Receipts?

Receipts?
By Jeff Stone

For those who’ve been with us for a few issues now, hopefully you’ve discovered the purpose of the No Stone Left Unturned Column. The whole point is to cover the business of running your magic business. Everything from marketing to taxes and beyond. This month’s article was actually inspired by a thread I read on The Magic Cafe. The question was basically, “should I give out receipts and what should they look like.”

The simple answer is “yes” and they should look professional. The end. However, let’s take a moment and leave no stone unturned as we dive into the specifics. First, without a receipt or invoice, you communicate to your client that this is more of a hobby than a business. If you’re charging for your show, it’s a business; treat it like one. Make sure you have letterhead, business cards, and a receipt or an invoice.

Here’s a sample of the invoice that I use. You’ll notice that it has a line for “Customer Signature.” This was only used in cases where they were not paying on the spot. In that case, it became an invoice, and they were signing it saying that they owed me that amount. A copy of it would then be mailed to them.

If they were paying on the spot (99% of my clients), then they did not sign it. They kept it as a receipt. If you have a logo, you need to have it on your receipt. I created mine as a word document, and I print them out for each client. Of course this is mostly advice for a set gig rather than a recurring gig like a restaurant. With restaurants, you want to have a contract rather than a one-time receipt. Then, of course, based on the terms of the contract, you will give your restaurant owner/manager an invoice periodically.

At the very worst case, if you don’t have a computer, and don’t have the resources to create receipts, go to an office supply store and buy a receipt book. They’re inexpensive, and they communicate that you are a professional. Also, consider going to a professional printer to have custom receipts and invoices printed for you. In many cases, the print shop will have a designer on hand who can help you design the layout and even a logo.

A straighforward question gets a straightforward answer. That’s it for this month’s issue of No Stone Left Unturned. Until Next Month…

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