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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: supernova77 on March 29, 2010, 10:06:05 am

Title: Changing business name - Good or bad?
Post by: supernova77 on March 29, 2010, 10:06:05 am
Hi All,

I'm considering changing my business name from "Southern Cleaning Services" to "Something Window Cleaning" and just concentrate on marketing window cleaning.

I'm worried that if I do this it might have a negative effect on some customers... Does anyone have any experience (good or bad) of changing their business name?

Thanks,
Andy
Title: Re: Changing business name - Good or bad?
Post by: actualcleaning on March 29, 2010, 10:07:13 am
"Something Window Cleaning"

 ??? ;D
Title: Re: Changing business name - Good or bad?
Post by: supernova77 on March 29, 2010, 10:11:32 am
 :)

I have a name in mind, but don't really want to share it at the moment, just incase...  ;)
Title: Re: Changing business name - Good or bad?
Post by: dazmond on March 29, 2010, 10:24:24 am
i think ian lancaster has the right idea.just use your own name!unless your names DICK LILYCRAP or something!!

straightforward and simple for me everytime.

regards

dazmond
Title: Re: Changing business name - Good or bad?
Post by: tom2009 on March 29, 2010, 10:29:06 am
if your logo stays the same I'd bet most customers wouldn't even notice the name change.
Title: Re: Changing business name - Good or bad?
Post by: lee_dewing on March 29, 2010, 10:30:12 am
southern window cleaning, or S.W.C

would be alright, not strayed too far from original name then, and can just say i've altered name slighty as i soley do w/cing.


sorry no experience in name change, but have considered myself, my only worry is getting loads of cheques through the post, made out to old company name :D
Title: Re: Changing business name - Good or bad?
Post by: supernova77 on March 29, 2010, 10:33:01 am
Quote
southern window cleaning, or S.W.C

would be alright, not strayed too far from original name then, and can just say i've altered name slighty as i soley do w/cing.

I had thought of "Southern Window Cleaning", but there is already a "Southern Window Cleaning Ltd", who posts on this forum... The name I have in mind in quite unique...

Andy
Title: Re: Changing business name - Good or bad?
Post by: actualcleaning on March 29, 2010, 10:35:45 am
Quote
southern window cleaning, or S.W.C

would be alright, not strayed too far from original name then, and can just say i've altered name slighty as i soley do w/cing.

I had thought of "Southern Window Cleaning", but there is already a "Southern Window Cleaning Ltd", who posts on this forum... The name I have in mind in quite unique...

Andy

Oh go on Andy tell us what it is...we wont tell anyone ;)
Title: Re: Changing business name - Good or bad?
Post by: lee_dewing on March 29, 2010, 10:58:00 am
is it squeaky clean :D

or crystal cleaning, clearview?

vision technicain ;)
Title: Re: Changing business name - Good or bad?
Post by: supernova77 on March 29, 2010, 11:06:06 am
Quote
Oh go on Andy tell us what it is...we wont tell anyone Wink

There are lots of new startups at the moment and I don't want anyone stealing it  ;)

Andy
Title: Re: Changing business name - Good or bad?
Post by: s.w.c on March 29, 2010, 11:10:29 am
i use S.W.C  for smithys window cleaning
Title: Re: Changing business name - Good or bad?
Post by: ivesonswc on March 29, 2010, 12:59:48 pm
have you considered using both names eg keep the current name for bank account ect and just us the new name as your trade name

eg jack cleaning company name
     trading as j cleaning
Title: Re: Changing business name - Good or bad?
Post by: Count Phil on March 29, 2010, 04:34:17 pm
I just changed my business name from p bowen window cleaning to something cleaning services to broaden my services etc.

Its worked great.
Title: Re: Changing business name - Good or bad?
Post by: paul rulton on March 29, 2010, 08:42:15 pm
been PR WINDOW CLEANING 4 20years now  ;D 2 well known 2 change now ;D
Title: Re: Changing business name - Good or bad?
Post by: Moderator David@stives on March 29, 2010, 09:27:33 pm
thingy window cleaners is a good name.

I trade on my name and dont do too bad on it, too late for me to change bacause a lot of people who use me regularly, google my business by just typing in my name.

If you have plans to completely out grow what you do and you are just earning a wage, a new name and rebranding can give you renewed enthusiasm to grow your business.

Dave
Title: Re: Changing business name - Good or bad?
Post by: Andy@w.c.s on March 29, 2010, 09:40:35 pm
Having just changed my trading name it was very eazy
all my customers had a letter of the change along with new customer detail form , which we have asked them all to fill in , I now have all but a few contact details of all my customers ,

Just remember you will have to change your bank account to your new trading name along with all your paper work busisess cards , insurance , inland revenue if you employ ,  its a lot to do just for a change in name

But this has given me the new start i have wanted for quite a while , I now feel i can move forward with my business

hope this helps

Andy 
Title: Re: Changing business name - Good or bad?
Post by: STEVE-UK on March 29, 2010, 09:51:58 pm
is it 'window-cleaners -r-us' ?

Why not keep your southern name and have an additional window cleaning name?
Title: Re: Changing business name - Good or bad?
Post by: supernova77 on March 29, 2010, 11:30:34 pm
Quote
Why not keep your southern name and have an additional window cleaning name?

Hi Steve,

I was going to use "Southern Window Cleaning", but you're business name held me back  ;)

I've been window cleaning for 4.5 years now and have had the feeling for a long time that just concentrating on regular exterior and interior window cleaning is the way forward... That's why I've been thinking of changing the name to "Something Window Cleaning".

Andy

Andy
Title: Re: Changing business name - Good or bad?
Post by: Darranvps on March 30, 2010, 07:51:09 am
Changing a name can be good,especially if you have a bad name amongst older customers already ;D They will think it's somebody new.
I have Purple Rhino window cleaning www.purple-rhino.co.uk so far it works for me.
Good luck
Title: Re: Changing business name - Good or bad?
Post by: STEVE-UK on March 30, 2010, 09:10:01 am
I have been wfp since 2003, i initially started off working for a local firm just cleaning commercial sites then branched off on my own with the intention of staying window cleaning only but i now have the gutter vac and do some pressure washing, so now also have www.cleargutters.co.uk 

It might of got a bit confusing with 2 'southern window cleanings' as have a quite a lot of work u your way ;)
Title: Re: Changing business name - Good or bad?
Post by: supernova77 on March 30, 2010, 09:29:01 am
Quote
It might of got a bit confusing with 2 'southern window cleanings' as have a quite a lot of work u your way Wink

Hey! Get off my patch!!!  ;D