I'm starting this thread because I want to know just how everyone here approaches, from start to finish, the customer to the final payment.
For example, I go to the jobsite, bid the job (usually verbally) and then do the job on the agreed upon date and after the job is done, I hand them an invoice and get paid.
What I want to know, is when bidding, do you give them a written estimate, work order or what, and are you afraid that when you do, the customer will take that to a competing company just so they can underbid you.
Before starting work, do you get the customer to sign a contract of agreed upon work. (Do you have software and a laptop to print on site or a hand written contract.)
After work is completed do you have them sign a contract saying that the work was done to their satisfaction. Are there disclaimers you include to c.y.a. from lawsuits(in case something happens to the tree and damages property or people whether or not it was based on your professional opinion or consultation.)
I would like to come up with a system (including documents) so that I can best help the customer and myself.
Sooooo.... what do you use?
For example, I go to the jobsite, bid the job (usually verbally) and then do the job on the agreed upon date and after the job is done, I hand them an invoice and get paid.
What I want to know, is when bidding, do you give them a written estimate, work order or what, and are you afraid that when you do, the customer will take that to a competing company just so they can underbid you.
Before starting work, do you get the customer to sign a contract of agreed upon work. (Do you have software and a laptop to print on site or a hand written contract.)
After work is completed do you have them sign a contract saying that the work was done to their satisfaction. Are there disclaimers you include to c.y.a. from lawsuits(in case something happens to the tree and damages property or people whether or not it was based on your professional opinion or consultation.)
I would like to come up with a system (including documents) so that I can best help the customer and myself.
Sooooo.... what do you use?