Sugar Dot Surveys: Cookie Order Payments

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Welcome to Sugar Dot Surveys! Every other month or so, I post a survey to gather your input on a specific cookie or business topic. Once the survey ends, I compile the results and write a summary post here on Cookie Connection. (You can read my previous surveys and recaps here.)

There's so much that we can learn from each other!

Let's talk money - a sometimes awkward but very necessary conversation! I speak with a lot of cookie decorators who struggle with how to handle the money side of things with their customers. The answers to this survey will help you to see what others are doing so you can (hopefully) handle your invoicing and payment processing more successfully.

This survey is for those of us in the business of SELLING COOKIES. All questions refer to how you handle the invoicing and payment on your cookie orders. PLEASE DO NOT ANSWER THIS SURVEY IF YOU DO NOT TAKE COOKIE ORDERS.

Please answer each question keeping in mind what you MOST OFTEN do. Of course there are exceptions, but we can learn better when we see how things are handled in a typical situation.

Thank you in advance for participating!

Please share this survey with your cookie friends so that we can get input from as many cookiers as possible! I plan to start compiling results on September 15, so be sure to answer this survey before then.

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS (PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU TAKE THE SURVEY!)
(1) Open-ended (aka fill-in-the-blank or "Other") responses below are limited to 255 characters. If you run out of space on any question, feel free to elaborate in the comments area under this survey, but please identify the question (by number) to which you're responding.
(2) Unfortunately, our survey software will not allow you to skip questions. You must answer every one, or the system won't accept any of your responses. If a question does not apply to you, simply select "N/A" (not applicable) in multiple choice questions or write "N/A" in fill-in-the-blank questions. Thanks!

Let's get started!

ADDENDUM (October 25, 2019): Read the recap article summarizing these survey results here.

Q1: Do you email an invoice to your customers in advance of order pickup/delivery?

Yes, close to the time of order

Yes, though later in the process closer to order pickup/delivery

No, I present an invoice AT pickup/delivery only

No, I never present an invoice

Q2: When do you require payment for cookie orders?

Again, state your typical policy for most orders. Of course there are some situations (family, for example) that might cause you to bend policies, but we are not talking about exceptions here.

Full payment is required at the time of ordering

Deposit is required at the time of ordering; balance is due AT pickup/delivery

Deposit is required at the time of ordering; balance is due BEFORE pickup/delivery

Full payment is due at pickup/delivery; no deposit necessary

Q3: If you take deposits on orders, how much do you take typically?

Please answer in terms of percent of total order value (i.e., 30% or 50%, for example). If you don't typically take deposits, answer "N/A".

Your Opinion Required

Q4: If you allow final payment at pickup/delivery (i.e., you DON'T require full payment up front), why?

Write "N/A" if this question doesn't apply to you (i.e., if you require full payment up front).

Your Opinion Required

Q5: If you allow final payment at pickup/delivery, how typical is it for you not to receive full payment at that time?

When answering, consider any reason for not getting paid in full - i.e., no show, light on cash, forgot the checkbook, dissatisfied with your product (God forbid!), etc. Again, select "N/A" if this question doesn't apply to you (i.e., you require full payment up front).

Typical, I've been short-changed on many occasions

Not too typical, but there have been a few times when I haven't received payment in full at pickup/delivery

Not at all typical - my customers have always paid in full at pickup/delivery

N/A - I don't allow final payment at pickup/delivery

Q6: Which of the following options best describes what you do when you are not paid in full at the time of pickup/delivery?

Again, select "N/A" if this question doesn't apply to you (i.e., you require full payment up front or you've never not been paid in full). If you select "Other", please clearly describe your collections process.

Nothing, I just hope that the customer will eventually pay me, and cut my losses if s/he does not

I email and/or resend invoices until I am paid in full

I email and/or resend invoices until I am paid in full AND charge interest or late fees on past due payments

N/A - I require payment in full up front

N/A - I have never not been paid in full

Other

Q7: If you don't allow payment at pick up/delivery (i.e., you DO require full payment up front), why?

Write "N/A" if this question doesn't apply to you (i.e., you allow final payment at pickup/delivery).

Your Opinion Required

Q8: What means of payment do you accept for cookie orders?

Please check all that apply. If you choose "Other", please let us know what means you use.

PayPal

Wave

QuickBooks

Square

Venmo

Cash App

Check

Cash

Other

Q9: Do you have a business bank account?

Yes

Q10: What program or method do you use for invoicing and/or accounting/bookkeeping?

Please check all that apply. If you choose "Other", please let us know what method or program you use.

Square

QuickBooks

Wave

Worksheets that I created in Excel or with other spreadsheet software

Handwritten invoices

Handwritten bookkeeping

Nothing - I don't write invoices or do any formal bookkeeping

Other

Q11: What's your biggest frustration or problem that you encounter in the invoicing and payment process?

Your Opinion Required

Q12: Please share your best piece of advice for managing invoicing and payments successfully.

Your Opinion Required

Q13: How long have you been selling cookies?

Less than 1 year (brand new)

1 to 2 years (getting going)

3 to 5 years (on my way)

More than 5 years (established business)

Q14: Which statement best characterizes the type of cookie orders that you take?

Note: By "custom" orders, we mean ones that involve ANY degree of customization or personalization to meet customers' specific requests, i.e., adding writing, changing colors on an existing design, developing a brand new design, delivering at special times, etc. "Standard" orders are ones that involve preexisting designs with NO alterations, or are pre-orders of "special offer"-type sets to be delivered/picked up at times you designate.

I only do custom orders

I mostly do custom orders

I do about an even mix of standard and custom orders

I mostly do standard orders

I only do standard orders

Q15: If you take both custom and standard orders, do you handle the invoicing and payment processing differently for those different types of orders?

Please state "yes" or "no", and then explain how, if at all, you handle the invoicing and payment processes differently. Or, if you don't, why you don't. If you don't take both types of orders, then write "N/A".

Your Opinion Required

Q16: Which statement below best describes where you make/sell your cookies?

If you select "Other", please describe where you make/sell your cookies.

I operate my cookie business from my home and allow customers to pick up orders at any time

I operate my cookie business from my home, but only allow customers to pick up orders at scheduled times

I operate my cookie business from a brick-and-mortar location (outside of my home) where customers can pick up cookie orders at any time

I operate my cookie business from a brick-and-mortar location (outside of my home), but only allow customers to pick up orders at scheduled times

Other

Q17: Do you have a photo that you would be willing to share with us?

Dotty would love photos to go with the recap of this survey! She's not sure if any of you have pics of money changing hands or credit cards being processed, so how about sending in a photo of YOU cookieing . . . cutting dough, decorating, at your booth, teaching a class - whatever?! Please send your photo to Dotty through a private message here on Cookie Connection. Let Dotty know: (1) the photo description, (2) your first and last name, (3) your business name, if applicable, and (4) the link to your site, if applicable. Thanks!

To send a photo, just click on "Dotty" above in pink. That will take you to her Cookie Connection profile. From there, you can send a private message.

Yes, I'll send you a photo

No, sorry

Posted by SugarDotCookies · 8/25/198:37 AM

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Q1: Do you email an invoice to your customers in advance of order pickup/delivery?

Q2: When do you require payment for cookie orders?

Q3: If you take deposits on orders, how much do you take typically?

Q4: If you allow final payment at pickup/delivery (i.e., you DON'T require full payment up front), why?

Q5: If you allow final payment at pickup/delivery, how typical is it for you not to receive full payment at that time?

Q6: Which of the following options best describes what you do when you are not paid in full at the time of pickup/delivery?

Q7: If you don't allow payment at pick up/delivery (i.e., you DO require full payment up front), why?

Q8: What means of payment do you accept for cookie orders?

Q9: Do you have a business bank account?

Q10: What program or method do you use for invoicing and/or accounting/bookkeeping?

Q11: What's your biggest frustration or problem that you encounter in the invoicing and payment process?

Q12: Please share your best piece of advice for managing invoicing and payments successfully.

Q13: How long have you been selling cookies?

Q14: Which statement best characterizes the type of cookie orders that you take?

Q15: If you take both custom and standard orders, do you handle the invoicing and payment processing differently for those different types of orders?

Q16: Which statement below best describes where you make/sell your cookies?

Q17: Do you have a photo that you would be willing to share with us?

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