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Charge my client after 5 months of inactivity?

by grey38
19 replies
So I had a plumber client I charged to build his website back in late november. Everything was finished by early december.

However my client had a url he wanted to use, so I had to wait until he gave me his GoDaddy info to make the site live.

He actually pays me before it's live just to get me to stop calling, I guess. I'm really not sure why he didn't want the site live.

Anyway I called him at least 6 times throughout January asking for the GoDaddy info and he kept telling me he'll call me in a few days.

Anyway so I'm here now near the end of may (about 5 months later), and he finally calls me and is ready to get his site live.

Should I charge him something extra now? It's not as easy as a simple transfer I'd have to migrate the whole site over to the new domain. Thoughts?
#charge #client #inactivity #months
  • Profile picture of the author jimbo13
    I would not charge him.

    Do what you agreed to do and put a clause in for future clients.

    This person has payed you after all.

    This should just be a one off situation for you moving forward

    Dan
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  • Profile picture of the author shifat
    Well....even though the circumstances sounds a bit harsh for you if you didn't loss any extra money,then I would suggest you to focus on giving him what he wants & refrain yourself from asking for more.
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  • Profile picture of the author SashaLee
    Hi there,

    He deserves what he paid for. There's probably some other issue too...it sounds to me like he wasn't impressed with what you did otherwise he would have wanted to make the new site live as quickly as possible./

    You should sit and ask him why he didn't want it live immediately - it might result in more business for you if you get to the root of why he didn't move quickly.

    All the best,

    Sasha
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  • Profile picture of the author esuresh
    If you charge him again, that would be the last that payment you would be getting from him, as he would never ever call you again for any other job. Just get the site live, and ask him if everything is ok with the site at regular intervals. You will definitely get more work from him.
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  • Profile picture of the author grey38
    Ok, it didn't feel right to charge him again, I wanted everyone's opinion here first.

    And it's not that he wasn't impressed with my work either. Here's the kicker; he never even saw the website. We were supposed to make the website live before christmas so he could make edits, but he disappeared after he paid me.

    Thanks for the advice everyone.
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  • Profile picture of the author MaxwellB
    Definitely ask him why he wasn't eager to get the site up and why he waited 5 months after it was finish.

    He's your client....he already paid you...your allowed to ask questions you have nothing to lose.

    I'm going to play devil's advocate from everyone who posted so far. I am NOT saying I would do this...it depends on if the 5 months of inactivity created more work for you now...and I don't know your situation with him.

    Like if you already put it up on a domain already bc he didn't have his...then yes that is more work...your essentially installing it twice.

    So if that's the case I would explain that and also explain that you budget XX weeks for a project...and now after 5 months you have other projects that take priority because you waited 5 months for him. So you have to now take time away from your other projects to finish a job you were ready to finish a long time ago, which is why you need to charge for your time now at $XXX to do it.

    so 2 things you can use to make your case for more money...and any reasonable business person should be understanding that it caused you to do more work than you had to and now take time away from priority projects.
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  • Profile picture of the author DaniMc
    Instead of making this a situation where he gets a bad taste in his mouth, be so positive, so helpful and understanding, that he really comes to appreciate you.

    I'm sure this business is a member of the local chamber or other organization. After you give him great service, say "You know, There was a little extra work than I anticipated on your website. Do you think you could help me out make some referrals for me?" Or, take an ad out in that organizations website or printed directory and ask him to give you a good testimonial for the ad.

    Also, you should come back to him in the future offering more services. Build more goodwill, don't destroy it. Goodwill is an actual, tangible, asset for your business.

    Read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodwill_(accounting)
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    • Profile picture of the author AndrewCavanagh
      Originally Posted by Dan McCoy View Post

      Instead of making this a situation where he gets a bad taste in his mouth, be so positive, so helpful and understanding, that he really comes to appreciate you.

      I'm sure this business is a member of the local chamber or other organization. After you give him great service, say "You know, There was a little extra work than I anticipated on your website. Do you think you could help me out make some referrals for me?" Or, take an ad out in that organizations website or printed directory and ask him to give you a good testimonial for the ad.

      Also, you should come back to him in the future offering more services. Build more goodwill, don't destroy it. Goodwill is an actual, tangible, asset for your business.

      Read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodwill_(accounting)

      This is a great reply.

      Remember business owners are busy.

      This guy paid you for a service. Why would you have a problem with that?

      Yes you could have explained things better at setup but it's an unusual
      situation and probably won't happen again.

      This is not about you.

      What is your overall thinking in business?

      Are you genuinely here to help the business owners you work with or are
      you just in it to make a few bucks?

      I'm guessing you want to help business owners so do that.

      And yes educate your client that the way the project ended up
      being done was more work for you and perhaps ask for some referrals.


      This guy is a plumber.

      Do you think he charges extra when he's fixing a septic tank and a
      big pile of shit blows back and sprays over his face.

      You've got it easy. You're just sitting behind your computer doing
      work.

      We can all be thankful for that.

      Kindest regards,
      Andrew Cavanagh
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      • Profile picture of the author Joe J
        Originally Posted by AndrewCavanagh View Post

        This is a great reply.



        This guy is a plumber.

        Do you think he charges extra when he's fixing a septic tank and a
        big pile of shit blows back and sprays over his face.

        You've got it easy. You're just sitting behind your computer doing
        work.


        Andrew Cavanagh
        This kind of thinking is what separates the good business owners from the bad.

        Once you and the client settle on a price, you have to deliver. Simple!

        I can appreciate this a lot. I have done many home repairs in the past and there is many times that I didn't figure on "this or that" happening.

        Examples: replace a simple light switch and had to repair the plaster that came apart just by removing the switch cover.

        Installed weatherstripping around a window only to have the window break when trying to open it.

        I could go forever with these examples.

        In each and everyone, I fixed these incidents and in the end I was praised and recommended for my services. I received much repeat work for this type of caring.

        I think what Andrew said is spot on and relates to most businesses.

        I would throw in something extra for the guy to appreciate. Something as little as a directory submission or maybe some SEO, etc. Most of these things would be HUGE gifts to people who have no idea that these things would chew up just a little of your time but will have an even HUGER (Is this even a word?!) positive effect on your business. I believe it would go a LONG way.

        Joe
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  • Profile picture of the author MonteMichaels
    Call him and ask him if you did something wrong. Most likely he will say how he has been so busy with his own business and did not have time to deal with you.

    Let him know that you would like to get his site completed for him ASAP since he had already paid to have the work done.
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  • Profile picture of the author Andy Lemos
    No don't charge him extra...Reason, this can burn bridges for future deals with him.
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  • Profile picture of the author rodsav
    I agree with everyone, don't charge him because of possible future services and referals.
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  • Profile picture of the author jumbo7901
    I would not charge him but definitely ask for video testimonial
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  • Profile picture of the author talfighel
    If you have already charged him once for this job, then I don't see why you should charge him again.
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  • Profile picture of the author bsummers
    I agree with everyone. Do not charge him again, he has paid you in advance anyway. Anyways, try to ask him why he has to wait 5 months before making his site live. He must have been going through something.
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  • Profile picture of the author cpoalmighty
    He paid you in full. He just was not ready five months before to get it live. You never know if he had to obtain the info from someone else who was also taking a while but that does not matter because he paid you in full and nothing was owing. If he owed you even 1cent now that would be something different
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  • Profile picture of the author mert
    I suggest that you do the task that you both agreed first. After all the client is expecting something in return after paying you. In this way you can ensure a return of business from the person.
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