[James Whitelock]

Get three books.
Book 1: canvassing. I use a simple code:
nt - no thanks
ag - already got
l - leaflet (return to these at later date), don't dismiss anyone until you have actually spoken to them face to face as this is key to a compact round equating to less down time.
Q- Quoted.

Second book for actual quotes:
Name, address, phone number and window count. Quote for fronts and whole house, write it down as it will be a valuable reference tool for future quotes of similar properties. When they turn into work put them in book 3

Book 3:
Cleans - agreed date of clean, name address and phone number.  Seperate page for each road.

Don't over stretch yourself. I agreed to 4 first cleans last week and my timekeeping was terrible. Try to go for a simple AM or PM appointment as you raise expectations when you say you'll be there at a certain time and turn up late. I had 2 of mine phone me to say they were waiting in specially. Felt a right numpty.

Also, they will respect your professional opinion on frequency, but remember there is safety in numbers.

I currently aim for 4 hours actual cleaning time and when I finish a clean I canvass the neighbours, I recommend familiarising yourself with the 'Jones' approach ie mention subtly that you are cleaning their neighbours windows and let phsychology do the rest.

IMHO of course.
FWIW

Thanks for the tips. I plan on getting 5000 leaflets printed to start with, dropping them, then following up with a knock a few days later. I've heard this is the best way of picking up new customers?

[Ian Lancaster]

Thanks for the tips. I plan on getting 5000 leaflets printed to start with, dropping them, then following up with a knock a few days later. I've heard this is the best way of picking up new customers?

It certainly is, but don't drop all those 5,000 at once!!  About 150 is enough at a time, then another 150 the next day, then go back and canvass the first 150 on the second evening and so on, never dropping more than you can cover doorknocking at one session but leaving a day or so to 'soak'.  When you get the rhythm going you'll be dropping and knocking 150 a day, two days in arrears, if you see what I mean.

[James Whitelock]

Thanks for the tips. I plan on getting 5000 leaflets printed to start with, dropping them, then following up with a knock a few days later. I've heard this is the best way of picking up new customers?

It certainly is, but don't drop all those 5,000 at once!!  About 150 is enough at a time, then another 150 the next day, then go back and canvass the first 150 on the second evening and so on, never dropping more than you can cover doorknocking at one session but leaving a day or so to 'soak'.  When you get the rhythm going you'll be dropping and knocking 150 a day, two days in arrears, if you see what I mean.

Yeah thats what I was gonna do. Cheers.

[j timms]

Obviously no public liability then . Probably stupidly cheap price but rubbish job. If I am honest annoys the he'll out of me fly by night windies who put stupid price ideas in my customers heads and then disappear .

[richardlingard]

i started on foot with no customers got a few and paid for driving lessons, passed my test and bought a nissan micra for 300 quid and put a ladder on it for 100 then worked and worked and now i have a nice van 400 customers and a far larger thingy

[*Hector*]

i started on foot with no customers got a few and paid for driving lessons, passed my test and bought a nissan micra for 300 quid and put a ladder on it for 100 then worked and worked and now i have a nice van 400 customers and a far larger thingy

not your brain though eh??