This topic has probably already been discussed but I couldn't find it anywhere. Okay, lets say that you have an order for 100 shirts for a plumbing company. Would you require 50% or 20% or anything at all to be paid upfront? I just don't want them to say "oh I changed my mind, I don't want the shirts" and then I'm outta money and stuck with 100 shirts that say "Bob's Plumbing We'll fix your leak".
This topic has probably already been discussed but I couldn't find it anywhere. Okay, lets say that you have an order for 100 shirts for a plumbing company. Would you require 50% or 20% or anything at all to be paid upfront? I just don't want them to say "oh I changed my mind, I don't want the shirts" and then I'm outta money and stuck with 100 shirts that say "Bob's Plumbing We'll fix your leak".
Never start a job without at least 50% down. (I ask for it all and then back up to 50%) I might take a little less if the customer is supplying the garments. Then my out of pocket loss is lower.
I have a boxes of shirts that the customer paid 50% down and didn't come back to pay the rest. At least it covers the hard costs.
getting a deposit up front is a good practice for anyone offering their services to custom clients. You will find that working with larger corps it will be hard as most pay with net 30 yet the smaller local companies shold pay a deposit. At least enough to cover the cost of the goods.
I use PayPal virtual terminal. Cost me $20. a month but I can take orders orders on the phone and get credit card info and enter just like a credit card machine. They can also pay on line. No customer has to have PayPal.
We use a company that works with QuickBooks. You can enter the info into QB and it will process the info or you can purchase a card swiper. Works real well from what the Boss tells me
Always get a half up front or credit card info so you can charge there credit card if they stiff you. I can't stress it enough, i have totally gotten screwed when i didnt get a deposit.
Our standard terms are 50% down and the balance upon delivery. We do extend Net 30 or Net 15 to our regular customers and larger corporate customers. Some companies or organizations demand it. For out of state orders we request a credit card deposit.
The company that works with Quickbooks is Innovative Merchant Solutions, and we use them also. Mostly because they integrate well with Quickbooks.
I wish I could figure out the rates! It's one rate if we swipe, another if we don't, debit, credit, commercial, government, etc. etc. etc.
Email the Boss (my wife), she might be able to help you. She went back and forth with them for a while trying to figure it out as well. What a pain in the arse it is for sure.
Do you require 1/2 down? 
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