[dazmond]

anyone else do this?i do it every year.if they ll wait til new year they tend to be good customers.

[Michael Peterson]

yeah me too

[robbo333]

I tend to get the opposite.
I get existing custies wanting an extra clean before xmas (during xmas week) because they have families coming. I do clean every 8 weeks though.
I make a separate list for them.
I am more than happy because I have my holiday in January, so every bit helps.

[Dry Clean]

Same as Robbo, existing customers looking an extra clean which I try to accommodate by working a few weekends, holiday in Jan. so don't mind.
I only take on new work when I lose work which isn't that often so there's no chance that anybody is getting a first clean
before Christmas.

[Splash & dash]

We are booked solid until mid January so any enquiries are told that we would be unable to do anything until then dont know what’s going on but we are snowed under with work still doing loads of plastic cleans and softwashing houses 4 big conservatory in and out to do before Christmas as well as normal window cleaning , mad !!!!!

[Stoots]

nope

but then im actively looking for work, dont care what time of year it is, you get messers all year round.

[Tony dunmall]

Just stopped taking work on now. Been advertising since April

Get about 5 calls a week every week sometimes more

It’s now filter time( move the furthest jobs closer to home , then there’s a few bad payers not many about 1/2 dozen and then decision time

To grow bigger take on another van and  member or stay as we are,not sure whether to become more office based and just keep growing but as always it’s a backward step to start with but by June will be same financial position who knows

[Marc Stock]

Im hoping to take on someone 2 days a week next april.

[p1w1]

Im hoping to take on someone 2 days a week next april.

will you actually make any money off them doing that Marc? and will they work with you?

[capn sparkle]

I'm with you Dazmond, if they're not willing to wait till mid / late Jan then I wonder why it's such a rush?

Although today I got a £30 tip and 4 bottles of wine (1 red, 1 white,1 rose and 1 with a sparkly top) from my biggest customer - no idea why she would do that but not knocking it - I've been teetotal for 10 yrs.

Total tips last year £112... Well on the way 

[Slacky]

I just take the work on, I don’t stipulate they have to wait til next year. Seems a bit silly really. I’m glad supermarkets don’t work like that, I put an online food order together earlier with Tesco’s which I haven’t done for about 6 months. Apparently they’re prepared to deliver it tomorrow  - *phew*.

[dazmond]

I just take the work on, I don’t stipulate they have to wait til next year. Seems a bit silly really. I’m glad supermarkets don’t work like that, I put an online food order together earlier with Tesco’s which I haven’t done for about 6 months. Apparently they’re prepared to deliver it tomorrow  - *phew*.

the reason is simple matt.im busy enough in the run up to xmas cleaning my regular window cleaning work plus ive got a few conny roofs/full UPVC cleans to squeeze in as well.in fact most new enquiries from walk ups etc dont get cleaned until next time im around no matter what time of year it is (unless its a particularly slack day).

i want to make sure i get as much of my regular work cleaned before xmas as i can.new work can wait.

im also having 2 days off getting my heater fitted in a couple of weeks.

[Stoots]

Im hoping to take on someone 2 days a week next april.

will you actually make any money off them doing that Marc? and will they work with you?

Even if you don't make much profit (you will btw) you will earn the same money per week doing less days which can only be good thing.

Doing the same as Marc in the new year will be looking for a part timer .

[dazmond]

Im hoping to take on someone 2 days a week next april.

will you actually make any money off them doing that Marc? and will they work with you?

Even if you don't make much profit (you will btw) you will earn the same money per week doing less days which can only be good thing.

Doing the same as Marc in the new year will be looking for a part timer .

how will that work then adam with your current van,tank and set up?

[Missing Link]

I just take the work on, I don’t stipulate they have to wait til next year. Seems a bit silly really.

Same here.  It's rare someone tries to 'con us' into a one-off.  I'm clear to the point of bluntness what our terms and conditions are and I'll point out that we don't do 'one offs' (though we will if the price is right).

It's been a while since a n00b customer has tried to mess us about, and even when it happens, it's no big deal.  We just drop them and move on.

[p1w1]

Im hoping to take on someone 2 days a week next april.

will you actually make any money off them doing that Marc? and will they work with you?

Even if you don't make much profit (you will btw) you will earn the same money per week doing less days which can only be good thing.

Doing the same as Marc in the new year will be looking for a part timer .

I suppose if you're going to pay them peanuts you might make a little something. But if you just have a van with say 500lt in it how are you going to make more/ do more houses a day then what can be done by 1 person? you will have to a certain type of set up i guess eg. be able to fill up again the same day losing minimal time and get back out cleaning. But by the time you add on your employers liability etc, extra poles, reel it hardly seems worth it for 2 days a week.

[davids3511]

I just take the work on, I don’t stipulate they have to wait til next year. Seems a bit silly really. I’m glad supermarkets don’t work like that, I put an online food order together earlier with Tesco’s which I haven’t done for about 6 months. Apparently they’re prepared to deliver it tomorrow  - *phew*.

Supermarkets do work like that, Waitrose delivery slots for Christmas came available for booking on the 17th September. You don't book in advance you don't get. In a way the regular customers are booking in advance by being regular customers.

[Tony dunmall]

I invested in a second van set up with grippa 500,  found a low mileage transit connect

I have someone out three days a week even if you pay £120-150 a day included all running costs of van  you can still add profit of about £450-500  a week from one van

For me it’s not so much earning more, just doing less out with the poles and earning the same



 

[richard groves]

anyone else do this?i do it every year.if they ll wait til new year they tend to be good customers.

It doesn't really bother me as long as I'm earning what I need. If I can fit them in I do but obviously my long standing customers loyalty comes first. I don't even try to work out a new customers intentions anymore. I just factor in to the initial price a discount for subsequent regular cleans. Why should a new customer agree to anything until I've proven my worth ?

[Soupy]

My Facebook post:

Last chance for new customer bookings before December!

At Soupy Window Cleaning we are committed to giving a regular, reliable service to our customers all year round.
In an effort to ensure that we get our regular customers cleaned in time for Christmas / New Year we won`t be doing any new customers in December. This is due to the reduced daylight hours and changeable weather in the winter months.

If you would like to be added to the round before then please contact us asap. Any inquiries after 01/12/17 will be delayed until the new year.

[Stoots]

Im hoping to take on someone 2 days a week next april.

will you actually make any money off them doing that Marc? and will they work with you?

Even if you don't make much profit (you will btw) you will earn the same money per week doing less days which can only be good thing.

Doing the same as Marc in the new year will be looking for a part timer .

I suppose if you're going to pay them peanuts you might make a little something. But if you just have a van with say 500lt in it how are you going to make more/ do more houses a day then what can be done by 1 person? you will have to a certain type of set up i guess eg. be able to fill up again the same day losing minimal time and get back out cleaning. But by the time you add on your employers liability etc, extra poles, reel it hardly seems worth it for 2 days a week.

I think you are trying to make it sound harder than it needs to be.

I already have a spare pole,reel hose and pump so they can use them, and if I didnt a couple of hundred quid won't kill me.

Employer's liability isn't that much, I was quoted 300 and odd Inc public liability.

Pension will be next to nowt, employer's n.i will either be zero or not far off.

Wages would be minimum wage or not much more.

Water get a bigger tank or put some barrels on your van and empty them into tank when matey is eating his lunch.

Not making any money in two days is like saying you won't make any 5 days.

Depends what your plans are. I will pay about 50-60 quid all in for a 6 hour a day and they should do me about 150 of work.

We shall see, rather give it a go then say oh it won't work not worth it blah blah

[dave the rave]

anyone else do this?i do it every year.if they ll wait til new year they tend to be good customers.

I would only take on new work on if they have moved into the area .Otherwise it’s the new year .

[KS Cleaning]

Im hoping to take on someone 2 days a week next april.

will you actually make any money off them doing that Marc? and will they work with you?

Even if you don't make much profit (you will btw) you will earn the same money per week doing less days which can only be good thing.

Doing the same as Marc in the new year will be looking for a part timer .

I suppose if you're going to pay them peanuts you might make a little something. But if you just have a van with say 500lt in it how are you going to make more/ do more houses a day then what can be done by 1 person? you will have to a certain type of set up i guess eg. be able to fill up again the same day losing minimal time and get back out cleaning. But by the time you add on your employers liability etc, extra poles, reel it hardly seems worth it for 2 days a week.

I think you are trying to make it sound harder than it needs to be.

I already have a spare pole,reel hose and pump so they can use them, and if I didnt a couple of hundred quid won't kill me.

Employer's liability isn't that much, I was quoted 300 and odd Inc public liability.

Pension will be next to nowt, employer's n.i will either be zero or not far off.

Wages would be minimum wage or not much more.

Water get a bigger tank or put some barrels on your van and empty them into tank when matey is eating his lunch.

Not making any money in two days is like saying you won't make any 5 days.

Depends what your plans are. I will pay about 50-60 quid all in for a 6 hour a day and they should do me about 150 of work.

We shall see, rather give it a go then say oh it won't work not worth it blah blah

Don't forget you'll be paying 29% tax and N.I.