Debating how to charge customer's......

Always get at least half down before any work is to be done.

 

50%

 

50%

 

Your running a business you should make money from your customers! And 50% down is the going rate for deposits. If you don't want to make money send them to me, I would be glad to take their money.

 

Nearly always 50% here. Now I do have a VERY select few guys that I have done deer for along time that I don't even get a deposit. But I know them, and in the past they have always picked up in 1 or 2 days with full payment in hand. But 95% put 50% down.

 

50% down just in case they don't come back to pick it up..100% for waterfowl and people who don't pick up after a long wait period

 

If you are farming it out to a wholesaler, they might give you 15 or 30 days from return of the job to pay. That is if you are sending them enough ongoing work.
You should get half down upfront for selling the job, and then the payment terms from your wholesaler gives you the time to collect from your customer and then pay them.
This is how it works in the real business world. Not sure about taxidermy. We know that this industry is a little "different". If you are a good "agent" for the wholesaler, they should treat you like gold for feeding them the work.
You should never have to front money for anything you are doing. You would be financing the wholesaler's business in that case.

 

Yo punk, call me soon, we need to chit chat in a bad way lol !

 

50% down on everything under $600.00. 100% on domestics & waterfowl. 1/3 down on large gameheads/LS to start, another 1/3 when returned from tannery, PD when completed. 1/3 Works great for cash flow! If no deposit, I skin & freeze till I get 50%, Their return time STARTS when I get 50%. After 6 months & no deposit, the customer is notified via phone/mail to come pick up their critter! Most times they show up with the deposit, sometimes 100%

 

Many get 50% down. If you ask for that much down you need to be careful and manage your deposits. Remember that when the work is done you will only be getting in 50%. If you get behind in your bill because your living off the deposits and you don't get much for your work, you may get up side down with your cash flow. It happens all the time to guys staring out that don't manage their deposits and dont charge enough. It can kill your business. I don't take in that much, I get 25% to 30% and it works better for me.

 

1/3, 1/3, 1/3...the first two deposits cover supplies (with a little left over) and the last 1/3 (final payment) is his paycheck.

 

X2

 

Agree with Randy 100% and if you dont want to mark the price up on them, why not name your business "UNICEF Taxidermy"??