| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Poll: How soon do you invoice your client(s) after finishing a job? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
|
|---|
Caro Maucher 
Germany
Local time: 15:38
Member (2005)
English to German
+ ...
| Same as Sophie | Aug 3, 2011 |
Sophie Dzhygir wrote:
End of month for regular clients.
As soon as possible for new clients.
Sometimes over several months if the total amount is too low.
Wow, Veronica has a client who paid *in advance for future projects*?! Amazing.
| | | | Yaotl Altan
Mexico
Local time: 08:38
Member (2006)
English to Spanish
+ ...
One day a client told me "Hey, don't you think you sent me your invoice too fast?"
I replied: "Sure! You are reight: it was sent too fast. The project was ended before the deadline".
"Oh..."
| | | | Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 15:38
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
| It depends on the client | Aug 3, 2011 |
Usually I wait up to 24 hours in case there are any changes required before I send the invoice.
With regular clients I send the invoice within a week after I've returned the completed file to them - which makes it easier for me to keep track of sent invoices.
One agency requested an invoice for each single job regardless of how small the amount was to be uploaded to their site immediately.
| | | | | immediately (together with the completed job) | Aug 3, 2011 |
Most of my business is done online. Jobs are sent to me by e-mail in Microsoft Word, or some other program. I complete the translation and send it back by e-mail, together with the billing.
It's easier for me to keep track of my billing. Besides, some of my clients are forgetful and if I wait 30 days or so, I might have to wait longer beyond those 30 days to get paid.
I also bill immediately because in most cases each client sends me one job per month, therefore, it'... See more Most of my business is done online. Jobs are sent to me by e-mail in Microsoft Word, or some other program. I complete the translation and send it back by e-mail, together with the billing.
It's easier for me to keep track of my billing. Besides, some of my clients are forgetful and if I wait 30 days or so, I might have to wait longer beyond those 30 days to get paid.
I also bill immediately because in most cases each client sends me one job per month, therefore, it's not as if I'll bombard them with a lot of bills in one month. ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
| After confirmation | Aug 3, 2011 |
I generally send the translation with my translator's notes (if applicable) and await confirmation and feedback (if any).
When receipt has been confirmed, I send my invoice. If receipt is not confirmed within 24 hours, then I chase to confirm the translation has been received.
I have one client that has me complete a spreadsheet of jobs for the month and then pays during the first week of the following month, which means some jobs are paid a few days after being sent, w... See more I generally send the translation with my translator's notes (if applicable) and await confirmation and feedback (if any).
When receipt has been confirmed, I send my invoice. If receipt is not confirmed within 24 hours, then I chase to confirm the translation has been received.
I have one client that has me complete a spreadsheet of jobs for the month and then pays during the first week of the following month, which means some jobs are paid a few days after being sent, which is great. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Jenn Mercer
United States
Local time: 09:38
Member (2009)
French to English
| Usually Friday | Aug 3, 2011 |
When I started my pattern was to invoice on Friday, but it varies a bit now. If I finish a job on a Monday or Tuesday and I have the time, I send the invoice right out. The Friday routine is more of a safety mechanism to make sure I do not leave invoices unsent beyond the end of the week. I do try to wait for some type of confirmation or feedback, but if I don't receive anything after 48 hrs, I send out the invoice regardless. I think my clients generally appreciate receiving the invoice while t... See more When I started my pattern was to invoice on Friday, but it varies a bit now. If I finish a job on a Monday or Tuesday and I have the time, I send the invoice right out. The Friday routine is more of a safety mechanism to make sure I do not leave invoices unsent beyond the end of the week. I do try to wait for some type of confirmation or feedback, but if I don't receive anything after 48 hrs, I send out the invoice regardless. I think my clients generally appreciate receiving the invoice while the job is still fresh in their minds. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Claire Cox
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:38
French to English
+ ...
I bill most of my clients at the end of the month - its simpler for them and for me if there are a lot of jobs, some big, some small, and saves on exchange costs where applicable- thankfully no longer applicable in my case after changing bank account, but it used to be an issue! There are some clients I invoice immediately - usually if I've been asked to do so, or in some cases because I know they pay by return so there's no point waiting!
Asa rule though, I find it makes more sens... See more I bill most of my clients at the end of the month - its simpler for them and for me if there are a lot of jobs, some big, some small, and saves on exchange costs where applicable- thankfully no longer applicable in my case after changing bank account, but it used to be an issue! There are some clients I invoice immediately - usually if I've been asked to do so, or in some cases because I know they pay by return so there's no point waiting!
Asa rule though, I find it makes more sense to wait and send most of my invoices in one go at the end of the month. I use Excel sheets to keep track of each billed amount as I go and the whole process is pretty streamlined. I do have TO3000 which I thought would simplify the process even further, but I never got the hang of customizing the invoices, so sadly it remains a scheduling and statistical tool only! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tina Vonhof (X)
Canada
Local time: 07:38
Dutch to English
+ ...
Always immediately - then I'm done with it. Many of my clients are direct clients and I have to send the certified translation plus the invoice by regular mail. Agency clients often ask me to send the invoice right away, so it seems to work well all around.
| | |
|
|
|
m_temmer
Local time: 08:38
English to Dutch
+ ...
| at the end of the month | Aug 3, 2011 |
I only work for agencies. If I would issue an invoice for every job I do, I would spend more time on that than on translating! I just counted and since the 1st of August I would have had to issue 18 invoices already. That is just not feasible and none of my customers would accept it anyway.
I write the name of the customer, the PO number and the amount of each job on a sheet of paper and that is it. At the end of the month, I need about one hour for all my invoices and I'm done. I w... See more I only work for agencies. If I would issue an invoice for every job I do, I would spend more time on that than on translating! I just counted and since the 1st of August I would have had to issue 18 invoices already. That is just not feasible and none of my customers would accept it anyway.
I write the name of the customer, the PO number and the amount of each job on a sheet of paper and that is it. At the end of the month, I need about one hour for all my invoices and I'm done. I wouldn't want it any other way! ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Generally immediately | Aug 3, 2011 |
With the exception of one or two regular clients who have asked me to invoice at the end of the month as it's more convenient for them, I always return the translation with the invoice attached. I've had late-payers in the past claiming they never received the invoice, in response to which I have always been able to forward a copy of the email with both translation and invoice attached, meaning that if they never received the invoice, they couldn't have received the translation either!
| | | | Muriel Vasconcellos (X)
United States
Local time: 06:38
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Within 48 hours - usually earlier | Aug 4, 2011 |
Usually the next day. I wait until I've heard from the client.
Most of my clients pay at around 30 days. If I waited until the end of the month to invoice them, I might end up waiting for nearly 60 days. Most of my jobs are large and there's a fair amount of money involved. I don't want to have to wait for it any longer than necessary.
Some of my clients get annoyed if I don't invoice them the same day.
| | | | | Pages in topic: < [1 2] | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poll: How soon do you invoice your client(s) after finishing a job? | Anycount & Translation Office 3000 | Translation Office 3000
Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.
More info » |
| | Protemos translation business management system | Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!
The system lets you keep client/vendor database, with contacts and rates, manage projects and assign jobs to vendors, issue invoices, track payments, store and manage project files, generate business reports on turnover profit per client/manager etc.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
