3 ms·

Limited to "Microsoft Invoicing": >Microsoft Invoicing helps you quickly create professional-looking estimates and invoices, so you get paid quickly. I can as

by jaclaz 9y ago

Limited to "Microsoft Invoicing": >Microsoft Invoicing helps you quickly create professional-looking estimates and invoices, so you get paid quickly. I can assure everyone that I normally (slowly) create manually VERY professional-looking invoices, but that doesn't in any way help me being paid quickly.

simonswords82 9y ago
Ha - excellent spot. Whoever signed off that copy as a benefit needs to rethink that line. I guess they were trying to say if you can produce invoices quickly you can send them sooner which in turn might get you paid sooner - but that's me being very generous to the marketing person behind that statement. You're right, it needs to be re-worded.
tertius 9y ago
Please share some examples of these VERY professional looking invoices. I'll look at the ROI to see if I'd like to do the same. Also, if clients don't pay (and it's not contractual, i.e. 30 days, 90 days) then stop serving them.
- jaclaz 9y ago
  Well, no, I am not attempting to sell a template for professional-looking invoices, it's the good MS guys that are trying to do so. Their invoicing system may well be quick, convenient and what-not, but the actual example seems to me like any other invoice, not in any way "more professional-looking" (I believe that there are not so many ways to write down an invoice BTW) and allow me to believe that (as in the posted example) if you send an invoice: Document Date: July 6, 2017 Due Date: July 20, 2017 it is not likely that it will be payed much earlier than July 20, 2017, particularly if the Billed to is a firm. The whole stuff reminds me of Calvin&Hobbes and the secret weapon that no teacher can resist: http://kuro.sine.com/calvin-hobbes/89/ch891031.gif http://kuro.sine.com/calvin-hobbes/89/ch891031.gif
  - tertius 9y ago
    > Well, no, I am not attempting to sell a template for professional-looking invoices That sucks, I believe you could literally make tens of dollars doing just that! Before Microsoft corners the market with a free app in their current 17 app business bundle of course.
StavrosK 9y ago
Freshbooks commit the same sin: > Wow your clients with professional looking invoices that take only seconds to create. The best part? You’ll get paid faster, too. I don't really understand how they figure that.
- larrywright 9y ago
  At least in their case, I think that likely refers to the ability to allow your customers to pay online with a credit card.
- dade_ 9y ago
  I think their business benefits are real: Small business owners are often brutal at sending out invoices. They procrastinate like everyone else. The sooner you send out an invoice, the sooner you will be paid. Also, tracking payments provides structure to follow up with your receivables. Often a reminder is all that is needed for payment. Customers just forget, but do want to pay. Clear invoices that are easy to understand will also have fewer questions and are less likely to be contested.
  - StavrosK 9y ago
    Does Microsoft's product not do these things?

by jaclaz 9y ago

simonswords82 9y ago

Ha - excellent spot. Whoever signed off that copy as a benefit needs to rethink that line. I guess they were trying to say if you can produce invoices quickly you can send them sooner which in turn might get you paid sooner - but that's me being very generous to the marketing person behind that statement. You're right, it needs to be re-worded.

tertius 9y ago

Please share some examples of these VERY professional looking invoices. I'll look at the ROI to see if I'd like to do the same. Also, if clients don't pay (and it's not contractual, i.e. 30 days, 90 days) then stop serving them.

jaclaz 9y ago
Well, no, I am not attempting to sell a template for professional-looking invoices, it's the good MS guys that are trying to do so. Their invoicing system may well be quick, convenient and what-not, but the actual example seems to me like any other invoice, not in any way "more professional-looking" (I believe that there are not so many ways to write down an invoice BTW) and allow me to believe that (as in the posted example) if you send an invoice: Document Date: July 6, 2017 Due Date: July 20, 2017 it is not likely that it will be payed much earlier than July 20, 2017, particularly if the Billed to is a firm. The whole stuff reminds me of Calvin&Hobbes and the secret weapon that no teacher can resist: http://kuro.sine.com/calvin-hobbes/89/ch891031.gif http://kuro.sine.com/calvin-hobbes/89/ch891031.gif
- tertius 9y ago
  > Well, no, I am not attempting to sell a template for professional-looking invoices That sucks, I believe you could literally make tens of dollars doing just that! Before Microsoft corners the market with a free app in their current 17 app business bundle of course.

StavrosK 9y ago

Freshbooks commit the same sin: > Wow your clients with professional looking invoices that take only seconds to create. The best part? You’ll get paid faster, too. I don't really understand how they figure that.

larrywright 9y ago
At least in their case, I think that likely refers to the ability to allow your customers to pay online with a credit card.
dade_ 9y ago
I think their business benefits are real: Small business owners are often brutal at sending out invoices. They procrastinate like everyone else. The sooner you send out an invoice, the sooner you will be paid. Also, tracking payments provides structure to follow up with your receivables. Often a reminder is all that is needed for payment. Customers just forget, but do want to pay. Clear invoices that are easy to understand will also have fewer questions and are less likely to be contested.
- StavrosK 9y ago
  Does Microsoft's product not do these things?