[davetherave]

do most of you driveway cleaning guys on here pack up your driveway cleaning business about now and concentrate on advertising other businesses. I'm advertsing in a couple of local newspapers and i'm not getting any calls and was wondering if it is even worth me bothering at this time of year. i'm just not getting any work.

[steve doyle]

Its starting to go quiet for me now, 2 more full weeks and i will be doing afew pointing jobs and bits and bobs like gutters and drains.

but its hard if you dont have the customer base to start with.

If i were you i would try some door knocking/ leaflet delivery and offer a discount on the first drive on the street (obviously pick street wih lots of paved drives).

half of my work comes from people who have walked past jobs im doing or neighbours. so you need to be showing your work.

You could also try altering your advert to something like " have your dangerous slippy flags cleaned now autumn is here!

You do need to tailor your services depending on the time of year.

but it does take time to build the business and some times of the year people are more concerned with drives than others, now isnt really one of those times sadly.

hope this helps

steve

[drive surgeon]

i had no work from last august till february this year. had to get another job. people just dont want it done in the winter domestic anyway.      i have managed to get more work this year and still have bits to do now but come october through till feb again it will be dead.n its very hard/

[Village Gleam]

I was about to buy all the kit fsc etc, perhaps I should wait.

I have a big advert in a diectory for it and was expecting the embarrasment of waffling that It hadn't come frm the states yet. But no ones called to fobbed off.
Yes perhaps I should wait.
Why not sell off all your stuff really cheap?

[davetherave]

thanks for the advice guys. i'm really wishing i hadn't bought into this business now and that i'd stuck with my window cleaning coz its just so hard getting work.

i think im just gonna forget it for the moment and carry on cleaning windows.

[Kwackers]

What kit you got i'm after some bits and pieces.

[davetherave]

im not really looking to sell anything yet im just gonna pack it all up till february march time

[BDCS]

Hello, if your looking for work to tide yourself over Christmas grow a white beard and get a red coat

[drive surgeon]

i think its the same for everyone unless youhave contracts to clean places. no one wants pressure washing done domestically in the winter when its cold and wet.

[Kwackers]

get the gutter cleaning flyers out and get yourself a 24' lance!

[drive surgeon]

santa always needs his sleigh pressure washed at this time of year no seriously if anyone has any good ideas for winter cleaning let this guy know as its very hard, im struggling too when its cold and wet.  we need to get together and work together on a good idea.

[Mike_Boxall]

Almost exactly 2 years ago one of our sales guys left to set up a drive cleaning business after selling equipment to others to do the same thing. He started in September but had sold all the equipment by the following March. He did a lot of door knocking and leaflet drops but accepted that people just dont want that sort of work doing during the winter months and he just lost enthusiasm for it.

There's still lots of potential with pure water window cleaning and the Concept 2o system though http://www.express-cleaning-supplies.co.uk/oos/reachandwash/421025.html which I've just lost another member of staff because of, and they're doing much better at it!

Regards

Mike

[drive surgeon]

comon there must be somone who does well in the winter pressure washing??

anyone do domestic or commercial stuff at all or do you al put your feet up for 5 months,???

[BDCS]

Hello, It takes time to build a business up to the point where you can depend on the income to keep you 12 months of the year, I started cleaning drives when I was a shift worker - 4 years ago and I still do 2 days a week at the factory. I think I will go full time in the spring but I fill the week with :-
A small WFP window round
Jet some drains
Look after the grass a the local probation office
Clean some carpets
Bouncy castle hire
And even clean some drives !!
I do get some stick because I don't specialise in one field but if if one goes quiet it dos'nt matter and I never get bored

[TVCS]

We started in 2005 and found the winter to be long and cold with no work coming in. 
Over the last 2 years we have managed to pick up a few  monthly fleet cleans which keep the p/w from gathering too much dust.  At the moment we have a huge house clean on the go.  Total paint removal job and the chap is dead against sand blasting so we got the contract.  With a good day rate thrown in we do 2 days a week at this and we have built up a good wfp window cleaning round which just about keeps the wolf from the door for the rest of the time.

I have about another 4 biggish p/w jobs lined up and that is it for this year unless something else pops up but I doubt that. 

we have just landed the contract to clean a local schools windows and whilst we were discussing the quote i mentioned chewing gum removal too .  This is something that i have seen on different websites and thought its worth a look. 

you gotta keep looking.
Ant
TVCS

[riverside]

complete kit for sale including all hoses, lances, hotbox and pump etc, previous health problem returned forcing sale. 07894 269431

[drive surgeon]

detail your kit please, what make, how old etc.