Nationwide Restaurant Chain

[ptonsparky]

Are large restaurant franchises typically hard to collect from? Next power outage their food and beer can rot in the freezer until I get cash up front. Won't be a next time actually.

 

[ultramegabob]

It usually takes between 30 to 60 days.

 

[ptonsparky]

7 months might be a bit long then?

 

[wbalsam1]

When I was conducting inspections, I learned to get a check the day they needed services or the wait could be horrendous.

 

[ivsenroute]

Many national companies take up to 180 days to pay. The contractors who do work for them are overcharging to make up for the delay in many cases.

 

[BryanMD]

Years ago I worked for restuarant equipment repair co. I'll tell you how we did it.

First, you have to know where the real invoice goes. (hint: it is NOT to the individual store). Send a zerox copy to the store but send the real one to the franchisee's office so you KNOW they got it on time. Very often the store manager will hold your invoice to send in with the following months bills if his numbers that month are poor and the folks who write the checks don't even know they owe you money for 6-8 weeks after the service was provided.

If this service is for any you don't have a continuing relationship don't be afraid to INSIST on being paid cash at the time the repair was done. They have cash there.

Hope that helps.

 

[mdshunk]

Franchises are notoriously slow payers, but you almost always get paid. I was doing work for a Denny's store for years, then they suddenly stopped paying. The corporate response was that the manager wasn't authorized to order those particular repairs. I stopped in the store one day, showed the manager Denny's email, and suggested that I'd take it up with him personally at the local magistrate's court. He paid me out of the till. Little bars and mom & pop type deli's typically pay you right out of the till when you're done.

 

[GUNNING]

I did a repair on a night club once. Came back the next day to get paid and they said "who are you?" Went to the land lord. He had short loud words with them. Slammed the phone down. Went back and the check was waiting.
I have a list of three things on the white board. Go where the money is. Finish projects. No Restaurants. I ALWAYS get stiffed on restaurants. Not worth the time.

 

[tonyou812]

it took Hooters about 16 weeks to pay me. And when I called them I got the usuall bullship story.

 

[wbalsam1]

it took Hooters about 16 weeks to pay me. And when I called them I got the usuall bullship story.

I would have gone there every day without fail and hung around waiting and watching, looking for my pay.

 

[growler]

Are large restaurant franchises typically hard to collect from? Next power outage their food and beer can rot in the freezer until I get cash up front. Won't be a next time actually.

Is this franchise owned locally or by a large corporation that has the main office half a world away. The secret to collecting from a large corporation in to make sure that someone that is actually authorized approves the work before it's done. This will often mean getting a PO or authorization number and then it takes abot 60 days.

If you are dealing with some local then talk to the person that actually writes the checks.

 

[Greg Swartz]

Many national companies take up to 180 days to pay. The contractors who do work for them are overcharging to make up for the delay in many cases.

I agree with both of those statements.

...First, you have to know where the real invoice goes. (hint: it is NOT to the individual store). Send a zerox copy to the store but send the real one to the franchisee's office so you KNOW they got it on time. Very often the store manager will hold your invoice to send in with the following months bills if his numbers that month are poor and the folks who write the checks don't even know they owe you money for 6-8 weeks after the service was provided...

In my experience, this is also true.

... Little bars and mom & pop type deli's typically pay you right out of the till when you're done...

I have also had this happen. Note: Little bars...

 

[megloff11x]

My dad told me when they built a big mall in upstate NY on top of an old toxic waster site next to a polluted lake, the mall builder was notorious for stiffing his contractors. Just days before the mall was set to open, the power hookup was still temporary license to the electrical contractor.

They called in Niagra Mohawk Power and the mall builder. The contractor told him they wanted a certified check now or they were pulling out, and absent final inspection, etc., the power company would take the power hook-up with them. The Power company man confirmed this, finding it hard to conceal his grin.

They said the mall builder stomped down the hall punching the concrete walls, but gave them their certified check.

They were about the only contractors who got paid on that job.

I'm not sure if the story is completely true - Dad's sometimes prevaricate when telling tales to their wide eyed offspring (I also didn't figure out that my Uncle's blood wasn't green and that's why he never got poison ivy until I was in my teens).

Brownells Gunsmithing Supply sells a sign (or used to) that says:

"We require a 50% down payment from customers we don't know, and a 100% down payment from some of the customers that we do know..."

Matt

 

[Rockyd]

Large oil companies are notoriuously slow. Seen a lot of "one time wonders" on pipeline projects. Oil companies sit on the money for at least 90 days, or if you don't like that, they can pay you right now...at 70% on the dollar! Shenanigans that happen in the oil patch over money are the stuff legends are made of.

Do a a fair bid, double it, might get a couple of nickels.

 

[Greg Swartz]

My dad told me when they built a big mall in upstate NY on top of an old toxic waster site next to a polluted lake, the mall builder was notorious for stiffing his contractors. Just days before the mall was set to open, the power hookup was still temporary license to the electrical contractor.

They called in Niagra Mohawk Power and the mall builder. The contractor told him they wanted a certified check now or they were pulling out, and absent final inspection, etc., the power company would take the power hook-up with them. The Power company man confirmed this, finding it hard to conceal his grin.

They said the mall builder stomped down the hall punching the concrete walls, but gave them their certified check.

They were about the only contractors who got paid on that job.

I'm not sure if the story is completely true - Dad's sometimes prevaricate when telling tales to their wide eyed offspring (I also didn't figure out that my Uncle's blood wasn't green and that's why he never got poison ivy until I was in my teens).

Brownells Gunsmithing Supply sells a sign (or used to) that says:

"We require a 50% down payment from customers we don't know, and a 100% down payment from some of the customers that we do know..."

Matt

The hardest company I had to collect from was General Growth Properties (GGP). It took 8 months and a collection agency... and the bill was only $400. They are one of the largest mall builders around... and if you follow the Wall Street Journal, GGP is in there nearly every day... I think on Friday, they will be declaring bankruptcy!

 

[norcal]

The hardest company I had to collect from was General Growth Properties (GGP). It took 8 months and a collection agency... and the bill was only $400. They are one of the largest mall builders around... and if you follow the Wall Street Journal, GGP is in there nearly every day... I think on Friday, they will be declaring bankruptcy!

Think they already have......

 

[hillbilly1]

The quickest paying one I've run across is Waffle House, at least at corporate level. We would wire a new restaurant, and if they were no problems, they paid in 7 days or less. We never had an invoice run 30 days. Of course this was years ago and with a different company at that time, so that may have changed nowadays. They were their own G.C.'s too.

 

[Fulthrotl]

Are large restaurant franchises typically hard to collect from? Next power outage their food and beer can rot in the freezer until I get cash up front. Won't be a next time actually.

machine shops. sigh.

everything i know about chasing deadbeat money, laundering checks, and
every type of nefarious activity know to man was taught to me by a
machine shop owner, usually an aerospace subcontractor.

i had one guy, who was running 24-7, who announced he was 90 days net,
while using a 200 amp 480 circuit i had provided. after chasing him for
a couple weeks, i walked into his shop on a friday evening, just at lunchtime
for the swing shift, and in 30 minutes, the breaker came out of the gear,
and the 4/0 came out of the pipe, and i wrote "wire and breaker repossessed
for nonpayment" in a sharpie on the front of the gear.

cutting your losses, and your wire....

 

[mxslick]

... i walked into his shop on a friday evening, just at lunchtime
for the swing shift, and in 30 minutes, the breaker came out of the gear,
and the 4/0 came out of the pipe, and i wrote "wire and breaker repossessed
for nonpayment" in a sharpie on the front of the gear.

Very bad move, you can be charged for theft and possibly trespassing. Once the work is completed and you have presented a bill with ANY terms other than C.O.D., you cannot "repossess" the materials for nonpayment. You must follow state laws and file a mechanic's lien and then you will be awarded your bill plus legal costs.

Not to mention the fact that a machine shop is full of many tools and materials that could be used as a weapon.

Movie theatres, both independant and large chains, are notorious for slow or non-payment.

 

[jrannis]

Very bad move, you can be charged for theft and possibly trespassing. Once the work is completed and you have presented a bill with ANY terms other than C.O.D., you cannot "repossess" the materials for nonpayment. You must follow state laws.

Well I guess If everybody played by the rules he would have been paid. Seems to me like the customer threw down the gauntlet and Fulthrotl picked it up.
I think Fulthrotl should get a 21 bender salute.