08/28/2026
Please Read
A Small Business Request — Let’s Talk About Final Payments
Good morning, everyone!
First, I want to say how incredibly blessed I am to have such amazing customers. Many of you have trusted me with multiple projects over the years, recommended my work to others, and continued to support We The People Woodworks LLC. I truly appreciate every one of you.
I operate a professional, legally registered Georgia LLC, and I’m extremely proud of the reputation and reviews I’ve built. My customers routinely trust me enough to send a deposit before I ever begin their project, and I don’t take that trust lightly.
However, I’m running into an issue that is beginning to affect the business: completed orders sitting for one, two, and sometimes three weeks waiting for the remaining balance to be paid.
Once an order is finished, I send photos—and often videos—showing that your item is complete. At that point, I really need the same trust that was given when the deposit was sent. I’m asking that remaining balances be paid within 48 hours of receiving notification that your order is complete.
One of the ways I keep my prices affordable is by keeping my overhead low and not marking up materials. Because of that, money tied up in completed orders can quickly affect the next customer. When several finished projects remain unpaid, I may not have those funds available to purchase materials for upcoming orders. Sometimes that means delaying another customer’s project or using income from my full-time job to keep the shop moving.
Other small-business owners have suggested that I establish a policy where any completed item left unpaid for more than a week is listed for sale. If it sells, the original customer’s deposit would remain toward their order, but they would have to return to the build schedule for me to make another one.
I really don’t want to do that.
So I’d genuinely like some feedback from my customers: What do you think would be a fair policy for completed orders that remain unpaid after 48 hours? I want something that protects the business while still being fair and reasonable to the people who support me.
Thank you again for trusting me with your projects and continuing to come back to me for your woodworking needs. Your support allows this small business to keep doing what I love.
Have a blessed day, and thank you all so much!
Thomas Brannen
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