Show your clients a way to accept payments more securely and efficiently.
Spring shines more light into dusty corners of homes, office buildings, and businesses. While ramping up operations this spring, cleaning service owners may become aware of their need to operate more efficiently to manage the seasonal uptick in their business. Furthermore, if their clients are still leaving checks on a desk in an unlocked office or their employees place paper receipts in unsecured locations, it puts everyone at risk of fraud or theft. ISO agents and payment company sales partners can find opportunities by helping these businesses overcome their challenges with new ways to accept payments.
A 2022 survey found that about 73% of small business operators believed digital payments were a valuable key to their growth. But the study also noted that only 41% of consumers say they either already are using, or plan to use, digital payments in the near future.
If you want a win-win-win for your business, cleaning service businesses, and their customers, encourage your prospects to accept digital payments. Here are some tips that can help you.
Which cleaning services need to accept payments?
Most cleaning service companies are small or microbusinesses. They have limited staff, budgets, time, and the ability to deal with complex processes to collect payments. Adding digital payments is a winning way to clean up their finances while making their life easier. It also allows their customers to pay using methods they prefer.
Mobile card readers offer a quick, easy way to accept payments at the time of service. They are portable and usually compatible with tablets and smartphones. After the account is set up and a device connected, all the cleaning staff needs to do is have the client swipe their card to process payment.
Other digital tools to accept payments include the following.
- Text-to-pay or short message service (SMS) payments.
Text-to-pay is accurate, contactless, secure, and convenient. It reduces paper waste as well as payment collection time and effort. Furthermore, texting is popular. In a 2022 survey, almost three-quarters of consumers reported signing up to receive texts from businesses. They also said they check text messages more frequently than any other app. Customers will be more likely to pay on time, too, if cleaning companies accept payments by text. It works great for recurring payments, but also for one-time service.
- Virtual terminal.
Virtual terminals transform any computer anywhere into a credit and debit card processor. Virtual terminals are hosted online and eliminate the need for the customer to be present for a business to run their card and take payment. Since cleaning staff often work in homes or offices while the occupants are absent, this can clearly benefit these companies. Virtual terminals can also create text, paper, or email receipts. Look for systems with end-to-end encryption and fraud protection built in to ensure data security.
- Recurring billing.
A solution that allows a company to accept payments through automatic recurring billing helps staff avoid the discomfort of asking customers for money or reminding them to leave money out for the cleaners when they provide regular services. Other benefits include shorter collection time, fewer late payments, defending against fraud and theft, and improved customer relationships.
Tips to share with your cleaning service clients.
As a trusted advisor to your clients in the cleaning industry, you should also provide information that can help them be most successful with payments and their new digital payment solutions. For example, cleaning services should utilize the following.
- Have a formal, written agreement with clients.
A contract detailing things like fees for products and services, terms of payment, late charges, and the scope of each job will protect both your clients and their clients. It reduces miscommunication, misunderstanding, and possibly, legal challenges.
- Decide on the types of payment methods to accept.
Cleaning services commonly accept cash and checks, but if your clients would rather get paid faster, avoid the risk of insufficient funds, and use a more secure and efficient method of accepting payments, credit cards and electronic forms of payment make more sense.
- Consider all benefits and risks of accepting payments.
Weigh payment processing fees against the benefits of digital methods, including fewer delinquent payments, greater efficiency, and happier customers.
If you’re looking for new ways to expand your business this spring, consider contacting cleaning companies. You can help them clean up how they accept payments, providing a safer way for their clients to pay and better enabling cash flow. And your business will benefit from new, loyal customers that appreciate your advice on how to operate more efficiently and provide better customer experiences.
Contact us to learn how to tailor solutions for cleaning services.
