Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Bungle on February 02, 2021, 05:02:53 pm

Title: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: Bungle on February 02, 2021, 05:02:53 pm
I've had two cancel due to not being able to afford it this week. Have you lost any work yet?
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: james peters on February 02, 2021, 05:39:51 pm
I had 2 yesterday.   one is a holiday let with pods, that didnt reply to my text to let them know I was calling .
the other one was a new customer that wanted me to skip..... she was a fb customer, so It was no surprise .
however I am getting enquiries from google and I have put lots of prices up with no objections,
my target customers are proffesional, semi retired or retired    . these types arent realy affected as much as the younger generation
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: Stoots on February 02, 2021, 05:51:37 pm
Had a couple cancel due to price increases and a couple moved out since christmas.

Nothing out of the ordinary though
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: dazmond on February 02, 2021, 06:22:25 pm
I've had two cancel due to not being able to afford it this week. Have you lost any work yet?

i picked up 4 new jobs in january...no cancellations yet...

1 x £25 8 weekly
3 x £10 4 weekly

so an extra £510 per year
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: Simon Trapani on February 02, 2021, 06:37:53 pm
I feel a record day coming Daz.  ;D
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: zesty on February 02, 2021, 06:58:55 pm
Lost two £20 houses the other day, due to them ‘both not working much’ (they’re neighbors)

That’s about it so far...
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: Bungle on February 02, 2021, 07:01:54 pm
Just lost another one  :'(

When all this started I decided that I would take on all new work just in case I started to lose work. I'm over subscribed and have to juggle work most weeks, which is a good thing I suppose. Still gaining work but cancellations are outweighing work coming in the last couple of weeks.

Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: NWH on February 02, 2021, 07:03:26 pm
Spoke to another cleaner today lost all his shops for the foreseeable and a large car dealership,about 10k a year all in all.
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: Splash & dash on February 02, 2021, 07:04:38 pm
Not down hear a lot of commercial work is on hold but enquires have gone through the roof we cannot take in anymore add on jobs now until May/June , no cancelations  at all from any domestic customers at this time .
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: SB Cleaning on February 02, 2021, 07:06:44 pm
Just lost another one  :'(

When all this started I decided that I would take on all new work just in case I started to lose work. I'm over subscribed and have to juggle work most weeks, which is a good thing I suppose. Still gaining work but cancellations are outweighing work coming in the last couple of weeks.
How long have the ones you lost been on the round mate? I've lost 3 since new year, 2 i was gonna drop anyway.
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: Bungle on February 02, 2021, 07:13:09 pm
Just lost another one  :'(

When all this started I decided that I would take on all new work just in case I started to lose work. I'm over subscribed and have to juggle work most weeks, which is a good thing I suppose. Still gaining work but cancellations are outweighing work coming in the last couple of weeks.
How long have the ones you lost been on the round mate? I've lost 3 since new year, 2 i was gonna drop anyway.

One I've been doing for 6 years, both have been furloughed. She was on her last warning anyway.
One I've been doing for 4 years, money is tight but I hated doing it.
One I've been doing 4 years, cutting back due to reduced earnings.

Like an earlier poster said, you need customers who are retired or loaded 😀
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: Bungle on February 02, 2021, 07:15:57 pm
Not down hear a lot of commercial work is on hold but enquires have gone through the roof we cannot take in anymore add on jobs now until May/June , no cancelations  at all from any domestic customers at this time .

I might have to move down to the promised land that is Helston👍💰
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: combat1 on February 02, 2021, 07:52:34 pm
Not too bad so far, a couple have finished.
All my customers are military families so all the army soldiers are quite safe but a lot of the wives work, and now quite a few have been laid off.
Also, the army moves most people regularly. History has shown a natural take up from new tenants but this is much lower now, having to start prospecting.
My wife is a key worker so I have to home school until 12, which means I only get about 4 hrs a day to work.
No SEISS grant so a bit tight!
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: Splash & dash on February 02, 2021, 09:07:24 pm
Not down hear a lot of commercial work is on hold but enquires have gone through the roof we cannot take in anymore add on jobs now until May/June , no cancelations  at all from any domestic customers at this time .

I might have to move down to the promised land that is Helston👍💰


Any time we can always do with an extra pair of hands 😂😂
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: G Griffin on February 02, 2021, 09:59:19 pm
Not too bad so far, a couple have finished.
All my customers are military families so all the army soldiers are quite safe but a lot of the wives work, and now quite a few have been laid off.
Also, the army moves most people regularly. History has shown a natural take up from new tenants but this is much lower now, having to start prospecting.
My wife is a key worker so I have to home school until 12, which means I only get about 4 hrs a day to work.
No SEISS grant so a bit tight!
It might be worth filing your tax return early and you might be able to claim the fourth grant, mate.
If your self employed profit is over half of your total income for last year, that is.
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: deeege on February 02, 2021, 10:17:03 pm
Not too bad so far, a couple have finished.
All my customers are military families so all the army soldiers are quite safe but a lot of the wives work, and now quite a few have been laid off.
Also, the army moves most people regularly. History has shown a natural take up from new tenants but this is much lower now, having to start prospecting.
My wife is a key worker so I have to home school until 12, which means I only get about 4 hrs a day to work.
No SEISS grant so a bit tight!
It might be worth filing your tax return early and you might be able to claim the fourth grant, mate.
If your self employed profit is over half of your total income for last year, that is.

Thought all of the grants are based on 19/20 tax returns?
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: Ched on February 02, 2021, 10:27:59 pm
Not too bad so far, a couple have finished.
All my customers are military families so all the army soldiers are quite safe but a lot of the wives work, and now quite a few have been laid off.
Also, the army moves most people regularly. History has shown a natural take up from new tenants but this is much lower now, having to start prospecting.
My wife is a key worker so I have to home school until 12, which means I only get about 4 hrs a day to work.
No SEISS grant so a bit tight!
It might be worth filing your tax return early and you might be able to claim the fourth grant, mate.
If your self employed profit is over half of your total income for last year, that is.

Thought all of the grants are based on 19/20 tax returns?
There is speculation that the 20/21 return might be taken into consideration - info due in Budget!
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: deeege on February 03, 2021, 06:56:13 am
Not too bad so far, a couple have finished.
All my customers are military families so all the army soldiers are quite safe but a lot of the wives work, and now quite a few have been laid off.
Also, the army moves most people regularly. History has shown a natural take up from new tenants but this is much lower now, having to start prospecting.
My wife is a key worker so I have to home school until 12, which means I only get about 4 hrs a day to work.
No SEISS grant so a bit tight!
It might be worth filing your tax return early and you might be able to claim the fourth grant, mate.
If your self employed profit is over half of your total income for last year, that is.

Thought all of the grants are based on 19/20 tax returns?
There is speculation that the 20/21 return might be taken into consideration - info due in Budget!

I hope so but I can’t see it tbh.
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: dazmond on February 03, 2021, 08:34:55 am
Not down hear a lot of commercial work is on hold but enquires have gone through the roof we cannot take in anymore add on jobs now until May/June , no cancelations  at all from any domestic customers at this time .

I turned down an f/s/g job yesterday ....really minging gutters high over a conservatory......

I just told them I dont clean them anymore due to a shoulder injury.....I couldn't be bothered....
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: Soupy on February 03, 2021, 10:30:34 am
Well over 10% down, about half of that is hotels and pubs and the like.

Not good, although I expect we'll fair better than many other types of business.
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: robbo333 on February 03, 2021, 10:59:11 am
I've only lost a few, (which i'm surprised at, thought it would be more).
Getting lots of new enquiries though.
All the trades I talk to seem to be really busy as well.
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: deeege on February 03, 2021, 02:05:09 pm
Have only got my retail work on hold now, £300/month or so, lost no domestics.

New enquiries have slowed down but that happens Jan/Feb usually anyway.

Picked up £20 monthly domestic and £60 monthly small office since the new year.
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: KS Cleaning on February 03, 2021, 02:31:31 pm
Not down hear a lot of commercial work is on hold but enquires have gone through the roof we cannot take in anymore add on jobs now until May/June , no cancelations  at all from any domestic customers at this time .

I turned down an f/s/g job yesterday ....really minging gutters high over a conservatory......

I just told them I dont clean them anymore due to a shoulder injury.....I couldn't be bothered....
Yep, I’ve used the old tennis elbow excuse to my advantage on quite a few occasions.
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: windowswashed on February 03, 2021, 06:26:03 pm
Picked up 5 detached houses today, what recession?
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: Tom-01 on February 03, 2021, 06:34:27 pm
We've lost a couple due to cheaper windy's and had a few customers move. Some of them we've kept on to clean for the new owners, some already had a window cleaner the brought with them to the new house.

Looking back at the last three months compared to the previous year (pre-coved) we're up 23%. November to January are our busiest months so its a good marker to look at.

Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: james peters on February 03, 2021, 08:44:52 pm
I have seen lots of new start ups advertising on fb . its virtually every day I see adds .
I also see new start ups out and about.
however they seem to push more for gutter clearing soft wash fascia cleans around the window cleaning....
they also seem to charge silly prices.
I work the other way around ... I am 29 years in, and my main focus is window cleaning.... I struggle to find time to fit in add ons , and I will only do them for regular window customers.
sometimes I have to pass the add ons over to other people
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: lee_dewing on February 04, 2021, 02:05:04 pm
I’ve lost 3 customers but picked up 7 new ones.

I’m 100% domestic with about 15% more work than I need.

I’ve also added gutter clearing to my service’s
And also considering f/s/g cleaning

conservatory roof cleaning is for existing window cleaning customers

I hope to weather the storms
Good luck Bungle

If you’re wfp and not doing already f/s/g cleans and conservatory roofs cleaning from existing customers could feel gaps

Sure your already doing that👍

Good points here(which luckily is a large slice of my round)
Quote
[my target customers are proffesional, semi retired or retired    . these types arent realy affected as much as the younger generation/quote]
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: Frankybadboy on February 04, 2021, 08:45:24 pm
total opposite, turned away more new work this year than ever before,due to more people working from home

i have lost a few due to people moving more than anything and that cause of the tax thingy
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: dazmond on February 05, 2021, 08:54:07 am
I’ve lost 3 customers but picked up 7 new ones.

I’m 100% domestic with about 15% more work than I need.

I’ve also added gutter clearing to my service’s
And also considering f/s/g cleaning

conservatory roof cleaning is for existing window cleaning customers

I hope to weather the storms
Good luck Bungle

If you’re wfp and not doing already f/s/g cleans and conservatory roofs cleaning from existing customers could feel gaps

Sure your already doing that👍

Good points here(which luckily is a large slice of my round)
Quote
[my target customers are proffesional, semi retired or retired    . these types arent realy affected as much as the younger generation/quote]

I'm going the other way....I dont offer gutter clearing anymore and will only do the odd f/s/g or conny roof...most of the time I make up an excuse not to do them or overpriced them.....
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: dazmond on February 05, 2021, 08:59:01 am
Lee if your oversubscribed with window cleaning work why are you offering gutter clearing and f/s/g cleans too?is it your ambition to work 7 days a week or are you gonna take on an employee?

Your the same  age as me I think(50 this year).....
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: Jay Le Huray on February 05, 2021, 01:40:37 pm
I don't think we are in a recession, last week  I lost one job and this week gained 2,
one @ £17 and another @ £25 so it always out about even, customers come and go
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: lee_dewing on February 05, 2021, 04:53:49 pm
Lee if your oversubscribed with window cleaning work why are you offering gutter clearing and f/s/g cleans too?is it your ambition to work 7 days a week or are you gonna take on an employee?

Hello Daz,
I see your point.
Maybe 🤔 I’ve got it wrong.

I don’t window clean in the rain 🌧
Light rain/drizzle 👍
rain hitting the windows👎

I live in Essex where it’s not as wet as your
Home 🏡 town Manchester? (Sorry if wrong)

People don’t expect to get their windows cleaned in medium to heavy rain.

So this leaves me days where I lose income
But gutter clearing a couple of jobs in damp weather pulls in more money 💰
I not out to long on a wet day

Unlike not at all with windows.

F/s/g cleaning is harder and as you say overprice it

But gutter clearing is a good add on to counter act weather

I do need to think 🤔 what to do now

Thinking of pushing some work over to 2 monthly for better price, more manageable round 😊

Any advice Daz
I remember you did leave a post here maybe a few years back

From advice of another window cleaner passing on his knowledge of building a better
Round

Look out snow about Daz ❄️⛄️😁
Yeh 50 in May 🤦‍♂️

Started window cleaning at 32
Ladders
A sidekick to a 60+ trad window cleaner
I was exhausted 😴 the 1st month 😁

Your the same  age as me I think(50 this year).....
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: Ggh on February 06, 2021, 11:39:01 am
65% down on last January.
Things looking brighter though.
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: NWH on February 06, 2021, 11:43:03 am
65% down are you blimey.
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: dazmond on February 06, 2021, 01:14:18 pm
Lee if your oversubscribed with window cleaning work why are you offering gutter clearing and f/s/g cleans too?is it your ambition to work 7 days a week or are you gonna take on an employee?

Hello Daz,
I see your point.
Maybe 🤔 I’ve got it wrong.

I don’t window clean in the rain 🌧
Light rain/drizzle 👍
rain hitting the windows👎

I live in Essex where it’s not as wet as your
Home 🏡 town Manchester? (Sorry if wrong)

People don’t expect to get their windows cleaned in medium to heavy rain.

So this leaves me days where I lose income
But gutter clearing a couple of jobs in damp weather pulls in more money 💰
I not out to long on a wet day

Unlike not at all with windows.

F/s/g cleaning is harder and as you say overprice it

But gutter clearing is a good add on to counter act weather

I do need to think 🤔 what to do now

Thinking of pushing some work over to 2 monthly for better price, more manageable round 😊

Any advice Daz
I remember you did leave a post here maybe a few years back

From advice of another window cleaner passing on his knowledge of building a better
Round

Look out snow about Daz ❄️⛄️😁
Yeh 50 in May 🤦‍♂️

Started window cleaning at 32
Ladders
A sidekick to a 60+ trad window cleaner
I was exhausted 😴 the 1st month 😁

Your the same  age as me I think(50 this year).....

im a plodder these days Lee......i like to just clean my scheduled window cleaning work and finish early every day while maximizing earnings without having to faff about buying extra equipment like gutter vacs,etc or over stretching myself by working longer hours or weekends....

personally i think your second guessing your customers......once you ve been window cleaning in the rain for a few years most customers dont bat an eyelid mate.....rain does not affect the clean at all mate if your 100% WFP.......just crack on and increase your bank balance.....

compacting my work over many years(300+ jobs in a 3 mile area)
pricing new work higher
increasing prices occasionally for existing work
working in all but the worst of weather

all the above things have helped to knock my round into much better shape over the last 10 years or so and keep my earnings high in relation to hours actually worked....
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: NWH on February 06, 2021, 02:11:04 pm
It all depends on how much they are paying on whether or not they get a pass on the weather.
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: deeege on February 06, 2021, 02:22:20 pm
It all depends on how much they are paying on whether or not they get a pass on the weather.

Do you still pay your staff when you have time off because of the weather?
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: Mike Burd on February 06, 2021, 05:40:08 pm
65% down on last January.
Things looking brighter though.
Are you heavily weighted toward commercial? That’s horrific.
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: Ggh on February 06, 2021, 08:46:01 pm
Maybe 85% commercial.

Looking better now, green shoots and all that.
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: Don Kee on February 06, 2021, 09:15:34 pm
It all depends on how much they are paying on whether or not they get a pass on the weather.

Do you still pay your staff when you have time off because of the weather?

Good question, I’m still waiting for an answer about this post

If you are going inside buildings and members of the public are coming and going the management company will want it if you are to carry on,if we hadn’t had provided it we wouldn’t have been allowed to continue it just means you have to adhere to COVID guidelines ie gloves face masks etc.

Who are “we”?
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: KS Cleaning on February 06, 2021, 09:16:23 pm
It all depends on how much they are paying on whether or not they get a pass on the weather.

Do you still pay your staff when you have time off because of the weather?
Employing is a bit of a taboo subject for Nigel, for some reason he avoids answering when anyone questions him on it ......I wonder why?🤷‍♂️
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: Mike Burd on February 06, 2021, 09:24:32 pm
Maybe 85% commercial.

Looking better now, green shoots and all that.
I hope it picks up for you. So glad I focused on domestics. Definitely worth spreading your risk a bit. Best of luck.
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: Splash & dash on February 06, 2021, 09:24:39 pm
It all depends on how much they are paying on whether or not they get a pass on the weather.

Do you still pay your staff when you have time off because of the weather?
Employing is a bit of a taboo subject for Nigel, for some reason he avoids answering when anyone questions him on it ......I wonder why?🤷‍♂️



😂😂🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: Jonny 87 on February 07, 2021, 05:37:42 pm
It all depends on how much they are paying on whether or not they get a pass on the weather.

Do you still pay your staff when you have time off because of the weather?
Employing is a bit of a taboo subject for Nigel, for some reason he avoids answering when anyone questions him on it ......I wonder why?🤷‍♂️

That’s a good point.

He’s said it’s him and a “few” others on a recent post though. Not sure what that means.

 ;D
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: Ggh on February 07, 2021, 09:54:18 pm
Maybe 85% commercial.

Looking better now, green shoots and all that.
I hope it picks up for you. So glad I focused on domestics. Definitely worth spreading your risk a bit. Best of luck.

Cheers. I’m getting into other stuff to spread the risk, boring just cleaning too.
It is picking up again.
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: lee_dewing on February 09, 2021, 05:12:53 pm
Lee if your oversubscribed with window cleaning work why are you offering gutter clearing and f/s/g cleans too?is it your ambition to work 7 days a week or are you gonna take on an employee?

Hello Daz,
I see your point.
Maybe 🤔 I’ve got it wrong.

I don’t window clean in the rain 🌧
Light rain/drizzle 👍
rain hitting the windows👎

I live in Essex where it’s not as wet as your
Home 🏡 town Manchester? (Sorry if wrong)

People don’t expect to get their windows cleaned in medium to heavy rain.

So this leaves me days where I lose income
But gutter clearing a couple of jobs in damp weather pulls in more money 💰
I not out to long on a wet day

Unlike not at all with windows.

F/s/g cleaning is harder and as you say overprice it

But gutter clearing is a good add on to counter act weather

I do need to think 🤔 what to do now

Thinking of pushing some work over to 2 monthly for better price, more manageable round 😊

Any advice Daz
I remember you did leave a post here maybe a few years back

From advice of another window cleaner passing on his knowledge of building a better
Round

Look out snow about Daz ❄️⛄️😁
Yeh 50 in May 🤦‍♂️

Started window cleaning at 32
Ladders
A sidekick to a 60+ trad window cleaner
I was exhausted 😴 the 1st month 😁

Your the same  age as me I think(50 this year).....

im a plodder these days Lee......i like to just clean my scheduled window cleaning work and finish early every day while maximizing earnings without having to faff about buying extra equipment like gutter vacs,etc or over stretching myself by working longer hours or weekends....

personally i think your second guessing your customers......once you ve been window cleaning in the rain for a few years most customers dont bat an eyelid mate.....rain does not affect the clean at all mate if your 100% WFP.......just crack on and increase your bank balance.....

compacting my work over many years(300+ jobs in a 3 mile area)
pricing new work higher
increasing prices occasionally for existing work
working in all but the worst of weather

all the above things have helped to knock my round into much better shape over the last 10 years or so and keep my earnings high in relation to hours actually worked....

Yes f/s/g clean hard graft.
Maybe panicking but if customers lost
Will fill gaps in round.

I don’t mind using gutter vac
Just a change from window cleaning
money 💰 earnt quicker
My round is good but not as good as yours

Obviously I’m slower as I couldn’t see me getting 300 customers done in a month

Over cleaning, chatting and could get out a little earlier

1st jobs usually 9.30 am
Not working in rain ☔️ apart from light.
Effects efficiency

I’ve read “remove from the bottom and add to the top”
Regarding building a more profitable round.

I guess I’m too nice in that respect
Most of my customers have been on the books 7+ years.
Title: Re: Has The Recession Started?
Post by: Slacky on February 09, 2021, 10:18:45 pm
Since Christmas picked up a £2000 job and today a £1500 job. Unsure about when the recession is going to start.