Accounting & Bookkeeping & Small Business Forum

[mrbill0626]

I am just now wrapping up the bookkeeping and financial statements for my landscaper client and it doesn't look too good for him financially, especially for the month of July. He started the business in June, and made a little money (less than $200) that month, but in July it looks like he lost a lot ( over $500) at least as far as I can compute, using QuickBooks and I haven't even done his August books yet. I was thinking I would, when I get finished with everything thru July, present the statements to him and also give him my bill for $300.00 for the first two months of work. But since it looks like he has lost so much money, I don't know how he'll pay me. What would any of you suggest I do in a case like this? I just don't feel good about presenting him with a fnancial statement showing he lost all that money and then a bill of $300 (or any amount) for my services.

Thanks

Bill

[YourVirtualAssistant]

You did what he hired you to do, therefore you should be paid for it. It's a bill just like any other and his problem to figure out how to pay you. It only becomes your problem if he fails to pay.

[TonyDent84]

Yeah, you're a professional. He might have sustained a loss for his business (including the extra $300 in accounting fees), but that's the cost of business. It's not your fault. Most likely if he did some landscaping for a customer, and if he found out they couldn't afford to pay him, he'd take them to court. But then again, it's always good to have a heart. If it's not worth much to you, then cut off a few dollars, or offer to have him pay it back over time. But in the end, it would be your right to ask for that $300.