How to get paid faster

Why agree limits and due dates up front?

A limit and a due date agreed at the start work better than any negotiation later. When customers know how much and by when, paying becomes keeping a promise rather than answering a favour.

• Give every new customer a limit and start small.
• Put a due date on every credit sale; never "whenever".
• When someone reaches their limit, ask for part of the old balance before new credit.

In Baki Fast, entries with a due date appear in the upcoming and overdue lists, so you see at a glance who comes first. For installment sales, work out the plan with the customer using the installment calculator.

When should you send reminders?

Send reminders on the same days every week or month, not whenever you happen to remember. A routine is easier for you, and customers start to expect it.

• Before the due date: A short nudge a day or two ahead.
• After the due date: Once a week, on the same day and at the same time.
• Monthly: A summary at the start of the month for accounts that have been open a while.

For wording, see payment reminder message examples. With Pro you get due-date alerts and a queue that lets you send overdue reminders on WhatsApp one by one, so the routine is hard to miss.

How do statements speed up payment?

A statement answers the customer’s "how did it get this high?" before they ask. Seeing every line, date and the balance cuts disputes and makes the decision to pay easier.

In Baki Fast you pick a period and send a PDF statement on WhatsApp, or print it as a thermal receipt with Print Fast. With Pro your own logo and bank details appear on it. Without the app, the account statement generator makes one in your browser.

Why time due dates to payday and accept part payments?

People pay when they have money. Setting the due date just after a customer’s payday, pension day or busy trading day makes it far more likely the payment actually arrives.

• Ask when the customer gets paid and set the due date for the day after.
• For a big balance, offer weekly or monthly parts instead of one lump sum.
• Record every part payment at once and send the remaining balance by message.
• Say thank you for each part; it makes the next one come sooner.

Some money beats no money. Never turn a part payment away: take it, record it and agree the date of the next part on the spot.

How can you make paying easier?

The easier it is to pay, the sooner the money comes. Customers should be able to pay without visiting the shop or hunting for your details.

• Bank details in the reminder: Add your account number or IBAN and account name at the end of the message. With Pro, put them in your own reminder message once.
• A QR code: Show an IBAN QR code at the counter or in the message so customers can scan your details.
• A shared account: If the customer uses Baki Fast too, a shared account lets you both see the same account on your own phones. The free app includes two shared accounts, Pro has no limit, and joining is always free.
• A note after every entry: A short message after each sale or payment stops a balance growing quietly.

How do you say no politely?

When you say no, talk about the rule rather than the person, and offer a way forward. Not adding credit for a customer past their limit, or long overdue, is better for both of you.

Say it quietly and privately, not across a busy counter. Talking about someone’s debt where other customers can hear embarrasses them and breaks their privacy.