[Stoots]

I dont need to text.

I give them the next clean date on their bill and stick to it.

Job done

i think thats even worse than having to text all your customers and waiting for a reply!

surely customers will forget if its 6 or 8 weeks until their next clean date to leave a gate unlocked for example.

also it puts pressure on you to be around that day where it could be more convenient for you to clean the day after or the day before or even rescheduling for a week later due to holidays/sickness/exceptionally bad weather etc.

IMO some of you make running a window cleaning business a lot harder/complicated than it needs to be.

Agree. I don't know whose windows I'm cleaning tomorrow never mind in  8 weeks.

[Marc Stock]

I dont need to text.

I give them the next clean date on their bill and stick to it.

Job done

i think thats even worse than having to text all your customers and waiting for a reply!

surely customers will forget if its 6 or 8 weeks until their next clean date to leave a gate unlocked for example.

also it puts pressure on you to be around that day where it could be more convenient for you to clean the day after or the day before or even rescheduling for a week later due to holidays/sickness/exceptionally bad weather etc.

IMO some of you make running a window cleaning business a lot harder/complicated than it needs to be.

Nope. It works very well.

[Stoots]

I think how you do it is a great idea mark if you can execute it..which you must do... 

but it wouldn't work for how I operate as I prefer more flexibility.

What would happen if you went on holiday or for a week? Would they just get skipped

Same if day off or even a half day off for an appointment or van breaks down or weather delay etc, if you have everyone scheduled surely there no room to move anyone so they would have to be skipped?

[Marc Stock]

Its very simple.

I just plan ahead.

If there is the odd issue, which does happen i text them to inform them and let them know to rearrange.

[dazmond]

the trick (that works for me ) to keep to my work schedule is to allow enough room in your working day/week/month to get your work cleaned come rain/shine,half days here and there,etc.

in other words dont have a full workload(eg 5 days a week at 8 hours a day).instead aim for 5 hours a day 4 or 5 days a week and maximize those hours "on the glass" earning the best hourly rate you can THEN you have time to subtly shift work around a little bit but still get that weeks work cleaned on schedule.

this also allows me to accommodate the add on jobs that spring up here and there too.also some days i might do 6 or even 7 hours "on the glass"  leaving a half  day on a friday for example.

i also never get behind in winter as i usually finish before 4pm anyway all year round.

[dazmond]

plus if you only plan on doing 5 hours a day(esp in winter)then you can work different hours that day to dodge the worst of the weather.

eg.

830am-2pm(30 min lunch)

9am-230pm(30 min lunch)

930am-3pm(30min lunch)

10am-330pm(30min lunch)

1030am-4pm(30min lunch)

if you can earn £40-£50 an hour then thats £200-£250 a day(£1000-£1250 a week)for 4 or 5 days work.not bad earnings for hours worked.

also by working such short hours you dont end up getting too fed up of window cleaning in the winter months.throw in a decent packed lunch (and soup on cold days)and a flask of tea.decent workwear and waterproof boots,etc and time soon goes by and before you know it your sat at home warm and dry with the satisfaction of a decent days work cleaned and money earnt.

[Johnny B]

I have just revamped my whole working schedule into a logical order so that when I finish an area I go to the nearest one to it, instead of driving from one end of town to the other.

I'm hoping this will shorten some of my working days whilst maximizing income.

Up to now I've been starting at first light and finishing at dusk! I don't mind, but I'll be 56 this year and I haven't the same energy I had when I started window cleaning 21 years ago!

John

[dazmond]

I have just revamped my whole working schedule into a logical order so that when I finish an area I go to the nearest one to it, instead of driving from one end of town to the other.

I'm hoping this will shorten some of my working days whilst maximizing income.

Up to now I've been starting at first light and finishing at dusk! I don't mind, but I'll be 56 this year and I haven't the same energy I had when I started window cleaning 21 years ago!

John

johnny its 25 years window cleaning this year for me!

most of my work is within a 5 mile affluent area so my work is  very compact allowing job after job after job to be cleaned with hardly any driving about.this has took many years to build though.

[Johnny B]

My run in the UK was spread into several towns and villages, but in each place I had some very compact work too (no need to move the van some days)

I'm in Ireland 6 years now, and it was much harder going to build a run here. But I'm happy the way it has gone, especially considering I came here after the financial crash and some well meaning friends reckoned it would be impossible to build a run here!

I have some pockets of compact work, most of which are actually a few miles outside the town in outlying villages, and a council estate in a town 25 miles away!

John

[dazmond]

My run in the UK was spread into several towns and villages, but in each place I had some very compact work too (no need to move the van some days)

I'm in Ireland 6 years now, and it was much harder going to build a run here. But I'm happy the way it has gone, especially considering I came here after the financial crash and some well meaning friends reckoned it would be impossible to build a run here!

I have some pockets of compact work, most of which are actually a few miles outside the town in outlying villages, and a council estate in a town 25 miles away!

John

i remember when you first moved over there johnny.you ve done well mate.where theres a will,theres a way.

[Johnny B]

It certainly does take a lot of determination and effort to keep going when the odds seem to be against you, but I said to the doubters at the time that I expect it would take time, at least 2-3 years, but I would make it work.

It actually took me 4 years to get to the point where I considered myself to be established, but I now have a favourable reputation in my town.

I also admire what you have achieved Daz, from overcoming difficult personal issues to being a hard working, focused and respected individual.

Best wishes mate and may your success continue.

John

[Stoots]

It certainly does take a lot of determination and effort to keep going when the odds seem to be against you, but I said to the doubters at the time that I expect it would take time, at least 2-3 years, but I would make it work.

It actually took me 4 years to get to the point where I considered myself to be established, but I now have a favourable reputation in my town.

I also admire what you have achieved Daz, from overcoming difficult personal issues to being a hard working, focused and respected individual.

Best wishes mate and may your success continue.

John

I think window cleaning or business in general really opens your eyes to just what you can achieve.

A few years ago i was a minimum wage employee, i thought i was piece of poo, success was for other people not me, i had no self confidence, was just drifting through life.

It took a life changing event (went thru a breakup which ended up with me being sat on the dole and living in my mums spare room at 32 years old) to really question my life and provide me with the nothing to lose  mentality to start a business.

3 years of hard work later i have an established business, and its like wow, so thats all it takes to succeed at something, decide what you want to do and do it. A real eye opener to how the world works and to realise that all successfull people are is people who take action. They are not special or mythical or any better than you.

What i love about business is that its shifted my mindset and now i know that i can do anything i want in life.

[Johnny B]

It just proves that you can do anything if you are determined enough.

It can be a tough old game at times, but if you keep focusing on where you want to be, then don't let any obstacles or negative influences discourage you.

John