Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: colin purewater on January 27, 2013, 04:20:39 pm
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Afternoon all,
For thoses of you that no me I'm a small domestic and commercial
Window cleaner, doing well at the minute tbh
But I've Been offered a national contract, I've seen the
Prices toget want me to do it for and looked at the sites
Over the last few days,
The sites are spread across middle and northern England
And will be a lot of traveling involved but this
Work will take me well over the vat threshold
And I've done the maths and there is a good
Profit to be made, I would have to employ an extra
lad and
The one I have could go full time,
Please don't ask what the work is as i won't
Say,
It will mean many hours on the road, massive fuel bill
Lots of extra paper work ect
But my main question to those that do this
Type of work
Is the work no matter how much you make
Worth all the extra hassle and head ache at the end
of the day??
Many thanks
Colin
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Hi Colin,
It's good that you've been offered the contract. If it pays well and won't encroach on too much personal time then go for it.
But it doesn't sound like a national contract if its middle northern England?
Andy
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How many days work will it require it could be ideal wet work so you are earning every day
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I would say if you can make more money per hour just cleaning domestic local houses stay as you are and put the extra effort in building a big buisiness. But if it pays well go for it as long as you make a good profit after all the extra time traveling anfd fuel bill go for it.
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A tough call for you and Im not much help.
What I will say though is Dean Tabs seems to do ok with a decent lifestyle for his hard work.
Although I seem to remember he was posting for a partner because of the level of work and stress and when I read his turnover to his expenditure, I was happy to be like you.
Dean is young and has far more drive than me which is why he makes it work
Gav seems also to work for a nation although he comes over very differently.
I dont know either of them other than on here.
I would say if you can and want too ant the figures are right, fill your boots.
Good luck
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none of us can answer this question really. all just depends on how much you value your free time. what will this extra money enable you to do? do you need this extra money? or are you better off having the time to spend with friends and family etc. do you live to work, or work to live. ive said before i put high value in my free time, whereas others would prefer t work as get bored in their free time. really is up to you. i would suggest go for it, if you dont like it then just stop doing it
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Go for it it might then lead on to something else....if you don't you'll never know.
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If it's shop work no no no....
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Or take the work on and Sub it out,still make money but less of a head ache.
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Cheers for the relys lads!
It ain't shop work and it can't be subbed out
Big jobs on each site and has to be done by same
Contractor
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This isn't advice, but my opinion is that if you want to grow your business, growing it locally would be a lot less hassle and more profit.
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What happens if the contract folds?
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Depends how much of it could you cover?
You have seen it when people come on here begging to get an area covered,then all the hassle that comes if a subby does a pi55 poor job,and sorting out tons of paperwork.
Not for me,but fine for others..
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I done this some time back the biggest problem I neglected my own rounds which had taken years to build up for the sake of working for another company keeping them happy did it for 4 months totally stressed me out had to give it up.
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a leap of faith ?
can i just throw a question here...how come your getting it?
i dont want to sound nasty when i say that colin but why would a company like this want to have it all serviced by a sole trader and a part time lad?
why have the bigger cleaning companies not got it?
is it your price?
are they just using you?
i would say go for it as your young enough to bounce back but dont put all your eggs in one basket...good luck and now you can you use all them brushes in the back of your van :D
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There's a very good rule of thumb that states no single customer should account for more than 30% of your turnover. As Robbo 333 pointed out, you would have an insurmountable problem if, after you invest in equipment, time, new employee etc the contract is suddenly terminated (which they all have a tendendy to do).
The way you describe it, this contract would take up all your available working time - lose it and you've lost your business, livelihood etc. plus you could be heavily in debt.
Don't be blinded by the thought of huge rewards, think of the consequences first.
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Hi Colin
I have had dozens of dilemmas like this over the last 5 years, none of them easy decisions, there is a lot I could tell you, but haven't really got time to type it all out, I am on the end of the phone you want a quick chat and ask me anything.
One thing I can tell you here is, Remember all that glistens is not Gold, some of the so called nationals are terrible at paying and put huge demands on you. As such do a full credit check on them, There are some free services out there, but a paid for service can come back with the finer detail.
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Dave, did that bank ever pay you?
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colin listen to dave morris he offering gud advise
only you can decide what your doing
as always im more than happy to help
some nationals are slow paying others not so
im 100% straight saying this most payment terms 60 days + ;)
its a struggle getting into their payment systems at first ;)
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A tough call for you and Im not much help.
What I will say though is Dean Tabs seems to do ok with a decent lifestyle for his hard work.
Although I seem to remember he was posting for a partner because of the level of work and stress and when I read his turnover to his expenditure, I was happy to be like you.
Dean is young and has far more drive than me which is why he makes it work
Gav seems also to work for a nation although he comes over very differently.
I dont know either of them other than on here.
I would say if you can and want too ant the figures are right, fill your boots.
Good luck
different types of ppl lee lol
the work i do for nationals fits in well with my own work
i also try not to take just anything also it helps if i like em
if you get me ppl knock john nolan for an example
i seem to have a gud working relationship with him
and he pays quickly which helps ;)
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Dave
I issued a CCJ they then paid me, funnily enough they wanted me to carry on cleaning after that
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I can't be arsed to read all the posts on this ....
But
I will say this - at some point in your business life we will all at some point get offered a national job to sort. 9/10 times its a complete waste of time! If someone comes along a few pence cheaper they will drop you like a brick!
Payment in this game is fun! It's alot of hassle and at times really effect your business.
Bend over backwards for very little ....
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colin
i say listen too the one or two people who you know are the big companies in the window cleaning world. ;) ;)
has know one else has been in this position,they havent a clue ;)
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screw it, just do it ;D
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If the sums add up and there is a contract in place then why not.
Just make sure you discuss it with someone first as it can seem rosey in your head and then the other person may see something you have missed.
Also if contract is in place make sure its water tight for the period and if there is a get out clause make sure you get a pay off for it
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Cheers lads thanks for your relys
Think I have made my m
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stopped mid sentence means your not sure ;D
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Mind up!
Mr Morris I really do appreciate the offer if advice
Mate I may take you ip on that Nxt week mate
So may thanks Dave.
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Mind up!
Mr Morris I really do appreciate the offer if advice
Mate I may take you ip on that Nxt week mate
So may thanks Dave.
good idea do it, phone him he may well know the company
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Read every post and I don't think anyone has asked how or what your company is doing or how it is run NOW. Do you have a wad of cash to fall back on if it goes horribly wrong? Have you asked the contractor if they would be willing to regionalise the contract? They would only be dealing with 5-7 contractors if done properly. National from a one man band overnight has to be too big an ask. But if you have a few vans and lads already, maybe it is manageable. Not many people become successful from one big hit in any field of work. But they do from having a few smaller hits of worth.
Bottom line is.....the bottom line. If the profit does not outweigh the grief, don't do it.
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I think if you are asking the question, you already know the answer.
Your gut instinct is saying NO but your rationale is saying yes Its an opportunity..
Go with our instinct......