[paul alan]

Just had a couple of " can we leave it till Jan" and its got me wandering if it'll work if I just put the prices up 20% and only did 10 cleans per year.

I know it would work for me as I would be getting the same money and working less, taking the best part of winter off would be awesome. 

Most customers only tolerate having windows done this time of year, some want it done, others complain, some bite the lip.

This would probably only work for some customers, nice thought though.

[paul alan]

Just had a couple of " can we leave it till Jan" and its got me wandering if it'll work if I just put the prices up 20% and only did 10 cleans per year.

I know it would work for me as I would be getting the same money and working less, taking the best part of winter off would be awesome. 

Most customers only tolerate having windows done this time of year, some want it done, others complain, some bite the lip.

This would probably only work for some customers, nice thought though.

I suppose from now on I will ask new customers if they intend to have all cleans done, to the best of their knowledge anyway.
I f some do be honest and say " would like to take winter off" then I can factor that into prices.

[p1w1]

Funny enough i was thinking this the other day but with just a month  by taking just over half of December and half of January off, I wouldn't be bothered about the loss of money.

[dazmond]

i take around 6  weeks off a year as it is.at least a week at xmas,a couple of holidays abroad and the odd week here and there for DIY/sickness,long weekends away ,etc.thats enough.

id rather put my prices up and continue working.

[nathankaye]

In the grand scheme of things, is it really a loss of income?!

If its based on your yearly income collectively ( turnover) how does it fair to the year before or the year before that.
We loose customers for various reasons, deaths / moving for instance. But you then replace and normally at a higher price. So if one or two domestic clients cancel one or two cleans within the year...... Is it really noticed

[dazmond]

Just had a couple of " can we leave it till Jan" and its got me wandering if it'll work if I just put the prices up 20% and only did 10 cleans per year.

I know it would work for me as I would be getting the same money and working less, taking the best part of winter off would be awesome. 

Most customers only tolerate having windows done this time of year, some want it done, others complain, some bite the lip.

This would probably only work for some customers, nice thought though.

your second guessing your customers.what makes you think they just "tolerate" a window cleaning service during the winter months just because of  a few "not todays"?its not a fair reflection of your whole customer base i bet.if you took 2 months off during the winter im sure your customers would notice.

the problem with some window cleaners these days is they want the money without having to work for it.

[bobplum]

good idea, on the time off you will probably have good weather then in Jan when you are back to work you are snowed in for 4 weeks......suddenly its not such a good idea, probably better if took the winter months off completely or as Daz does take the time off during the year

[Paul Wisdom]

I have had January off for the last 4 years and LOVE it. I now always take it off and go to warmer climates. Off on the 2nd to Thailand until the 30th.  I cant wait. 

[Dry Clean]

Just had a couple of " can we leave it till Jan" and its got me wandering if it'll work if I just put the prices up 20% and only did 10 cleans per year.

I know it would work for me as I would be getting the same money and working less, taking the best part of winter off would be awesome. 

Most customers only tolerate having windows done this time of year, some want it done, others complain, some bite the lip.

This would probably only work for some customers, nice thought though.

your second guessing your customers.what makes you think they just "tolerate" a window cleaning service during the winter months just because of  a few "not todays"?its not a fair reflection of your whole customer base i bet.if you took 2 months off during the winter im sure your customers would notice.

the problem with some window cleaners these days is they want the money without having to work for it.

Everybody wants money without having to work for it but unfortunately for most its not how it works, the next best thing is
doing as little as possible in as comfortable conditions as possible therefore if you could take the worst of the winter months
off and have the same yearly turnover why not try.
There are a few on here doing 12 weekly at very high prices therefore why shouldn't it be possible to have a 12 weekly gap
over the winter.

[andyM]

Spring, Summer and Autumn I'm happy to keep working.
And much prefer to have a holiday and go somewhere warm during our winter time if i can.

[Stoots]

It's absolutely possible.

You just have to find the customers who suit what you want to do.

For example I only take inline payments, so that rules out anyone who wants me to collect.

I only will clean houses who unlock gates so that rules out those who won't, I only clean houses with good access, so rules out most terraced. I only clean ground floor flats, so i turn down those above. I won't tolerate dog poo gardens etc etc.

My point is that it's simply a case of telling them how you work from off and sticking to it.

As always it's harder to change your current customers so you will need a lot of new ones. But if that's your goal it's only a case of taking action towards it like anything else.



As much as I hate getting out of bed in the cold, wind, rain and ice, There is a certain sadistic enjoyment to it when you get a full day's work in despite the weather. Always satisfying when you get home and stick a hot bath on.

I think overall  I'm happy to just do less in the winter and let the round slip a bit December and January. So if I'm 4 weekly, let them go 5/6 weekly for a couple of cleans. Takes the pressure of you if you get a bad weather day or generally juts have easier days.

I know what you mean about getting a sense some customers merely tolerate us at times, but I think this happens all year round. I get a sense with certain customers sometimes that they really don't want there windows cleaning today. Usually when they look at you like you have just shat on their doorstep it gives the game away.

[Jonny 87]

Most of my customers want clean windows for Christmas, they are having family visiting etc, and the low winter sun shows up all the dirt.

Some customers may be happy to miss two months of winter, but a lot wouldn’t.

[dazmond]

It's absolutely possible.

You just have to find the customers who suit what you want to do.

For example I only take inline payments, so that rules out anyone who wants me to collect.

I only will clean houses who unlock gates so that rules out those who won't, I only clean houses with good access, so rules out most terraced. I only clean ground floor flats, so i turn down those above. I won't tolerate dog poo gardens etc etc.

My point is that it's simply a case of telling them how you work from off and sticking to it.

As always it's harder to change your current customers so you will need a lot of new ones. But if that's your goal it's only a case of taking action towards it like anything else.



As much as I hate getting out of bed in the cold, wind, rain and ice, There is a certain sadistic enjoyment to it when you get a full day's work in despite the weather. Always satisfying when you get home and stick a hot bath on.

I think overall  I'm happy to just do less in the winter and let the round slip a bit December and January. So if I'm 4 weekly, let them go 5/6 weekly for a couple of cleans. Takes the pressure of you if you get a bad weather day or generally juts have easier days.

I know what you mean about getting a sense some customers merely tolerate us at times, but I think this happens all year round. I get a sense with certain customers sometimes that they really don't want there windows cleaning today. Usually when they look at you like you have just shat on their doorstep it gives the game away.

we are polar opposites me and you adam.

i never EVER let my round slip whether its spring/summer/autumn/winter.i move my schedule forward for holidays and xmas etc as it is.sod getting behind with work at other times as well or i lose money and the windows are dirtier when i do eventually get round.

i dont hate getting up in the morning to go out to work when its freezing cold.in fact im usually up earlier than usual.

i never even think of a customer not wanting to have their windows cleaned unless they say "not today" which is very rare.

[Stoots]

It's absolutely possible.

You just have to find the customers who suit what you want to do.

For example I only take inline payments, so that rules out anyone who wants me to collect.

I only will clean houses who unlock gates so that rules out those who won't, I only clean houses with good access, so rules out most terraced. I only clean ground floor flats, so i turn down those above. I won't tolerate dog poo gardens etc etc.

My point is that it's simply a case of telling them how you work from off and sticking to it.

As always it's harder to change your current customers so you will need a lot of new ones. But if that's your goal it's only a case of taking action towards it like anything else.



As much as I hate getting out of bed in the cold, wind, rain and ice, There is a certain sadistic enjoyment to it when you get a full day's work in despite the weather. Always satisfying when you get home and stick a hot bath on.

I think overall  I'm happy to just do less in the winter and let the round slip a bit December and January. So if I'm 4 weekly, let them go 5/6 weekly for a couple of cleans. Takes the pressure of you if you get a bad weather day or generally juts have easier days.

I know what you mean about getting a sense some customers merely tolerate us at times, but I think this happens all year round. I get a sense with certain customers sometimes that they really don't want there windows cleaning today. Usually when they look at you like you have just shat on their doorstep it gives the game away.

we are polar opposites me and you adam.

i never EVER let my round slip whether its spring/summer/autumn/winter.i move my schedule forward for holidays and xmas etc as it is.sod getting behind with work at other times as well or i lose money and the windows are dirtier when i do eventually get round.

i dont hate getting up in the morning to go out to work when its freezing cold.in fact im usually up earlier than usual.

i never even think of a customer not wanting to have their windows cleaned unless they say "not today" which is very rare.

I would agree with you.

You seem naturally an optimistic person. I'm naturally pessimistic in general.

Still can't see the enjoyment in getting up in the dark and cold to go cleaning glass. But I do feel a sense of relief and achievement when the day or week is done.

I would rather earn a bit less for a couple of months and not stress myself out working in horrible weather because I must get done no matter what.

But then we have totally different ideas, you want to be a sole trader doing this everyday till your 70, I could think of nothing worse.

Window cleaning can be great but it can also be draining at times, and there's nothing more draining than chasing your tail in all weathers trying to keep up.

[nathankaye]

If your always chasing you tail then you need to rethink what your doing. As in, do you take on a helper or simply let some work go and adjust your prices accordingly.
I work pretty much the same hours in summer as i do in winter so I have no loss of working hours. If you cant manage a window round in summer months then winter is going to be a total struggle and juggling act.
So it seems like either a helper is needed or you habe too much work for you to do.

[dazmond]

see i dont see it as draining (whatever the weathers doing adam).why would i?i only work 5 -7 hours "on the glass" a day 4 or 5 days a week.its a doddle compared to the 60 hour weeks i worked nearly 30 years ago.i feel truly blessed that i can earn a very good living without busting my balls working crazy hours like millions of people do every week.

[AuRavelling79]

I quite like this "take January off" plan. I'm pretty certain that most of my customers would be perfectly happy if I stopped on the last working day before Xmas and didn't come back until the first working day in February.

I could sub my commercials and any diehards to Dan the Man and pay him 80% or somesuch ... hmmm ... thinks.

Caribbean? Cruise? Both? Or just the Canaries if I'm looking for the cheapest guaranteed warmth?

[p1w1]

I quite like this "take January off" plan. I'm pretty certain that most of my customers would be perfectly happy if I stopped on the last working day before Xmas and didn't come back until the first working day in February.

I could sub my commercials and any diehards to Dan the Man and pay him 80% or somesuch ... hmmm ... thinks.

Caribbean? Cruise? Both? Or just the Canaries if I'm looking for the cheapest guaranteed warmth?

When my kids were not at school i used to do just that, we would go to my wife's parents in Durban for nearly a month (christmas weeks and nearly 3 weeks of January) never had issues with customers and my brother would do the commercial stuff ( i would just take 15% to cover basic monthly running costs) . Unfortunately now there at school those days are gone 

[windowswashed]

I always take two weeks at xmas and have a slack month January apart from commercials so I can have an extended break to do as I please within reason  Work flat out six weeks before xmas to cover January so don't need to worry if I don't do much January, always do it that way so don't have to worry about bills until February. 

[Shrek]

I always take two weeks at xmas and have a slack month January apart from commercials so I can have an extended break to do as I please within reason  Work flat out six weeks before xmas to cover January so don't need to worry if I don't do much January, always do it that way so don't have to worry about bills until February. 

How do you do January’s work in December? Do you do your domestics twice in December and hope they don’t realise you’ve not been in January