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Ian101

  • Posts: 7889
Growing business .... slowly
« on: February 23, 2012, 05:31:49 pm »
Whilst on holiday finally decided to go for it and grow business.

From reading about others experiances decided to do it slowly.

Just took on Bobs lad Anthony for 2 days a week, currently get through rounds in 20 days on me own so with new part timer I rekon will be doing it in about 16 / 17 days ?? ??

That will then give me hopefully about 4 days a month to get out there canvassing and leaflet dropping.

When it grows then look at Anthony doing 3 days a week.

Your thoughts please ?

Llaaww

  • Posts: 2260
Re: Growing business .... slowly
« Reply #1 on: February 23, 2012, 05:43:12 pm »
I am in a similar position at the moment. I have a lad in for two days every week.

I intend to get a second van and have him on three days of the week, as well as letting him canvass and work on the other two if he wants to (% rate on new work). He is keen so between us we should be able to pull in enough work through the summer to pay for it all.

We had a go at two vans earlier in the year, I got a new one, and gave him my old one until the mot ran out and I chucked it. It worked well.

I like to do it slowly but surely.
if it is dirty it is fair game

Frankybadboy

  • Posts: 9026
Re: Growing business .... slowly
« Reply #2 on: February 23, 2012, 05:51:59 pm »
watch bob dont want him BACK now his BACK gone ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

bobby p

Re: Growing business .... slowly
« Reply #3 on: February 23, 2012, 06:34:01 pm »
dont flog yourself doing too much leafletting Ian, iv found it works to av a leafleter of my own,fact iv 2 partimers and  it really pays off by allowing me to drop off any dross as new is coming in always .

im toying with advertising leafletting after gettin an enquiry for how much for leaflettin and have mentioned it to the lads (not keen so far) -  my worry is that if they dont do it,id be forced myself  to traipse the streets leafletting seriously  :-[

Perfect Windows

  • Posts: 4334
Re: Growing business .... slowly
« Reply #4 on: February 23, 2012, 07:12:44 pm »
Whilst on holiday finally decided to go for it and grow business.

From reading about others experiances decided to do it slowly.

Just took on Bobs lad Anthony for 2 days a week, currently get through rounds in 20 days on me own so with new part timer I rekon will be doing it in about 16 / 17 days ?? ??

That will then give me hopefully about 4 days a month to get out there canvassing and leaflet dropping.

When it grows then look at Anthony doing 3 days a week.

Your thoughts please ?


My hourly rate with a helper is about 55% more than on my own, though remember that it takes time to get up to speed.

If you have your guy eight days out of 20, then by that measure you should do 12 days' work in those eight days, so your estimate is pretty much bang on.

If you want my honest opinion, get someone leafletting for you.  I pay a couple of people £6 per hour self-employed and they generate a steady flow of work while I'm out cleaning.  Works out at about 5p per leaflet, which still makes leafletting the cheapest way I have to gain customers.  They do between zero and ten hours per week.

Vin

L.U.K.E

  • Posts: 124
Re: Growing business .... slowly
« Reply #5 on: February 23, 2012, 07:18:55 pm »
Ian,

Sounds like a good idea to me! :)
How many customers do you currently have and how many do you need?
Or do you want to get to monthly amount?

Luke :) :)

Ian101

  • Posts: 7889
Re: Growing business .... slowly
« Reply #6 on: February 23, 2012, 07:22:33 pm »
Thanks Bobby and Vin ... hadnt thought about getting a leafleter but works for you so will give it some thought.

Do enjoy the canvassing though so maybe a bit of both ??

Ian101

  • Posts: 7889
Re: Growing business .... slowly
« Reply #7 on: February 23, 2012, 07:25:31 pm »
Ian,

Sounds like a good idea to me! :)
How many customers do you currently have and how many do you need?
Or do you want to get to monthly amount?

Luke :) :)


322 as of today which takes me the 20 days to get thru ... plus a couple of apartment blocks done every few months.

600 is my target before end of year which would be 20 days a month 2 up on 1 van

Ian101

  • Posts: 7889
Re: Growing business .... slowly
« Reply #8 on: February 23, 2012, 07:28:30 pm »
watch bob dont want him BACK now his BACK gone ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

apparently I dont shout at him like his Dad does plus he says Im by far a better window cleaner  ;D ;D

bobplum

  • Posts: 5602
Re: Growing business .... slowly
« Reply #9 on: February 23, 2012, 07:37:10 pm »
watch bob dont want him BACK now his BACK gone ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

apparently I dont shout at him like his Dad does plus he says Im by far a better window cleaner  ;D ;D

i was going to say that the knife you just pushed into my back hurt,but as i have done my back in i didn't feel a thing ;D ;D

deeege

  • Posts: 5116
Re: Growing business .... slowly
« Reply #10 on: February 23, 2012, 07:43:19 pm »
Quote from: L.U.K.E link=topic=147914.msg1221500#

[/quote

322 as of today which takes me the 20 days to get thru ... plus a couple of apartment blocks done every few months.

600 is my target before end of year which would be 20 days a month 2 up on 1 van

Good going that Ian.

Out of interest how many of these were picked up yourself through canvassing/leafletting etc. (any method other than buying rounds)

Obviously feel free to ignore if you don't want to answer, just curious as we started at around the same time.
"....and it's lend me ten pounds, I'll buy you a drink, and mother wake me early in the morning."

Ian101

  • Posts: 7889
Re: Growing business .... slowly
« Reply #11 on: February 23, 2012, 10:28:10 pm »
Hi Deege rekon about 50 / 50 split   as did buy some rounds when starting out but dropped about 80 customers last year and replaced with fresh customers by word of mouth or them seeing me working so prob now more like 65 / 35 in favour of not bought customers plus sold about 60 customers late last year that I had bought when starting out as in area I no longer wanted to focus on

deeege

  • Posts: 5116
Re: Growing business .... slowly
« Reply #12 on: February 23, 2012, 10:42:01 pm »
Good going Ian. Are you planning to add some commercial now, or happy sticking with domestics?
"....and it's lend me ten pounds, I'll buy you a drink, and mother wake me early in the morning."

Ian101

  • Posts: 7889
Re: Growing business .... slowly
« Reply #13 on: February 23, 2012, 10:46:44 pm »
Yep chasing commercials when have a spare day as can do them early doors then onto residential .... Only got a handful at moment though but need to balance the round a little more towards commercial

deeege

  • Posts: 5116
Re: Growing business .... slowly
« Reply #14 on: February 23, 2012, 10:50:06 pm »
I'm doing the opposite.  :) Concentrating and padding out the domestic work this spring / summer.
"....and it's lend me ten pounds, I'll buy you a drink, and mother wake me early in the morning."