Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: paul ette on May 12, 2013, 02:55:17 pm

Title: keeping track of your round??
Post by: paul ette on May 12, 2013, 02:55:17 pm
hi im fairly new to this business, started back last year, i just wondered if there was a easy way of keeping track of your round.

when ive done my days work i will write all the customers back in my diary in 4 or 8 weeks time, sometimes when im tired i will miss customers and get confused who goes where, any one know any good methods??
am i doing it all wrong??

also i always ring the night b4 to let them know im coming, anyone else do this? it can be a pain in the arse, especially when they say not to come cuz its raining or something lol

any info would be aprecciated
Title: Re: keeping track of your round??
Post by: PoleKing on May 12, 2013, 03:05:59 pm
Number of software options available Paul.
A lot like Aworka. Some use George.
I like to stick old school-just use Excel.

Calling the night before-text instead. I have a pretty good round and only 2 customers whose landlines won't take a text. Don't know why.

As for 'not today, it's raining' brigade.
You can either wait until its dry enough for them or tell them it's monthly/2monthly or not at all at x price. It'll essentially be a 'one off' price.

It's all about striking a balance.
I for one am not a 'like it or lump it type of guy but won't be dictated to by a customer either.
You'll find a happy medium in time.
Title: Re: keeping track of your round??
Post by: bobplum on May 12, 2013, 03:25:46 pm
aworka or george
aworka probably better has you can use it on a iphone
dont call-gives them the option of cancelling the clean
try not to text as well,unless access is a problem--ask for a key or find what time they are home and call then
get them on standing orders,if no access or cancellation you still get paid,you will actually find most if not all on standing order will not mess you around
Title: Re: keeping track of your round??
Post by: CLEANCARE WC on May 12, 2013, 03:31:07 pm
One word.....GEORGE
Got to be the best option for a new business as its only £50 one off payment.
It has helped me no end since i started using it not even 2 years ago.
Dont know how i did without it the previous ten years!

Now stand back and wait for the +1's!  ;D
Title: Re: keeping track of your round??
Post by: HampshireWindowCleaning on May 12, 2013, 03:32:27 pm
You're definitely making a mistake by phoning and letting everyone know you're coming, not only is it a pain in the ass having to do it every night, it also as you've said gives the customer the upper hand as they can tell you not to bother coming. All you need to do is text only the very necessary customers such as ones that leave the gate unlocked or the money out.
Title: Re: keeping track of your round??
Post by: paul ette on May 12, 2013, 03:44:51 pm
most of my customers have locked gates, so have to ask them to unlock. also hate having to chase up payments. never thought about texting landlines, think ill give that a go ;D
thanks for info will have a look at george and give it a go
thanks for info all helps ;D :D
Title: Re: keeping track of your round??
Post by: ascjim on May 12, 2013, 03:47:14 pm
I wouldn't be able to run my business without George 
Title: Re: keeping track of your round??
Post by: paul ette on May 12, 2013, 03:50:34 pm
whats the crack with standing orders ?? hows that work???
Title: Re: keeping track of your round??
Post by: colin purewater on May 12, 2013, 04:05:25 pm
Aworka! I've been using it for a couple if months
And don't no how I've got on so long with out it !

I txt or email all my customers! It makes for a trouble
Free day,  plus I get paid by everyone  on the day
As they already no I'm coming

If you train them well you won't get any "not today's"

Title: Re: keeping track of your round??
Post by: landy2 on May 12, 2013, 04:35:57 pm
hello daren what is excel  ???
Title: Re: keeping track of your round??
Post by: JamesAJF on May 12, 2013, 04:47:51 pm
spread sheets mate i used to keep diry but decided it was a waste of time so got me self a laptop and every night i type in what work i have done with the date and price next to it and weather they have payed or not then i can work out when they need doing again just buy looking at the date not only that at the end of year i just sent it off to my accountend  so its like a diry and doing your papper work at same time i also have another page with all my custermers writen dawn with all address and contact details and then after i do that i look at my spread sheet and see what work i have got on for the next day ;)
Title: Re: keeping track of your round??
Post by: keyser soze on May 12, 2013, 04:48:49 pm
hello daren what is excel  ???

its a spreadsheet found on microsoft office. i use the same . thinking of going the george route . question;- is george and aworka the same and can you use on a mac?
Title: Re: keeping track of your round??
Post by: landy2 on May 12, 2013, 05:00:49 pm
cheers for that i understand now  :)
Title: Re: keeping track of your round??
Post by: robertphil on May 12, 2013, 05:30:06 pm
george is good.    if you cram all the details including price into the first 2 address lines you can print off  the whole week ahead on just 1 sheet of paper
Title: Re: keeping track of your round??
Post by: Paul T on May 12, 2013, 05:45:40 pm
I'm new as well .. (2011) and I've found out the hard way about ringing customers up . Gives them a chance to say no . The least contact with customers b4 you clean the better I've found.
Good luck
George for me too
Title: Re: keeping track of your round??
Post by: paul ette on May 12, 2013, 05:52:34 pm
paul t how do you go about getting them to leave gates unlocked?? and payment?
Title: Re: keeping track of your round??
Post by: GoodFella2006 on May 12, 2013, 07:26:39 pm
Now stand back and wait for the +1's!  ;D


+1
Title: Re: keeping track of your round??
Post by: paul ette on May 12, 2013, 07:33:59 pm
+1  ?? whats that mean
Title: Re: keeping track of your round??
Post by: CLEANCARE WC on May 12, 2013, 07:47:31 pm
+1  ?? whats that mean

what he said/ i agree
Title: Re: keeping track of your round??
Post by: pikeman on May 12, 2013, 07:50:23 pm
Yes george for me aswell. Just wondered my son may be starting with me on a self employed basis. Is there a way i can start another round on george for his accounts. Or would he need to subscribe to geoge himself, well worth it though
Title: Re: keeping track of your round??
Post by: northstar161 on May 14, 2013, 10:42:57 am
I do it manually using a spreadsheet.

I'm happy to send across to you what I use. Pls email me through my website if that would help.

O
Title: Re: keeping track of your round??
Post by: Dominic Carnell on May 14, 2013, 11:12:23 am
If you'd like to use a spreadsheet but don't fancy paying out for Excel then this is worth a look: http://www.openoffice.org/ (totally free!).
Title: Re: keeping track of your round??
Post by: Pureclean Essex Services on May 14, 2013, 11:15:53 am
I use a spread sheet, changed it about a bit to suit my work, each daily work sheet is set up to last me six months on a 4 weekly call cycle, it has boxes against each job, tick it when cleaned, tick it when paid, simple and sorted, I have a few customers who need to be text, their number is added to the sheet, text them the night before, included in the text is a note to say if raining will call next clear day, never get any problems.

Brian.
Title: Re: keeping track of your round??
Post by: Tom White on May 14, 2013, 01:15:45 pm
I use a spreadsheet; it contains all my customer contact information too; names, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses; any extras I've done in the past (so when they crop up again I know what I've charged them prior).

It's in alphabetical order, but I give each account an area code so I can easily copy the spreadsheet to a 'working list' and manipulate it.  It takes a few minutes to update what I've cleaned and who owes me what.  With a few clicks using the sort function I can easily get lists of outstanding payments or who is due for cleaning next.

Title: Re: keeping track of your round??
Post by: bobplum on May 14, 2013, 07:01:00 pm
If you'd like to use a spreadsheet but don't fancy paying out for Excel then this is worth a look: http://www.openoffice.org/ (totally free!).


can you use this on a ipad?