u/PrudentWind813

I’m interviewing with Merck, Thermo Fisher/PPD, and a smaller CRO. No offers yet, but the salary discussed for Merck is around $129k, and I believe the other two are around $130k–$135k. The Merck role would be in cardiovascular monitoring.
My biggest priorities are higher pay, manageable travel, and job stability. How are the travel expectations?
I was told the Thermo role doesn’t have a days-on-site metric, although I know that doesn’t necessarily mean less travel. I’ve also heard good things about working directly for a sponsor.
For anyone with recent experience at Merck or Thermo/PPD:
What does travel actually look like in terms of overnight stays per month?
How manageable are the site loads, workload, and metrics?
How do the benefits, bonuses, retirement plans, and PTO compare?
What happens when a study ends—are CRAs reassigned?
Has moving from a CRO to a sponsor improved your work-life balance?
Would you take $129k at a sponsor over $130k–$135k at a CRO if travel were similar? What would you clarify before accepting?

Hi guys. I have had my cleaning business for 2 years now and I can’t get anything going. I have done it all. I have done cold calls, going in person, facebook ads, and even thumbtack. I live in Atlanta and I just feel like giving up. I have everything as well. I have an official site, phone number, LLC, and google profile. I heard about google LSA but I am just tired of spending money on courses and putting in so much money and time. All I get is “not interested” or “we already have someone”.

I own a small residential cleaning business and recently booked a new client for a move-in cleaning. The total price is $350, and my normal policy requires a 25% deposit ($87.50) through our secure payment portal with stripe before the appointment. The remaining $262.50 is due when the cleaning is completed.
The cleaning is scheduled for August 26. The client says she is currently out of town and won’t arrive at the new apartment until August 28, so she won’t be present during the cleaning.
I sent her our normal confirmation message explaining the deposit, balance, cancellation policy, and secure payment portal. However, she keeps insisting that she wants to pay by cashier’s check instead of electronically. I’m concerned because:
She is a new client.
She is currently out of town.
She won’t be present during or immediately after the cleaning.
She keeps insisting on paying by check even though I offered a secure online payment option.
A mailed check may not arrive and be verified before the service date.
If I accommodate her, I plan to require the full $350 by an original physical cashier’s check—not an emailed or printable check—before the appointment. The check would need to be payable directly to my business for the exact amount. I would not perform the service until my bank verifies the payment, and I would not accept an overpayment or send money to any third party.
Does this situation sound like a potential fake-check scam, or could it simply be someone who prefers checks? Would you accept the cashier’s check under these conditions, require electronic payment, or decline the job entirely?
I’m especially interested in hearing from other cleaning-business owners or anyone familiar with cashier’s-check fraud.