Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: afssm123 on March 10, 2011, 02:44:24 pm

Title: businesslink suggestion
Post by: afssm123 on March 10, 2011, 02:44:24 pm
I had a meeting today with a business link adviser about my new business, going forward etc etc.

I saw her a few weeks ago initially and today was a follow up meeting.

She has discussed my plans with other advisers and one of the suggestions that has come up is that I market myself and services to large country type properties as its anticipated that these types of properties are generally not targeted by window cleaning companies.

Does anyone else do this?

Looking at the replies on the forum this might be true as it seems that everyone appears to be targeting compact lower value work?

The argument business link state is that larger properties would be higher value and therefore less numbers required for  the business plan.

I should state that I have started my business on a part time basis
Title: Re: businesslink suggestion
Post by: erithwc on March 10, 2011, 02:49:34 pm
one question if you lost a customer for whatever reason what would you rather loose one £10 per month house in a compact round or one £100 per month country house  ;)
Title: Re: businesslink suggestion
Post by: andyM on March 10, 2011, 03:14:03 pm
The ideal would be a mix of compact and high value stand alone properties I would of thought.
Its all very well business link saying that stand alone properties would be higher value work but what about if these higher value customers keep you hanging about for payment?
Keeping cashflow going is an important aspect of any business.
And as has been already said for every customer you lose you will feel the financial impact more.
The advisor sounds like a prat.  ;D
Title: Re: businesslink suggestion
Post by: ascjim on March 10, 2011, 04:58:54 pm
We have loads of country houses, very good money mate. We even clean houses for the royal family :)
Title: Re: businesslink suggestion
Post by: Helen on March 10, 2011, 05:04:42 pm
I had a meeting today with a business link adviser about my new business, going forward etc etc.

I saw her a few weeks ago initially and today was a follow up meeting.

She has discussed my plans with other advisers and one of the suggestions that has come up is that I market myself and services to large country type properties as its anticipated that these types of properties are generally not targeted by window cleaning companies.

Where does she get her facts and figures from?

Does anyone else do this?

Many do

Looking at the replies on the forum this might be true as it seems that everyone appears to be targeting compact lower value work?

12 lower value compact properties, could bring in more than one larger property where it is a 20 mile round trip

The argument business link state is that larger properties would be higher value and therefore less numbers required for  the business plan.

Of course a larger property would be at a higher value, but most wouldn't want every month or every 6 weeks ::) Anyway you shouldn't just go on value, it should be the profit you make from the job

I should state that I have started my business on a part time basis

As much as these advisors are there to help, they make me laugh with their unfounded assumptions ;D
I don't suppose "she" the advisor or any of the other advisors have ever done a day's window cleaning, let alone run a window cleaning business ;D
They probably are very good at figure planning and projections etc etc and could advise you on how to set these down as a business plan.

The reason you think that the higher value properties are not targeted by other WC's is probably because no-one puts them on here and what price they are at.


We have some "tasty" country prop's we do, either on a 3 monthly or quarterley basis, but we are not going to advertise what we charge them. :)

Get out there and get your own business running and do it how you think, not what some so called advisor says ;D

Title: Re: businesslink suggestion
Post by: Kate2 on March 10, 2011, 06:33:15 pm
Bus link are putting tenders up, to help small bus, they have been doing it since the beg on March
Title: Re: businesslink suggestion
Post by: scud on March 10, 2011, 06:53:42 pm
  Why do you think that the estates are well covered?

  It is possible to earn good money on big stand alone properties, of which I do a few, but it is easier to earn good money on compact £10-£12 estate houses.

  I know which I prefer.

  People come into this business thinking they will target big commercial and big houses, but they eventually learn that lots of compact stuff is the way to go.

  Wealthy people are usually fairly ruthlass and picky, which can equate to a pain to work for.
Title: Re: businesslink suggestion
Post by: Scrimble on March 10, 2011, 07:17:25 pm
i've got loads of country houses in my round,

i dont really like doing them thinking about selling them on, too much driving around in the middle of no where and dont like gettin my van dirty down the lanes
Title: Re: businesslink suggestion
Post by: awcs on March 10, 2011, 09:02:20 pm
I've got 4 manor houses (1 a week) all rich and famous and i love 'em. One set up for a days work, plug into their water lunch provided tea on tap (cold drinks in summer). One has a big summer bash for his staff and even get invited to that.
If you don't take the p!*s why would you lose the job.