As you’re sitting at your computer, staring at the accounting software that’s telling you your bank balance is negative, you say to yourself, “I’ve got to get better at collections.” With newfound resolve, you diligently call everyone who owes you money. Except they don’t answer your call, nor do they respond to the voicemails you leave — even though your message politely asked them to. And now you can’t pay the rent. However, you are still the epitome of awesomeness when it comes to the world of HVAC services.

Next month, as you’re watching Cletus and Cooter from Repo World tow away your nearly new, state-of-the-art vehicle, you decide this is all a result of Common Core math, global warming, and a general decline of moral values in the western hemisphere. After all, this couldn’t be your fault.

Two months later, as you’re moving into the homeless shelter, you ask yourself, “What could I have done better?” After all, you found a service people need. You provided it to them better than anyone else in the world. And yet Jimmy at Pirate Heating & Air is living in a brand-new house with cable TV and everything. What does Jimmy know that you don’t? Jimmy knows that collections start before the work ever begins. (Either that or Jimmy has a cousin Vito who’s pretty good at convincing people it’s in their best interest to pay their bills, but for the sake of this article, we’re going to assume the former.)

In the early 1990s, I worked with a consultant named Mack Clark. One of the cornerstones of Clark’s philosophy was that everything in business works better with clearly stated expectations. Everything. Here’s how that advice applies: When you purchase a house, a car, or an appliance, what do you have to do before they let you have that item? You have to pay for it, or at least arrange to borrow the money to pay for it. You don’t drive the new car off the lot and tell the salesman to send you the bill. You can’t leave the appliance store with a new toaster by saying “I’ll catch you next week.” And yet, you’re afraid to ask your customer for the money you just worked so hard to earn. The real estate agent, car salesman, and appliance vendor make it very clear that the item you want is not yours until you pay for it. They have clearly stated expectations.

How about adding one quick, easy phrase right after a customer agrees to the price for your services? Add, “… and how will you be paying today, by credit card or check?” Even better would be to ask the customer the same question when you book the appointment and, yet again, right after the customer agrees to the price on the day of your service delivery. Do you see what’s happened here? You’ve set the expectation with the customer that you are to be paid before you leave the premises. Today. Not next week. Not next month or next year. Today. Ah, the miracle of clearly stated expectations!

If you’re having trouble collecting your money, try this approach. I promise it’s substantially easier to clearly state the expectation of being paid today than it is to repeatedly call the customer and beg them for the money you earned two months ago. You’re not a lending institution, so don’t act like one.

Now, go be the epitome of awesomeness in the HVAC world and collect your money.