Friend ordered something from business and hasn’t paid

[SmallWorrier]

This is a really awkward situation! I recently started my own business where I sell goods that I’ve made. Im lucky it took off quickly and am managing to make it work so far. I mostly sell to strangers as I knew I’d struggle to sell and take money from friends if they ordered. These items are for children.

a couple of friends have ordered for their children and I’ve always sold them much lower than I would to strangers, not making a profit but breaking even on materials. A friend asked about ordering 3 items for her daughter for Christmas, which would usually have come to £30. I told her £10 would be ok. She took the items and her daughter got them for Christmas and has been wearing them however she didn’t pay for them. At the time I offered bank details and she said she’d pay cash. I’ve seen her a few times and last time I mentioned her daughter looked nice in what I’d made and her reply was “oh I’ll pay you at some point.” The woman is usually complaining about being skint however books nice holidays etc. I feel awkward but frustrated as I did them at a cheap price anyway and taking on her order before Christmas meant I couldn’t take on as many other ones (I only take so many a month to make sure they get done in good time and I don’t overwhelm myself). This is the reason I don’t want to take orders from friends!! I’ve asked a couple of times now with no reply. I don’t want to lose the friendship or people think ill of me by pushing it, especially in our small community. WIBU to ask again for the money or should I just let it go?

I wouldn't bother with the breezy "I'm just balancing my books" line, it is a crutch.

Just get in there and say you want your money. I'd arrange to meet her early Feb, (presuming she works and will be paid end of Jan) and then spring it on her face to face march her to a cash machine if you have to or shame her into treating you

If you can't ask a friend for the money she owes your business, how are you going to deal with other people taking the piss as customers? Hope she pays you ASAP, good luck!

Text her now with your bank details and ask her to transfer the £10. Be sure to tell her you usually charge £30 for those items so she is getting s hefty discount

why are you worried about offending her if she hasn’t been afraid to offend you?

stop doing mates rates and stop giving items before money received

This is really good advice.
you were way too generous with such a huge discount. This is your business. You have already lost money with this arrangement by only charging her the cost amount. What about your time?
Good luck with your business.

You need to separate your friends and your business. If you are running a business, then your friends need to pay, what you'd charge a total stranger. They also need to actually pay you as well!! Ask for payment up front, and then deliver the goods. Your 'friend' is a cheeky mare, and shouldn't take the piss. You need to be firm with her, and explain that you made the goods at a discounted rate, but you still have materials and your time to pay for! Oh and next time, she and everyone else pays upfront!!

How would anyone in your small community find out - unless CF told them? In which case they'd be thinking badly of her, not you!

I'd definitely chase it up - as PP suggested. You are doing end of year accounts and need payment.

It’s crazy that people do this. An acquaintance started a small natural skincare business. I ran into her and her stall at an event and bought a few items to support her business. It didn’t even occur to me to ask for a discount. I did think she was a bit disappointed that I bought the £15 items and not the £40 ones 🤣

OP, next time an friend asks for a discount, you need to channel Veronika:

Stop selling below the price you sell for. You don’t owe them free labour.

lt’s really not just a tenner though is it ? You could have sold them at full price, and your friend doesn’t appreciate that the discount to cost price means she’s not paying you for your time and effort. The very least she could do is not keep you waiting for payment. I would probably let it go if it’s going to impact the friendship, but if she wanted to order again, l wouldn’t hesitate to remind her that she hadn’t paid for the last item, so going forward there are no discounts and it’s payment upfront or no goods.

I wouldn’t cause a fuss for £10 BUT she’s a cheeky fucker and I’d learn from this - no crazy discounts for friends and take deposits upfront.

She’s never going to pay you back. I’d learn from it. Cash before you make it and she pays full price next time.

THIS. I run a business and this is absolutely true.

Stop apologising or feeling bad for asking for payment for your time and effort. This is a business, it's not a charity or outreach service. You didnt set out to decorate your community for free, this is a fair exchange of goods for payment. In future, no mates rates and no items without payment.

If your business is going to survive you are going have to toughen up with this.
If you cannot pay your overheads and bills, it's going to be cold comfort that your friend got away with free stuff. Its been a hard lesson for me to learn too but you cannot allow emotions to get in the way, otherwise your business won't be viable.

This
Would she seriously go into the local shop, buy £10 of stuff and tell them she’ll pay them at some point?! CF!
Do not make anything else for her and insist on cash on delivery in future with everyone else.

You need to get a thicker skin dude or you'll keep getting ripped off.

Money upfront from now on. They know your standards by now. Tell anyone who queries it that you've had a few none payers so you need the money in advance.

Those who don't want to don't get their shit. It's as simple as that.

If you can't find the stones to demand payment, you'll end up repeatedly at a loss.

No, it’s too casual, you’re not asking if she will lay, you’re telling her to pay.
”hi, I’m just sorting my invoices out and notice you've still not paid for your items. Your invoice needs paying by the end of the week. My bank details are XXXXXX, and it’s £10. thanks”

It's the HMRC self assessment deadline on 31st January so this is a great excuse, if she fobs you off any further say your taxes are due on the 31st and you need £5 next week and £5 the week after, any later and your taxes won't be correct for the year. It's a white lie but she probably won't know. Even if you're currently not making enough to file a self assessment she won't know. And never sell to her again!

It's not though - the assessment deadline of 31st jan is for income from April 24- April 2025. If she sold this stuff to her friend at Christmas that would fall in the next self assessment. I just wouldn't give her any excuse to get out of it and why should she need to give an excuse anyway?

From one small business person to another…..

1 Learn from this.
2 Toughen up.
3 Stop selling yourself short, no one will respect you for this.
4 Do not to sell to CF (as that’s what she is, she is not a friend as a friend wouldn’t screw you over) without full, ( not discounted, )payment upfront.

For £10 it's not worth making a huge deal, but that's probably what she is hoping for so I wouldn't fully let it go.
You could tell her that unless the items are paid within X days, you'll unfortunately have to ban her from any future order.

It's also lesson learned though, anytime I've bought from friends or neighbours they've asked for payment on or before collection.

This is a big lesson for you and probably worth losing a tenner (if she never pays) just to confirm what you already suspected about selling to friends.

In future just direct friends to your website and let them pay full price like everyone else.

Do you normally sell online? In future don’t let then pay cash etc say all orders are online so they have to pay like normal. Xo

Moral of the story, never hand over goods to anyone without payment. When she was going to pick up you should have said that will be £10. Please bring cash.

Going forward no friend discounts they just purchase the normal way….. its such a piss take, hate to hear people doing this. I would struggle to be friends with her really as it’s such bad manners. And unappreciative.

1. Send her a remittance notice right now. Just be factual. “You still haven’t paid for your things and I need to balance my books.”
2. Dont give your friends special prices. This is your business and they need to respect that.
3. Learn from the situation and don’t let it happen again 😊