Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Dave Willis on March 24, 2017, 07:52:21 am
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The phone has been red hot this week with enquires - just can't take them on!
A local company has just whacked their prices up by at least twenty percent, they have two or three vans so I'm guessing they are well into the vat bracket and passing the tax on. no loyalty, they just won't pay that much.
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cant you pass enquires on to another window cleaner if your not going to take them on dave?surely you must know a good reliable window cleaner who your friendly with?(who wont rip them off!)
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Nope, he's full too (and probably getting the same calls).
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I had the same a few years back when one of the big concerns had just pushed the price too far, it wasn't that they didn't
want to pay it they just didn't think his service and quality were worth the extra cost.
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How can a company add 20% then a pay rise of say 5%,I know a firm who has done this all I can say he must want to lose work. My opinion is to go VAT you need to do if the majority of your customers are commercial,domestics won't stand for it going by what I've heard even in affluent areas
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Just would be nice if they put the vat bracket up on labour only types of work which deal with domestic clientele
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Iv just put some underpriced work up £10 jobs to £12 . I got 1 reply saying 'no problem with the increase, you do a good job' .
Still it's a bit scary when they txt you back , but I can't be arsed with £10 jobs anymore so I was gonna drop them anyway if I hadn't put the price up
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Suppose you have to swallow the vat if domestic and just pay your workers less and make them get thru more work
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Same here, had about 6 calls last week... all 2 minutes out my range so I said NO... far too busy anyway...
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I have picked up a few this month too. Must be the sunshine.
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I’ve lost a couple in the last 3 days, someone must be canvassing round here.
Anyway, not to worry, I picked up a new regular residential clean in London this morning thats worth £3K year.
I was thinking of Chumpbucket when that one came in.
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Can you clean my conservatory roof please?
Can you clean my fascias please?
Can you do the insides as well please?
Sometimes i hate texting the night before, this is all iv had for the last couple of weeks.
Does my nut in when you've planned your work for the next day then customers want extras at short notice.
Just can't keep up at the mo.
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Can you clean my conservatory roof please?
Can you clean my fascias please?
Can you do the insides as well please?
Sometimes i hate texting the night before, this is all iv had for the last couple of weeks.
Does my nut in when you've planned your work for the next day then customers want extras at short notice.
Just can't keep up at the mo.
if any of my customers want add on jobs they dont get done immediately.i book them in for their next clean usually(unless i have the time which is rare).never had a problem.customers understand i cant just fit in extras at short notice.i have a schedule to keep to.
who runs your business?you or the customer?try it next time.you dont have to clean them straight away mate! :)
then it gives you chance to have a good look at what work they want cleaned,price up and book them in next clean. ;)
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Can you clean my conservatory roof please?
Can you clean my fascias please?
Can you do the insides as well please?
Sometimes i hate texting the night before, this is all iv had for the last couple of weeks.
Does my nut in when you've planned your work for the next day then customers want extras at short notice.
Just can't keep up at the mo.
if any of my customers want add on jobs they dont get done immediately.i book them in for their next clean usually(unless i have the time which is rare).never had a problem.customers understand i cant just fit in extras at short notice.i have a schedule to keep to.
who runs your business?you or the customer?try it next time.you dont have to clean them straight away mate! :)
then it gives you chance to have a good look at what work they want cleaned,price up and book them in next clean. ;)
Whether i do them the next day or next time they are due is negligible. The amount of work for that day will be the same each time so i still need to find the time to fit them in.
It's the amount of it coming in that's difficult to keep up with.
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Can you clean my conservatory roof please?
Can you clean my fascias please?
Can you do the insides as well please?
Sometimes i hate texting the night before, this is all iv had for the last couple of weeks.
Does my nut in when you've planned your work for the next day then customers want extras at short notice.
Just can't keep up at the mo.
if any of my customers want add on jobs they dont get done immediately.i book them in for their next clean usually(unless i have the time which is rare).never had a problem.customers understand i cant just fit in extras at short notice.i have a schedule to keep to.
who runs your business?you or the customer?try it next time.you dont have to clean them straight away mate! :)
then it gives you chance to have a good look at what work they want cleaned,price up and book them in next clean. ;)
Whether i do them the next day or next time they are due is negligible. The amount of work for that day will be the same each time so i still need to find the time to fit them in.
It's the amount of it coming in that's difficult to keep up with.
Not really if you don't book more than one add on in for any one day then you should have time to fit it in. Start a bit earlier or finish later that day. Or just say no, if you've already done enough work that day why mess about for a bit extra if you don't really need it.
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Some of the replies on here make me laugh....everybody mown out with work and turning it down
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Nice problem to have, you can quote high when you dont need the work.
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Some of the replies on here make me laugh....everybody mown out with work and turning it down
How long have you been going? I would say if you're not in that position after 3/4 years you should get a job instead. Before I took someone on I had way more than I could manage. I was three weeks behind when my first staff member started.
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I have been going 30 years I never turn anything down sometimes I get a bit fed up of cleaning the glass only I would prefer add ones. I would rather do two or three cons or facias a day than glass can't be bothered with all the collecting
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I have been going 30 years I never turn anything down sometimes I get a bit fed up of cleaning the glass only I would prefer add ones. I would rather do two or three cons or facias a day than glass can't be bothered with all the collecting
Don't collect then and switch it to all omline.. Problem solved
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Some of the replies on here make me laugh....everybody mown out with work and turning it down
How long have you been going? I would say if you're not in that position after 3/4 years you should get a job instead. Before I took someone on I had way more than I could manage. I was three weeks behind when my first staff member started.
Well said
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I have been going 30 years I never turn anything down sometimes I get a bit fed up of cleaning the glass only I would prefer add ones. I would rather do two or three cons or facias a day than glass can't be bothered with all the collecting
It seems obvious that if you don't turn anything down, you haven't got a full round or else you'd be weeks behind all of the time.
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I have been going 30 years I never turn anything down sometimes I get a bit fed up of cleaning the glass only I would prefer add ones. I would rather do two or three cons or facias a day than glass can't be bothered with all the collecting
In 30 years have you not managed to acquire 12-15 new customers a year? how have you still got room to fit anything in?
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Just a quick question for chaps that so say they are full - Can't/don't want to take on anymore jobs.
Do you chaps that turn away work because you are so say too busy ever look at dropping the more hassle/lesser paid jobs and replace them with less hassle/better value work?
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Just a quick question for chaps that so say they are full - Can't/don't want to take on anymore jobs.
Do you chaps that turn away work because you are so say too busy ever look at dropping the more hassle/lesser paid jobs and replace them with less hassle/better value work?
Problem is its a risk. You could drop lower paid work for higher prices but you dony know how relaible new payers are going to be
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Just a quick question for chaps that so say they are full - Can't/don't want to take on anymore jobs.
Do you chaps that turn away work because you are so say too busy ever look at dropping the more hassle/lesser paid jobs and replace them with less hassle/better value work?
I will nearly always take a new job on if there is no access issues etc and not out of my way. I just price it that bit higher to test the water so to speak. With a larger round comes more cancellations (died, moving, etc) so its always good to take on the odd new customer, as you say can dump one that you dont like doing.
So for instance if i had 6 calls in a week from customers say a couple of mins outside my normal area i would go investigate instead of wasting my time dealing with silly customers trying to get as much out of me for a measly £10 (just saying like ;D)
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Anyway competition is getting ridiculous. I litterally had 2 cancellations just this minute ago, both to cheaper prices.
So thats a pain.
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If peeps are so stacked out with work how about looking at the frequency too?
For instance moving domestic custards from 4 weekly (monthly) to 8 weekly (bi-monthly) and charge more.
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Anyway competition is getting ridiculous. I litterally had 2 cancellations just this minute ago, both to cheaper prices.
So thats a pain.
Peeps can cancel at a whim for whatever reason at anytime. However if they cancel on price alone they are not the types you really want on your books anyway surely?
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Anyway competition is getting ridiculous. I litterally had 2 cancellations just this minute ago, both to cheaper prices.
So thats a pain.
Yeah i agree, its still a pain tho
Peeps can cancel at a whim for whatever reason at anytime. However if they cancel on price alone they are not the types you really want on your books anyway surely?
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There being full and then there's being FULL
You could say if you have enough work for what you want then you are full. For example if you have decided you want to work 9-3 Mon to Fri then you could squeeze in the odd extra job if you wanted but might not want to take on any more regulars.
Then there is being full to the point where you literally can't fit anymore into the daylight available.
The second scenario would absolutely obliterate me and I wouldn't have the energy to do anything else. I've worked 8 hour days on the glass before and if done at any sort of pace all you want to do when you get home is sleep.
That's why a lot of guys may say they are full when they have enough work for what they want without killing themselves.
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There being full and then there's being FULL
You could say if you have enough work for what you want then you are full. For example if you have decided you want to work 9-3 Mon to Fri then you could squeeze in the odd extra job if you wanted but might not want to take on any more regulars.
Then there is being full to the point where you literally can't fit anymore into the daylight available.
The second scenario would absolutely obliterate me and I wouldn't have the energy to do anything else. I've worked 8 hour days on the glass before and if done at any sort of pace all you want to do when you get home is sleep.
That's why a lot of guys may say they are full when they have enough work for what they want without killing themselves.
would agree with that..
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Well said as everyone is different. Ideal goal for most should be work smarter not harder and all that.
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I always take on the gutters, fascias, con roofs etc as it's a break from the norm plus there's good money to be had, especially from gutters.
As mentioned though every extra job taken on puts a extra strain on keeping up with the regulars.
I'm always a week behind even though most work is 8 weekly but hey ho know one's complained yet.
It happens this time every year, march through to may, everyone's getting their houses in order ready for summer. After that the extras die down a little and i get the regulars back on track.
Most customers understand this time of year is extra busy so i ask for a little patience.
As long as you do an excellent job when their time comes then there's never a problem.
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I’ve lost a couple in the last 3 days, someone must be canvassing round here.
Anyway, not to worry, I picked up a new regular residential clean in London this morning thats worth £3K year.
I was thinking of Chumpbucket when that one came in.
No doubt, just like your big London commercial that never existed!! ;D LMAO ;D
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You need to give those drugs a swerve Chumpy.
Go and take your Mum out for a slap up Sunday roast, do her a favour at least.
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Desperaaaaado..... lol ;D
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I reckon a couple of weeks until Chummy self destructs again. ;)
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I have been going 30 years I never turn anything down sometimes I get a bit fed up of cleaning the glass only I would prefer add ones. I would rather do two or three cons or facias a day than glass can't be bothered with all the collecting
30 years?longer than me then! ;D(24 yrs)
I've sold work on in the past as it was too much for one man to clean.
I pick and choose what new work I take on as I like shorter days and weekends off most of the time these days.
Earning money is not the be all and end all for me.time management and keeping a fair work/leisure time balance is far more important.
Once your earning a good wedge month in/month out and are in a financially comfortable position(it's took me many years)then extra work is just eating into your rest/leisure time.
Of course I am always taking a few new jobs on here and there because I lose jobs here and there too for whatever reason.it balances itself out.
I don't do anymore work than I normally do the last few years as I'm at a plateau in my business.
The only way for me to earn more money now is to increase prices (which I have done this month)or work longer and harder which I'm not going to do.I think I work hard enough taking into consideration my age and leisure activities (weight training/playing drums in a band,etc).
I haven't failed to earn more money every year for the last 9 years(ironically since the 2008 stock market crash). :)
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A well priced and refined round working 25-30 hours a week should provide ample money for a one man band and also give you space to be able to have days off/holidays/rain delays/breakdowns and enjoy the rest of your life.
Its surprising what you can get through in 5 hours when you work flow is optimised.
Dont forget there will be a few hours on top of that for admin etc.
Hopefully I will reach that point by the end of this year.
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Just a quick question for chaps that so say they are full - Can't/don't want to take on anymore jobs.
Do you chaps that turn away work because you are so say too busy ever look at dropping the more hassle/lesser paid jobs and replace them with less hassle/better value work?
Problem is its a risk. You could drop lower paid work for higher prices but you dony know how relaible new payers are going to be
Agreed.
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If peeps are so stacked out with work how about looking at the frequency too?
For instance moving domestic custards from 4 weekly (monthly) to 8 weekly (bi-monthly) and charge more.
yep this is what ive done lately with some new customers.
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If peeps are so stacked out with work how about looking at the frequency too?
For instance moving domestic custards from 4 weekly (monthly) to 8 weekly (bi-monthly) and charge more.
yep this is what ive done lately with some new customers.
It's the pricing I struggle with on 8 weekly or 12 weekly as all my work is once a month .
I did get one that was £15 a month , he said he wants to change to 12 weekly. I said it's £15 once a month , £22.50 8 weekly and £30 every 3 months . He's gone for the £30 but whether that's right or not iv no idea ???
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If peeps are so stacked out with work how about looking at the frequency too?
For instance moving domestic custards from 4 weekly (monthly) to 8 weekly (bi-monthly) and charge more.
yep this is what ive done lately with some new customers.
It's the pricing I struggle with on 8 weekly or 12 weekly as all my work is once a month .
I did get one that was £15 a month , he said he wants to change to 12 weekly. I said it's £15 once a month , £22.50 8 weekly and £30 every 3 months . He's gone for the £30 but whether that's right or not iv no idea ???
If your happy with it then its right.
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If peeps are so stacked out with work how about looking at the frequency too?
For instance moving domestic custards from 4 weekly (monthly) to 8 weekly (bi-monthly) and charge more.
yep this is what ive done lately with some new customers.
It's the pricing I struggle with on 8 weekly or 12 weekly as all my work is once a month .
I did get one that was £15 a month , he said he wants to change to 12 weekly. I said it's £15 once a month , £22.50 8 weekly and £30 every 3 months . He's gone for the £30 but whether that's right or not iv no idea ???
if its on my compact run of the mill work then its either 4 or 8 weekly(not 12 weekly unless its a larger stand alone).
theres no right or wrong mate!
charge what you like its your business! :)
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You know what...the reason why window cleaning is getting so competitive is becouse we seem to keep posting our prices on forums like this.
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You know what...the reason why window cleaning is getting so competitive is becouse we seem to keep posting our prices on forums like this.
I doubt it's down to ciu , it's on a lot of people's websites including mine . It's not a secret
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People only need to ask their neighbour how much window cleaning is, its not a national secret.
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You know what...the reason why window cleaning is getting so competitive is becouse we seem to keep posting our prices on forums like this.
Only those with seemingly something to prove!! ;D
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I don't believe having monthly work is better just my opinion,ok it may mean if you do 2 and 3 monthly work you'll need 2-3 times the work but it is far easier to organise and you can price higher due to not being on there doorstep what seems like every other week in there mind. When I turn up on a 2-3 monthly job you can really see the difference when you've finished cleaning them over a monthly clean,I've done lots of monthly stuff in years gone by and I've always felt rushed to get round to doing them a month just flys by in this job,much more profitable to say it'll be 40 every 2-3 months rather than run your arse off for 25 on the same job,in my experience people don't mind paying more for longer gaps between cleans and lets be honest do they get much dirtier,not really me thinks in the grand scheme of things it's not like they've not been touched for 3-4 years.
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When I turn up on a 2-3 monthly job you can really see the difference when you've finished cleaning them
in my experience people don't mind paying more for longer gaps between cleans and lets be honest do they get much dirtier
Well, thats a contradiction isn’t it?
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I'm sure a clever bloke like you can see what I mean instead of just making digs about that post,you'll earn more using longer gaps between cleans over the years I've proved you can. So many people chasing
Round like maniacs to do there monthly cleans,if you know what your doing you should be able to plod do far less jobs and earn more money week in week out. I don't know who initially came up with the idea that window cleaning is monthly it's ridiculous,the reason it's branded in a window cleaners brain is because years ago it was far far easier to get a months work finish at 12-30 and then go and pick the kids up from school without getting behind with there work lol,you can say to a customer you would prefer to clean it monthly but in reality big domestics don't want monthly they prefer 6 weekly minimum.
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Commercial weekly monthly,estate work ie council houses or a mass of terrace houses in 1 pop ie park the van up knock out 10-20 houses for £5-£10 monthly,larger houses 6-8 cleans a year will earn you more for less running about like an idiot on redbull month in month out without knocking your pipe out.
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I don't believe having monthly work is better just my opinion,ok it may mean if you do 2 and 3 monthly work you'll need 2-3 times the work but it is far easier to organise and you can price higher due to not being on there doorstep what seems like every other week in there mind. When I turn up on a 2-3 monthly job you can really see the difference when you've finished cleaning them over a monthly clean,I've done lots of monthly stuff in years gone by and I've always felt rushed to get round to doing them a month just flys by in this job,much more profitable to say it'll be 40 every 2-3 months rather than run your arse off for 25 on the same job,in my experience people don't mind paying more for longer gaps between cleans and lets be honest do they get much dirtier,not really me thinks in the grand scheme of things it's not like they've not been touched for 3-4 years.
I totally agree.
At the end of the day It's all about what custards actually want. Meaning not being forced into a frequency they do not really want by what I call the take it or leave it 4 weekly brigade.
Then these types wonder why and moan when peeps may say not this time and/or get dumped. They may also say "No sorry I don't do one-off cleans nor any add-ons because I'm so busy - Meaning if the truth be known I'm running around like a headless chicken and don't have time.
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Your not going to get many £50 + jobs on a monthly basis I've learnt over the years so if want that kind of work you need to stretch them out,people happily go for it every couple of months and they may go for
it monthly to start with but it won't last like I say a month seems like 2 weeks to most customers. 25 every month equates to 300 a year 45 every 2 months 270 a year leaving you cleaning it less often = less running like a chicken with its throat cut giving you more time to do better paying work or more time to pick the kids up from school or watch the lunchtime news. 😂
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To be honest window cleaning does my head in. lol
That is why I chose from the get go not to build a large monthly window cleaning round. Also more importantly would not allow me to concentrate on more profitable work for less effort and time.
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I agree but you don't need to have 1 tooth to register that better paying work = more money,you'll struggle to get big prices on houses every month. Some might say yeah but what about if you park up and do 20 terrace houses in a row in the same time,I say no thanks you are still running like a red bull junkie to get it all done every month,far easier to get the = amount from 1-2 jobs with no collecting issues and dropping umpteen tickets saying you've called.
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i like a mixture of all sorts of work.4 weekly is good,so is 6 weekly,8 weekly,12 weekly,26 weekly(yes!twice a year) ;).
all work has its pros and cons.you d be surprised how many of my customers want 4 weekly.a quick splash and dash every month.lots of work is near farmers fields so any windy days during the month the windows do get dirty esp during dry spells or stormy spells of wet weather.this is ok for lower priced very compact estate work.
increasingly though ive been taking on more and more larger domestics at better prices on 6 and 8 weekly frequencies for the last 7 years or so.even a large church twice a year! ;D
most new work is on longer frequencies and better prices and i can see this continuing in the future.
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Best way to go I always say I dont do 1 offs and I can't and won't do monthly cleans,minimum is 6 weeks and tbh I struggle to do jobs every 6 weeks because of time issues I hate having to rush round. If I took a monthly on it would have to be a pre 7am kind of job that was hassle free with peace and quiet.