AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
A job card is a two-part slip: the artisan keeps one copy, the customer keeps the other. It records what the customer brought, the work agreed, the price, the deposit paid, the balance, the ready date and what happens if the item is not collected. Get the customer's approval in writing or by message before any extra work, and record every payment.
Why artisans need a job card
A mechanic, tailor, phone repairer or printer has the same three arguments again and again: "you said it would be ready Friday", "I never agreed to that extra work", and "I already paid you". A job card settles all three before they start. It also protects the customer, which is why good customers appreciate it rather than resenting it.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act supports this. The FCCPC's consumer rights page notes a consumer's right to a written record of a transaction on request where practicable (s.118), to timely delivery and to be told of delays (s.130), and to notice of any term that limits the supplier's liability (s.128). Terms that try to exclude liability for negligence are void (s.129). A job card that states the ready date, the price and any limits up front meets those points.
The template
Print in duplicate (carbon book or two-part form) and number each card.
- Header
- [Business name], RC/BN [number if registered], [address], [phone]. JOB CARD No. [0001].
- Customer
- Name; phone; date in; time in.
- Item received
- Description, with identifying details: [vehicle make, model, plate number, mileage, fuel level] / [garment, fabric supplied, quantity in yards] / [phone model, IMEI, condition of screen] / [print job: file name, size, paper, quantity].
- Condition on arrival
- Existing damage or missing parts, noted and initialled by customer.
- Customer's request
- What the customer asked for, in their words.
- Work agreed
- What will be done; parts to be supplied by [artisan/customer].
- Price
- Labour ₦[ ]; parts ₦[ ]; total agreed ₦[ ].
- Deposit
- ₦[ ] paid on [date] by [transfer/cash], reference [ ].
- Balance
- ₦[ ] due on collection.
- Ready date
- [date]. We will call or message you if this changes.
- Extra work
- No extra work or cost will be added without your approval by signature or written message, with the new total.
- Collection
- Please collect within [14] days of our "ready" message. After that, we will contact you in writing. [State any storage charge here.]
- Signatures
- Customer signature; staff signature.
- On collection
- Balance paid ₦[ ] on [date], reference [ ]. Item received in good order: [customer signature].
How to handle the deposit
For a tailor, the deposit usually covers materials and secures the slot. For a mechanic, it often covers parts bought before work starts. Whatever the trade, write the deposit on the card the moment it is paid, ask for it by transfer where you can so there is a record on both sides, and say on the card whether it is refundable if the customer cancels. Under s.120 of the FCCPA, as summarised by the FCCPC, a consumer who cancels an advance booking is entitled to a refund subject to a reasonable cancellation charge, so a deposit that is entirely non-refundable regardless of the work done is hard to defend. Keep the part you have actually spent on materials or labour, and refund the rest. The FCCPC reported in October 2025 that an Enugu High Court declared a transport company's blanket "no refund" policy void.
Worked example: a mechanic's job card
Example only. A customer brings a car to a mechanic in Enugu for brake pads. The card records 142,300 km, a quarter tank, and a scratch on the rear bumper.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Brake pads (front), parts | ₦38,000 |
| Labour | ₦15,000 |
| Agreed total | ₦53,000 |
| Deposit paid by transfer on day 1 | ₦38,000 |
| Balance due on collection | ₦15,000 |
During the job, the mechanic finds a worn brake disc. He messages the customer: "Front disc worn, replacement ₦32,000 parts and ₦8,000 labour. New total ₦93,000. Approve?" The customer replies "Approved". The card is updated: new total ₦53,000 + ₦32,000 + ₦8,000 = ₦93,000; balance ₦93,000 − ₦38,000 = ₦55,000. The message is the approval record. Without it, the mechanic would be arguing over ₦40,000 of work the customer could say he never agreed to.
Trade-by-trade notes
- Tailors: record measurements on the card and the yards of fabric received, so a shortfall cannot be blamed on the customer later.
- Phone and laptop repairers: note the IMEI or serial number and any cracks before you touch the device, and say whether data may be lost.
- Printers: attach or describe the approved proof; reprints for errors in an approved proof are charged.
Collection and unpaid balances
Uncollected items are the second-biggest problem after unpaid balances. Send a dated "ready for collection" message, then a written reminder after the collection period. Do not sell or dispose of a customer's property without taking advice, even if the card mentions it. For an unpaid balance, a written demand comes first; in Lagos, the Small Claims Court handles liquidated claims up to ₦5,000,000 and requires a letter of demand (Form SCA 1) before filing, under the 2023 Practice Direction. Our deposit receipt template pairs with this card.
Where Pryme fits
With a Pryme Business Account, artisans can send an invoice for the balance, take payment through bank-transfer checkout, and issue a regular or verifiable receipt through our partner VerifyDoc.ai so the deposit and balance are both on record.
Questions people ask
What is a job card for a mechanic?
A numbered two-copy slip recording the vehicle, its condition on arrival, the work agreed, the price, deposit, balance and ready date, signed by the customer and the workshop.
Is a tailor's deposit refundable in Nigeria?
The FCCPA lets a consumer cancel an advance booking for a refund less a reasonable cancellation charge. Keep what you spent on materials and work done; refund the rest, and say this on the card.
How do I get a customer to approve extra work?
Send the new total in a message and wait for a written "approved" before starting. Write the new total on the job card.
What if a customer does not collect their item?
Send a dated ready message and a written reminder. Take advice before disposing of the item, even if your card mentions it.
Sources
- FCCPC: Consumer rights and responsibilities · accessed Oct 2026
- FCCPC: Lagos, Enugu judgments reinforce consumer protection under FCCPA (27 Oct 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- Lagos State Small Claims Court Practice Direction 2023 · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.