Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: macleod on February 14, 2006, 09:57:54 pm
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thats right... ive been cleaning windows for just over a year now (01/01/05), and have gone from £00.00 to £60k in one year. :o
i started off by going out with a window cleaner every day for a month ;) then brought a 1000 lt ionic system & van (would have gone bankrupt in 3 months if i didnt get the work to pay for it...) :-\
i focus on commercial, and have just won a contract to clean a buliding that takes 80 hours!! :) :)
by the way i work 4 - 5 days a week... 48 weeks a year :D
i think what i am saying is that professional, safe & reliable window cleaners are in such short supply that there really is no shortage of work...
i'd think the kids that live in my village could get off the dole and maybe through a grant... for just a few hundred pounds they could start right away!
anyway my real point is i started off with a ladder strapped to the top of an old escort (cos thats what the other window cleaners did) but now realise that in the commercial world those days are gone...
i do trad & wfp, and have no axe to grind either way, my only viewpoint is that i dont mind w/c who only use ladders, without them i wouldnt keep on winning new work...
love to hear any other success stories :)
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errrmmm.....I'm thinking..
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errrmmm.....I'm thinking..
HAHAHA ;D ;D ;D
After the day I've had I needed that... thanks PJ :D
Andrew
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I started working for myself 15 years ago, battered old car and a scrim.
Now I have 46 people working for me and a turnover of £7.2million.
I recently lent Roman some money for his football club sideline.
Sorry, did that sound like bragging ;)
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not being the one to boast but i started my window cleaning yesterday and have so far managed to earn £62,678 in 24 hours, not bad considering i've taken on a workforce of 152 unemployable lay abouts and we only charge 45p per house regardless of size,
tommorrow i have to go to london to put in a bid to clean buckingham palace now i know there are a lot of windows there so i think i may have to overprice ........
say £1-02p what do you think is that a fair price.
at this rate i can see me and all my 152 lads being millionaires by the end of the week
sorry if this sounds like i'm bragging but i just wanted to share my fortunes or missfortunes with you all
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is there an air of disbelief knocking around this post...?? ;D
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well i earnt £45.00 today
beat that one
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is there an air of disbelief knocking around this post...?? ;D
It's not disbelief but "self praise is no praise"
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well i earnt £45.00 today
beat that one
I earnt bugger all and spent £700 on my business.
Beat that :)
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hi everyone.... just a thought, but when i had a demo (ionic) i actually got them to demo on a prospective customer site... then the day before and on the day i went round all the other local companies and got the H&S or Facilitity managers to come for the 'grand viewing' - and ended up with work at the value of £3000 per year...
This bloke knows how to do it.
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well i earnt £45.00 today
beat that one
We didn't do too much more! Honest.
I thought we were doing well going from 0 to 30K in three years!
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I started working for myself 15 years ago, battered old car and a scrim.
So what N&W? So what?
I started working for myself only 10 years ago, battered old car and a scrim and now I've got a battered old car and two scrims! ;D
Malc Gold
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I started working for myself 15 years ago, battered old car and a scrim.
So what N&W? So what?
I started working for myself only 10 years ago, battered old car and a scrim and now I've got a battered old car and two scrims! ;D
Malc Gold
I heard you had some 'car trouble' around the Chepstow area today, Malc! ;)
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of course i am pleased with what i have achieved but sorry if some of you thought i was bragging, what really hope to say was:
i was inspired by the old boy who let me go window cleaning with him for a month to show me the ropes, and avoid the mistakes - even though he only used ladders, he taught me the basics
i have also been inspired by other 'friendly' window cleaners who have helped me and given great advice (the ex fire man bloke in Banbury for example)
i gave up my 'real' job to have more time with my wife & kids and just wanted other new window cleaners to see that it IS possible to earn a good wage if you take the time to always do a great job, and not being afraid to approach 'big' companies..
my last point was i wish i had discovered window cleaning years ago and have 'given' lots of work away to young lads who have also just started up who see window cleaning as a real career...
i try to always think of new ways to get customers, and find face-to-face and a demo of your ability to be the best route... some customers have taken me over 8 months to 'win' so its not all been easy...
finally i always enjoy this forum, and long may it last! :)
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Here here, Macleod.
I hope you share with us some of your experience at winning over commercial work.
My recent attempts have been pretty naff.
Welcome to the forum.
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I made £50 today, but have gained 17 new customers this week, which I am due to clean tomorrow.
One new estate, one leaflet drop.
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firstly i have a look at 'fairly' big offices blocks... where the staff spend all day looking out of their windows...
i usally bowl into reception and as for a compliment slip - girls usally pleased thats all you want, and as they are passing it over i ask for the name of their h&s person....
as they are writing this down i say, who does your window cleaning? do they use ladders, how often, how many blokes how long do they take... just general chit chat
the perfect answer is when they say 2 blokes on ladders... cos i know with a wfp i can do the work of 2 blokes on ladders
then phone and ask to speak to the h&s officer
chat to the h&s officer and say "...you've probably haerd about the new work at height regs...."
cos they are h&s officers they either a) havent a clue what your talking about or b) pretend to know what your talking about
i say i will pop somthing in the post... usally dont ever get round to it as...
i then phone and ask to speak to who ever is responsible for window cleaning (facility manager etc etc)
then i say to them ive just been chatting to their h&s bloke about new regs, would they like a demo/quote
then bosh... i clean the van (new van with logo etc so looks very professional) have a clean shirt in the van, and go in and find out how important h&s is to their company, and what they are currently paying and see if i can honestly beat it - also most importantly i carry a huge file with all my traing certs, insurance and sample risk assesment and method statements showing exactly how i would go about the work...
very rarely have to actually do a demo, and win maybe 1 out of every 3
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Hi Macleod
That sounds a great way to win commercial contracts.I have won the odd contract
or two over the years but i have never tried this method.
do you use any other sales methods ?
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Macleod,
Take no notice of the snipers, their either jealous or 14 year old school kids using their dad's laptop.
Apart from Tosh, but he's a Geordie, so he's got his own problems.
The Bear
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....do they use ladders....?
Dirty amateur underhanded poaching tactic.
I'd snap someone's Omnipole for less. >:(
Chat amongst yourselves. ;D ;)
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thats right... ive been cleaning windows for just over a year now (01/01/05), and have gone from £00.00 to £60k in one year. :o
greedy barsteward!(well done m8) :o
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cheers bear...
another way i found to get commercial is...
a new buildings/office block
i go into the site managers office (with my hard hat, hi viz vest, steel toe caps etc) and ask if they have someone doing the builders clean... (they allways do cos its usally their mate), anyway i then try and find out who is moving in, and when, if they are a local company and the contact...
but the main thing is to have a good look at the building and if allowed i have a look inside, to get a 'feel' for the place...
then phone up the named contact, and ask if they have a w/c for their new office... and when are they moving in, i aslo say ive had a look round and what a great office it looks - just being friendly and laying it on thick...
mention the new regs... say i will pop something in the post...
i usally dont because when i call back in a week or so to arrange a 'viewing' and get a quote in... because they usally are deciding the budget for cleaning before they move in and i want to be 'helpful' and give them an idea of costs
again, i clean the van (new van with logo etc so looks very professional) wear a clean shirt, and pretend to be the slightly dim, but an honest w/c who will look after their lovely new office...
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squeeks... dont get me wrong as i already have said i've no axe to grind about w/c who only use ladders, it just with a wfp i can do the same job in the same time that it takes 2 blokes to do... so the client only has to make one cup of tea per hour and not two!!
they save loads in milk, sugar, tea bags no more nicking of their fairy liquid, or pouring dirty water down their sink, fewer fAg ends, less swearing and well to be honest if they get rid of their w/c its cos they wernt happy with them... cos i dont price cheap...
one example is a residential home £180.00 by ladders, i charged £300.00 with a wfp... they believe they are getting better results, so its worth the money
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i think your telling lies why pay£300 for having their windows cleaned just because u have got a brush on a stick with water spouting out of it.when they can get their windows cleaned properly for £180
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Bear, cannot see any sniping at all up to the point of your post ???
There are a couple of bragging type jokey posts (one is yours)...but NO sniping.
That being said, I take my hat off to anyone who can build a round of such proportion and quality in such a short time AND "give away loads of smaller work"
£60k... ???
£300 a day... ???
Top end commercial... ???
If you consider the amount of leg work involved in sourcing just 1 commercial contract, you will appreciate the amount of time on the sales/canvassing road this fella has supposedly spent...this is also time spent NOT earning.
If he has earnt £60 k in 12 months...48 weeks work...he would have had to earn an average of £300 a working day from day 1.
No sniping here Bear...just my opinion...NO WAY!!
Do the maths and think of your first year...
what was this fella earning while he was out getting all them contracts...
Richard Branson wouldn`t achieve that level of growth...
There must be a lot of established commercial window cleaners suddenly finding themselves off contract where this fella operates...
DO NOT BELIEVE... :-X
and another point...do you really believe anyone could phone up all the facilities managers and with 1 days notice expect them to say:
" yes...no problems mate...I`ll drop everything and get round there...what time and where?" ::) ::)
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i think your telling lies why pay£300 for having their windows cleaned just because u have got a brush on a stick with water spouting out of it.when they can get their windows cleaned properly for £180
Ha ha!
Answer that one.
I wanted to say how stupid that looked, but didn't want to start an arguement. :D
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i think your telling lies why pay£300 for having their windows cleaned just because u have got a brush on a stick with water spouting out of it.when they can get their windows cleaned properly for £180
Ha ha!
Answer that one.
I wanted to say how stupid that looked, but didn't want to start an arguement. :D
Well if it's the same as round here then the w/c's probably haven't been for six months! It's how I got a lot of my work. Plenty of trads around in the summer but come the winter...nowhere to be seen!
I clean a site in the city centre where they hadn't seen their w/c for 18 months! He's still in business as the residents have seen him around. Oh and I charge more than he was and picked up the building next door :)
It still amazes me how some people run their business and then moan about lack of work/money. Reliability is a key factor in any business and I may not be the best or fastest window cleaner but I never miss a clean and I haven't lost a customer in 7 years!
Rod
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yes but it's different for you Rod.
If you look anythink like your kid, they're feeling sorry for you ;D
And as For Rog Squeaky, you are gonna have to tell the Gopher to relax sometime. He's been doing 60 a minute for 2 weeks now! I can't concentrate on your comments. Or is that the plan?
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that gopher gets on my goat as well squeeky it makes you looky smug with your replies .nothing personal ..
Maybe he has 60k on his books after 12 months and not actually earned it yet ,
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that gopher gets on my goat as well squeeky it makes you looky smug with your replies .nothing personal ..
Was planning a new one anyway... me? smug?
You'll like the next one. :)
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;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
OK arrogant ;D
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hi guys im back on line...
okay glad some of you replied.....
i will answer some questions
i started with £00.00 a year ago (01/01/05) and as of last week after winning a new contract my earning potential for next year is £60k, most of you realised thats what i meant...
just a word of caution dont say i am a liar, i just want to share how ive got commercial work which some of you may find of interest - if you have a question then thats fair enough... ok? friends again, ill buy you a pint!
as for gong from £180.00 to £300.00 its very simple.
the client wasnt happy with the standard of window cleaning (2 guys on a ladder as it happens) i said i could do the work but instead of monthly i would clean every 6 weeks... as i believe that wfp windows really do stay cleaner for longer
so currently they pay:
£180.00 * 12 months = £2,160pa which is split between 2 lads
i changed it to
£2,160 / 8 cleans = £270.00 per visit plus for an extra £30.00 i would clean the frames as well... they couldnt lose!
therefore £300.00 for 8 cleans
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another way to 'win' commercial work is swopping...
for example i had 8 shops that took me 2 hours to clean every week at £10.00 each, so in 2 hours i had £80.00 squid in my pocket and after a month (and 8 hours) i earned £320.00 (or £3,840.00 pa)
talking to a window cleaner who didnt keeep any books, he had an office block that he cleaned (outsides only - again using ladders) took him 6 hours and he charged £300.00 plus a pub that he cleaned for £20.00 for 1 hours work...
so £320.00 for 7 hours work plus the office block took 30 days to pay
i offered to swop... he wanted cash jobs, i wanted commercial
now I can clean the office block in 4 hours, and i charge the pub £60.00 for an hours work... so for 5 hours work i now earn £360.00.
then i offered to clean the office block on the inside for an extra £150.00 (inside top floor one month, then inside bottom floor the following month)
ok... still keeping up?
now i earn 450.00 per month for 6 hours work plus £60.00 for the pub.
that means a total of 7 hours work i earn £510.00, when i used to earn £320.00 for 8 hours work...
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....about that beer you're gonna buy?
I live a bit of a way from you, would you mind just getting tesco to deliver instead? ;)
Couple of smart moves, by the way.
You have to have the options open to play with in the first place though.
Location, location, location.
Leamington Spa, I bet? ;D
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leamington spa, royal
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so its £0 to £60k in 2 years...your first post did not make that clear.
I can see where you are going but you need 30 of those good luck stories to get you through the month...I hope you get them ;D
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Hi macleod,
Glad its going well with you, i agree with you on swopping, i've done this 3 times in last 2 years on domestiic side of the business cuts down travelling , on a serious note if you are expecting to turnover to be £60,000 per annum have you registered for vat because the threshold is £58,000 ?.
Cheers Mark.
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have a meeting arranged with accountant (in warwick 2 weeks), apparently he says that if i had gone vat registered last year i would be £500.00 better off
but not sure if i am going to split the round and get another van... 650 lt this time.... just as you train your customers to make a cuppa i have trained mine to let me fill up as i work... hence only need 650, and not 1000 lt...
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talking of swopping how about this,
i used to do adult discos and karaokes but gave it up recently and today i was talking to another w/c who i've know for a long time, anyway he ask me how the enertainment side of the bizz was going and i informed him that i had stopped doing it.
now for the best bit, he wants to get rid of his w/c round (£750 per month mixed domestic and commercial) and concentrate on his chimney sweep bizz and also start up evening work as a dj, he ask me if my equipment was for sale which i replied yes, i think you can guess the next bit.
yep,
i have swoped my gear (valued about £600) for his £750 w/c round, a good swop me thinks!
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Thats the way to dit ;D