I use the exact same method described here by Michael.  It has never failed
me, whereas previous compromises and misgivings about others' honesty has.
I have learned that up front unconditional trust is NOT beneficial to me as
a business person.

Matt McIntosh
President & CEO
JomaWorld Enterprises

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Schultz" <mike(at)virtualtech.com>
To: "HWG-Business(at)hwg.org" <hwg-business(at)hwg.org>
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 11:46 AM
Subject: Re: Customers


> We also generally host the sites we design.  We require 50 percent of
total
> cost (design and hosting) to be paid before we commence work on a site.
> Then, what we do during development is to upload the site to a
subdirectory
> on our server (http://www.virtualtech.com/customername) so that they can
> view it online.  Once the customer has given the "OK" to the final design
> and paid in full, we then activate his/her hosting account (if we are
> hosting) and upload the site to that account
> (http://www.customerdomain.com).  This has two advantages: the client is
> able to view the site online as we develop it, and they do not have to
start
> paying for hosting until the site is actually completed (which can be
months
> in the case of some customers... sure you have all been there).
>
> We will not let a site go live without receiving final payment first.  Had
a
> few problems with that in the past.  Since implementing this policy, we
have
> not had any trouble receiving payment.  Most of our clients appreciate the
> fact that they do not have to start paying for hosting until the site is
> completed.
>
> True, they could simply copy the source code from our server if they
really
> wanted to swipe the site without paying, but that has never happened in
over
> 5 years of business.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Michael Schultz
> Vice President of Operations
> Virtualtech Web Site Design and Promotion, Inc.
http://www.virtualtech.com
> (800) 474-7001
> "We Put The Pieces Together"
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Darrell King" <darrell(at)webctr.com>
> To: "HWG-Business(at)hwg.org" <hwg-business(at)hwg.org>
> Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 6:15 AM
> Subject: Re: Customers
>
>
> > Since we are usually hosting the site as well as building it, I will let
> the
> > site go live.  If I don't have a check within the specified period of
> time,
> > I remind the client it will need to go offline since I am unable to pay
> the
> > hosting bill.
> >
> > I've been stiffed once in 4 years, and I got a fractional payment from
the
> > one exception.  I have, however, had late payers.  Two common reasons
are
> "I
> > forgot" and "The committee is moving slowly"...perhaps true, perhaps
not,
> > but the money has almost always showed up and I've never needed to use
> more
> > than light pressure to get it.
> >
> > D
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Brandon Coughlin" <bcoughlin(at)urx.com>
> > To: "HWG-Business(at)hwg.org" <hwg-business(at)hwg.org>
> > Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 3:26 AM
> > Subject: RE: Customers
> >
> >
> > Okay, next question:
> >
> > When do you normally let a website go live, before or after you received
> the
> > remaining payment?  I have considered letting the site go live, password
> > protected until the customer has paid up.  What is the consensus on
this?
> I
> > am hesitant of uploading this guy's website to his web host until he has
> > paid his bill but wondering if this does any good?
> >
> > Thanks!
> > Brandon
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>

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