[CleanXtreme]

Hi All

I know I shouldnt complain, but I really do have too much work on my books and find it impossible to be realiable!
My business was established in 2007 My main focus is Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning, with a window cleaning round of about 250 customers and and I work on my own. In the first couple of months I did some canvassing and built up a round that grew quickly. I have never done leaflets or advertised with the exception of a few free advertising sites online that havnt ever got me any business. The business has grown from recomendations and word of mouth. My problem is I find it hard to say "No" and at this time of the year my exsisting customers want their interior windows, conservatory roofs, fascia's and gutters cleaned as well as their exterior windows cleaned!
      Therefore any suggestions how I can cope better would be very much appreciated.

[TomCrowther]

Err, get an employee. 

[Fakenham Tony]

I have been going for 1 and a half years and am approaching being full, I am putting up prices for existing customers and charging a higher rate for new quotes and am happy to lose some.

I don't mind though as it's more profit, I always expect to be in control though and do work if I promise it.

Put your prices up and earn more for doing less

[JamesAJF]

I have been going for 1 and a half years and am approaching being full, I am putting up prices for existing customers and charging a higher rate for new quotes and am happy to lose some.

I don't mind though as it's more profit, I always expect to be in control though and do work if I promise it.

Put your prices up and earn more for doing less

+1

[wfp master]

Why have to threads the exact same.

[p1w1]

Hi All

I know I shouldnt complain, but I really do have too much work on my books and find it impossible to be realiable!
My business was established in 2007 My main focus is Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning, with a window cleaning round of about 250 customers and and I work on my own. In the first couple of months I did some canvassing and built up a round that grew quickly. I have never done leaflets or advertised with the exception of a few free advertising sites online that havnt ever got me any business. The business has grown from recomendations and word of mouth. My problem is I find it hard to say "No" and at this time of the year my exsisting customers want their interior windows, conservatory roofs, fascia's and gutters cleaned as well as their exterior windows cleaned!
      Therefore any suggestions how I can cope better would be very much appreciated.

this the point where you get rid of your rubbish work, the bad payers under priced work etc. As been said put your prices up try and compact things more.

[Ian101]

again I suggest putting your prices up and getting rid of any poor payers.

Im 3 years in and full but keep picking up fresh customers but I dumped as I went so no bad customers to bin however I still get the odd one that goes bad so now just stike em off.

Got 3 reminders to post out today

commercial customer who prob away on holiday so no one there to do bacs - he is staying on list

new £18 4weekly customer with 3 cleans in - first payment fine, second payment slow, third payment 3 weeks late will be getting a note with reminder that if payment not made in a timely fashion then we wont be cleaning his windows in future

3 years in customer £12 4weekly - always takes ages to pay sometimes would you beleive I have to go collect 2 payments at door  on a Saturday - just had some tall gates fitted and always tricky parking so now off books.

the last 2 customers have been replaced already this week with 3 x £12 4weekly and 1 x £12 8weekly .... however they would still be gone with or without fresh work.

[groundhog]

the last 2 customers have been replaced already this week with 3 x £12 4weekly and 1 x £12 8weekly .... however they would still be gone with or without fresh work.

Must be small houses for £12!! I don't have anything under £25 these days! 

[dazmond]

but you use a harris pole for cleaning windows still groundhog?

[Ian101]

the last 2 customers have been replaced already this week with 3 x £12 4weekly and 1 x £12 8weekly .... however they would still be gone with or without fresh work.

Must be small houses for £12!! I don't have anything under £25 these days! 

Smaller than my 25quid houses yes

[p1w1]

the last 2 customers have been replaced already this week with 3 x £12 4weekly and 1 x £12 8weekly .... however they would still be gone with or without fresh work.

Must be small houses for £12!! I don't have anything under £25 these days!  

yet you bitch about having to go on a water meter lol...sniff sniff whats that smell in the air

[windiewasher]

the last 2 customers have been replaced already this week with 3 x £12 4weekly and 1 x £12 8weekly .... however they would still be gone with or without fresh work.

Must be small houses for £12!! I don't have anything under £25 these days! 

yet you bitch about having to go on a water meter lol

+1
Another dreamer with every house minimum £25

[groundhog]

but you use a harris pole for cleaning windows still groundhog?

Hi Dazmond, I am back with my trusted Harris pole, I had an slx which I had been using for the last couple of years or so, but it was slowly falling to bits! When it finally died, I decided that although it was a very good pole, the asking price was simply not worth paying, when I could get myself a perfectly adequate Harris pole for under 20 quid!!

[groundhog]

the last 2 customers have been replaced already this week with 3 x £12 4weekly and 1 x £12 8weekly .... however they would still be gone with or without fresh work.

Must be small houses for £12!! I don't have anything under £25 these days! 

yet you bitch about having to go on a water meter lol

+1
Another dreamer with every house minimum £25

I'm no dreamer, I have built myself a good quality round, and I decided a couple of years ago that I wouldn't take on anymore work at under £25, and it has worked very well for me! In fact I am considering increasing my minimum charge considerably if I keep on taking on customers at the rate which I am right now!!

[groundhog]

the last 2 customers have been replaced already this week with 3 x £12 4weekly and 1 x £12 8weekly .... however they would still be gone with or without fresh work.

Must be small houses for £12!! I don't have anything under £25 these days!  

yet you bitch about having to go on a water meter lol...sniff sniff whats that smell in the air

It's not bitching, it's what business is all about.. keeping your overheads low, and your profits high!! 

[luther1]

the last 2 customers have been replaced already this week with 3 x £12 4weekly and 1 x £12 8weekly .... however they would still be gone with or without fresh work.

Must be small houses for £12!! I don't have anything under £25 these days! 

yet you bitch about having to go on a water meter lol

+1
Another dreamer with every house minimum £25

I'm no dreamer, I have built myself a good quality round, and I decided a couple of years ago that I wouldn't take on anymore work at under £25, and it has worked very well for me! In fact I am considering increasing my minimum charge considerably if I keep on taking on customers at the rate which I am right now!!

You must put up pics of your new van,decent car and big house then so we all believe you

[wfp master]

 

[DG Cleaning]

but you use a harris pole for cleaning windows still groundhog?

Hi Dazmond, I am back with my trusted Harris pole, I had an slx which I had been using for the last couple of years or so, but it was slowly falling to bits! When it finally died, I decided that although it was a very good pole, the asking price was simply not worth paying, when I could get myself a perfectly adequate Harris pole for under 20 quid!!

Having a Harris a bit like shopping at Aldi
You could go to Tesco but its no better and takes longer

[Afterglow Window Cleaners]

Give me all your custards in Shrewsbury please, that will lighten the load

[groundhog]

the last 2 customers have been replaced already this week with 3 x £12 4weekly and 1 x £12 8weekly .... however they would still be gone with or without fresh work.

Must be small houses for £12!! I don't have anything under £25 these days! 

yet you bitch about having to go on a water meter lol

+1
Another dreamer with every house minimum £25

I'm no dreamer, I have built myself a good quality round, and I decided a couple of years ago that I wouldn't take on anymore work at under £25, and it has worked very well for me! In fact I am considering increasing my minimum charge considerably if I keep on taking on customers at the rate which I am right now!!

You must put up pics of your new van,decent car and big house then so we all believe you

I don't waste my money on depreciating assets such as flashy cars and vans!! I am still using the same van which I bought when I first started out full time in this game about 10years ago!! I'm not a fool with my money!!