do you count cash infront of your customer?

So Ive got a few questions for all the pro's here.

1 - When you are paid in cash, do you count it in front of them? I know this can seem rude by some, but so is a call later when you discovered you weren't paid enough.

2 - When you are waiting for a client to arrive, with nothing to do, how do you greet them? Do you let them knock, wait at the door as they walk up, greet them at their car?

My studio window is right next to the door so im well aware of when people arrive and they can see me at my desk as they pull in. I feel weird watching the parking lot and usually wait a second for them to get out of their car and wait at the door way or walk up a few feet from the door outside.

1. No, I do not count, nor did I have to call later (thank goodness).

2. I shoot on location so I'm usually right there when the clients arrive. If I had a studio, I'd wait till they knock on the door and greet them there.

I was paid cash today, so I counted it quickly, a bit to quick, but thankfully it was all there. I think I prefer to be paid by checks, at least that way I got a document to go back to later if I need to. And they will have a bit more protection as well, not that they need it from me, but they may not know that.

Another question, those that accept cash, do you use a pen or some sort of test to check for counterfeit money? My senior reps parents like to pay with $100 bills. And if so, this has to be much more rude to do infront of a client than simply counting.

I have a studio, but do most of my work on location. Sometimes I just meet them at the studio and go from there since its an easy place to meet, well for me ti is, they always go next door then find they are at the wrong spot, but thats another story. Im working on a directions.mydomain.co​m to help fix that, with pictures from both directions.

When you buy something for cash in a store do they count it or just take your word for it?

Personally I don't get paid much in cash as I'm virtually 100% B2B but on the odd job I have had too damn right I'll count it - espacially if they are not friends.

I always count it, a mistake isn't necessarily a bad intention.

When you go to a store and hand them a pile of cash they count it to verify the amount, why should a photographer being paid in cash be any different. This is business and any smart business person will confirm that they got the right amount.

Yes, I count it quickly.
Canadian counterfeit money is easy to tell. All you need is light to see the difference between real and fake!

Only once I've been short changed. It was a friend of one of my good friends and it was only a dollar, so I didn't bother telling her she was short! Besides I got more business from her, so.... (shrugging shoulders)!

gfp wrote in post #12325238
So Ive got a few questions for all the pro's here.

1 - When you are paid in cash, do you count it in front of them? I know this can seem rude by some, but so is a call later when you discovered you weren't paid enough.

2 - When you are waiting for a client to arrive, with nothing to do, how do you greet them? Do you let them knock, wait at the door as they walk up, greet them at their car?

My studio window is right next to the door so im well aware of when people arrive and they can see me at my desk as they pull in. I feel weird watching the parking lot and usually wait a second for them to get out of their car and wait at the door way or walk up a few feet from the door outside.

The only time I'd feel uncomfortable counting cash would be out on the sidewalk.

If I could see my clients approaching the door--and especially if they could see me--I would go to the door to welcome them. This is particularly the case because all my sessions are by appointment only, so we both know that I'm expecting them to arrive at a particular time.

ssim wrote in post #12325885
When you go to a store and hand them a pile of cash they count it to verify the amount, why should a photographer being paid in cash be any different. This is business and any smart business person will confirm that they got the right amount.

Right. What if they overpaid, I'm sure they would appreciate the mistake to be noticed right there on the spot.

When I pay by cash I expect the seller to count it out and demand they do if they don't. I want no questions about the transaction.

ssim wrote in post #12325885
When you go to a store and hand them a pile of cash they count it to verify the amount, why should a photographer being paid in cash be any different. This is business and any smart business person will confirm that they got the right amount.

This.

luciddreamer wrote in post #12326966
When I pay by cash I expect the seller to count it out and demand they do if they don't. I want no questions about the transaction.

And this.

But this isnt walmart, this is suppose to be a higher class experience.

But I think I agree that counting in front of them is a good thing, at least until I can afford to have a financial desk for them to go to before an appointment.

Count it and write or print them out a receipt and write paid in cash and the amount. Nothing wrong with bookkeeping and they appreciate the receipt.

Ive been doing the receipt for years. I created a nice lil document in excel so all I have to do is make a note, the amount, circle the payment method and amount remaining. I do plan to put ads on the back with upcoming specials and promotions, but I keep forgetting to do that part. I wish my laser printer did duplex printing.

As for checking for counterfeits, I don't worry about that. If it's counterfeit, it wouldn't be hard to trace back where it come from, or who passed it along.