Creditors' Rights 42
Q: I’d like to begin to eliminate sending invoices by “snail mail”. What are some ways I can do business through the internet and what are some important things I should include in the invoice to my clients?
A: Americans refer to the U.S. Postal Service as “snail mail” for good reason. Postal delays cut into a customer’s discount period and increase frustration and conflict. Web-based applications can speed and modernize billing and generally smooth your relationship with customers. For many companies, the Internet has become the preferred way of ordering goods, paying for them and capturing discounts. When you send your invoices out via the Internet, make sure that the format cannot be tampered with. Conversion to an Adobe PDF file is the easiest way to ensure that no alterations can be made to your invoice. Be sure to include your company’s name and a contact person within your company’s name, address and phone number. If you have a website, include that too; the more contact options, the better.
- Order date
- Product number and description
- Quantity ordered
- Delivery location
- Expected delivery date
- Name of the person who placed the order
- Purchase order number
*Learn more about credit policies and the Payment Gap with Bob Bernstein’s new book, Get P.A.I.D.TM A Guide to Getting Paid Faster (and What to Do if You Don’t!) at www.getpaidsystem.com
