I don't know about others on here but to be honest a large percentage of my commercial work has come out of the blue, either from someone who knows someone or just by being in the right place at the right time.
It is far more competetive than domestic, some times stupidly so, but it's good to have when the weather is bad as it's guaranteed income ( until someone cheaper comes along anyway lol ).
I don't think I've canvassed commercial work either.
Sometimes get a phone call from an internet ad - though no-one ever seems to remember which one.
Some quality commercial work has come via other window cleaners who haven't got WFP. I always make it worth someone's while if I retain the job for a few cleans or more as this is behaviour I like to encourage
.
The majority is done via the subcontract route though. It can sometimes squeeze the price a bit but it is worth having. I'm not prepared to go into general cleaning but get some of the work from certain general cleaning companies. It suits us both. They have the job and want to make a bit out of it but don't want the hassle of investing in WFP. I have WFP but don't want the hassle of going into general cleaning. The downsides can be the price being squeezed a bit as there's an extra profit margin to consider plus sometimes, I'm not able to work exactly how I want to work and have to fit in with others' schedules. So long as I earn OK and fitting in isn't too restrictive, then no problem.
Being in the right place at the right time certainly helps. Back in 91/92 I landed my first reasonable sized commercial because I was in the janitorial shop when a particular guy walked in. We had never met before. Got chatting and was asked to view a job. Had that one a few years.
Another time I had been cleaning a house and the guy next door had a cleaning company. He asked if I could do 4-storey work. Landed a twice yearly clean at a large place (outsides only was 2.5 days). Eventually ended up doing regular maintenance cleans on various mid sized commercial jobs and one rather large one.
There are several other jobs I do for some guy I've known a bit since we were kids. He does general cleaning and windows but doesn't want to get involved with WFP. No problem.
WFP really has changed my whole outlook on what can and can't be done.