Dealing with Schools and Universities

[ROADSIDE]

So....
I find myself dealing with more and more schools and university organizations.
Anyone have any tips as far as contracts or forms you may use to make sure you get paid?
I know most of the time the work with a PO but I am some what new to the scene.

We have been a cash and carry shop for the most part.

[yaleteamsandtees]

Try and issue an invoice when you take the order
or very soon thereafter.

This way they can encumber the funds
and it might speed up the payment process.

Maybe try a 1% net 10 discount for early payment.

Do you take plastic at all?

We didn't for decades and it has really helped
a lot since we started taking them.

They submit an order, with their credit card number attached,
we print it and when completed we run the card and get paid.

Some schools we learned to send an order COD.

It's really amazing how quickly they can find a check when they have to!!

-Rob

[ROADSIDE]

yeah we take plastic....

Profits nearly quadrupled when we started.

I guess I just need better terms with my distributors.
I am on net 30 terms with most of them but the dollar amount is under 3g's so it kinda handcuffs me.

[Fresh Mode]

Some of these players will bring a check and present it upon pickup of goods but most are on a net 30 turnaround and there is no changing it. 99% of the time, they have an accounting dept that has been doing business the same way for X amount of years and they have no intention of changing it. I have had luck getting a deposit but they uasually only do this for the first order placed. All orders after that, they don't want to bother issuing 2 P.O.'s per order.

[Fresh Mode]

Also, how about setting up a corporate credit card and buying the goods with it, depending on the billing cycle it can sometimes give you about 40 days before you need to make a payment.