Home/GoCardless
Payments
GoCardless for window cleaners
Direct Debit turns "chasing payment" into "payment already arrived" — here's how it actually works for a window cleaning round, independent of whatever software you use to run it.
What Direct Debit actually solves
Invoicing tells a customer what they owe. Direct Debit collects it without them having to do anything — no bank transfer to remember, no card details to type in each time, no invoice sitting unpaid because the customer meant to get round to it. For a window cleaning round, where the amount is small and recurring, that's usually a bigger win than chasing better invoice design.
How it works, in practice
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| Set up | Customer authorises a Direct Debit mandate once — typically an online form, no paperwork to post |
| Collection | You (or your software) submit a collection request; the money moves automatically on the date set |
| Timing | Direct Debit collections typically take a few working days to clear — not instant like a card payment |
| Fees | GoCardless and similar providers charge a small percentage per transaction — check current rates on their site, as these change |
Where this fits a recurring round
Because a window cleaning round is naturally recurring — the same customer, the same rough amount, every few weeks — it's one of the clearer use cases for Direct Debit versus a one-off purchase. The mandate is set up once and then collections happen on whatever cycle you choose, without a fresh invoice needing to be chased each time.
What to weigh up before setting it up
- The percentage fee — it eats into the margin on every job, so it matters more on lower-priced work than higher-priced work.
- The collection delay — Direct Debit isn't instant, so cash flow timing is different from being paid on the day.
- Customer comfort — some customers are happy to set up a mandate once; others prefer paying per visit. Offering it as an option rather than the only method tends to work better.
- Does MyRound integrate with GoCardless?
- Not currently — this page covers the general mechanics of Direct Debit collection, independent of MyRound. Payments and invoicing in MyRound are tracked from marked-off jobs.
- Is Direct Debit worth it for a small round?
- It depends on how much time chasing payment currently costs you versus the percentage fee — for rounds with a lot of small, recurring invoices, it's often a reasonable trade.
- How long does it take to set up with a new customer?
- Typically a short online form the customer completes once — no paperwork to post back and forth.
Track what's paid, however it arrives
Free while MyRound is in beta — on iPhone and Android.
Part of running the whole round
- Window cleaning invoicing app — tracking who's paid, whatever the payment method
- Window cleaning round management — how payments fit with scheduling and routing