A building service contractor with a large staff may have to pay as much as 90 per cent of the company’s gross income just for payroll. So, if a large client is late with payments, it can disturb the balance of a whole cash flow system.

With this issue in mind, Ron Segura, consultant for large cleaning contractors throughout North and South America, offers the following steps building service contractors can take to get paid on time.

Use Odd Numbers: Odd numbers tend to get noticed more. Stating that a payment is due in 17 or 21 days may increase the chance of a payment deploying on time.

Inquire: Make friends with the accounts payable department. If a check is late, they will likely know if it is being processed and when it will go out.

CC on Emails: Invoice are often sent to the building owner and manager, so it can be signed off. CC your friends in accounting as well. If the invoice is not signed off within a few days, the accounting contact will likely follow up on the invoice for you.

Call: If a payment is past due, send out just one reminder notice, then wait one week. If you have not heard back and no check has arrived, you have no choice but to call the customer. You might try calling accounting first to see what’s happening. But if they do not have the invoice, call the building owner or manager. Never be shy about doing this. You are providing a service and must be paid. In most cases, there is a simple explanation like the invoice simply got sidetracked.