Where are you, and how did you get there?

« **on:** November 22, 2007, 10:42:58 pm »

Just wondered how you lot are finding building up the business, and how far you've come.

I've been going a few months, after been sacked at my last job, due to loosing my driving licence

I've got £700 ish of work, some being gardening, which will be up to £800 come feb, as some jobs have been put off over winter.

I've just decided to get a part time job to boost my income, and still have a few days spare to get some leaflets out etc, so building nicely!

« **Reply #1 on:** November 22, 2007, 10:46:27 pm »

Once you get to a certain point it will snowball.

« **Reply #2 on:** November 23, 2007, 08:46:03 am »

I got 3/4 through my nurse training and the local health authority decided to close the mental health wards (or the majority of them anyhow) so I jumped ship. With my last bursary payment I bought my traditional stuff..
I started in September with 7 customers (my neighbours in my cul-de-sac).

I have recently bought a trolley WFP system and a van. I now have a uniform, logo, business name etc, and over 100 customers. Mainly through word-of-mouth.

I started doind one house per hour (very thorough) and was knackered at the end of each day.

Now I do the same 7 in an hour and a half with the WFP.

I started charging £5. Now I charge £7.50 with a £10 first clean charge.

I get about 2 customers a week added to my round via telephone calls etc.

« **Reply #3 on:** November 23, 2007, 08:54:34 am »

I've got so much now I have to either a) work proper hours, b) get enough water capacity to do ups and downs which means new van or C) drop some.

I preferred having just enough.

« **Reply #4 on:** November 23, 2007, 08:57:22 am »

Quote from: NWH on November 22, 2007, 10:46:27 pm

Once you get to a certain point it will snowball.

That is very true, goes the same with anything, once you do not really need it, it then starts coming in, something to do with sods law.

You are doing well get £700 a month from scracth in a couple of months, carry on the way you are and you will be taking on another guy in a few months time.

Your a grafter it will come if you go out and get it. Alot of people moan that they have no work because they do nothing to get it, you on the other hand with the chats we have had do something every day and thats fantastic for your business.

Cant wait to see your posts in 6 months with subject (to many customers

)

Ian

« **Reply #5 on:** November 23, 2007, 09:21:01 am »

"Where are you and how did you get there?"

I'm sat in front of my PC eating my porridge and I got here by walking from the kitchen.

« **Reply #6 on:** November 24, 2007, 07:49:51 am »

7 years ago I started with a £20.00 set of domestic second hand ladders and a bucket on top of a Vauxhall Astra.

I started through necessity and wanting a stream of money - however small in my back pocket.

I know have some 700 residential customers, we look after the head office of a major high street building society all year round and since January of this year have been doing high & low level pressure washing, cleaning and renovation cleaning for one of the top 3 supermarket chains all over the country.

We currently have 3 vans.

Next year we already have two large supermarket jobs booked in, one in Sydenham and other in Watford.

Plan for next year is to get at least one more van and team on residential, possibly two more vans on the commercial and are currently looking to employ at least one more person before Christmas.

How did I get there - hard work, quality of service and determination and more than a few grey hairs!!!

Rob

« **Reply #7 on:** November 24, 2007, 10:14:56 am »

currently, having a cuppa and a jammie dodger and warming my dannies as the head gasket has gone on my van and trying to strip engine down on the driveway.
But on the window side of things about 100 domestic customers and about 5 commercial customers. Earning enough to live on and hopefully pay for the repairs to my little sh!£ of a van.

Good luck to you kwackers, keep it up matey

« **Reply #8 on:** November 24, 2007, 11:54:33 am »

woop woop today i passed my driving test - 2nd time - im 17 so now this opens the way for more business and more customers, and soon hope to move onto a van. Only really started up in this business about 2 or 3 months ago, and I currently have approx 45 customers - bought from a round, and have picked up a few along the way. I hope to get to 100 by the end of the year, and get a van early next year. Im currently using a escort estate which is working very well.

wow midas enterprises, 700 customers thats a bit of a goal!
your cash flow much be much better now. Well done

« **Reply #9 on:** November 24, 2007, 12:14:24 pm »

Well done Jonrob!

You sound as if you are in a similar situation that I was in. Just remember persistence counts.

« **Reply #10 on:** November 24, 2007, 12:38:09 pm »

Quote from: jonrob on November 24, 2007, 11:54:33 am

woop woop today i passed my driving test - 2nd time - im 17 so now this opens the way for more business and more customers, and soon hope to move onto a van. Only really started up in this business about 2 or 3 months ago, and I currently have approx 45 customers - bought from a round, and have picked up a few along the way. I hope to get to 100 by the end of the year, and get a van early next year. Im currently using a escort estate which is working very well.

wow midas enterprises, 700 customers thats a bit of a goal!
your cash flow much be much better now. Well done

Well done you passing your test m8

« **Reply #11 on:** November 24, 2007, 12:41:49 pm »

Quote from: jonrob on November 24, 2007, 11:54:33 am

woop woop today i passed my driving test - 2nd time - im 17 so now this opens the way for more business and more customers, and soon hope to move onto a van. Only really started up in this business about 2 or 3 months ago, and I currently have approx 45 customers - bought from a round, and have picked up a few along the way. I hope to get to 100 by the end of the year, and get a van early next year. Im currently using a escort estate which is working very well.

wow midas enterprises, 700 customers thats a bit of a goal!
your cash flow much be much better now. Well done

Oh no not another boy racer!!
Only kidding well done and now you will be able to expand your business

Dean

« **Reply #12 on:** November 24, 2007, 12:55:29 pm »

thanks guys, i didnt think i had passed offcourse til he said, 8 minors but still, liscense for life hopefully. No thankyou i am not a boy racer, i would hate to be classed as one of those ignoramus fools, offcourse im not experienced, but i try to drive safe, though nearly crashed into another window cleaner's van the other day while out on my round (fortunately i saw him in time). I take cover from this new driver = young man = boy racer automatic prejudice by driving in my silver ford escort estate! good for working, insurance is a bit more though.

Now i can get out and earn more on my own - and i think i am allowed to drive a van, im not sure what size upto though?

thanks anyhow

« **Reply #13 on:** November 24, 2007, 12:58:28 pm »

John I too am young and the cheapest place for commercial insurance is Gladiator http://www.gladiator.co.uk/ I pay £400 for my Peugeot Expert 2.0 hdi with my dad on it too, not bad hey!!! The cheapest place for a normal car with a young person is probably NFU http://www.nfumutual.co.uk/ You can have a huge long wheel based van if you want but who will insure you??? If youve got the money a broker would!! Luke

ps. while I'm helping you John would you tell me how to setup the online payment thing with Paypal, that will save me some time, thanks, Luke

« **Reply #14 on:** November 24, 2007, 01:02:43 pm »

thanks - that is cheap- i havent a van yet, but hopefully would be cheaper for the 1.6 escort.
can you pay monthly??

« **Reply #15 on:** November 24, 2007, 01:06:18 pm »

Yes you can pay monthly but it will cost you more for the privilage, try and get all the money together. And dont forget to get breakdown cover, if you break down on the motorway or anywhere the Police or Highway people will move your van and charge you alot, so get some breakdown cover, Luke

« **Reply #16 on:** November 24, 2007, 01:08:30 pm »

Quote from: Luke Johnson on November 24, 2007, 12:58:28 pm

John I too am young and the cheapest place for commercial insurance is Gladiator http://www.gladiator.co.uk/ I pay £400 for my Peugeot Expert 2.0 hdi with my dad on it too, not bad hey!!! The cheapest place for a normal car with a young person is probably NFU http://www.nfumutual.co.uk/ You can have a huge long wheel based van if you want but who will insure you??? If youve got the money a broker would!! Luke

ps. while I'm helping you John would you tell me how to setup the online payment thing with Paypal, that will save me some time, thanks, Luke

Luke it is easy to set-up paypal online payment, just follow the steps.

« **Reply #17 on:** November 24, 2007, 01:12:05 pm »

will go to PayPals website and look, Luke

« **Reply #18 on:** November 24, 2007, 02:52:37 pm »

Luke, I wrote some instructions out for someone not so long ago. Give me a while and I will trawl through everything I sent him and pm it to you.

« **Reply #19 on:** November 24, 2007, 03:07:23 pm »

wow, thank you very much mate! luke

« **Reply #20 on:** November 24, 2007, 03:12:27 pm »

sorry luke im not sure , see my website hoster site builder allready had the links and buttons for paypal you could simply choose, im sure on the paypal website if you log in and go on the help, it will tell you how to add buttons to your website.

« **Reply #21 on:** November 24, 2007, 03:14:17 pm »

Thanks for input.

I pay £1,800 Third Party on my Sprinter, nice aye!

« **Reply #22 on:** November 24, 2007, 03:41:33 pm »

Quote from: Luke Johnson on November 24, 2007, 01:06:18 pm

Yes you can pay monthly but it will cost you more for the privilage, try and get all the money together. And dont forget to get breakdown cover, if you break down on the motorway or anywhere the Police or Highway people will move your van and charge you alot, so get some breakdown cover, Luke

I use CVD for insurance (don't know what they are like for younger drivers). Breakdown cover is built in with them.

« **Reply #23 on:** November 24, 2007, 03:43:23 pm »

Wow Kwackers, that sounds horrendous.

Anyway, I started part-time. Have quickly built up £400 worth of business through referrals and a little canvassing, now I am just at that point where I may have to start reducing my full-time hours to build up the business more.

Persistence counts a lot with this I think.

« **Reply #24 on:** November 24, 2007, 03:45:02 pm »

Quote from: Luke Johnson on November 24, 2007, 01:12:05 pm

will go to PayPals website and look, Luke

if you get stuck give me a call

« **Reply #25 on:** November 24, 2007, 07:17:23 pm »

Luke, what is your e-mail address? I will send you the instructions I wrote.
Ian

« **Reply #26 on:** November 24, 2007, 07:19:23 pm »

rupert9the9hair9@aol9.com, just remove the nines when typing it in, and thank you very much for the help!, Luke

« **Reply #27 on:** November 24, 2007, 08:04:06 pm »

Sent.

« **Reply #28 on:** November 24, 2007, 08:05:23 pm »

well, thank you very much!!!! thats a great help mate! luke

« **Reply #29 on:** November 24, 2007, 09:34:33 pm »

No worries mate

« **Reply #30 on:** November 24, 2007, 09:39:22 pm »

thanks, Luke

« **Reply #31 on:** November 24, 2007, 09:52:30 pm »

Quote from: Kwackers on November 22, 2007, 10:42:58 pm

Just wondered how you lot are finding building up the business, and how far you've come.

I've been going a few months, after been sacked at my last job, due to loosing my driving licence

So how do you get around without a driving license to clean window ? How do you carry all your gear?

« **Reply #32 on:** November 25, 2007, 11:55:10 am »

Where am i, not where i want to be, but, i am having a big push at moment for new work & contracts

Constantly expanding & looking at new areas of work ie, gutters etc.

Hope to get 2 new vans on road in new year, with large contracts that are currently available to tender. Working hard to tender, price up & work on van some how. This week done 60 hours mon-fri, 10 sat & in today sunday at 7 finish ? when i get of this site & back to work after coffee break.

Some members on here with good business, a couple of big ones, but i,m looking to get reasonable sized. 3 wc vans 6 + blokes & then expand into cleaning contracts, been unable to take on some jobs, worth good money, so hopefully that side will be more organised in new year.

Here,s to the NEW YEAR.

Gary

« **Reply #33 on:** November 25, 2007, 12:03:46 pm »

Started in June by leafleting through peoples doors when delivering their post. Now have 40 customers which is £550 per month. Once I get to about £800 - £1000 per month I will drop the Royal Mail and go full time.

Plan for next year...expand and possibly move over to wfp. We'll see.

« **Reply #34 on:** November 25, 2007, 04:24:45 pm »

jonrob

Certainly not anywhere near the amount of customers we will be taking on in the next couple of years and nowwhere near the biggest round I've heard of - 1200 customers was one but I also saw one on the telly that was worth £5000000 per year - two brothers down south and around London.

Just keep doing what your doing and offering an excellent service and you will turn round with a 1000 customers one day.

Good luck

Rob

« **Reply #35 on:** November 25, 2007, 04:39:01 pm »

Quote from: Midas Enterprises on November 25, 2007, 04:24:45 pm

jonrob

Certainly not anywhere near the amount of customers we will be taking on in the next couple of years and nowwhere near the biggest round I've heard of - 1200 customers was one but I also saw one on the telly that was worth £5000000 per year - two brothers down south and around London.

Just keep doing what your doing and offering an excellent service and you will turn round with a 1000 customers one day.

Good luck

Rob

about 20000 is the most I have heard about, and the guy is doing quite well now

5 million a year

I think you go that wrong, or I read it wrong, 2 people could never do that window cleaning on their own.

« **Reply #36 on:** November 25, 2007, 04:57:10 pm »

I don't get many things wrong and those stats are certainly correct. Do you think I clean all of our business on my own

Rob

« **Reply #37 on:** November 25, 2007, 05:15:50 pm »

Quote from: Midas Enterprises on November 25, 2007, 04:57:10 pm

I don't get many things wrong and those stats are certainly correct. Do you think I clean all of our business on my own

Rob

would not know Rob, I do not know you or your business.

« **Reply #38 on:** November 25, 2007, 05:38:00 pm »

i now have one person full time and looking for some one part time next year ,hard work a bit of luck and being in the right place at the right time i thinks lol marc

« **Reply #39 on:** November 25, 2007, 07:12:53 pm »

Hallo Rob (Midas) yours being one of the ones i mentioned earlier, Trevor Knight the one with 1200 + customers the other, Dave st Ives another.

I,ll have been going 20 years next year, & still want to change & improve its an area of growing business easily without to much hasle of other busines,s in the commercial sector.

Gary

« **Reply #40 on:** November 25, 2007, 09:56:31 pm »

I havent got any where near 1200 customers but the ones i have got are quality.

I have retired from the tools (again) with my new role gaining new work. It is near impossible to work whilst marketing your business the right way.

I am in 2 minds at the moment whether to push and really go for it, or just consolidate. the latter being the best option for my stress levels.

My ambition is to have a manager running things within 12 months.

How did i get here ? A-- by working my bu tt off fot the last 10 years, it nearly killed me, was it worth it ? I dont know yet , i will tell you in a few years.

Dave

« **Reply #41 on:** November 26, 2007, 06:14:38 am »

Dave

Same here, i,m trying to do both & am missing cleaning contracts. Got to go in early for job 0615 work all day, then manage tha business from 3. But i would not give up, been offered £25000 cash + full time job. Turned it down straight.

I,m looking at large contracts at moment for big fix, priced up £850 - £900 a month last week, fingers crossed that i get some back.

Do you do cleaning contracts aswell.

Gat to go.

Gary

« **Reply #42 on:** November 26, 2007, 07:26:50 am »

Gary

Sorry we never managed to get that cleaning done for you at Tean, timing and our commitments - on the day we went it was locked and I wasn't sure I'd even got the right house.

Rob

« **Reply #43 on:** November 26, 2007, 02:38:04 pm »

Rob

No probs, must have been covered by somebody not heard anything back.

Looking to expand this coming year, so if you hear of anything not suitable etc. give me a call.

Gary