Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Leeds on November 09, 2014, 01:45:44 am

Title: Catching up?
Post by: Leeds on November 09, 2014, 01:45:44 am
How do you guys catch up if you fall behind. especially if you are on a 4 week rota, do you just miss it out until next time?
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: Soupy on November 09, 2014, 07:33:19 am
I go round in a circle. If I clean somewhere on the 10th I aim to be back around the 10th next month (sooner if its a 4 wk cycle). If I don't get there till the 15th I aim to be back around the 15th the following month.
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: sunshine windows on November 09, 2014, 07:49:21 am
We work on a monthly rotation of the round and have only ever fallen 1 week behind once, around 5 years ago when it was freezing and couldn't drive anywhere.

We gradually clawed it back over the next 6 months by going 4 weekly.

Working on the monthly basis that we do, enables us to take on large one off jobs and leaves time for a few well earned days off
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: Leeds on November 09, 2014, 08:43:30 am
I go round in a circle. If I clean somewhere on the 10th I aim to be back around the 10th next month (sooner if its a 4 wk cycle). If I don't get there till the 15th I aim to be back around the 15th the following month.

This is a pretty good way! nice one
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: ChumBucket on November 09, 2014, 09:41:31 am
I'm never on time, even my monthlies are about 8 weeks now & that's without being held back by the weather!!

Pretty much same as soupy, go round in a circle- unless you have spare time in your round (which I don't) then you can not catch up so to speak. Time stands still for no man! :)

To be honest, it suites me too, I like the flexibility of not being tied to a rigid schedule. I often mix it up a bit to maximise days. ;)
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: sunshine windows on November 09, 2014, 09:46:17 am
If you can't keep up with your round because you're too full, simply put your prices up right across the board by at least 10%. You may lose a few, enabling you to get through the work, but you'll be earning more.

Simples  ;)
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: ChumBucket on November 09, 2014, 09:52:38 am
If you can't keep up with your round because you're too full, simply put your prices up right across the board by at least 10%. You may lose a few, enabling you to get through the work, but you'll be earning more.

Simples  ;)

And when you do that & lose none.........................?
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: Jonny 87 on November 09, 2014, 10:06:52 am
If you can't keep up with your round because you're too full, simply put your prices up right across the board by at least 10%. You may lose a few, enabling you to get through the work, but you'll be earning more.

Simples  ;)

And when you do that & lose none.........................?

Then your making more money.......simples. :)

It's something I'm planning to do next year, I'm hoping to lose some and be working less while earning more. :)
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: sunshine windows on November 09, 2014, 10:26:36 am
If you do that and lose none, your prices are too low to start with and you're a busy fool.  :o

Not aimed at you in particular, just saying!

I aim to charge top whack for each job I do, I have very few areas where I clean more than 2 or 3 houses from one spot and am not interested in cleaning wholes streets at a time for peanuts.

Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: ChumBucket on November 09, 2014, 10:59:01 am
I'm no busy fool I can assure you! Ten years of refinement, no1 spot on google for all my areas & a good reputation have created the situation. ;) I tun down more than I take on these days, I'll only take the cream.

I could employ but I don't want to, I'm happy having too much good work than not enough. ;)
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: Jonny 87 on November 09, 2014, 11:05:17 am
I'm no busy fool I can assure you! Ten years of refinement, no1 spot on google for all my areas & a good reputation have created the situation. ;) I tun down more than I take on these days, I'll only take the cream.

I could employ but I don't want to, I'm happy having too much good work than not enough. ;)
what part of the uk do you work in?
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: Steven White on November 09, 2014, 11:05:44 am
I pack my round into 4 days a week (thats four mondays to thursdays a month) . This leaves the friday to do any left over you should have done in the first four and extra jobs like conservatory roofs, gutters etc. I'm getting swamped with new customers, but still am managing to keep up, so since I started this system I must be doing something right. It's all about setting yourself targets to keep yourself motivated I think.
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: dazmond on November 09, 2014, 12:10:24 pm
I Work my round from a-z.if I get behind I simply start off where I left off the day before.i might juggle a few jobs about here and there but roughly mostly in the same order.i certainly don't miss them for a whole month.i just get round a bit later.

I  very rarely get behind even with 300+ customers (most of them are 4 weekly)
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: Frankybadboy on November 09, 2014, 04:55:27 pm
yep always behind and yes busy fool,but what dont get done today gets done tomorrow.


do i worry.....no ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

it could be said that if your always on time and can catch up that your not earning as much as you could, ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)with not so full rounds ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: trippyboy on November 09, 2014, 07:50:39 pm
 I once got behind in 2011 I think it was,terrible shock to the system mind  ;D
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: CleanClear on November 09, 2014, 07:55:35 pm
How do you guys catch up if you fall behind. especially if you are on a 4 week rota, do you just miss it out until next time?

I can't catch up. If you can catch up then your schedule is not full, thats fine.
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: sunshine windows on November 10, 2014, 09:54:54 am
But why would you want to be full and struggling, when you can increase prices and achieve the same income for less work. 😉

I'm as full as I want to be (financially) and have lots of afternoons to do as I please. Sod busting your balls continually throughout the month
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: Ian101 on November 10, 2014, 05:09:08 pm
But why would you want to be full and struggling, when you can increase prices and achieve the same income for less work.

I'm as full as I want to be (financially) and have lots of afternoons to do as I please. Sod busting your balls continually throughout the month

yup thinking more and more like this myself ... if I work hard I can get thru all my jobs in about 10 to 12 days so leaves plenty of time to do the icing on the cake ... conny roofs, upvc, gutters, pressure washing
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: Frankybadboy on November 10, 2014, 05:20:57 pm
But why would you want to be full and struggling, when you can increase prices and achieve the same income for less work. 😉

I'm as full as I want to be (financially) and have lots of afternoons to do as I please. Sod busting your balls continually throughout the month
who said anything thing about busting a gut.yep increased price and earn more for doing the same.

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: ChumBucket on November 10, 2014, 05:21:43 pm
But why would you want to be full and struggling, when you can increase prices and achieve the same income for less work. 😉

I'm as full as I want to be (financially) and have lots of afternoons to do as I please. Sod busting your balls continually throughout the month

And............when you increase those prices & don't lose any AND it still keeps rolling in even with quoting inflated prices?
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: paulben on November 11, 2014, 07:02:45 am
I now work on a 5 week cycle try and do all work in 4 on 5th week catch up gutter cleans etc and go away in caravan beats working for someone else
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: Smudger on November 11, 2014, 07:09:51 am
Then you employ...!


Darran
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: Perfect Windows on November 11, 2014, 08:14:04 am
I don't see the point of having an over full round.

Why?  Well, let's take a simple example.  The numbers themselves are irrelevant; it's the principle that matters.  Assume ten houses a day, no holidays, etc.

1. You do a four week round and you have 200 customers so you're always on time.  You can clean 10 houses a day and you earn £100 from them, so £500 a week for 52 weeks a year so £26,000 turnover.

2. You do a four week round but you have 400 customers so you actually get round in eight weeks.  You can clean 10 houses a day and you earn £100 from them, so £500 a week for 52 weeks a year so £26,000 turnover.

I'll accept that's simplified but you get the point.  In case one you're happy, your customers are happy.  In case two, you're constantly under strain and apologising to all and sundry for being late.  And all for no financial gain on your behalf.

Seems obvious to me.

Vin

Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: dazmond on November 11, 2014, 08:40:57 am
i agree vin.i have 300+ customers and very rarely get behind.maybe a day or two in winter or occasionally a week or two(xmas,summer holidays or prolonged extreme weather).most work is 4 weekly.

i usually get a few days off at the end of the month,sometimes a week before im back at it again.if your constantly behind by 3 or 4 weeks then the windows are dirtier,customers moaning etc and your not earning any more than if you had a third less customers.

ive sold work on before now when i had too much work to keep to my schedule.so i made money on selling on customers and got round on time so i didnt lose out earnings wise.in fact it left a little space for taking on higher paying work.

and so it continues.constantly refining work,fine tuning it over months and years to a manageable profitable round.

of course if your bursting at the seams and cant cope then employing is the way forward if your want to expand but for a sole trader its all about fine tuning the work you ve got and can manage without burning yourself out day in/day out IMO.

regards



dazmond
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: NWH on November 11, 2014, 05:45:39 pm
I have never managed to catch fully up to date with all my work ever I'm always a couple of weeks behind,my work is 6 weekly 8 weekly or 3 monthly. I've always taken on to much for that reason if your late more often than not you'll here them say I was just thinking you must be due,there's nothing worse than seeing peoples faces when your early and they know you are lol it's  like sucking a lemon getting out the van waiting for the old you were only hear a few weeks ago.
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: 8weekly on November 11, 2014, 05:52:19 pm
I don't see the point of having an over full round.

Why?  Well, let's take a simple example.  The numbers themselves are irrelevant; it's the principle that matters.  Assume ten houses a day, no holidays, etc.

1. You do a four week round and you have 200 customers so you're always on time.  You can clean 10 houses a day and you earn £100 from them, so £500 a week for 52 weeks a year so £26,000 turnover.

2. You do a four week round but you have 400 customers so you actually get round in eight weeks.  You can clean 10 houses a day and you earn £100 from them, so £500 a week for 52 weeks a year so £26,000 turnover.

I'll accept that's simplified but you get the point.  In case one you're happy, your customers are happy.  In case two, you're constantly under strain and apologising to all and sundry for being late.  And all for no financial gain on your behalf.

Seems obvious to me.

Vin


In my case it's because when I take someone on (very soon) I don't want to run out of work too quickly. I am two weeks behind and that gives me two week's work in hand to catch up over a few weeks.
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: NWH on November 11, 2014, 05:56:07 pm
Anyone even thinking of taking someone on full time will needs loads more work,from a full house on your own to a front and a side of a house over night will enable you to fly through the work.think how much time and energy it will save especially if your sending him round the backs lol
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: Perfect Windows on November 11, 2014, 06:54:45 pm
I don't see the point of having an over full round.

Why?  Well, let's take a simple example.  The numbers themselves are irrelevant; it's the principle that matters.  Assume ten houses a day, no holidays, etc.

1. You do a four week round and you have 200 customers so you're always on time.  You can clean 10 houses a day and you earn £100 from them, so £500 a week for 52 weeks a year so £26,000 turnover.

2. You do a four week round but you have 400 customers so you actually get round in eight weeks.  You can clean 10 houses a day and you earn £100 from them, so £500 a week for 52 weeks a year so £26,000 turnover.

I'll accept that's simplified but you get the point.  In case one you're happy, your customers are happy.  In case two, you're constantly under strain and apologising to all and sundry for being late.  And all for no financial gain on your behalf.

Seems obvious to me.

Vin


In my case it's because when I take someone on (very soon) I don't want to run out of work too quickly. I am two weeks behind and that gives me two week's work in hand to catch up over a few weeks.

Agree - if you're expanding, it makes sense.  And it makes us an odd industry, whereby you can give up that couple of weeks' work and not see your earnings drop.

Vin
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: Smudger on November 11, 2014, 07:21:19 pm
I have never managed to catch fully up to date with all my work ever I'm always a couple of weeks behind,my work is 6 weekly 8 weekly or 3 monthly. I've always taken on to much for that reason if your late more often than not you'll here them say I was just thinking you must be due

In many case they go, that windy is unreliable, let's try another  ;)


   Re: Catching up?
« Reply #26 on: Today at 05:56:07 pm »   Reply with quote
Anyone even thinking of taking someone on full time will needs loads more work,from a full house on your own to a front and a side of a house over night will enable you to fly through the work.think how much time and energy it will save especially if your sending him round the backs lol

You need to be full, but remember that it takes time to find the right guy and train them up

Darran
Title: Re: Catching up?
Post by: NWH on November 11, 2014, 07:27:01 pm
I have never managed to catch fully up to date with all my work ever I'm always a couple of weeks behind,my work is 6 weekly 8 weekly or 3 monthly. I've always taken on to much for that reason if your late more often than not you'll here them say I was just thinking you must be due

In many case they go, that windy is unreliable, let's try another  ;)


   Re: Catching up?
« Reply #26 on: Today at 05:56:07 pm »   Reply with quote
Anyone even thinking of taking someone on full time will needs loads more work,from a full house on your own to a front and a side of a house over night will enable you to fly through the work.think how much time and energy it will save especially if your sending him round the backs lol

You need to be full, but remember that it takes time to find the right guy and train them up

Darran