[DavidX]

On getting commercial work. I am looking to move on to wfp but before I do that. I would like to have the work before moving onto wfp. Can any of you tell me how you went about getting commercial work. I want to try to get office, retirment home, warehouse and so on but don't want shops and pubs. I have sent out about 30 letters and got no reply. I know I got to do better than that. But would like to know the best way of doing it.

Dave

[sair]

if its not who you know, then there is no other way apart from cold calling and having a good letter introduction about yourself and also a good reseme of clients would be quite a good start .

so my advice would be to start wfp on houses first where you can develop your skills before being in front off people the first time. on commercial work as youll find most of what you pick up will be things that some do not want to do, it will also be high work where you need time and practice on the poles before you start working the higher levels

[Moderator David@stives]

david

I found all my commercial came to me slowly over 8 years, it is not something you can pick up as easily as domestic.

[Trevor Knight]

You just need to be in the right place at the right time. Commercial is a hard slog and there is little if any loyalty. Its mainly about price. I have a large commercial client base and it took me 10 years + to build. Everybody thinks commercial is the best bit in reality it is hard work, not only cleaning them but keeping them.

Get a good solid domestic base to work from and then ask your customers, tell them you are looking to do more commercial and ask them if they have a window cleaner at work, when you have proved to them you're not the usual here today gone tomorrow w/c they will have confidence in recommending you, especially if you've been doing it for 12 months or more, been reliable, seen the winter through and do a good job.

best wishes, Trev

[surecleansystems]

Hi Dave

I agree with all of the above.  We were mainly domestic for about 8 years and over the past 5 years we have become mainly commercial. Most of the jobs we picked up were from referrals and customers seeing our van regularly in the town.  The down side is they expect to see you regularly, some of our contracts are twice weekly and you have to be there.

If you start with domestic you get to build up your wfp skills and build a good reputation, but keep at it and your business will grow.  It just takes time to establish yourself.

All the best
Arthur