You’ve just finished a job and feel pretty good about it. You did your best work; now it’s time to get paid. That’s the best part, right? The reward for a job well done! But here’s the thing. Getting paid can be a bit of a mess for many small businesses. There’s no real system in place, so it’s kind of all over the place.
Maybe you have one client who only pays in cash, so you have to go to the bank every time to deposit money. And then there’s the client who loves to send checks in the mail, which take over a week to arrive.
It doesn’t have to be this way. With the right tools, you can systemize your billing to allow fast, convenient payments. We’d like to introduce you to Townsquare Interactive’s all-in-one business management platform.
In this article, we’ll explore how our CRM could be the answer to all your payment problems.
What is Townsquare Interactive’s CRM?
You might be wondering what a “CRM” is and why it’s helpful in streamlining payments. CRM stands for “customer relationship management,” and it’s a central place to store all your customer information to keep things organized.
But our CRM with payment processing goes above and beyond. Sure, it has all the basics, like contact info and notes. But our robust platform offers a whole suite of tools specifically designed for small service-based businesses like HVAC companies, contractors, lawyers, restaurants, and more. You get integrated features like:
- Email/SMS marketing to easily communicate with customers
- Shared calendars to schedule jobs and appointments
- Contact management to store information for clients and leads
- An integrated inbox to keep track of your conversations
- E-commerce functionality to track sales.
In addition, we also have features explicitly made to get paid. These are the ones we’ll focus on for this article.
Our Merchant Services
The first one is the feature that will make the most significant difference when it comes to getting paid: our merchant services. It acts as an integrated payment gateway when collecting money from customers. They can enter their card details into your CRM, allowing instant transfers directly to your bank account.
It’s as convenient as if they went to the store to buy something for both you and the client. Want to accept credit cards? No problem. Our platform makes it easy to set that up, and it looks super professional.
Processing credit cards through your CRM rather than a third-party provider has some major advantages:
Fast Access to Funds
When you use our merchant services, you’re getting paid in the quickest way possible. The money goes straight from your client’s account to yours. No middleman, no waiting around
Think about your cash flow. The faster you get paid, the better off you’ll be. You can pay your bills on time, invest in your business, and just have a little extra breathing room.
Security
Security is our top concern when it comes to payments. We understand it’s a big deal for your clients to trust you with their payment info, so we make sure everything is secure. As such, you can expect our platform to use industry-standard protections to keep all financial data safe from hackers. Clients can trust you’re handling their info responsibly.
No Hidden Fees
Many payment processors tack on random charges that eat into your profits. Our merchant services have no surprise costs or setup fees. What you see is what you get. That way, it becomes easier to get a handle on your budgeting and plan for the future.
Integration
The payment gateway also integrates with all our other small business tools (the rest of the CRM.) Everything is connected. For example, you can view who still owes money on your dashboard or automatically send follow-up emails to thank clients for their business after a transaction.
Professional Estimates, Invoices, and Billing
Next, let’s discuss estimates and invoices. You know how important these are if you’re in a service-based business. Unprofessional or confusing paperwork is another obstacle to getting paid promptly.
A lot of small businesses start with an estimate, especially for bigger jobs. But here’s the thing. If you’re just giving a verbal estimate over the phone, that’s not very professional. Your clients want something they can see and refer back to. Without clearly outlining what a client owes and when they should pay, you’re bound to encounter payment delays.
Townsquare Interactive’s billing solution eliminates this problem by making it simple to create polished estimates and invoices. You can customize templates with your logo, colors, and content to align with your brand and business needs.
Some key features include:
Custom Estimates
Every business is different, and so is every job. That’s why our CRM with payment processing lets you create custom estimates in just a few minutes. You can tailor the estimate to fit the specific job and client. Add in all the details so there’s no confusion later on.
Plus, since everything is integrated into the CRM, you can send the estimate straight to your client from the platform. No more back-and-forth or waiting for approval.
Easy Invoicing
Invoicing is just as easy. We provide templates you can customize and reuse, so you’re not always starting from scratch. You can include all the essential details like itemized services, taxes, and payment terms.
Mobile Access
We know a lot of small business owners are always on the go. You’re out there hustling, meeting with clients, and getting the job done. Our iOS and Android apps allow you to create invoices on the go while meeting clients or completing jobs.
You can access all the features from your phone or tablet, no matter where you are.
Trust Townsquare Interactive For All Your Payment Needs
As a busy small business owner, you have enough to worry about without constantly tracking down client payments. Townsquare Interactive’s CRM provides all-in-one tools to get you paid faster.
You can provide estimates upfront, invoice for services rendered, and then collect instant credit card payments. It’s a seamless system to go from quoting to getting paid in the most efficient way possible.
Don’t let a disjointed payment process slow down your growing company. Contact us today to get paid with a CRM and get paid faster!