Hi all,
I was wondering how you handle billing your clients for additional expenses especially if they pay you via PayPal or Google Checkout.

For example, I have a client that wants me to order something for him. I see two options for doing that. I pay for it and bill him or he gives me a credit card to use. While I don't mind paying for it and billing him, if I pay for it, bill him and he pays me through PayPal, then I'm losing some of it to PayPal fees. On the other hand, I don't feel comfortable marking it up to make him cover the PayPal fees.

How would you all handle it? Should I pay for it and ask him to reimburse me by check?

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Kimberly
Facebook Marketing Magic!

I put in my contracts costs plus 10%. If I have to buy postage for a mailing or what have you, I bill it on my next invoice, with a copy of the documentation (receipt)

That said, I do have clients who have given their payment information to purchase items for them as well. It's their choice at that point.

--Kathy

The only thing I would worry about paying with my money and expecting my client to repay me is - will they actually pay me back?

I guess for my practice, it would depend on on the client's history of payments for using my service and what's needed. If it was something very small, such as postages, etc, I would go ahead and buy them and add it on their bill. But if it's something that's very expensive, I would look at the client's payment history with my service. If he/she had a good payment history, then I may consider purchasing it and then bill the client. If he/she has a poor history, I'd request that they submit me their Credit Card information.

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Brenda A. Jones
www.brevos.com

I would tell the client that you either need a credit card or payment up front. You should not be expected to front the payment for an extra item. I have a client who has a separate credit card for items above normal services (catered lunches, gifts for clients, etc.) You may want to suggest this for the additional items.

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

I'd say to him/her that you either need to have access to a credit card or some other payment method for the item, or that you can pay for it (if s/he has a good payment history with you) and then if s/he uses a credit card there is a % convenience fee (paypal fees). If they are not cool with that, they can just send you a money order/cashier's check. Also, if they are not comfortable with giving you a credit card number of theirs, tell them they can go to a local store and get a green dot card (pre-loadable and re-loadable debit card). That way they can put as much money as they need to purchase those extra items, without having to give you their 'secret' credit card number!

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NuTech VA
www.NuTechVA.com