[Spotfree]

I'm considering changing from 4 weekly to monthly because I like the idea of finishing the work over the month and taking whatever is left off.

I currently have a 4-day week schedule which gives me 16 days each month, I think I might prefer having a long week off each month to having a Friday off each week. I do any first cleans or whatever on Saturday mornings.


Has anyone changed from 4 weekly to monthly? How has it worked out?


Also, the holiday aspect could cause an issue, I take 4 weeks off each year,2 winter, 2 summer. If I changed to monthly then I would lose 1 clean each year.

[Shrek]

I’m monthly / 2 monthly/ 3 monthly. It works perfect for me , I start at the beginning of the month and take the end of the month off ( whatever is left) every month , which always works out perfect for Christmas.
I could never get my head round 4 weekly cleans , especially when you could end up going to the same house twice in one month?

[Richard Groves]

I know someone who is 4 weekly on a 5 weekly rota e.g. they work weeks 1,2,3 and 4 with 5 th week off and then repeat.

[Spotfree]

Some of the more "senior" and even not so can't get their head around it either, it's just how I started a decade ago and it's always been that way since.

I was thinking that if I wanted time off for holidays I could work say the beginning of July till alls done around the 20th and take the beginning of August off giving me nearly 3 weeks.

[alank]

Used to clean four weekly then changed to monthly as I would rather have time off in a block at end of month. I have all my big hitters done early in the month and all the jobs that involve any mileage done early on, then as the month draws to a close I'm mainly working closer to home and ready for a couple of days off

[capn sparkle]

8 yrs ago I started my round with 6 and 12 weekly options - over the years this has become 2 monthly for all customers. Dropped and or stopped taking on 12 weekly (3 monthly) changed the rest to 2 monthly.

Advantage with this method (some would disagree I'm sure) is you can take time off whenever you like as no-one is precisely sure when you're due. Only WC's are obsessed with clean schedules, most customers are happy with clean windows, a week late here or there isn't at the top of their list of worries.

And you can charge more per visit for 2 monthly   

[AuRavelling79]

Most of my residential customers are 8 weekly. All my new customers are guided towards this schedule. However I tell them when I take them on that due to Xmas, sickness, my holidays etc that it might stretch by a day or two or even to 9 weeks or that if their cleaning day falls on a bank holiday it might be a day or two less than 8 weeks.

Generally I do work to 8 weeks but this gives me flexibility so that if I take a week off I can block it out or work like Billy Whizz a day or two before I go on hols. Once cleaned the 8 weeks starts again from that date.

[Slacky]

4 weekly to monthly?

Is there that big a difference it requires addressing in an internet forum?

[Cookie]

For my 4 weekly customers I explain the service is approximately 4 weekly/monthly.
For my 8 weekly customers I explain the service is approximately 8 weekly/bi-monthly.

Keeps things flexible from my point of view and TBH (apart from the odd one or two who may comment) the customers don't even notice. I try not to be a 'slave' to my round.

[Cookie]

I know someone who is 4 weekly on a 5 weekly rota e.g. they work weeks 1,2,3 and 4 with 5 th week off and then repeat.

But as far as the customer is concerned that's 5 weekly 

[nathankaye]

I work 4 weekly, although I have introduced more 8 weekly work now as well.
However the 4 wkly work used to be one week per round or 2 rounds within the week. (I break my work into rounds, belonging to different areas).  Normally working around 4 days per week and having 3 day wknds to enjoy. However with the thoughts of moving, I now work through each week until the work is done and this is normally by the end of week 3 and week 4 is either my add on days ie render cleans etc or soon to be, canvassing days in Stirling.

[Ooooooog]

I just do mine when I get time, or if they call up asking why I’m late.

[Soupy]

I switched from monthly to 4 weekly. Didn't bother mentioning it to existing customers. Nobody noticed.

[tlwcs]

I did it. My rounds now start from the first Monday of the month.
It will cost you a months turnover from 13 to 12 cleans, but if you do 16 work days it will give time off each month.
After 18 years I enjoy the time off more than the money.
Tony

[AuRavelling79]

4 weekly to monthly?

Is there that big a difference it requires addressing in an internet forum?

Enough of a difference that several posters have added their thoughts.

Those sole operators that rigidly do 4 weeks get an extra clean in per year - adding between, what? £1K and £4K per year to their turn over?

Those that don't get to enjoy greater flexibility.

[Richard Groves]

I know someone who is 4 weekly on a 5 weekly rota e.g. they work weeks 1,2,3 and 4 with 5 th week off and then repeat.

But as far as the customer is concerned that's 5 weekly 

Yes

[Slacky]

4 weekly to monthly?

Is there that big a difference it requires addressing in an internet forum?

Enough of a difference that several posters have added their thoughts.

Those sole operators that rigidly do 4 weeks get an extra clean in per year - adding between, what? £1K and £4K per year to their turn over?

Those that don't get to enjoy greater flexibility.

All it requires is a full round to ensure you get the max possible from your work.

Go out, work a full day, come home. Repeat.

[Soupy]

The switch from monthly to 4 weekly was a 7.5% increase in turnover for us, without any further investment.

[AuRavelling79]

There you go Slacky - it was worth starting this thread - if only to receive your well thought out input! 

[dazmond]

I don't see the point....you'll lose at least a couple of grand a year switching from 4 weekly to monthly and the windows will be slightly dirtier.....

Also I move my schedule forward a week or two when its holiday time anyway so some 4 weekly becomes monthly anyway so 12 cleans a year but if I was monthly it would be 11 cleans per year....also it would knock my 8 weekly work out of sync too(that are next door to 4 weekly work on the same round)....so it would make  these jobs 10 weekly.....err...no thanks!

I reckon Id lose around 3k a year....

So that's 30k LESS in 10 years.....enough to pay for my van, grippa hot system,electric reel and xtreme poles.......

[Granny]

All are monthly some asked for 8 weeks but they are on two months it's easier to manage.
It fits the calendar nicely, just follow on same date next month.
Most people get paid monthly now we let them choose when they want the payment to go out as more and more are on standing order.

[dazmond]

I don't see the point....you'll lose at least a couple of grand a year switching from 4 weekly to monthly and the windows will be slightly dirtier.....

Also I move my schedule forward a week or two when its holiday time anyway so some 4 weekly becomes monthly anyway so 12 cleans a year but if I was monthly it would be 11 cleans per year....also it would knock my 8 weekly work out of sync too(that are next door to 4 weekly work on the same round)....so it would make  these jobs 10 weekly.....err...no thanks!

I reckon Id lose around 3k a year....

So that's 30k LESS in 10 years.....enough to pay for my van, grippa hot system,electric reel and xtreme poles.......

Just to add I only work part time hours these days(5 or 6 hrs a day)4-5 days a week....

[Shrek]

I don't see the point....you'll lose at least a couple of grand a year switching from 4 weekly to monthly and the windows will be slightly dirtier.....

Also I move my schedule forward a week or two when its holiday time anyway so some 4 weekly becomes monthly anyway so 12 cleans a year but if I was monthly it would be 11 cleans per year....also it would knock my 8 weekly work out of sync too(that are next door to 4 weekly work on the same round)....so it would make  these jobs 10 weekly.....err...no thanks!

I reckon Id lose around 3k a year....

So that's 30k LESS in 10 years.....enough to pay for my van, grippa hot system,electric reel and xtreme poles.......

Wrong 

My customers get 12 cleans a year if monthly.
2 & 3 monthly roll into monthly work no problem

[nathankaye]

Also to note, ones who rigidly stick to 4weekly rotas, does not equate to not enjoying time off and certainly does not mean it has to be stressful.

Or atleast for myself it isnt.  I didnt work rigidly Mon to Friday each week, as many will know.  I worked my segmented round at the begining of each week and when it was finished, I enjoyed time off till the next Monday when it was the start of the round for that particular week. It wasn't dependant upon a day of the week, but rather assigned to the week of such n such.
However, I'm now condensing it further into solid working weeks and completing the work in three weeks, leaving the fourth for add ons (but soon to be building a completely new round else where)

[KS Cleaning]

I really can’t see any benefit of changing  over to monthly from 4 weekly, unless of course you are stacked with work and struggling to keep to a 4 weekly schedule. In effect all you are doing is  reducing your income. The OP says he only has 16 days work so if it’s time off he wants he could work 3 weeks of 5 days and almost have a free week on the 4th week, or 2 half days on a Saturday would give him the 4th week off.

[Shrek]

this year each month is easily done if you’ve got around 16 working days. If you have more and only work part time , then you could always work an extra hour or so each day to condense your work. You end up having around 1 week of per month or 3 months off a year!

January 2019 - 22 working days , not including weekends.
February- 20
March- 21
April- 19
May- 17
June - 20
July - 23
Aug- 21
Sep- 21
Oct- 23
Nov- 21
Dec- 16 ( working TIL 23rd)

[dazmond]

I don't see the point....you'll lose at least a couple of grand a year switching from 4 weekly to monthly and the windows will be slightly dirtier.....

Also I move my schedule forward a week or two when its holiday time anyway so some 4 weekly becomes monthly anyway so 12 cleans a year but if I was monthly it would be 11 cleans per year....also it would knock my 8 weekly work out of sync too(that are next door to 4 weekly work on the same round)....so it would make  these jobs 10 weekly.....err...no thanks!

I reckon Id lose around 3k a year....

So that's 30k LESS in 10 years.....enough to pay for my van, grippa hot system,electric reel and xtreme poles.......

Wrong 

My customers get 12 cleans a year if monthly.
2 & 3 monthly roll into monthly work no problem

i guess you dont take at least 4 weeks off for holidays then?...i do every year....

[Shrek]

I don't see the point....you'll lose at least a couple of grand a year switching from 4 weekly to monthly and the windows will be slightly dirtier.....

Also I move my schedule forward a week or two when its holiday time anyway so some 4 weekly becomes monthly anyway so 12 cleans a year but if I was monthly it would be 11 cleans per year....also it would knock my 8 weekly work out of sync too(that are next door to 4 weekly work on the same round)....so it would make  these jobs 10 weekly.....err...no thanks!

I reckon Id lose around 3k a year....

So that's 30k LESS in 10 years.....enough to pay for my van, grippa hot system,electric reel and xtreme poles.......

Wrong 

My customers get 12 cleans a year if monthly.
2 & 3 monthly roll into monthly work no problem

i guess you dont take at least 4 weeks off for holidays then?...i do every year....

this year each month is easily done if you’ve got around 16 working days. If you have more and only work part time , then you could always work an extra hour or so each day to condense your work. You end up having around 1 week of per month or 3 months off a year!

January 2019 - 22 working days , not including weekends.
February- 20
March- 21
April- 19
May- 17
June - 20
July - 23
Aug- 21
Sep- 21
Oct- 23
Nov- 21
Dec- 16 ( working TIL 23rd)

Yep I do 

[Slacky]

There you go Slacky - it was worth starting this thread - if only to receive your well thought out input! 

Yea but he’s a Jock, it doesnt count if youre a Jock.

[Stoots]

Firstly no one will notice so there's no problem there.

Mines supposed to be 4 weekly but I'm always behind.

So may as well have them 4 weekly and just be behind regularly, same thing apart from you can earn more of you want to.

For me it's pointless having a set schedule, whether it's 4 weekly, monthly or whatever I'd still end up being behind all the time because I'd fill it whatever the frequency.

[Spotfree]

I work 4 days and a Saturday morning for first cleans if needed.


So I get 2 1/2- 3 days off per week, I take 4 weeks off each year so I only do 12 cleans per year. I haven't had any time off since Xmas, and won't be getting any till August when the kids are off. If I change to monthly it won't affect my turnover at all, I can afford to lose a month no problem next year, but this year I'm going for a re-mortgage so need max turnover.


I'm not sure I would like the 3 full weeks of graft before I get the week + off at the end, also my customers are used to me turning up on a certain day not date. The days would change each month, prolly ok for most but would get the odd complaint I'm sure.


Ive got till the end of the month to decide yet.

[Shrek]

I work 4 days and a Saturday morning for first cleans if needed.


So I get 2 1/2- 3 days off per week, I take 4 weeks off each year so I only do 12 cleans per year. I haven't had any time off since Xmas, and won't be getting any till August when the kids are off. If I change to monthly it won't affect my turnover at all, I can afford to lose a month no problem next year, but this year I'm going for a re-mortgage so need max turnover.


I'm not sure I would like the 3 full weeks of graft before I get the week + off at the end, also my customers are used to me turning up on a certain day not date. The days would change each month, prolly ok for most but would get the odd complaint I'm sure.


Ive got till the end of the month to decide yet.

I doubt anyone will complain that you’ve come on a Wednesday instead of a Monday - they’re quite sad if they do ☹️.

[Slacky]

I work 4 days and a Saturday morning for first cleans if needed.


So I get 2 1/2- 3 days off per week, I take 4 weeks off each year so I only do 12 cleans per year. I haven't had any time off since Xmas, and won't be getting any till August when the kids are off. If I change to monthly it won't affect my turnover at all, I can afford to lose a month no problem next year, but this year I'm going for a re-mortgage so need max turnover.


I'm not sure I would like the 3 full weeks of graft before I get the week + off at the end, also my customers are used to me turning up on a certain day not date. The days would change each month, prolly ok for most but would get the odd complaint I'm sure.


Ive got till the end of the month to decide yet.

I doubt anyone will complain that you’ve come on a Wednesday instead of a Monday - they’re quite sad if they do ☹️.

Exactly. Can’t understand the thread.

[Stoots]

I think we should be aiming for a lot more than 4 weeks off a year. After all that's what employed people get...well 5.

I must have about 3 months off when i factor in odd days and half days and rain days etc

[֍Winp®oClean֍]

I don't particularly have a schedule, roughly 2 monthly, a few commercials are more rigid. I just go out and work, maximize each day and take time off whenever it suites me and not the customers! Couldn't tell you who has how many cleans per year- neither am I interested, they get done when they get done within reason. Nobody seems to know (or particularly care) whether I'm a little late or early.👍

[Johnny B]

Until the end of last year I had customers on frequencies that they asked for, ranging from 2,4,6,8,12 weekly, as well as others who want them done as and when, plus the weekly shop fronts that I do.

It worked fine until I started to be so inundated that it became unworkable. From the beginning of this year I standardised the frequency of the 4,6 and 8 weeklies to 6 weekly. I didn't inform any customers but no-one has said anything. The shops of course remained the same, as did the one 2 weekly that I have. The 12 weeklies fit in with the schedule nicely too.

This created some gaps in my schedule, but I have found that my income has, if anything, increased due to actually being able to fit work in where before some areas were skipped when I couldn't keep up. I have a lot of ad-hoc customers which fill in any gaps as required, along with gutter cleans.

John

[dazmond]

I think we should be aiming for a lot more than 4 weeks off a year. After all that's what employed people get...well 5.

I must have about 3 months off when i factor in odd days and half days and rain days etc

why?employed people have to work full time and will work a lot more hours over the course of a year than i do...

i will have a full 2 weeks off when i go to mexico in june,a week at xmas and another week around oct time....thats enough for me....im only working 20-25 hours a week as it is.....

[dazmond]

A full working week for me sometimes includes a Monday or a Friday off or on the odd occasion a 3 day week

[Stoots]

I think we should be aiming for a lot more than 4 weeks off a year. After all that's what employed people get...well 5.

I must have about 3 months off when i factor in odd days and half days and rain days etc

why?employed people have to work full time and will work a lot more hours over the course of a year than i do...

i will have a full 2 weeks off when i go to mexico in june,a week at xmas and another week around oct time....thats enough for me....im only working 20-25 hours a week as it is.....

Why?

Because imo we should always be aiming to improve our level in life

What's the point of having a business to only have what an employed job brings.

I don't really agree either with the hours thing. I don't think theres that much in it.

I usually work 25-30 hours a week on the glass but when you factor in all the rest of it it probably brings it up to about 40 hours.

[dazmond]

I think we should be aiming for a lot more than 4 weeks off a year. After all that's what employed people get...well 5.

I must have about 3 months off when i factor in odd days and half days and rain days etc

why?employed people have to work full time and will work a lot more hours over the course of a year than i do...

i will have a full 2 weeks off when i go to mexico in june,a week at xmas and another week around oct time....thats enough for me....im only working 20-25 hours a week as it is.....

Why?

Because imo we should always be aiming to improve our level in life

What's the point of having a business to only have what an employed job brings.

I don't really agree either with the hours thing. I don't think theres that much in it.

I usually work 25-30 hours a week on the glass but when you factor in all the rest of it it probably brings it up to about 40 hours.

im perfectly happy with working the hours i work....

like ive said in a previous thread....all i ever wanted was a low stress flexible part time job with very good pay......ive achieved that so im content now.....

[dazmond]

I think we should be aiming for a lot more than 4 weeks off a year. After all that's what employed people get...well 5.

I must have about 3 months off when i factor in odd days and half days and rain days etc

why?employed people have to work full time and will work a lot more hours over the course of a year than i do...

i will have a full 2 weeks off when i go to mexico in june,a week at xmas and another week around oct time....thats enough for me....im only working 20-25 hours a week as it is.....

Why?

Because imo we should always be aiming to improve our level in life

What's the point of having a business to only have what an employed job brings.

I don't really agree either with the hours thing. I don't think theres that much in it.

I usually work 25-30 hours a week on the glass but when you factor in all the rest of it it probably brings it up to about 40 hours.

even including purifying my water,putting batteries on charge and admin(30 mins a day),collecting a couple of times a month and the odd bit of pole maintenance/changing connectors etc its no more than 5 hours a week so altogether i actually work no more than 30 hours a week including all of the above....

40 hours a month over 11 months(1 month for hols)is 440 hours!x 10 years is 4,400 more hours WORKED!!thats a hell of a lot of extra time spent working!no thanks.....

money wise i never got anywhere near 45k a year working for someone else (even working 60 hour weeks)

[NWH]

I do a handful that are monthly the majority is 6-8-12 weekly for me,I do commercial bits that are monthly but I would never want to be cleaning houses day in day out on a monthly basis.
The work for me is far more varied cleaning with longer breaks within cleans and you ask more per clean and people don’t mind paying it if you’re not on there doorstep every 4 weeks to a month,if all my work went monthly I wouldn’t have enough time to get round it 7 days a week.

[Stoots]

I think we should be aiming for a lot more than 4 weeks off a year. After all that's what employed people get...well 5.

I must have about 3 months off when i factor in odd days and half days and rain days etc

why?employed people have to work full time and will work a lot more hours over the course of a year than i do...

i will have a full 2 weeks off when i go to mexico in june,a week at xmas and another week around oct time....thats enough for me....im only working 20-25 hours a week as it is.....

Why?

Because imo we should always be aiming to improve our level in life

What's the point of having a business to only have what an employed job brings.

I don't really agree either with the hours thing. I don't think theres that much in it.

I usually work 25-30 hours a week on the glass but when you factor in all the rest of it it probably brings it up to about 40 hours.

even including purifying my water,putting batteries on charge and admin(30 mins a day),collecting a couple of times a month and the odd bit of pole maintenance/changing connectors etc its no more than 5 hours a week so altogether i actually work no more than 30 hours a week including all of the above....

40 hours a month over 11 months(1 month for hols)is 440 hours!x 10 years is 4,400 more hours WORKED!!thats a hell of a lot of extra time spent working!no thanks.....

money wise i never got anywhere near 45k a year working for someone else (even working 60 hour weeks)

I spend about an hour a day on other stuff, plus sunday evening. Plus the fact its always running round my brain on an evening or weekends and it makes the job full time, even if the physical aspect is shorter theres a mental side to it too which is draining.  Its easier to switch off when employed.

[dazmond]

Really?mental side draining?

Window cleaning has got to be one of the least stressful jobs you could do IMO!!!!

[nathankaye]

Really?mental side draining?

Window cleaning has got to be one of the least stressful jobs you could do IMO!!!!

Depends how you run / grow your business daz

[NWH]

Think about builders that work on there own and need to constantly find work,quiet a bit of organising goes in to even a small couple of grand job.
With repeat work like ours it couldn’t be more simple turn up clean it get paid the most important thing is that the work is good and priced correct,anything is stressful if you have that kind of personality it’s hard work for some people to go out of the house if they suffer from stress window cleaning is not stressful.

[nathankaye]

For some it can be, it all depends at what stage your at in your business.
For me, it isn't but it has an opportunity to be as I build a new round In a complete new area which I'm not familiar with for instance.
But ones just starting out, organising and building their rounds, ones who don't work in the rain when it comes to days off work or bad winters etc etc. Just because some feel they have it easy, it would be wrong to assume that others don't find running and operating their own business a stressful thing.

It's just being mindful that's all, as not all things can be covered by sweeping statements

[Dave Willis]

I find reading posts on Cleanitup the most stressful part of the job.

[NWH]

I was talking about being up and running and having enough work,once you are at that point it shouldn’t be stressful.

[dazmond]

a little bit of stress is good for you....keeps you on your toes....

[dazmond]

what do you do work related on a sunday evening then adam?

the only thing i occasionally do is text a few customers around 7pm....thats it....usually i dont even have to do that........ as for purifying water/charging batteries,printing invoices,downloading worksheets,etc thats  all done after work on the friday  previous.....