As a Christian business owner, do you have people who constantly expect you to provide their services for free? Do people tell you a sad story about why they can’t pay and expect you to give them a break? Do you get called a passive-aggressive Christian hypocrite if you send a late payment reminder? It can be hard to balance wanting to help people and not giving away your services for free. Remember, as a business owner, you are in business to make a profit. You must protect your personal and business credit score.
Most business owners, service providers, and professionals have business expenses as well as living expenses that include a mortgage, utilities, and possibly student loans. Creditors want to be paid. Creditors will charge you a late fee if you don’t pay them on time. They may report it to a credit bureau and this can negatively affect your credit score. So how do you balance helping others and owning a Christian business? My tips below will help you operate as a business owner while honoring your Christian values.
1. Contracts – Use very detailed contracts. Don’t rely on handshake agreements or word of mouth agreements. Put the agreement or terms of service in writing. Be very specific about due dates, amounts due, late fees, etc. This includes barter contracts. Don’t be afraid or intimidated about not holding the other party accountable for fulfilling their part of the contract.
2. Billing procedures – Establish procedures and follow them. If you do not want to deal with this task, give it to a virtual assistant or accountant. This includes sending late payment reminders. I recommend that you work with a collection agent so that, when necessary, the agency can go after the late payer. Using a collection agent will save you heartache and heartache. Plus, you know they’re following the law and you won’t get in trouble for accidentally violating a debt collection law or rule.
3. Choose your words well – I have learned that when someone asks me if I can help or says “so and so said he can help me” and I say “yes I can help” they are expecting service for free. I have had to learn how to respond with something indicating that this is a commercial service that I provide. Also, I’ve noticed that when someone asks if they can skip a payment while on vacation, I have a script ready to go that late fees will be assessed. Again, it’s best to leave this task of communicating with people in the hands of your gatekeeper or a customer service manager. Listen very carefully to what the person requesting your services says. I also do not recommend giving away free strategy sessions. When you charge a small fee for an introductory session and charge for missed appointments, you’ll weed out kickers, thieves, and tire grabbers. Beware of people who contact you on social media through Messenger posing as your friend and then immediately want free advice or services.
4. Know how much you can give away or discount – Set clear limits. I don’t mind helping people. But it gets old helping the same people over and over again. You have to know your point of departure. Observe the person on social media. If they’re out having fun while you sit at home eating ramen noodles, don’t be mad. Use it as a lesson. Just let that person skip a payment so they can have fun. The person does not respect or value you or your services. I recommend that you know how many scholarships you are going to be able to give each year and when you have exhausted that amount, you know that you cannot help anyone else for free. Also, know what discount you will give friends and family.
5. Know your value – Do not forget that you provide a valuable service. Just because someone else doesn’t see value doesn’t mean you don’t have any. Don’t let the crooks and grabbers wear you down. Learn to identify who is not your ideal customer and learn to identify where they lurk and then go find a new fishing pond.
Those who try to steal your products, intellectual property, and services will always have something negative to say when you ask for payment. In our digital age, they will be so bold as to post nasty comments on social media platforms criticizing you and your Christian values. You may also be “unfriended”. Remember, don’t open a door that God has closed. Count his blessings, he was no friend and saw the person show his true colors.
Don’t feel guilty or ashamed about giving away your products or services for free. The funny thing is, these people wouldn’t work for free or give away their products or services for free, so they shouldn’t expect you to either. Not everyone will love you. Rejection is God’s protection.
