Safety Knights

Is this for a continuous project? Or one-off thing, like a training?

#1 I never use the word "Contract! I remember being on the other side of the desk. With someone like me you mention "contract" as a manager at a manufacturing company, I will thank you for your time, end the meeting, and take you to the door! But am and old Baby Boomer and a Manufacturing Guy, it might be different in Construction or Medical.

#2 I use words from the "Old Purchasing, Buyer, and Planning" World (now called "Supply Chain"). When you and I talk over work you want done, once I have a good idea of what you want I send a "Quote" or "Letter of Understanding". Back in the old Corporate World if the customer liked your Quote, they would send you a Purchase Order. Seems lately only old Buyers and Purchasing people that are generally from my generation issue POs. Now I just ask for the returned Quote signed by my customer.

#3 If I had my way I just like the hand-shake! My word is my bond! My CPA does not like that, he is not happy unless I get something in writing.

#4 Once the work is performed I send an Invoice, outlining my charges. Smaller customers that are not Public-Traded (Corporations) usually will pay by check. The "Big-Boys" will want to pay via credit card under a certain dollar limit that may vary. In my last Corporate job, I had to pay everything under $10K via credit card. Now as a consultant I charge and "up-charge" for credit cards.

PS one of the things you want spelled out in your Quotes is how fast you expect to be paid. That is called "Terms". specified as "n30" (Net -Paid 30 days). If you had Accounting in college your understand this. I ask for "n30" but generally my customers want n60. Had one the other day that wanted n90. I would advise you think over your strategy here! I for one am not willing to wait 90 days to get paid. I do not like 60 but sometimes you got to do what you gotta do. With the terms in mind you may want to consider that in your price!

What about discounts?