sales team isn't as motivated as you'd like them to be or is less enthusiastic about hitting sales targets. Performance pay can be used in situations where you need to come up with original ways to keep your team motivated because all of your employees' efforts and contributions help your business advance. Employees may receive performance pay in the form of a salary, wage, or bonus based on metrics they have met. Consider these reasons as to why you might offer performance pay incentives: increases employee retention and engagement maximizes savings and profits for your company Spiffs and commissions are two options for performance compensation. A sales incentive for quick results is called an SPIFF (Sales Performance Incentive Fund). The majority of spiffs are monetary, such as rewards like prizes, trips, or recognition. While they temporarily boost your company's momentum, there is no assurance that spiffs will produce the desired outcome. A commission, on the other hand, is a sum of money given to an employee after they complete a task, typically by selling a certain quantity of goods or services. Depending on the volume of sales, it may be paid as a flat dollar amount or as a percentage of each sale. Let's examine the advantages of each kind. Performance Pay's advantages With success metrics determining the amount they see on their paycheck, some professionals thrive. Even better, your sales team might prefer to be compensated for performance. This makes it seem worthwhile for them to work harder to achieve any sales goals while also receiving more compensation for their efforts. Paying for performance will aid: Encourage staff to sell high-profit items Since pay is performance-based, your staff will be encouraged to promote more profitable goods, increasing sales for the business. Boost the average number of tickets sold. Your employees will probably sell more than usual with performance pay, which will increase ticket sales. decrease employee churn Due to higher pay and earning potential, employee turnover significantly declines over time. Boost personnel productivity A significant factor in performance pay is this. Because they are driven to accomplish something, your staff members are more likely to work harder or more effectively. Similar to spiffs, it fosters constructive competition at work and strengthens organizational culture. We'll now delve into the two distinct components of performance pay: Related: How to Save Time by Using Plumbing Service Software - Invoiceasap Advantages of Spiffs Consider a scenario in which you have a deadline of a few weeks to meet a short-term objective. any objective that does not neatly fit at the end of a quarter or a year. Spiffs excel when you have a short window of time in which to complete any particular task. The main advantage of spiffs is the variety of forms they can take. A catered happy hour, an extra day off work, or a gift card. It could also be a straightforward cash award. Spiffs can assist: Increase participation Employee disengagement can lead to issues that make it difficult to maintain employee productivity and commitment to sales objectives. Spiffs have a reputation for boosting employee participation because they offer an instant reward upon completion. Spiffs also promote healthy competition at work. Meet short-term objectives Spiffs are the best option for your company if you have a deadline to meet. They help to meet overall sales needs and enable sales representatives to quickly reach their quotas. More quickly than commissions The spiff payout is frequently faster because spiffs aren't a regular component of compensation plans like commissions. This indicates that, unlike most commission payouts, spiffs are not subject to the requirement of waiting until the end of the month or quarter. Obtain new clientele Although spiffs are a crucial component of your sales incentive program, they shouldn't take center stage. If so, they may be given precedence over other, more crucial objectives for the organization. However, a fruitful spiff program can aid in bringing in fresh leads and speeding up customer signups. Commission Pay's Advantages Consider commissions as a long-term answer to more comprehensive and well-established sales objectives. Commission payments are more of an addition to or replacement for your regular pay period. Commissions are typically determined at the start of a quarter or year and paid out at the conclusion of the period. Because it affects their ongoing compensation package, your sales team will depend on that payment structure remaining largely unchanged. Paying commissions will assist: Encourage employees to put in more effort Employees are more motivated to complete sales because commission pay depends on completing a task or making a sale. Their commission will be more generous the more sales they make. control payroll costs Due to the fact that employees' pay is based on sales, business owners can reduce some payroll expenses, particularly for underperforming employees. Considerations for Different Types of Performance Pay Your end goal will determine which of the two performance pay models you use. Are you attempting to meet a last-minute, pressing sales deadline? Spiffs can be useful here. Or are you trying to find a long-term fix to increase your sales for at least a year? Commissions may be the best payment method for you, then. You can even use both—commission on a regular basis and spiffs occasionally to support ambitious short-term objectives. Here are some things to think about: Clearly state objectives Keep your employees' expectations in the open. Outline your goals and make sure they're understood, along with the compensation arrangements. Your techs need to be aware of their goals so they can stay on track, regardless of what they are (e.g., hitting quotas, closing more deals, promoting a new product, improving your sales pipeline, etc.). Describe how your staff should accomplish the objective. The next step is to explain how your team should accomplish the goal(s) after explaining what your techs should be doing. Set definite objectives and expectations for them to meet. Ensure that it is affordable. Any form of performance pay can end up costing the company a lot of money without adequate planning and budgeting. To be safe, confirm that your budget can support all of your techs achieving the established goal or milestone. Keep in mind that a CPA (certified public accountant) or financial advisor can assist you with this. InvoiceASAP can assist in keeping everyone on track to achieve their objectives by tracking employee time, sales, and profits. Try InvoiceASAP right now! What Performance Pay Model Best Suits You? Both spiffs and commissions have a lot to offer your staff and business. Every company will implement a performance pay model differently. However, by using the information in this manual, you can design a program that aids in the achievement of your company's objectives. Don't forget to consult a reliable CPA before putting a performance pay model in place. You will make sure that every factor is carefully taken into account under their direction. You now have all the resources necessary to select the ideal performance pay model for your field service company! Related: 10 Plumbing Tools Your Business Must Have - Invoiceasap

Empowering Electricians for Faster Payments with InvoiceASAP- invoiceasap

Empowering Electricians for Faster Payments with InvoiceASAP Running a successful electrical business requires a combination of technical expertise and efficient management of financial processes. Among the many challenges electricians face, managing payments and invoices can often be time-consuming and cumbersome. Late payments can disrupt cash flow and hinder growth, affecting the business's overall success. In your journey as an electrician, You may have discovered InvoiceASAP. This innovative invoicing app can transform how you handle payments and invoices, empowering you to achieve faster payments and enhance customer satisfaction. InvoiceASAP: The Ultimate Solution for Professional Services InvoiceASAP is a powerful online and mobile invoicing app designed specifically for professional service providers like electricians. Its comprehensive features and intuitive interface caught much attention, and have decided to give it a try. This decision would revolutionize the way many have managed their business finances. InvoiceASAP has become an invaluable tool that simplifies the payment process, accelerates cash flow, and streamlines financial operations, ultimately empowering many electricians to focus on delivering exceptional electrical services. Ease of Payment: A Win-Win for Electricians and Clients One of the most significant advantages of InvoiceASAP is the ease of payment it offers to both electricians and their clients. Traditionally, relying on paper checks and manual processes often led to delays and administrative bottlenecks. However, InvoiceASAP has transformed the payment landscape by providing multiple channels for clients to settle their bills promptly. Clients can now make payments conveniently through credit cards, online payment platforms, or mobile devices. This level of convenience has expedited the payment process and enhanced customer satisfaction, as clients appreciate the flexibility and efficiency of settling their invoices with ease.Moreover, InvoiceASAP offers the option of accepting payments on the spot. Whether completing a job on-site or attending a client meeting, You can now generate and present invoices to clients in real-time. InvoiceASAP has eliminated the need for follow-up and reduced the risk of late payments by enabling clients to make payments instantly. This seamless and efficient payment process may strengthen your professional relationships, instilling trust and reliability among clients and positioning you as a modern and dependable electrician. Try InvoiceASAP: The Journey to Efficiency Adopting InvoiceASAP in your business will be a transformative experience that will bring forth newfound efficiency and productivity. Initially, You may have reservations about embracing and integrating new technology into your existing systems. However, my concerns quickly faded as I realized the remarkable benefits that InvoiceASAP offered. The user-friendly interface and seamless integration with QuickBooks, a leading accounting software, simplified the transition process and ensured that my financial data remained accurate and synchronized in real-time.InvoiceASAP's mobile app became an indispensable tool in my daily operations. From generating and customizing professional invoices to managing payments and tracking financials, the app allowed me to stay organized and focused on delivering exceptional services. The ability to create and send invoices on the go, directly from my smartphone or tablet, eliminated the need for manual paperwork and reduced the risk of errors. This newfound efficiency will save you valuable time and enhance the overall professionalism and image of your electrical business. Related: The Art of Effective Social Media Marketing for Service-Based Companies - Invoiceasap QuickBooks Integration: A Match Made in Business Heaven The seamless integration between InvoiceASAP and QuickBooks will be a game-changer for financial management. QuickBooks, a leading accounting software, provides comprehensive tools for managing expenses, tracking cash flow, and generating detailed financial reports. The integration with InvoiceASAP will streamline your financial processes, ensuring that all payment data is accurately recorded and synchronized with your QuickBooks account in real-time.This integration has eliminated the need for manual data entry, reducing the risk of errors and enabling you to maintain accurate financial records effortlessly. Having a consolidated view of your financials, you can make informed decisions regarding resource allocation, investment opportunities, and business growth strategies. The seamless integration between InvoiceASAP and QuickBooks has become a foundation of financial stability and business success. It will give you the confidence to drive your electrical business toward new heights. Customer Satisfaction: The Pillar of Success In the service industry, customer satisfaction is paramount to the success of any business. InvoiceASAP enhances customer satisfaction by optimizing the invoicing and payment process. The app's automated reminders gently nudge clients to settle their invoices, reducing the chances of late payments and the need for uncomfortable conversations. This seamless communication fosters trust and reliability, strengthening the relationship between electricians and their clients.Moreover, InvoiceASAP provides clients with online access to their invoices, allowing them to view, download, and keep track of their payment history. The transparency and convenience provided by InvoiceASAP contribute to a positive customer experience, reinforcing the professionalism and efficiency of the electrical services provided. Electricians can establish a competitive edge and build long-lasting client relationships by prioritizing customer satisfaction through streamlined payment processes. Success Stories: Electricians Who Thrived with InvoiceASAP The success stories of electricians who have implemented InvoiceASAP are a testament to the app's transformative impact on the electrical services industry. Colleagues and fellow electricians who have embraced InvoiceASAP have witnessed remarkable improvements in their cash flow, business growth, and overall efficiency. The ability to receive payments faster, track invoices effortlessly, and enhance customer satisfaction has empowered electricians to focus on what they do best – providing exceptional electrical services. Try InvoiceASAP today and empower your electrical business with faster payments, seamless QuickBooks integration, and increased customer satisfaction. Conclusion InvoiceASAP has emerged as a game-changing solution for electricians, enabling them to empower their businesses for faster payments and enhanced customer satisfaction. By embracing InvoiceASAP, electricians can streamline their financial processes, accelerate cash flow, and establish a reputation for professionalism and efficiency. The ease of payment, seamless integration with QuickBooks, and customer satisfaction emphasize InvoiceASAP as a must-have tool for electricians seeking to optimize their financial management.If you're an electrician looking to revolutionize your payment process and elevate your business, I wholeheartedly encourage you to explore InvoiceASAP. Embrace the power of technology, simplify your financial management, and witness the transformation in your electrical services with faster payments and happier clients. InvoiceASAP is the spark that can ignite success and growth in your electrical business, enabling you to focus on delivering exceptional services and propelling your business to new heights of achievement.Related: 3 Power Tools Electricians Must Have Right Now - Invoiceasap

man accepting a remote payment for an invoice

Top 3 Ways Small Businesses Can Accept Remote Payments

As more communities begin phased reopening, small businesses and customers are getting into the groove of the “new normal.” Social distancing, touchless interactions, and remote activities are prevalent themes among new safety precautions to prevent transmission of COVID-19. When it comes to issuing and receiving payments, small businesses are beginning to provide safer payment options for their customers. Here are the top three options for remote payments that create win-win situations for you and your business: the safety of your employees and clients and improved transaction speeds! Make Use of Popular Contactless Transactions Thanks to the need for increased security measures combined with mobile convenience, contactless payments like ApplePay and GooglePay have become more popular over the past several years. Since the beginning of the pandemic, small businesses have seen a 27% increase in the use of contactless payments. This payment method is providing a safer way for consumers to pay and is quickly becoming a preferred payment method for small transactions as consumers seek to reduce touchpoints. With contactless payments, you can even eliminate touchpoints. Consider disabling the signature screen and emailing digital receipts to client email addresses already on file. There’s no touching a shared keypad, no holding a shared pen, and no cleaning needed after each transaction. Although every customer may not have the ability to pay from their mobile device, many small businesses are finding that it’s just one of the many ways to promote safety. Utilize a Virtual Terminal When you hear “virtual terminal,” you might imagine a portal out of a sci-fi movie, but virtual terminals are actually software applications that allow for remote payment processing. Essentially, your computer is able to process transactions from credit cards without physically needing to exchange the card between customers and employees. A virtual terminal is hosted online and allows you to enter and process credit cards through your browser manually. Customers who shop online are already familiar with virtual terminal technology and find it convenient to pay for goods and services. Even if you don’t have an online store, you should consider including a virtual terminal on your company’s website or social media page to increase sales and collect remote payments securely. This option provides multiple solutions for payment without face-to-face contact. Take Advantage of Digital Invoicing with InvoiceASAP Don’t count yourself out when it comes to digital invoicing. Even if your company doesn’t offer home or contracting services, invoices can be used to collect payment for a wide variety of small businesses, whether you are selling goods or services. Customized invoices created on a computer or mobile device are a great way to give your customers a quick and easy way to pay digitally. Consider sending branded invoices designed to be paid by credit card or ACH so you don’t have to deal with collecting specific information. It’s convenient for your customers and gets you paid quickly. With payment management tools provided by InvoiceASAP, small business owners are turning to digital invoicing that allows them to bill and receive payments, organize invoices and customer information, and also analyzing sales and data. InvoiceASAP is a remote payment option that is fully customizable for your small business needs, and should definitely be considered as a remote payment option. As small businesses adjust to creating a safer environment during the current global pandemic, InvoiceASAP is here to help you make accepting payments easier, faster and safer. Sign up today to create a free InvoiceASAP account and discover how we can help you accept remote payments.

ditch invoice template and get invoiceasap

5 Reasons to Ditch Your Invoice Templates

Reasons to offer credit card payment options

Why Your Construction Company Should Accept Credit Card Payments

In the past, it was typical for construction companies only to accept cash or check payments from clients. Today, improved technologies and resources make credit card and debit card payments an expected option for customers. According to the 2016 U.S. Consumer Payment Study, credit cards took the top spot in customers’ preferred way to pay, with debit cards coming in second. With mobile payments becoming more accessible, and the growing popularity of online banking and credit statements, it makes sense that 40% of the population surveyed revealed they prefer to pay with a credit card. So what does this mean for improving your business when it comes to invoicing for construction jobs? Being flexible with your accepted forms of payment can not only grow your customer satisfaction but also improve your cash flow. Here's what else you should know: Accepting Credit Cards Benefits Your Customers Customers want the ability to pay invoices quickly and easily, they want a record of their payment, and they want to be able to pay securely. There are multiple ways to have customers pay via credit card to secure a faster process for getting paid. Offering credit card payments in the field is one. Whether you decide to collect payment with a mobile credit card scanner for your tech to use at the job site, or email a digital invoice that includes a "Pay Now" feature, overall, clients will find it more efficient to pay via card rather than write a check or hand you cash. Plus, InvoiceASAP’s invoicing app functions with your mobile team’s existing technology. Another reason customers prefer credit card payments is that it gives them confidence about your company and about their payment itself. Showing customers you accept credit card payments, helps your small business appear more legitimate and trustworthy. Customers may also feel encouraged to use credit cards because of the protections and customer support they provide. It's comforting for clients to have access to a digital receipt, especially when a credit card company can also view the transaction. How Accepting Credit Cards Benefits Your Business In terms of how accepting payments is beneficial to your contractor business, the primary advantage is how quickly you'll see invoices getting paid. Credit card payments are processed easily and quickly while keeping transaction fees low. You can even pass transaction fees on to your customer, which is a common practice. Access and flexibility with payment methods means customers will pay sooner and money will hit your bank account faster. When your tech can take a payment at the job site, or when a customer can enter their credit card information on a digital invoice following the job, the payment will be processed much faster. If you're waiting days or weeks for checks to come in the mail and then clear, or handling excessive amounts of cash, you should absolutely be incorporating a credit card option for invoice payments. Another key benefit to credit card payments is the ability to know instantly whether the payment has been correctly processed. You can begin new jobs more quickly, without having to wait and see if the expected payment from your previous job went through. Additionally, if your business offers clients the option to pay in multiple installments, having a credit card option connected to recurring invoices can automate the process and help guarantee those payments come in on schedule. Available Tools for Managing Credit Card Payments A payment management system designed specifically for your construction business is an excellent resource. InvoiceASAP offers services - beyond just accepting payments in the field - that will make it easier to manage and grow your business. For example, with InvoiceASAP's invoicing platform, customers are easily able to make payments directly from the digital invoice. There's no phone call to make or additional websites to navigate, which simplifies the payment process and gets invoices paid out to you faster. For your regular clients, credit card payments from previous jobs can also be stored for the future. With InvoiceASAP's Card on File tool, you can save your clients' card information, allowing customers to submit a new payment immediately. Additionally, the online credit card payment can be tracked and viewed easily with the A/R Management tool. Not only will you see all of your invoices in one place, but you can sort unpaid invoices from paid invoices and view payment details in real-time. This platform allows you to look-up any needed information if questions arise in the future. Overall, giving your clients the option to pay with credit cards opens up new opportunities to grow your business and secure payments quickly. Consider utilizing a mobile invoicing service such as InvoiceASAP to guarantee your credit card payments are processed efficiently and are effortless for you and your customers. Try InvoiceASAP today with a FREE account.

Top 10 HVAC Invoicing Mistakes to Avoid

As your HVAC business grows, there are some proven practices you should know and follow. From customer communication to invoicing procedures to record organization, here are common HVAC invoicing mistakes and recommendations for how to avoid them by instilling best practices at your company. 1. Allowing technicians to be inconsistent with invoices. As your company expands and you bring on more employees, it’s important to provide training on how to properly write-up an HVAC invoice. For technicians who are completing invoices in the field, consider providing completed example invoices for common maintenance projects, as well as a simple checklist for what information and details need to be included. Maintain consistency with acronyms and abbreviations and make sure everyone is following the same template. 2. Not including contract details in your HVAC invoicing. Another mistake is excluding details about your client’s contract on your HVAC invoice. Think of the invoice as an agreement of services between you and your client. Clearly write out your expectations along with any payment timeline policies. Include a place for a tech’s signature, the customer’s signature, and the date. 3. Completing HVAC invoices with missing crucial information. An HVAC invoicing header with company contact information should be at the top of all paper and digital invoices. Other crucial details include the invoice number, invoice date, an itemized breakdown of charges, and space for the tech to write additional notes. For companies who require proof-of-work or need to attach photos, the InvoiceASAP platform allows you to do just that and more. 4. Sending your HVAC invoice after you’ve left the job site. Best practice for getting invoices in the hands of your clients is to do so while you’re still at the job site. The key here is to have printed or digital invoices ready to go that your techs can fill out and adjust after completing work on-site. Not only will this speed up the invoicing process and cut down on the paper/email trail, but it will also improve the details and accuracy of your company’s invoices. The sooner you are able to put an invoice in the hands of your customer, the sooner you get paid. 5. Not being flexible with your form of payment. Flexibility with your client’s payment options will get you paid faster and create a more positive experience for your customers. In addition to accepting cash and checks, your team should also be prepared to accept debit and credit cards, and bank payments via ACH or eCheck, directly from an invoice. If you’re able to use a portable card reader in the field, make sure your techs are trained to use it correctly. Also, consider offering other payment apps built for mobile devices. Alternatively, your techs can use invoicing software to photograph the form of payment and post it directly to the invoice. 6. Disorganized record-keeping. No matter how you create and send your invoices, you definitely want to prioritize organization when it comes to filing. Use a labeling system that works for your company and train your employees who help manage records to file new invoices correctly. HVAC invoicing software can be very beneficial for making sure records for completed maintenance, payments, customer contact information, and sales history is always up to date and easily accessible. 7. Not keeping customer information updated. In addition to keeping service records maintained and updated, it’s just as important to regularly update customer information. Addresses, emails, and telephone numbers should all be updated in your records whenever you learn of a change. You should also collect this information from new clients, along with their personal preference for how to best contact them. 8. Failing to update maintenance records. Organizing your client’s maintenance history information will help you better understand the type of service completed and document important details about the client you may not remember in the future. These records can also allow you to set check-in times for when your techs may need to perform routine maintenance. Use a system that makes sense to you and meets your needs. Make sure those in charge of updating records remain consistent with how information is recorded. 9. Not providing an itemized breakdown of costs A huge part of customer satisfaction and retention involves providing clear communication. When it comes to invoicing, you want to make it as easy as possible for the customer to see exactly what they’re paying for. No matter the project, always include an itemized cost breakdown to limit confusion and maintain transparency with clients about your services. Invoicing solutions like InvoiceASAP allow you to pre-define all of your services and products in advance, making it easy to add them to an estimate or invoice, and keeping the details consistent across all of your clients. 10. Not following up for future maintenance work. Stay ahead of new jobs and help keep your revenue steady by routinely reaching out to clients for future maintenance work and any other potential services. Your record-keeping and updated customer information will make it easy to send out maintenance and appointment reminders. Get More from Your Invoicing System Interested in learning how to simplify and drastically improve your invoicing, estimate-writing, and payments process? Contact InvoiceASAP to learn more about our full-service dashboard built for those who work in the field. Create a FREE account today!

Deliveryman Getting Signature on Package

5 Ways InvoiceASAP Boosts Your Customer’s Experience

InvoiceASAP is great for sending invoices on the go, but that isn’t the only reason our customers love us. Our customers love us because their customers love us. InvoiceASAP is one of the most popular mobile invoicing tools out there. It has a simple interface, syncs well with different accounting software, including Quickbooks and Quickbooks Desktop, and works across multiple devices. But scratch beneath the surface and you unlock so much more. The InvoiceASAP platform can double up as your biggest customer service ally, helping you to inject greatness into your interactions with clients. Here are five ways you can truly delight your customers with the power of InvoiceASAP… 1. Tailor Customer Experience Through Personalized Notes Isn’t it nice when someone provides you with a service and it really feels like they know you? Like when your Cleaner remembers how you like your fresh laundry folded, or when your Landscaper brings along doggy treats to mellow your 80lb German Shepherd pup in the backyard. Even something simple like your favorite restaurant knowing your name and remembering how you like your favorite meal. That warm fuzzy feeling – it’s great, and it’s what keeps customers coming back. What’s even greater is that with a little help from InvoiceASAP, it’s super easy to provide this kind of service to your customers. The Customer Notes feature on InvoiceASAP allows you to add private notes about your customers to share internally. Get familiar with it. If used right, it can really help to supercharge your customer interactions. Whether you use InvoiceASAP as a team or you’re just a one-man-band, this feature will allow you to store notes so that you can provide a more tailored service to each of your customers. Now, you and your whole team can personally get to know your customers and give them the personalized service that will keep them coming back and feeling like family. Here’s how to add customer notes on a mobile device:. https://vimeo.com/250376757 Check out our forum post on adding customer notes for more info. 2. Easily Download Customer Data and Send Exclusive Updates and Deals Did you know that you can download data from InvoiceASAP? Well, you can, and what’s more, you can do a ton of amazing things with this data to improve customer experience. If you have a company update or special offer you want to share directly with customers, you can easily pull contact data from InvoiceASAP to get in touch with your customers en masse. When you download data from InvoiceASAP it gets stored as a .csv file on your computer which you can then upload into an Excel spreadsheet. If you’re a bit of an Excel whizz you could even filter your customers by city or state or by the products or services they’ve purchased then send them targeted email or mail. A quick guide to downloading data: Head to the Manage Account website (www.invoiceasap.com) and log in Click on Reports Select the report category (i.e., Invoice Reports) and then the specific report you would like to view Here you’ll see a list of all the data in that report. Use the calendar to search for data within a specific timeframe Click Export 3. Attach Before and After Photos to Your Invoices If you fix, build, clean, create, paint or do anything that visually transforms something – start adding photo attachments to your invoices and estimates. This is a great tool for showing proof of work and demonstrating your incredible handiwork, giving customers another reason to keep coming back. One InvoiceASAP user we recently spoke with told us why he loved this feature. Working in the maintenance industry he was required to send out proof of work to clients after a job was completed as they were often not able to sign-off on the work in person. He’d send out an estimate with an image of what he was working on before the fix, then after the job, he’d attach an image to the invoice. Not only did it demonstrate his great work to clients, but it was also super easy to do. Check out our blog post on adding proof of work photos to invoices, to learn how. 4. Offer More Ways For Your Customers to Pay Make it easy for customers to do business with you and they’ll be more likely to come back. We’ve all been there before – you’re midway through an order at the local coffee shop to find they only accept cash and you are penniless aside from your bank card. What do you do? Go off in search of the nearest ATM? Maybe. Cancel your order and walk away? Probably. The same thinking can apply to any one of your customers at the point you make a sale. By limiting your payment options, you limit your customers. With InvoiceASAP it’s really easy to add new payment methods to your account. The payment services that we connect to include Square, PayPal, Authorize.net and WePay. By broadening your payment options, your client will not only be happier, you’re also more likely to get paid faster. After all, the hard part is getting customers. Accepting their money should be the easy part. Quick guide to adding a new payment method: Head to the Manage Account website (www.invoiceasap.com) and login Click on My Payment Methods Select the payment service you wish to connect your InvoiceASAP account to. If you want to add Square or PayPal, you will need to create an account with these services before you can connect. Click Save then follow the setup instructions. To add Square, PayPal or Authorize.net you will first need to be on a Base, Plus or Biz plan. If you’re not already, you can upgrade here. 5. Audio Notes Add a Personal Touch A little personal touch can go a long way. That’s why we decided to introduce audio notes for invoices. With this feature, you can record a short voice memo and attach it to a client’s invoice or estimate. Maybe you have further comments to share on the work carried out, or you just want to add a friendly greeting. Whatever you do, see it as an extension of your great customer service and make your customers smile. Learn how to add voice memos to your invoices. Boost Your Customer Experience with InvoiceASAP! So now you have the knowledge, what are you waiting for? Get delighting those customers! Get started with InvoiceASAP by signing up for your free account. We’ll make invoicing your customers easier, while also helping you personalize your invoices and boosting your customer interaction.

4 Technology Tips for Managing a Mobile Team

Working out in the field can make teamwork tough. In the absence of face-to-face interaction there’s a lot that can be missed. Thankfully, we live in a world now where mobile and cloud-based technology can help to bridge the gaps in communication and support greater collaboration. In this post we’ll run through a few essential tools that will help managers overcome the physical limitations of mobile working, helping team members feel more connected and productive than ever. 1. Get the right devices If your team is on the go a lot, they’re not going to be particularly productive if all they have to hand is a cell to make calls and a desktop computer sitting back at the office. We’re in the 21st century guys! Technology means that we can bring our office with us, wherever we are. Whether you decide to provide employees with the devices they need or operate a BYOD (bring your own device) kind of deal, make sure that every employee has a device that suits their work pattern – whether it’s a tablet, smartphone, laptop or all of the above. 2. Arm your team with mobile collaboration tools Now having the right device is great but it means nothing if your team in the field can’t access the important work tools and information they need to do their job. It’s important to keep the flow of information transparent so that members of the team know what’s going on at an individual level, at a team level and at a company level. Having a central platform that each member of the team can check into, no matter what device they’re using, will enable employees to collaborate and keep track of tasks and schedules wherever they are. Trello and Yammer are two industry-leading platforms that help to support great project management and team collaboration. For more day-to-day communication with colleagues, also check out Slack and HipChat. 3. Keep your team connected with regular virtual meetings It’s a known fact that with any kind of teamwork, good communication is absolutely key. If your team is remote or regularly working out in the field, you miss out on a lot of the behavioral cues that you get with regular face-to-face interactions. It’s for this reason that you really need to up the ante on communication and make sure crucial information isn’t lost between colleagues because they’re not in the office. It’s often best in these circumstances to over-communicate rather than under-communicate and discover that your team are misinterpreting or missing out on updates. If it’s not easy to bring your team together for regular in-person meetings, there are a ton of tools out there that help to support virtual meetings. Google Hangouts, Appear.in or Skype are a few that support video calls on mobile (as well as web) and can help to inject that feeling of connectedness that’s often lost in your standard voice calls or phone conferences. 4. Speed up your sales with mobile invoicing and payments For mobile teams, paperwork is the worst. It’s messy and it slows things down. And when it comes to invoicing, slowing things down is the last thing you want. If your team in the field are responsible for taking payments from customers, a mobile invoicing and payments app will be central to speeding up your sales cycle and improving your cashflow. InvoiceASAP is a mobile app designed specifically for businesses on the go. You can send and pay invoices and easily access all your customers, products and services in the cloud, wherever you are and with any device. If you already use an accounting platform like QuickBooks or Xero, it syncs your invoices and payments across too. RIP paperwork! Summary Unlike office-based teams, mobile teams have their own unique set of challenges which can make teamwork harder, but not impossible. Managing a mobile team requires a digital toolset that will help to support the team rather than hold it back. By selecting business tools that work across multiple devices, you will ensure that you can cater to the needs of both your field-based employees as well as those back at the office. Photo credit: © gpointstudio

Man working on Accounts Remotely in Cafe

10 Invoicing Tips for Small Businesses

Invoicing correctly isn’t all just about what’s written on the invoice. A large part of getting it right comes down to effective communication and relationship management. Here we run through our top 10 invoicing tips to help you not only get paid faster but also keep those customers coming back! 1. Get a contract First things first, get a contract and get it signed. Starting off on the right foot, with everyone on the same page will go a long way towards setting the tone for the remainder of the project. It’s in both party’s interest to get a contract signed. Without one, you’re at risk of being left in the lurch with no payment and they’re at risk of being overcharged or being left with an incomplete or inadequate end product. Now that’s no fun for anyone! 2. Be really specific Before you provide an estimate, make sure you uncover any unknowns so that you can be as accurate as possible with your figure. Make it really clear on your invoice what you are charging for. For a customer, it can be really frustrating receiving an invoice for which the charges are unclear. 3. If you’re out and about regularly, consider a mobile invoicing solution Getting paid quickly is largely due to getting your invoices out quickly. If you work in the field or you’re on the road a lot, consider a mobile invoicing solution to enable you to send invoices on the go. InvoiceASAP is a great tool that does exactly what it says on the tin. It also allows you to attach voice memos and photos to all your invoices and estimates which is great if you need to show before and after photos or proof of work. 4. Set your own payment terms This includes your invoicing dates and due dates. Take into account that there will, inevitably, be late payers and adjust your payment terms accordingly. Consider charging a percentage of the overall amount upfront, or setting payment milestones so that you get a steady flow of cash whilst carrying out the work. Be clear with your customers about your payment terms. For example, you may require a signature on estimates, and include due dates in every written piece of communication with your customer. 5. Keep communication with your client open, especially if the scope of work creeps Often you start working on a project with a client and realize, after you draw back the curtains, the full scope of the project was greater than anticipated when you initially provided your estimate. If you think you will go over the estimated amount, make sure you communicate this clearly to your client as soon as possible. No one likes being stung with an unexpected hike in price. So, rather than giving them a nasty surprise at the end of the project, or worse, undercharging, be completely open and explain exactly what you’re charging for and why. It is also worth addressing scope creep in the initial contract with a client. Many clients may require a Change Order to be signed which is essentially a secondary contract listing the additional hours, work, products or services required to complete the job. This way you will avoid leaving clients with a sour feeling at the end of a job and maintain a positive relationship with them. 6. Get a secondary contact for your invoices in case the primary contact is on vacation There’s nothing worse than receiving an out-of-office message from a client letting you know that they’re on vacation for the next few weeks, just after you’ve emailed them an invoice. Rather than waiting it out, make sure you have a secondary point of contact who you can call on to get the payment processed. Also, if you can be clear on invoicing dates from the start, you should get the heads up from clients if they will be away during those dates and ask for an additional contact during those periods. 7. Invoice as soon as possible after, or as products and services are supplied The sooner you submit your invoice, the sooner you’ll get paid. Honor your commitments too – if you deliver on time, you’re more likely to get paid on time. 8. Broaden your payment solutions Make it easy for customers to do business with you and they’ll be more likely to come back. By increasing your payment options, your client will not only be happier, you’re also more likely to get paid faster. 9. Keep on top of cash flow, track which invoices have been paid and which haven’t Always be on top of what’s been paid and what’s owed and have a timely system of reminders, monthly statements and phone follow-ups to lessen the risk of running into cash flow problems. 10. Consider using late-payment fees or prompt-payment discounts. If late payment is a common occurrence, consider dishing out penalties to those who don’t stick to your payment terms or offering discounts to those who pay up early. Do make sure this is included in your contract so that they are aware of the implications and so that you have something to refer back to if they take issue with paying a fee. Finally, when it comes to getting paid on time, it may feel like the majority of control is with the client. But by taking the lead, being organized, open and clear you will have more influence over when you’ll get paid. Photo credit: © XiXinXing istockphoto.com