If you’re a computer person, i.e.: someone who knows anything about  fixing computers, it doesn’t take long before you are enlisted by friends and family to fix their computers.  This is all fine and dandy.  Many of us are more than willing to assist with the day to day problems of friends and family because of our relationship.

Now, forward this on to present day.  Lets say you are a computer person who has turned his or her hobby into a business.  That’s right… you are treating people you just met as a friend, helping them with their computer.  The only difference now is this is your livelihood.  You depend on people paying their bill for you to survive.  If they don’t pay, you can’t live the lifestyle you want, which means you must now get a “real job” in order to support yourself… which leaves less time to help those “new friends” who aren’t paying their bills.

Business Lesson Learned:  When it get’s to the point where people are not paying their bill, remember, you provided the service and they owe the money.  That is the agreement that was made at the beginning and that is the way it remains.  You performed the work now they owe you.  If they don’t pay…. step 1:  stop helping them!  They will never pay you if you keep helping them.  The “new” problem is a good motivator for them to pay you what is owed.  Now, if they agree to pay, be sure to get the past due amount and the new charges in advance of performing the work!  This part is important!!  Anybody will pay the past due to get help but the new charges may be even more than the past due ones… now your screwed again for a larger amount.  Hey, this person has a history of not paying their bill… duh… get it in advance.  step 2.  If they still don’t pay, send them to a collections agency.  Remember you performed the work, they agreed to pay but didn’t.  You did your part, and they are not doing theirs.  This exact situation is exactly why collections agencies were invented.

Enough venting for now… just remember if your a computer person and you do work with the agreement of getting paid… then you deserve to be paid.

Look at it this way… the whole reason you quit your “real job” in the first place is because you found ways of making more money in business for yourself…