Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: qcs cleaning on February 27, 2008, 09:01:35 pm
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HI GUYS
I AM SELLING MY WINDOW CLEANING BUSINESS IN SURREY, WHICH HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR THREE YEARS. THE MONTHLY TAKE HOME IS £5500 WITH AN EXCELLENT CUSTOMER BASE. I AM LOOKING FOR £20,000 AND OPEN TO OFFERS.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME ON 07931 407 998 OR QCSCLEANING@HOTMAIL.COM, AND ASK FOR STUART OR NATASHA. I WILL BE HAPPY TO DISSCUSS ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
THE ROUND CAN BE SHOWN WORKING WITH REGULAR MONTHLY ACCOUNTS ASWELL. ONLY GENUINE BUYERS WELCOME AND I AM NOT INTERESTED IN SPLITTING THE ROUND.
THANKS
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Flogging and dead horse come to mind ::)
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Blimey, my round's worth 2k a month. Does that mean i'm sitting on £6K??? :o ;D ;D ;D Sorry Tennet, I had to :P
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If you have a land line i might give you a ring lol .
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HI GUYS
I AM SELLING MY WINDOW CLEANING BUSINESS IN SURREY, WHICH HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR THREE YEARS. THE MONTHLY TAKE HOME IS £5000 WITH AN EXCELLENT CUSTOMER BASE. I AM LOOKING FOR £15,000 AND OPEN TO OFFERS.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME ON 07931 407 998 OR QCSCLEANING@HOTMAIL.COM, AND ASK FOR STUART OR NATASHA. I WILL BE HAPPY TO DISSCUSS ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
THE ROUND CAN BE SHOWN WORKING WITH REGULAR MONTHLY ACCOUNTS ASWELL. ONLY GENUINE BUYERS WELCOME AND I AM NOT INTERESTED IN SPLITTING THE ROUND.
THANKS
I think a landline number would give a tiny bit of assurance Stuart. As it stands,no one in their right mind wouldn't entertain the idea. But ya never know...................... ::)
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Great minds Jonah ;)
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Great minds Jonah ;)
Where ?
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Sorry but this sounds very dodgy !!!! If you are going to buy a business please do your homework !
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Nothing sounds dodgy to me lads. I actually think this sounds like a good deal, If it was in was in my area and i had the money i would certainly look into it. Dont think people should be commenting on work that is more than double which they have .
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I agree with danny mckim.
Nothing dodgey at all IMO, and 15k for that round, which is 3x its monthly value is perfectly reasonable, and I think you'll find that is the general going rate for window cleaning rounds.
Blimey, my round's worth 2k a month. Does that mean i'm sitting on £72K???
No it means you are sitting on £6k, which again is 3x the monthly value, obviously.
I WILL BE HAPPY TO DISSCUSS ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
THE ROUND CAN BE SHOWN WORKING WITH REGULAR MONTHLY ACCOUNTS ASWELL
He cant really say fairer than that, can he. Jonah no offense but you don't seem to know what your talking about. Noticed that on several threads. Seems to be a common theme on here, people who talk the most actually know the least.
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Sorry but If I think its dodgy I want you to be carefull because i dont want you to be stung ! If you think I am an a**e then thats ok ;D
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I dont think you are that, I think you are a little inexperienced.
Out of interest, what do you think is dodgey about it? sounds perfectly ok to me?
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Why dont you buy it then tennent clean and make a killing ?
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because I dont live in surrey and I dont need to buy a round.
Seriously, I am not having a dig, I just wondered what it was that you thought was dodgey?
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Fair point but I dont believe that some on here are genuine ! I may not put my point across well , but I wouldnt want somone new to lose a lot of money ! Call it intuition if you like but If I am wrong i will appologise .
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I agree with danny mckim.
Nothing dodgey at all IMO, and 15k for that round, which is 3x its monthly value is perfectly reasonable, and I think you'll find that is the general going rate for window cleaning rounds.
Blimey, my round's worth 2k a month. Does that mean i'm sitting on £72K???
No it means you are sitting on £6k, which again is 3x the monthly value, obviously.
I WILL BE HAPPY TO DISSCUSS ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
THE ROUND CAN BE SHOWN WORKING WITH REGULAR MONTHLY ACCOUNTS ASWELL
He cant really say fairer than that, can he. Jonah no offense but you don't seem to know what your talking about. Noticed that on several threads. Seems to be a common theme on here, people who talk the most actually know the least.
I better stop posting then :)
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The only dodgy thing that does not tie up is that this round was for sale on 4th jan 08 bringing home £3500 a month,and selling for £10500,how come the monthly takings have gone up 30% in 1 month and the round still being long established,i think the poster needs to be a bit more honest in this posting if he wants to sell it.
Malcolm
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It's a bit like picking up a new customer,this one. Gut instinct always kicks in. And how often does it prove to be correct? And why aint Stuart defending his corner here? If i was selling on here, i'd be logging in all the time to see the latest interest and answering any questions anyone might have.
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jonah, do you have some knowledge of this person or this round? If not then you should keep your advice a bit more general.
Sounds like a fair price if the work is as described. This poster has been posting for a year, his phone and e mail details haven't changed and he like everyone else should first get the benifit of the doubt before being cast as some sort of crook or chancer.
I can think of many reasons how a round has gone from 3500 to 5000, how about buying another round.
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Make sure the person is who he says he is. It may be draconian but ask for at least 2 forms of ID. That s the first thing I would do.
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Bluez, i think you are missing the point,why try and sell the round for £10500 last month,and then buy more work this month and try to sell it,surely if you was selling a round you would not buy more work.
Malcolm
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Bluez, i think you are missing the point,why try and sell the round for £10500 last month,and then buy more work this month and try to sell it,surely if you was selling a round you would not buy more work.
Malcolm
Aha! My namesake also checks his facts - good man! Good questions. Maybe perfectly legit but caveat emptor and all that.
Any prospective buyer should at some stage (before handing over any lolly) be introduced to every client as the new owner. Then pay over three months knocking off 3x the value of clients that drop off.
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jonah, do you have some knowledge of this person or this round? If not then you should keep your advice a bit more general.
Sounds like a fair price if the work is as described. This poster has been posting for a year, his phone and e mail details haven't changed and he like everyone else should first get the benifit of the doubt before being cast as some sort of crook or chancer.
I can think of many reasons how a round has gone from 3500 to 5000, how about buying another round.
Malcolm, I didn't miss the point at all, if you read my post It clearly says that I can think of "many" reasons, I have just given one example, another may be that he has 10k of work and has decided to sell 50% now instead of 35% in his original post.
I don't know anything about this guy but as I allready said I feel he should be given the benifit of the doubt unless someone on here has information that would suggest otherwise. I have read most of his back posts and tbh I dont see anything of any great concern except that he is a bit of a buyer and seller of things, so maybe that will set some alarm bells ringing for some but it doesn't mean he is not on the level.
As always buyer beware.
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GUYS, I CAN ASSURE EVERY1 ON HERE THAT THIS BUSINESS IS 100%, THERE IS NO HIDDEN AGENDA HERE OR SCAMMING GOING ON, I HAVE MET TWO RESPECTIVE BUYERS ALREADY AND BOTH OF THEM HAVE MET ME AT MY HOME ADDRESS.
I WOULD LIKE TO CLEAR UP A FEW THINGS THOUGH:
1) MY LANDLINE NUMBER IS 0208 660 0772 IF THIS IS SUCH A BIG PROBLEM I PUT MY MOBILE ON HERE JUST SO THAT PEOPLE COULD CALL IT FOR ENQUIRIES
2)I WAS SELLING THE ROUND PREVIOUSLY (TAKE HOME £3500 AND SELL FOR £10500) BUT I WAS GOING TO KEEP A PART OF THE ROUND FOR MYSELF (£1500) TO COVER BILLS AND THINGS BUT NOW I AM SELLING THE WHOLE LOT. SURELY I AM ALLOWED TO CHANGE MY MIND
3)THERE ARE TWO MANY PEOPLE ON HERE WHO ARE WILLING TO SHOUT THEIR MOUTH OFF QUITE QUICKLY AND I FIND THIS VERY ANNOYING SEEING AS THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ME. AT THE END OF THE DAY THIS IS AN ESTABLISHED BUSINESS THAT I AM SELLING FOR 3 TIMES THE MONTHLY TAKEHOME, I CAN SHOW IT WORKING AND LETTERS WILL BE SENT OUT TO EVERY CUSTOMER NOTIFYING THEM OF A CHANGE. YOU CAN EARN A YEARLY SALARY OF AROUND £60,000 FOR £15,000 IS THAT EXPENSIVE? I DONT THINK SO, ANYONE CAN CHECK HOW LONG I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THIS SITE AND AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS BUT I ONLY WANT SERIOUS BUYERS.
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GUYS, I CAN ASSURE EVERY1 ON HERE THAT THIS BUSINESS IS 100%, THERE IS NO HIDDEN AGENDA HERE OR SCAMMING GOING ON, I HAVE MET TWO RESPECTIVE BUYERS ALREADY AND BOTH OF THEM HAVE MET ME AT MY HOME ADDRESS.
I WOULD LIKE TO CLEAR UP A FEW THINGS THOUGH:
1) MY LANDLINE NUMBER IS 0208 660 0772 IF THIS IS SUCH A BIG PROBLEM I PUT MY MOBILE ON HERE JUST SO THAT PEOPLE COULD CALL IT FOR ENQUIRIES
2)I WAS SELLING THE ROUND PREVIOUSLY (TAKE HOME £3500 AND SELL FOR £10500) BUT I WAS GOING TO KEEP A PART OF THE ROUND FOR MYSELF (£1500) TO COVER BILLS AND THINGS BUT NOW I AM SELLING THE WHOLE LOT. SURELY I AM ALLOWED TO CHANGE MY MIND
3)THERE ARE TWO MANY PEOPLE ON HERE WHO ARE WILLING TO SHOUT THEIR MOUTH OFF QUITE QUICKLY AND I FIND THIS VERY ANNOYING SEEING AS THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ME. AT THE END OF THE DAY THIS IS AN ESTABLISHED BUSINESS THAT I AM SELLING FOR 3 TIMES THE MONTHLY TAKEHOME, I CAN SHOW IT WORKING AND LETTERS WILL BE SENT OUT TO EVERY CUSTOMER NOTIFYING THEM OF A CHANGE. YOU CAN EARN A YEARLY SALARY OF AROUND £60,000 FOR £15,000 IS THAT EXPENSIVE? I DONT THINK SO, ANYONE CAN CHECK HOW LONG I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THIS SITE AND AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS BUT I ONLY WANT SERIOUS BUYERS.
Well said (though please please take the caps lock off as it's more hassle to read). Although it's a good thing to be vigilant, at least someonwe could take a more detailed look at the business before questioning a seller's integrity. If the work were further south, maybe I'd take a look myself.
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See, a very simple explanation for the change in round value. Good luck qcs I would snap your hand off for £5000 for £15000 if it was in Ireland personally I reckon thats serious good value.
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Good for you mate, I saw nothing at all wrong with your post I think it looks like a good deal and I wish you luck selling it. Have you thought about advertising it somewhere (instead of here I mean, like a newspaper or mag)
THERE ARE TWO MANY PEOPLE ON HERE WHO ARE WILLING TO SHOUT THEIR MOUTH OFF QUITE QUICKLY AND I FIND THIS VERY ANNOYING SEEING AS THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ME.
Exactly right mate, the problem with this forum is that it has too many numpties who actually know very little but like to go on as if they are window cleaning oracles. Hopefully your clear and to-the-point post will shut them up on this thread.
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Good for you mate, I saw nothing at all wrong with your post I think it looks like a good deal and I wish you luck selling it. Have you thought about advertising it somewhere (instead of here I mean, like a newspaper or mag)
THERE ARE TWO MANY PEOPLE ON HERE WHO ARE WILLING TO SHOUT THEIR MOUTH OFF QUITE QUICKLY AND I FIND THIS VERY ANNOYING SEEING AS THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ME.
Exactly right mate, the problem with this forum is that it has too many numpties who actually know very little but like to go on as if they are window cleaning oracles. Hopefully your clear and to-the-point post will shut them up on this thread.
"Thank goodness we have tennent clean to always be there to give the the correct post "
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Then again when it hasnt sold could could give comments why 1
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Fair point but I dont believe that some on here are genuine ! I may not put my point across well , but I wouldnt want somone new to lose a lot of money ! Call it intuition if you like but If I am wrong i will appologise .
Well Jonah? We're waiting? Are you a man of your word?
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If it sells am gonna appologise and give a kiss to the new owner ;D
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Then again when it hasnt sold could could give comments why 1
Perhaps because some muppet on an on line forum is calling into question the bona fides of the seller. >:(
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thanks tennetclean for the idea I thought I would put it on here first to gauge the response but I will advertise on other sites aswell soon.
I have two serious enquiries but the problem is one person wants to put down 50% first work the round and then put down the other 50% on completion, but I have known at least 8 people who have sold their round this way and they haven't received the last payment or the buyer makes up some excuse about the entire round cancelling therefore they are not paying the last installment.
When I bought my round I simply asked that the cleaner to send letters to all his clients that I will be taking it over, I then paid him up front and then I worked the round only 8 - 10 people cancelled, which was fine. I want to do the same thing when selling my work, what do you guys (who know about window cleaning) think?
I was also going to provide a cancellation clause that has to be signed stating that if more than a certain number cancel then I will refund or get more work for the buyer. Again what do you think?
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the trouble is your buying good will and a contract really isn't worth the paper its writen on, have you ever tried to get someone into the small claims court? nightmare!! i would never part with the full amount unless i knew the person really well. how about taking 50% then working the round for one month with the buyer then on completion he hands over the other 50%. you don't need to introduce the guy as the new cleaner until the end of the month when you have the full amount of cash, he then knows the round is a working round and should not have any issues.
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qcs,if i was selling i would expect all the money up front as it is a cheap run as it is and you are going to introduce everyone-if you get half the money the other half will nearly be covered by the buyer going out and doing the round which makes it a cracker deal for him-i sold a round before like that and ended up collecting for the other half which meant getting the money at different stages,i would not do this again as it was to much hassle-imo window cleaning runs are hard to come across,it should be all the cash up front and any run at three times the value is a bargain and should be snapped up,i personally think it should be at least 4 times the monthly value-good luck and hope you get a quick sale mate
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Its amazing really, how many businesses can you buy that ( for arguments sake) net £30,000 a year for £15,000???
Some of you lot dont know your born somedays..
Oh and just to add, window cleaning rounds are no longer the preserve of really hard working men who climb ladders all day. anyone with a pole and a bit of practice can do it. I personally think many rounds are way undervalued.
Mark
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well said davo,its been 3 times for to long,i sold a round 8 years ago for that
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When i bought mine i paid 1/2 up front, then we worked the round together for a week or 2 splitting everything 50:50 .
then when i was happy with everything i paid the last 1/2
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i would never hand over 15k for anything. don't care how good or how much work its for, i've seen pratts trying to sell old rounds, i've never been caught out as i'm to vigalant. a fool and his money are easily parted. you have to look out for yourself so paying part, seeing the product then paying the rest is very appropriate i think. each to thier own i'm just very cautious
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I have some experience of this as I sold my residential workload on the 1st March 08.
My opinion is that you may be selling yourself short on the amount you are expecting, I know the rule of thumb is to sell for 3/4 times the monthly value but you are talking about a round worth £60,000 per year.
In anyones estimation that is a sizeable business.
The value of our work was higher than you have but I can assure you without going into details that I got much more than 3 times the value.
You must have an accountant - what does he value it at. Have it valued professionally and then market the sale properly. For too long now people have undervalued their window cleaning businesses.
I worked on my round for seven years there was no way it was going to be sold for as little as 3 times its value per month.
Go and have a word with business link/chamber of commerce and let them point you in the right direction, rather than being shot down on here by those that do not know a bargain when they see one.
Rob ;D
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so many guys can't show the true earnings as they don't run it all through the accounts. i do and i would never sell mine at such a little amount.
If you can supply them details then i would pay good money for it no problems. with the work i've tried to buy in the past there is no evidence of earnings...sad but true
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Jonah
I am amazed that you can call into question the integrity of someone you know absolutely nothing about. Yet still when the guy comes back on and defends himself - though he has no need to answer to you!!!, you are still unable to apologise.
I had a look back over your last posts and I find it interesting that you come from a point of view where your quality of work must be completely embarrassing to yourself.
In the posts about spiders nests and webs you go into detail on how you go round the nests and leave them on the windows to continue making their happy little homes.
If you cleaned for me and left cobwebs and spiders nests on the glass I would sack you.
Don't call into question on a public forum someone else before you have your own house in order, how long have you been cleaning windows?.
Another example of someone talking for the sake of it - if you don't know - shut up!!!! but don't put someone down you know nothing about!!!
Rob ;D
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Well said Rob. Just about sums it all up I think ;D
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QCS- I read in a cleaning magazine last week that people should value their business on a multiple of minimum 6 times your turnover if selling .
So I woulk say well undervalued.
I will try to find out which magazine it was.
Robbie
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the trouble is your buying good will and a contract really isn't worth the paper its writen on,
Dont agree with that, use a solicitor who will tell you the best way to safeguard your interests.
If the buyer signs a contract then he is tied to the terms and conditions that it contains (as are you).
PS. The buyer should pay your legal fees, (almost certain its tax deductable for the buyer, and with that ammount of income he will have some tax to pay.)
Mark
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I'll tell you how I sold mine and I understand that this may not be the norm but the legal side of it is the same.
The person who has bought my round has workd for me for 2 years and knew the round, customers and the ins and outs.
When we agreed that it was worth the money I wanted for it I drafted up a copy of the round - work records and then listed the commercial work that went with it, customer, frequency, price and then all the incidentals such as brushes, trad gear, batteries, IBC tanks. Everything got listed.
This went off to his solicitors, I also enclosed an agreement that I would not develop work anywhere there was established work being sold (residential only).
This was all checked over he handed the money over - into my account.
I have offered him unreserved assistance for a 6 month period, back up support, he has a suppliers list, a Ford transit swb on an 03 reg plate and two reverse osmosis units
Rob ;D
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have you ever tried to get anyone into court davo? i have and its a very long winded process and takes ages to make any kind of progress, thats if you can find them that is ::)
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have you ever tried to get anyone into court davo? i have and its a very long winded process and takes ages to make any kind of progress, thats if you can find them that is ::)
Yes i have, county court didnt take long, oh and i won. But there again the person i took to court had signed a legal document to say that he agreed to the conditions of a contract ( drawn up by my solicitor) i suppose if i shook hands and said well lets be fair about it eh! i may have got shafted.
Mark
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county court? for how much money?
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Jonah
I am amazed that you can call into question the integrity of someone you know absolutely nothing about. Yet still when the guy comes back on and defends himself - though he has no need to answer to you!!!, you are still unable to apologise.
I had a look back over your last posts and I find it interesting that you come from a point of view where your quality of work must be completely embarrassing to yourself.
In the posts about spiders nests and webs you go into detail on how you go round the nests and leave them on the windows to continue making their happy little homes.
If you cleaned for me and left cobwebs and spiders nests on the glass I would sack you.
Don't call into question on a public forum someone else before you have your own house in order, how long have you been cleaning windows?.
Another example of someone talking for the sake of it - if you don't know - shut up!!!! but don't put someone down you know nothing about!!!
Rob ;D
am i missing something here or is Jonah takin the rap for being "alert" to buyin a round of somebody who had nothin to offer(at the time) but a mobile phone number? Jaysis.........If we all done otherwise, there would be a whole lot of criminals and chancers having a bloody good laugh at our expense. I(and a minority of others) might be alone on this one but i don't think you can't be careful enough in this game. Every week,people are posting telling us to beware of that person, don't buy from that other person,beware fellow window cleaners,just beware. And when someone does approach with caution....what happens? They get slated. Sad state of the world, but trust no-one and ya wont get ya arse bitten. Build a round off ya own back. That way, ya can't get shafted. I don't think Jonah's reply was neccessarily about the money but more to do with lack of information from the seller at the time. I'm not saying QCS is pulling a fast one. Far from it, but if it was your mother,brother or sister,father parting with 5k over the net you'd want them to check, check and check again.Wouldn't you?
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please hold your horses, let me tell you a story
around 8 people that I know where they hold a similar business to mine have been shafted when selling their round. One story was this guys business was earning him £2,000 per month, he had a mortgage and kids, he decided to go on holiday and let his friend look after his work for him, when the guy got back from holiday he told his friend that he was taking over and thanks, his friend just said no and threatened him, the guy has now lost his house.
Another story was that a guy was selling his business exactly the same way as i was the interested party told him 50% up front and then another 50% at the end once it was worked, the guy agreed and he got paid his first installment, then the other guy simply said that most of the round had cancelled and that he was not getting hi last installment, when he went round to his customers houses to find out if they had really cancelled, it turned out to be a load of rubbish and all the customers were saying was 'tough luck mate i would come back but all i want is my windows to be cleaned'. So the guy sold his £6,000 per month business for £9,000.
The moral of this story is you cannot trust anyone to hand over the next 50% installment, why should they after all they have all your customers details. I wouldn't even like to show them my work as they could go over my round and under cut me.
At the end of the day I can show the round working, I can give them a database with all the house addresses and contact details. I have even taken them to my home to meet me. I HAVEN'T SPENT YEARS OF MY LIFE BUILDING UP A SOLID BUSINESS TO GET SHAFTED AT THE END OF IT, I BOUGHT ROUNDS UP FRONT AND IT WORKED OUT FINE
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You're sounding more approachable by the minute ;)
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I've been reading this thread with great interest and i get the impression that QCS seems okay to me, but it's fair to say one has to take big precautions when buying a round.
I think that this guy has answered all questions in a fair way without losing his cool
(which cannot have been easy judging by some of the replies)
Just out of interest I myself am buying a round off someone this week, it's only £258 worth, luckly I know the guy well enough but have still taken precautions as follows.
Total payable £516
deposit £258 then the remainder £258 to be paid in 3 amounts over the next 3 months
that way if any fall by the wayside I can reduce that amount on the final payment.
PS, if I was local to QCS I may well have been interested.
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I agree. He seems genuine to me. As I remember he has also tried to employ someone for his work in the past. Perhaps that was one avenue explored?
Someone before on this thread wrote that to value a business you multiply the turnover by 6!
That is totally wrong!
It is profits that you multiply by6 never turnover. Anyone can achieve turnover but you may not be profitable so why buy on turnover without profit. That would not make logical business sense.
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Pole2pole
I am not going to be drawn into an argument but the angle I came from was more to do with the way Jonah blasted the guy before the thread had had the opportunity to get going.
The guy had been honest, open, left points of contact and offered to answer further questions - now there are those on here that may be under the impression that the next stage was to get the money deposited into his account but anyone with a modicum of common sense would have started to negotiate, view the round, work it and get an agreement drawn up.
There was no need to call the guys integrity into question. He has since come on and explained further - which would have been expected but despite all this Jonah has not got the backbone to apologise and the further he leaves it the less credibility he has.
He may be classed as a Cleanitup god but only because there has been a high volume of drivelling posts that really have very little substance. Some Newbie on here, may be swayed by being offered advice from a 'Cleanitup God' and may think that because of his status he knows what he is talking about - he clearly does not and has very low window cleaning capabilities - by his own admission!!!!.
I really despise the Cleanitup status of God and would prefer the site not to put the title on the postings as it infers experience and often this is not the case.
I will reiterate again that you cannot, on an open forum call into question someones integrity before you know something of them and the guy has been genuine, honest and open.
Rob ;D
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:o :o :o Firstly I would like to say sorry for pre judging the person selling the work , I was well out of order ! I inadvertently insulted the person while try to warn otheres about buying the round .... my mistake and I am truly sorry :-\
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Well done that man ;)
Rob ;D
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If only more people were willing to own up to being wrong. very commendable.
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Well said jonah ! Everyone makes mistakes its admitting them thats a problem for some
Danny
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:o :o :o Firstly I would like to say sorry for pre judging the person selling the work , I was well out of order ! I inadvertently insulted the person while try to warn otheres about buying the round .... my mistake and I am truly sorry :-\
nice one m8,
it's good to admit when you've mad a mistake ;)
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please hold your horses, let me tell you a story
around 8 people that I know where they hold a similar business to mine have been shafted when selling their round. One story was this guys business was earning him £2,000 per month, he had a mortgage and kids, he decided to go on holiday and let his friend look after his work for him, when the guy got back from holiday he told his friend that he was taking over and thanks, his friend just said no and threatened him, the guy has now lost his house.
Another story was that a guy was selling his business exactly the same way as i was the interested party told him 50% up front and then another 50% at the end once it was worked, the guy agreed and he got paid his first installment, then the other guy simply said that most of the round had cancelled and that he was not getting hi last installment, when he went round to his customers houses to find out if they had really cancelled, it turned out to be a load of rubbish and all the customers were saying was 'tough luck mate i would come back but all i want is my windows to be cleaned'. So the guy sold his £6,000 per month business for £9,000.
The moral of this story is you cannot trust anyone to hand over the next 50% installment, why should they after all they have all your customers details. I wouldn't even like to show them my work as they could go over my round and under cut me.
At the end of the day I can show the round working, I can give them a database with all the house addresses and contact details. I have even taken them to my home to meet me. I HAVEN'T SPENT YEARS OF MY LIFE BUILDING UP A SOLID BUSINESS TO GET SHAFTED AT THE END OF IT, I BOUGHT ROUNDS UP FRONT AND IT WORKED OUT FINE
Did he not have any clue what kind of a bloke he was,it`s hard to clean any window with broken fingers.
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if it's said it's probably true but it sounds like an urban legend to me. Wife, kids, house and all the security and responsibility that comes with it?? Round lost to a friend that tells him it is now his after only a month??
Anyway, i'm not disputing qcs as he has had to defend himself enough on here.
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Seriously I cant get a break on here, first of all my business acumen is called into doubt when selling my business and asking for the money up front, then I get told that I am a story teller whos story sounds like an 'urban legend' quoted by mark dew.
If anybody knows the guy who use to clean aiport house on the purley way in croydon, he was the guy who lost his house due to his business being taken away, if anybody else on here is from the same area as me and can varify this story please do as this is not urban legend.
I beleive that I am asking for a very reasonable price for my round and why should i not ask for the money up front, what else should i do leave it upto some guy i have never met to give me the last installment when he says so after he has worked my round I dont think so, I have even agreed to see a solicitor.
At the end of the day i'm selling my business and i'm in control If someone realises that they could pay £15,000 for a yearly salary of £60,000 give or take a few thousand then they are the people I want to do business with.
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Seriously I cant get a break on here, first of all my business acumen is called into doubt when selling my business and asking for the money up front, then I get told that I am a story teller whos story sounds like an 'urban legend' quoted by mark dew.
If anybody knows the guy who use to clean aiport house on the purley way in croydon, he was the guy who lost his house due to his business being taken away, if anybody else on here is from the same area as me and can varify this story please do as this is not urban legend.
I beleive that I am asking for a very reasonable price for my round and why should i not ask for the money up front, what else should i do leave it upto some guy i have never met to give me the last installment when he says so after he has worked my round I dont think so, I have even agreed to see a solicitor.
At the end of the day i'm selling my business and i'm in control If someone realises that they could pay £15,000 for a yearly salary of £60,000 give or take a few thousand then they are the people I want to do business with.
Well said. If I lived closer and was short of work, I'd happily borrow the money for it (subject to not needing to phone too many customers to arrange access). Assuming the work is of reasonable quality, I reckon you're selling too cheaply. Easy for me to say though, as I won't be the one buying it. I've got a round roughly half that size in value. It would take a lot more money than you're asking for yours to prise it out of me (not that I'm after selling mine).
Best of luck with it. I hope you get what you're asking.
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Seriously I cant get a break on here, first of all my business acumen is called into doubt when selling my business and asking for the money up front, then I get told that I am a story teller whos story sounds like an 'urban legend' quoted by mark dew.
alright mate it wasn't an urban legend. I never called you a storyteller either. Or questioned what you had to say. The story does sound like a window cleaners urban legend though. It isn't! Fair play.
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Hi mate, could you tell me why you have got several different adverts selling this round - all saying different things? You have two on ebay - one selling at £15k, the other at £20k, you then have it on window cleaning resources at £16k. Then there is the discrepancies regarding how long you have had the round - 3 years, 2 years. Then the monthly income keeps changing £5k, £5.5k........
Is it any wonder that your potential buyer wants to put a deposit down and work the round first with all of these differences. I am not doubting that you have the work but you are certainly not helping yourself. If you want all of the money up front you are going to have to show some real evidence that the work does exist as you say it does - have you offered to introduce your potential buyers to each and every customer rather than offering to send a letter. Trust does work both ways.
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Pole2pole
I am not going to be drawn into an argument but the angle I came from was more to do with the way Jonah blasted the guy before the thread had had the opportunity to get going.
The guy had been honest, open, left points of contact and offered to answer further questions - now there are those on here that may be under the impression that the next stage was to get the money deposited into his account but anyone with a modicum of common sense would have started to negotiate, view the round, work it and get an agreement drawn up.
There was no need to call the guys integrity into question. He has since come on and explained further - which would have been expected but despite all this Jonah has not got the backbone to apologise and the further he leaves it the less credibility he has.
He may be classed as a Cleanitup god but only because there has been a high volume of drivelling posts that really have very little substance. Some Newbie on here, may be swayed by being offered advice from a 'Cleanitup God' and may think that because of his status he knows what he is talking about - he clearly does not and has very low window cleaning capabilities - by his own admission!!!!.
I really despise the Cleanitup status of God and would prefer the site not to put the title on the postings as it infers experience and often this is not the case.
I will reiterate again that you cannot, on an open forum call into question someones integrity before you know something of them and the guy has been genuine, honest and open.
Rob ;D
Rob............I aint gettin drawn into an argument either mate. Now that QCS has opened up a bit more i think he's sound. Im just always weary,that's all. Maybe that's why i've never been stung by anyone. Might just be coincidence,i dunno lol. As for always giving people the benefit of the doubt, I hope you aint as christian the next time someone knocks at your door telling you that you have a loose tile on your roof or that someone is offering you a free structural survey. Cos when they do.............................God help you if ya let them carry out work for ya.
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Pole2pole
I haven't got to where I am by being green behind the ears. You can sleep safe knowing I'm no push over and I am a happier person knowing you are looking out for me.
Rob ;D
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fredboy
fair comment i have been told by too many people that I am selling the round too cheaply therefore i am going to change each advert to £20,000 as I obviously want the most money possible for my round. With regards to introducing potential buyers to each individual customer you must be mad, there are 400 customers on my round and to take the time off work to do this would not be beneficial to me.
what do you propose? that I take 50% deposit up front, spend a month introducing all the customers to a new owner (where i loose a months pay) and then take the next 50% installment. What if the guy nicks my work, doesn't pay me the last installment or just says no to buying my round, then I have wasted my entire time and money. Stop looking at it from a buyers perspective and look at it from a sellers perspective.
At the end of the day everybody wants to do different things but I have offered to go to a solicitor and write up a contract negotiation to protect me and the buyer can't be fairer than that.
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It feels like that I am not selling a round at all, more like I'm a criminal and some people on here are the jury!
sorry if i made you feel that way with my comment. I wasn't trying to call your integrity into question.
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Pole2pole
I haven't got to where I am by being green behind the ears. You can sleep safe knowing I'm no push over and I am a happier person knowing you are looking out for me.
Rob ;D
Isn't it WET behind the ears? :P If you was green behind the ears,you would need looking out for ;D
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Maybe that is a medical condition !!! We really shouldnt comment as we should know our place !
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we sure do jonah.back o the class for you n me ;)
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Just a thought , if he is really green behind the lugs we have to help him do we not ?
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yeh..............................nahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh pmsl
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fredboy
fair comment i have been told by too many people that I am selling the round too cheaply therefore i am going to change each advert to £20,000 as I obviously want the most money possible for my round. With regards to introducing potential buyers to each individual customer you must be mad, there are 400 customers on my round and to take the time off work to do this would not be beneficial to me.
what do you propose? that I take 50% deposit up front, spend a month introducing all the customers to a new owner (where i loose a months pay) and then take the next 50% installment. What if the guy nicks my work, doesn't pay me the last installment or just says no to buying my round, then I have wasted my entire time and money. Stop looking at it from a buyers perspective and look at it from a sellers perspective.
At the end of the day everybody wants to do different things but I have offered to go to a solicitor and write up a contract negotiation to protect me and the buyer can't be fairer than that.
There is a system I heard of known as "escrow"
http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/tp/payment-escrow.html
Basically, a trusted third party holds onto the money until conditions are met. It could assure you of a pootential buyer's bona fides and vice versa.
It doesn't have to be via ebay either. When I rented out my flat a few years ago, the tenants' deposits were held this way. It protects the tenant from the letting agent misbehaving or going bust. It protects the landlord similarly. Maybe a solicitor could elaborate on this and sort out a version of it for the transaction. Disadvantages are the the money is not interest bearing and the escrow company charges a fee. Advantage is that oit could save a load of hassle and affords some protection to both parties. It assures you that the buyer has the necessary funds. It assures the buyer that you are bona fides because of the fact that you've taken the trouble to set it up (though there is no guarantee of the quality of the work). Maybe it would be necessary first to sit down and break down how much worth of work is in each individual area. To stipulate the prices range. To stipulate how much (if any) of the work requires prior notice for access (a major sticking point for many window cleaners). To stipulate any parking issues at any of the jobs. Basically to discuss (and write down) the details of the business without revealing the actual addresses. That way it would be possible to discuss an exact price and the money could be logged via the escrow method. It would need to be agreed by you both that the price could only be varied if your description was inaccurate. It would also need to be agreed that any drop outs in the first clean or two would be re-imbursed. That way, you could safely get the bulk of your money from the escrow service early on - the rest to be released after the round had been worked once or twice. This would protect you both. You may work it so that you receive all your funds at the beginning if the buyer approves but then there is no money to reimburse for drop outs. If you don't want to reimburse for drop outs, then maybe set the price about 10% lower than if you would.
Of course there are a number of variations on the above which would need to be discussed with a buyer.
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Jonah and Pole To Pole your talking nonsense again, you should learn when to hold your hand up. Both of you, from what ive read, talk a load of drivel and now your trying to be a smart arse with a man who has built up a substantial cleaning business in a relatively short period of time.
Your not doing yourselves or this forum any favours.
Mark
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Davo.
All the time i have a view on something, i understand that i have the right to air it. And your opinion has been duly noted. And ignored. But you're still welcome to one. It'd be a dull forum if we had our fingers chopped off every time we disagreed.Thanks anyways. ;)
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Dissagreement is one thing, being a smart arse is another, your main mistake regarding this thread was missreading the figure the seller wanted you thought he wanted £150,000 which was why you thought your round was worth £72,000 ( which you quickly deleted when you realised your mistake)
Throwing in snide comments isnt dissagreement, and doesnt stimulate active debate all it will do is possibly stop a very experienced and successful cleaner offering his advice.
Is that what you want???
Mark
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Dissagreement is one thing, being a smart arse is another, your main mistake regarding this thread was missreading the figure the seller wanted you thought he wanted £150,000 which was why you thought your round was worth £72,000 ( which you quickly deleted when you realised your mistake)
Throwing in snide comments isnt dissagreement, and doesnt stimulate active debate all it will do is possibly stop a very experienced and successful cleaner offering his advice.
Is that what you want???
Mark
Absolutely right Mark, i made a mistake and corrected it and had a giggle about it. Mark, what makes you think i haven't got an established business? I have, of over 15 years and have a lovely house on the back of it and alot of other nice things but i wont bore you with that. What i'm saying is, I've been in the game long enough to know roughly what i'm talking about. Anyways, i dont come on here to have slanging matches. I come on here to learn and to advise if i can. I'll try and remember that in future. My problem is i get sucked into posts that don't "really" interest me. I think i'll put an end to that too.
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Davo
There are already quite a few posts that I will not post responses to and there are a number of members that don't warrant experienced responses.
If I was in a room of forum members I would instantly be drawn to the members that showed quality and substance from the way that they carry themselves. It is easy to recognise these traits and I have to say though I would always be polite to anyone who spoke to me, I would choose to spend my time with like minded people. This would never be determined by the quality of someones clothes or how good their vehicle is.
I have worked with people since I left school and I can read someone within the first couple of seconds of meeting them, blessing or curse - I do not know!!
I am an extremely positive person and I do not want to be around negativity because it will drain me and deflect me from the future. Negativity will tell you that you cannot achieve, that you cannot get the pricing you want, that 4,6,8,10 vehicles is only possible for a chosen few and not just anyone. At home I am the same.
I have a 5 year game plan and I will achieve it, retired within 12 years of starting. I have moved away from residential work and this allows me to concentrate on real revenue and profit margins. I have sold my business (residential side) for a sum that would not be believed. Have I got experience - I will leave that down to others to decide.
Do I care what my peer group on here think - Yes I do!!!, I like to see the various stages of developing businesses and I like to feel that some small point of advice will assist in someone elses success.
Can I divide the wheat from the chaff - I think so, can I choose in the future who I decide I want to share experience with - that you can be sure of. I already have a number of people that I ring and email - I enjoy networking and see the benefit of it for the future.
We have some phenomenal contracts that will be added to this year and there may well come a point when I need to share the work as one offs or as ongoing arrangements - do I know who I would ring up - yes I do
Would I want to offer work to people that may have insulted me or tried to score a cheap laugh from me - I would rather do a double shift or work 2 days in a row.
When we post we say much more about ourselves than we realise and people then determine different things about us - rightly or wrongly, opinions are formed and friendships may be established with like minded individuals.
If you associate with success - that successful attitude just may rub off, if you want to be the class joker people may perceive you to be a joke.
Good luck to you all
Rob ;D
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For those that may be confused we have rebranded over the last couple of weeks from Midas Enterprises to M-CLEAN UK and so I have changed all the info over on here this morning.
Rob ;D
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This thread is pretty amazing.
A perfectly normal bloke comes on wanting to sell his round. Nothing at all unusual or suspicious. Offers to show the buyer it working, monthly accts etc, all is upfront.
So, of course, the numpties who seem to inhabit this forum 24-7, and who know diddley squat about him, his round or anything else gather round and have a go at the poor guy for...NOTHING! Whats the matter, did it just seem a little bit TOO NORMAL
LOL. Hilarious.
Poor bloke, why should he have to defend himself against such numptyism.
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I agree entirely with your sentiments tennet a truly amazing post that should be put on here as a sticky to show exactly they type of negativity and begrudgery that some posters will dish out to anyone who dares to achieve.
While I am not averse too a bit of humour, I completely understand your frustrations M-Clean uk, but don't overestimate these muppets they are not your peers.
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Jonah....What time do ya wanna meet at the Gallows? ::)