Equal monthly payments/billing...

[Lawn-Scapes]

I have been offering equal monthly payments for my clients for the last several years. They pick and choose the services they want.. then divide them into 9 or 12 payments.

My problem with this system is with the invoicing part of it.. I write it up as "Lawn & Landscape Services" on the invoice and the amount. The problem is that the services.. cutting, mulching, hedge trimming, fertilizing, etc.. is not broken down. So, when I want to pull up a report for sales and look at the numbers.. I don't have an accurate number based on individual services.. and it bothers me.

I have 2 possible solutions I believe.. one is to create a separate spreadsheet and keep track that way.. but seems like too much work.

Or.. I could break down the costs on the invoice equally each month. It may look a bit confusing to the client but the bottom line is all they need to worry about...

Does anyone else deal with this differently?

[Lawn Guy 1]

I use lawn & pest assistant software and you can break out their billing however you choose and it doesn't affect your sales numbers. You can even print out the payment book to send them for your remittance.

[Lawn-Scapes]

BTW... I use quickbooks pro... Is there I way to set up invoices that I can break down the services but it wont show up on the printed out copy?

[Craig3]

BTW... I use quickbooks pro... Is there I way to set up invoices that I can break down the services but it wont show up on the printed out copy?

print their copy THEN fill in the lines? I'm thinking about going this route this year...at least offering it. Do you base mowings on last years actual amount? A rolling average for the last couple years? Or just do X amount? Have you found that people are more willing to sign up for aerations, seeding, etc since they dont incure the extra cost all at once?

[Lawn-Scapes]

Hi craig.. that's an idea but involves basically the same work as setting up a spread sheet and would not be able to set up a memorized transaction in QBs.

I base the number of cuts on an average.. 28. sometimes it's one more for the year and sometimes one less. no one has ever questioned it. Yes, it's easier for me to up sell services this way.. and not have to try or remember to up sell specific services throughout the year.

[PROCUT1]

You can set up items in quickbooks that will have a price attached to them but not show the individual price on the bill.