Am I obligated to share receipts with a customer?
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Am I obligated to share receipts with a customer?
They want to see our purchase receipts to argue over our mark-up. The customer had a landscaper putting in his lawn. he fired him. The main contractor recommended us. We told a price; he said do it. We did it sent a bill. He said he had to share the bill with his accountant. He came back and said he needed it broken down. We broke it down by job. He came back still not paying saying we broke it down wrong he wanted labor broken out and wanted to see the mark up. We sent that he came back with another demand I do not recall. Now he is demanding to see our purchase reciepts. My husband wants to put a lien on him but that only insures we get paid if he sells, yes?
Asked on August 19, 2013 under Business Law, Washington
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 10 years ago | Contributor
There is no legal obligation to share your receipts, cost structure, etc. with any customer or other person, except and only to the extent you had agreed (such as in a contract) to do so.
If he will not pay you, the most straightforward thing to do is to sue him for the money for breach of contract--for failing to pay the amount he agreed to pay. If the amount at issue is less than the maximum for your state's small claims courts, you're probably best off suing him in small claims, acting as your own attorney (if the business is not an LLC or corporation--if it is, you will need an attorney, even in small claims). If it's more than that, retain a lawyer to help you.
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