brought to you by Minutesmatter
May 2003 - Vol. 1 No. 5


Continue the Relationship

Completing a job should not be the last time you have contact with your client. Do not wait for your client to contact you when they are ready for another project, that could be years.  There are several ways to keep in touch with your clients & keep your company fresh in their minds.  When a neighbor or colleague is inquiring about custom window treatments your company name will be the name they remember.

Send a thank you letter after the job is complete.  Include a sentence that states if a client would like to do another project within 30 days they will receive a 10% discount. 

Send a set of coffee mugs and gourmet coffee with the thank you letter.  Have your logo printed on the mugs & coffee.  There are several companies that offer personalized promotional items.  When choosing your item make sure it is something that compliments your business.  Coffee mugs & coffee go hand & hand with luxury & pampering.  This gift is inexpensive & the client has a daily reminder of your company.

Send an email based newsletter.  You can compose the newsletter yourself, however, that can be very time consuming.  Consider using www.custEmers.com to send your newsletter, this company offers monthly newsletters for a very reasonable fee.  When you send an email newsletter there is no postage or printing costs.  Most of your client's have email addresses, all you need to do is ask.  Use a preprinted appointment form to collect client information. 

Be sure to send Christmas cards to all your clients in December or some other holiday during the year.

Just make sure you keep in touch & watch your business grow!
Q u i c k B o o k s . . .

 
Sales Tax - Part Four

Pay All Sales Tax After Job is Complete

This month we will be discussing paying sales tax after a job is completed. Using this method, you pay sales tax after a job is totally complete.  Payments remain as credits until an invoice is created.  Remember to check with your state regarding your tax liability.

 

 

  1. First thing you need to do is set your preferences in QuickBooks correctly.
  2. Click Edit, click Preferences, scroll down & select Sales Tax icon (on the left), click the Company Preferences tab, click the button "As of Invoice date" (Accrual Basis).  Also, click the button to indicate the frequency you pay sales tax monthly, quarterly or yearly.
  3. TIP: Make sure the box "Mark taxable amounts with "T" when printing" in UNCHECKED, unless you want T's to the right of every row on the invoice.
  4. When the client approves a job, open the estimate, click the Create Invoice button to turn the estimate into an invoice.  Mark the invoice pending by right clicking in the invoice & select "Mark Invoice As Pending".  This is very important, if you do not mark the invoice as pending it will post in your Accounts Receivable register.
  5. Record the down payment/deposit in the Receive Payments window.  (You will apply the payment later after the job is complete.)
  6. Once the job is complete, open the Receive Payments window & apply the credit/credits to the invoice.  Click the Set Credits button at the bottom of the payment window.  The credit/payment will be displayed on the invoice when it is printed.
  7. After final payment is received, open the Receive Payments window & record the payment. The payment will automatically apply to your invoice. When there is more than one invoice in the payment window apply the payment to the correct invoice by clicking on that invoice.
  8. Be sure to calculate the Monthly/Quarterly Sales Tax Report on an accrual:  Click Reports, click Sales Reports, click Sales by Customer Summary, click Customize/Modify Report, & choose Accrual.
  9. See the February issue regarding which reports to print & adjusting amounts of sales tax.  See General Tips for Calculating Sales Tax

View more QuickBooks Products
Special Offer. . .

The release of our New Measuring System has left us with several previous versions.  We are offering these at a drastically reduced price.  The previous version sold for $145; while quantities last the reduced price will be $80 plus $16 shipping & handling.

Some of the differences in the Measuring Systems are:

  • New system has 10 new items added e.g., quad, quarter arches & eyebrow windows, tables & cushions.

  • New system has two windows on each page which means less paper on your clipboard.

  • New system is landscaped instead of portrait. 

  • Graph paper has been added to the entire back of each form on the new system. 

  • The new custom clipboard allows you to place your mechanical pencil & your measuring tape right on the clipboard making a mini measuring desk.

    • D e s i g n S t y l e s . . .

    Each month we will feature a company's window or bed design in our newsletter. Each person will receive a $20 gift certificate good toward any Minutes Matter purchase. To have your treatment considered, please submit the picture & details of the treatment to treatment@minutesmatter.com.

     

    Treatment Details . . .

    • These overlapping swags were fabricated with a crinkle poly fabric from JF Fabrics. Iron hardware was purchased from Amore. The corner pieces to hold the swags were a combination of Rowley clear plastic swag holders & extra wood blocks.

    • All draperies & swags were cut as separate pieces. Treatments were not interlined.

    • Swags were joined during the installation & a fabric strip was attached to cover the connection.

    • The FL of the draperies were 94", the drop on the swags varied from 16" - 19". The width of the swags varied from 36" - 40" to achieve the final result. The total FW of the treatment are 240".

    • This treatment was designed & fabricated by Susan Day Custom Sewing, Springfield, IL.

    Please e-mail suggestions@minutesmatter.com telling us what topics you would find interesting to read in the newsletter. We look forward to hearing from you!

    Special Notice: Our fax number has changed to 615-826-0832.

    View previous editions of our newsletter

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