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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Blue Frog Systems on March 30, 2009, 08:47:54 pm

Title: Keeping Records of Jobs ?
Post by: Blue Frog Systems on March 30, 2009, 08:47:54 pm
Hi Guys,

Im a new cleaner building up a round and starting next week.

At the moment im knocking the doors and dropping leaflets for the ones that are not in.

My question is how do you guys keep a record of your customers ?

At the moment I have an A5 book that im writting all the details in. Thought i'd ask you what your method was? If possible a picture of a page in your book would be great or just tell me how you do it.

Thanks in advance

JP
Title: Re: Keeping Records of Jobs ?
Post by: andyatkinson on March 30, 2009, 08:49:53 pm
most guys use a computer programme called george or window cleaner pro another one, someone should be able to get you a link or 2, i think u get free trial on both, and would use on a palm top/ pda when out and about
Title: Re: Keeping Records of Jobs ?
Post by: Llaaww on March 30, 2009, 08:52:33 pm
www.windowcleanerpro.com/
Title: Re: Keeping Records of Jobs ?
Post by: birdymiller on March 30, 2009, 08:53:19 pm
Most guys use an a5 book like you pal, street names, numbers, price, frequency and finally whether they paid or not.
Title: Re: Keeping Records of Jobs ?
Post by: Tosh on March 30, 2009, 08:54:29 pm
JP,

Can you use an Excel Spread Sheet?

The computer you're using will have one; or something similar.
Title: Re: Keeping Records of Jobs ?
Post by: Blue Frog Systems on March 30, 2009, 09:06:03 pm
JP,

Can you use an Excel Spread Sheet?

The computer you're using will have one; or something similar.

I have a 'limited' knowledge of Excel and yes it is on my computer .... anything techy though and ill have to butter my wife up to help.... what you thinking ???

PDA .... hmmm .... I have a Blackberry Curve (everyone should have one) .... If there is software for that i would def be interested. As for buying a PDA, thats not an option at the moment - had to beg for the money for kit off my loving mother  ;D
Title: Re: Keeping Records of Jobs ?
Post by: kris martin on March 30, 2009, 09:08:17 pm
i have been using george for the last 3 months and i tell you what it is like a breath of fresh air, ten minutes at the end of the week and bobs your uncle  :)
Title: Re: Keeping Records of Jobs ?
Post by: Blue Frog Systems on March 30, 2009, 09:26:28 pm
PDA's arent as bad as i expected them to be. Thought i was looking at £300 mark, but looks like i can pick up a decent one for £75.

Will have to be something for the future though as i need every penny i can get.

Title: Re: Keeping Records of Jobs ?
Post by: Tosh on March 30, 2009, 09:44:03 pm
With an excell spread sheet you can also use the 'sort function'; found under 'Tools' to sort information.

Before you go fannying around with a spreadsheet ALWAYS COPY IT TO ANOTHER 'WORKING FILE'; so you don't lose any information.

With this 'working file' you can manipulate it using the sort function; for example you could sort all those customers who owe you money by 'sorting' on the 'owed' column.

Or you could see whose due cleaning by sorting on the 'date column'.

And the more you learn about excel, the more you can do with it; it'll even help with your accounts.

It's simple to do, but tough to explain.
Title: Re: Keeping Records of Jobs ?
Post by: simp on March 30, 2009, 10:00:45 pm
I use Microsoft Office Outlook. Most have it on their computer. All my custy info goes on the calendar and recurrences can be set etc so a job sheet can be printed off each evening for the next day.
Title: Re: Keeping Records of Jobs ?
Post by: mark dew on March 30, 2009, 10:10:35 pm
I also use office to keep my records.
I keep the customers schedules on microsoft caklendar and i use excel for accounts.
I can send you a copy of my excel accounts if you want. And have emal address.
 
Title: Re: Keeping Records of Jobs ?
Post by: Blue Frog Systems on March 30, 2009, 10:34:18 pm
Thanks for the advice guys  :D

Will PM you my email address thanks Mark Dew
Title: Re: Keeping Records of Jobs ?
Post by: LSB on March 31, 2009, 02:46:44 pm
i use a pen and paper !
Title: Re: Keeping Records of Jobs ?
Post by: JSMC on March 31, 2009, 04:09:33 pm
get yersel a large page a day diary mate and when you have done the job then mark it in yer book for next time.

note down all yer jobs at the back of book and prices etc
Title: Re: Keeping Records of Jobs ?
Post by: andyatkinson on March 31, 2009, 04:18:51 pm
or you can amaze yourself with the power of your own memory like i did for 7 years! ;D
Title: Re: Keeping Records of Jobs ?
Post by: Niall McAllister on March 31, 2009, 04:54:51 pm
if you get a dedicated program  it saves a bit of the hastle.
i have found george http://www.georgesystems.co.uk/Download/download.html to be a good prog (couple of months free trial to get a feel for it then £50 payment) and it helps when it comes to doing the taxes at the end of the year, if you have a good record of payments and expences.
but you wont need to worry about the tax as most window cleaners don't declare ;D according to the posts i've read :P :P :P
Title: Re: Keeping Records of Jobs ?
Post by: Steve B on March 31, 2009, 05:01:39 pm
Yep George all the way you can't go wrong.

Once you have paid and registered your copy you also get 6 months back up to the internet facility and also allows you to back up to another hardrive as well.

This program was recommended to me when I first started and does everything I need.

Good luck! ;)
Title: Re: Keeping Records of Jobs ?
Post by: Rob.Hall on March 31, 2009, 05:09:16 pm
I am sure you can download George onto a blackberry???

Could be wrong there though. Its the only phone that will do it...I think.
Title: Re: Keeping Records of Jobs ?
Post by: LWC on March 31, 2009, 05:12:20 pm
Window cleaner pro all the way
Title: Re: Keeping Records of Jobs ?
Post by: kenaltobelli on March 31, 2009, 05:46:23 pm
get a diary week to view best thing put all work you have done whos paid.
keep a5 or whatever and put jobs to do tick off as done end off week you then see
whos due with next weeks as well
Title: Re: Keeping Records of Jobs ?
Post by: Sir Squeaky on March 31, 2009, 06:28:16 pm
Or do what I did...
Get yourself a free laptop and put the full George program on it.

No faffing about connecting a PDA to your computer every day, and if I get a new customer or something changes it gets done there and then. ;)

Also i can browse Clean-it-up or rude things at lunch. ;D
Title: Re: Keeping Records of Jobs ?
Post by: Tosh on March 31, 2009, 06:31:23 pm

Also i can browse Clean-it-up or rude things at lunch. ;D

And it's all tax deductable; like the porn the husband of our Home Secretary watched!

 ;D
Title: Re: Keeping Records of Jobs ?
Post by: sparklebright on March 31, 2009, 08:28:19 pm
Whatever you do, don't do what I did and not note down what you've done  ::)

I now write it down at the end of each day, in an A5 diary, a PDA would probably be better but I'm too tight to by one
Title: Re: Keeping Records of Jobs ?
Post by: gerard mcmanus on April 01, 2009, 07:19:20 am
What ever you go for, access, excel, ms callander, outllook, george, WCP, I dont think you will go wrong as long as you have some kind of backup. I use a page view diary, then back everything up on PC with MS Access, and Excel for accounts, mailmerges in word for reminder letters etc. Then I back the Comp System up on to an 8gb flash drive, just incase.  ;D