Sign Before or After????

[chiphappens]

Hello everyone! I'm another inspired, young, eager, and soon-to-be w/r tech. I'm trying to get all my ducks lined up before I start looking for work. I'm trying to make and invoice but have trouble wording it. My question is for those who are already out there doing business. Do you release yourself from liability and have the customer sign the invoice BEFORE the work is done? Or do you get the signiture AFTER? If so, how is your invoice worded?

[SeeClearly]

First of all, welcome. Good luck starting your W/R business, but please make sure you have proper training prior to working on people's vehicles. As for the invoices, I am sure they vary from company to company. Unfortunately, we do not share our work orders and invoices since it is all propriatary informaion, but I know that Korey from DK has send one out a few thousand times. I am sure you can find it or have him send it. Also, I assume that the fine print is different depending on your location. Where are you located if you do not mind me asking. As for signing, it is safest to have it done in advance if you have a list of items that you want them to be aware of and do not want to be held responsible for while doing the work. For our fleet side, we normally do not even get signatures on the work orders. Everything is agreed and understood in advance. For the non-fleet side, we sometimes have them sign before, and sometimes after. I know that if we ever get burned, it will for sure be before 100% of the time. For good practice and being new, I would have them sign it in advcance and make sure the "fine print" or acceptions are discussed prior to starting the work. Good Luck!

[chiphappens]

Thanks for the input. I'm located in Northern California. I do have experience since I use to work for an outfit that did these types of repairs. I just did my first customer today!! Doing it at my school's parking lot drew some very wanted attention. Sad to say that I dont even have invoices printed out yet so the job was settled thru a handshake. Anyways, a curious student came to see what I was doing. We spoke and to make a long story short he works at a car delearship and I have an appointment to meet the Service Manager! I'm excited and worried. What tips can you give me? What do you mean that fleet accounts don't sign? Do you get paid after the jobs are done?

[candyman]

Korey can help you with an invoice that seems to work for me. I taylored it to include my information. I get it signed prior to the work. Its too late after the work is completed, and the WS cracks out. Fleet accounts are done ahead of time without obtaining a signature for each vehicle. Put this in a letter to the business and include the information within the context. Keep a copy in your files. When you go for the interview, sell yourself. If you show confidence in your ability they will pickup on that and your enthusiasm. Be prepared to demonstrate your skill if asked. Good luck.

[SeeClearly]

Candyman is right. Have all sign ahead of time due to possible problems. As you getg better and more confident, you will see what I mean about signing afterwards. I do that, but I also know that signing ahead of time is the right way. We make our technicians have all the paperwork signed before they do the repair. As owner of the company, I tend to circumvent the paperwork so I can dig into providing another fine repair .

As for advise, be confident as Candyman says, and don't push the sale too hard. Let them feel comfortable with you. Your comfort will grow in yourself over time. Best of luck.