The problem
A wedding DJ takes a deposit a year ahead, then needs the balance a few weeks before the day, just when couples are paying every supplier at once. A DJ with 4 weddings a month who spends about 40 minutes per wedding on reminders, checking the bank and chasing late payers spends 160 minutes a month, and every so often is still waiting on the night.
What the AI does
GoCardless collects payments from customers' bank accounts by Direct Debit, with no monthly fee; its pricing page lists one-off, subscription and installment payments on all plans. Send couples a GoCardless link or QR code when they book so they set up a mandate, then collect the balance on the date in your contract. If a couple asks to spread it, its help center says installment plans can be set up in the dashboard and stop automatically when complete. The dashboard shows whether each payment has gone through, so you only phone couples whose payment fails.
A worked example
A wedding DJ in Nottinghamshire plays about 4 weddings a month with an average balance of $1,197£900€1,071A$1,728C$1,692. New couples set up a Direct Debit when they pay the deposit, and the balance is collected 6 weeks before the wedding.
Before
About 40 minutes per wedding chasing and checking the balance: 4 × 40 = 160 minutes a month
After
About 10 minutes per wedding setting up the payment and checking it cleared: 40 minutes a month
What it's worth
About $67£50€60A$96C$94 a month saved, against about $21£16€19A$31C$30 to $25£19€23A$36C$36 in GoCardless fees. That's 2 hours (160 minus 40 minutes) at an assumed $33£25€30A$48C$47 an hour. On the Standard plan a $1,197£900€1,071A$1,728C$1,692 payment would cost 1% + 20p, $12.24£9.20€10.95A$17.66C$17.30, but fees are capped at $5£4€5A$8C$8 so 4 balances is $21£16€19A$31C$30 or about $25£19€23A$36C$36 with VAT if you aren't VAT-registered. Splitting a balance into installments means a fee on each one.
How to set it up
- Create a GoCardless account and add your business and bank details.
- Add a Direct Debit clause to your contract: the balance, the collection date and that the couple can cancel the mandate with their bank.
- Send each new couple the GoCardless link or QR code to set up their mandate when they pay the deposit.
- Schedule the balance for the date in the contract, or set up an installment plan if the couple asks.
- Check the dashboard a week before each wedding and phone anyone whose payment failed.
What goes wrong
- A Direct Debit can fail if the account is short or the couple cancels the mandate. You still need a plan for an unpaid balance before the day.
- Couples are protected by the Direct Debit Guarantee and can ask their bank for a refund, so keep your contract and payment records.
- Fees are per payment. Six small installments cost more than one balance payment, as the 20p is charged each time.
- Automatic recovery of failed payments (Success+) comes with the Advanced and Pro plans, which have higher fees.