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He Did the Job. They Ghosted Him. $750 GONE!

⏱️ 15:00 🎀 Mike Andes
AUDIO EPISODE
He Did the Job. They Ghosted Him. $750 GONE!
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Chapters

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  • 0:00
    Dealing with Ghosted Payments
    Mike Andes introduces the first question about a client ghosting a lawn service owner, resulting in a $750 loss.
  • 0:26
    AI's Payment Collection Strategies
    Mike AI suggests prepayment, tighter payment terms, automated collections, late fees, immediate service stoppage, and deposits for large jobs.
  • 1:45
    Andes' Refinements on Payments
    Mike Andes adds nuances to the AI's advice, discussing state-specific late fee laws, encouraging full upfront payment, and explaining the cash flow benefits of credit cards.
  • 4:12
    Employee Termination Threats
    The second question addresses an employee threatening to sue after being fired for no-showing three days in a row.
  • 4:40
    AI's Advice on Firing
    Mike AI recommends checking records, reviewing employee handbooks, maintaining professionalism, and consulting a lawyer, especially in at-will states.
  • 5:22
    Andes' Experience with Firings
    Mike Andes shares personal anecdotes about firing employees, emphasizing the importance of documentation, avoiding giving reasons for termination, and using performance improvement plans.
  • 7:52
    Tackling Unpaid Invoices
    The third question is from a business owner overwhelmed with over 120 unpaid invoices, running jobs just to pay for past ones.
  • 8:26
    AI's Unpaid Invoice Solution
    Mike AI advises stopping work for those with unpaid invoices, automating collections, using prepayment, late fees, and focusing on stabilizing cash flow over growth.
  • 9:01
    Andes' Insights on Bad Debt
    Mike Andes reinforces the importance of collecting money quickly, reducing bad debt, and the significant impact even a small percentage of uncollected revenue has on profitability.
  • 10:05
    Utilizing Mike AI for Finances
    Mike Andes highlights Mike AI's capability to analyze profit and loss statements and balance sheets for business diagnosis.

Speakers

M
Mike Andes
Host

Key Takeaways

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Implement mandatory prepayment or card-on-file policies for all services to prevent ghosting and ensure timely payments.

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Shorten payment terms to 7-14 days maximum and automate collection reminders (texts, emails, calls) to accelerate cash flow.

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For larger jobs, always require a significant deposit (e.g., 50%) or offer an option for full upfront payment to cover initial costs and improve cash flow.

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Maintain thorough documentation of employee performance, attendance, and all communications, alongside a clear, signed employee handbook, to protect against legal threats.

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In at-will employment states, when terminating an employee, avoid giving specific reasons to prevent potential discrimination claims; simply state it's 'not working out.'

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Stop providing services to clients with unpaid invoices immediately to prevent further financial losses and focus on collecting existing debts.

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Regularly analyze your financial statements (P&L, balance sheet) to identify cash flow constraints and areas for improvement, especially regarding bad debt.

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