[jay moley]

I want to grow the business next year.

My target is 100 new customers. That would be approximately three more jobs a day, which is easy as I normally finish at 2.30pm and I work four days a week. I can easily do 3 jobs in 45mins - 1 hour.

 I've built my round mainly through canvassing and thats the plan to get the hundred.

Thinking of starting in Spring.

I'm also pushing for the add ons at the moment (gutter cleaning, fascias & soffits, con roofs) and getting good uptake.

On the back of my bill I mention that if they refer someone to me they get a free clean but I've seen no increase by having it there. I think simply because people don't turn over the bill. Toying with the idea of stapling a small leaflet to the front of the bill instead.

I have also thought about texting old customers to see whether they want to start again, tho they would need to be re-quoted. And the challenge of working out which of those customers I dumped and not texting them.

I've tried mass leaflets and that produced hardly anything.

I did a price rise this year so can't really do that next year. Will do another one in 2026.

Any other things I could be doing?

On a separate note I'd love to get rid of all ladder jobs but I can't do it all at once. I'm doing on average 1-2 ladder jobs a day. Just don't want to take the risk of falling off. I know that some window cleaners don't use ladders at all, which is the absolute dream scenario.

Thanks

[dazmond]

I thought you were close to retirement? Maybe I've got you mixed up with another poster!

Look at every job you clean and check out their gutters,roofs,plastics,etc and offer to clean them if they are bad  by text,in person or ring them up.

Leaflet 'sold' sign houses can bring in more jobs too.

[dazmond]

Dump ALL your ladder jobs NOW.....or just let them know that you can't clean some windows that require ladders anymore due to safety issues and drop their price a bit. You'll be surprised! Most customers will understand and keep you on at a lower rate.  The ones that don't then fair enough just move on and thank them for their custom over the years....

If you don't do it now you'll never do it!

What are you afraid of?A drop in income? It'll be very temporary and you ll soon be level again....

Remember if you have a fall you  could be off for months or worse.

[windowswashed]

Personally I wouldn't offer a free clean to your customers for giving referrals a one off clean possibly leading to new work.  Offer half price or better still speak to your customers to let them know you are still accepting new work if they can recommend you to their friends.

[Scottish Cleaning Service]

I think the best thing is to have nearly new white van with good signage on it. Best advertisement I have every had and doesn't cost anything each month. The more people see you working the more work comes in. Be reliable and that also will bring in work because like the other day and old customer told his daughter about me and now she wants me to clean her windows. fwiw

[Klean07]

1. Get a free ad on Google.

2. Post often on your local pages on Facebook

3. Advertise in  local village magazines and church etc.

4, Donate a prize or more to local schools for their fundraising etc. I've been doing this for years with great results.

5. Sponsor a local team for an amount that you can afford. I provided £300 last year for a friends son's football team that paid for their trophies etc. For my money they mentioned me in their meetings and on all their social media got loads of business from this.

6, Leaflets are a waste of time and money I've done this many times still have loads left from last batch.

7, Last but not least turn up smartly dressed be reliable don't over charge plus if you smoke or vape don't do it under customers noses or use your mobile whilst on their property as this will probably lose you the job.

Good luck.

[Soupy]

I thought you were close to retirement? Maybe I've got you mixed up with another poster!

Look at every job you clean and check out their gutters,roofs,plastics,etc and offer to clean them if they are bad  by text,in person or ring them up.

Leaflet 'sold' sign houses can bring in more jobs too.

Different Jay, that's Jay hooray!!

[jay moley]

Dump ALL your ladder jobs NOW.....or just let them know that you can't clean some windows that require ladders anymore due to safety issues and drop their price a bit. You'll be surprised! Most customers will understand and keep you on at a lower rate.  The ones that don't then fair enough just move on and thank them for their custom over the years....

If you don't do it now you'll never do it!

What are you afraid of?A drop in income? It'll be very temporary and you ll soon be level again....

Remember if you have a fall you  could be off for months or worse.

Yeah the drop in income. I'd be losing £50 a day. Adds up over the month.

[jay moley]

1. Get a free ad on Google.

2. Post often on your local pages on Facebook

3. Advertise in  local village magazines and church etc.

4, Donate a prize or more to local schools for their fundraising etc. I've been doing this for years with great results.

5. Sponsor a local team for an amount that you can afford. I provided £300 last year for a friends son's football team that paid for their trophies etc. For my money they mentioned me in their meetings and on all their social media got loads of business from this.

6, Leaflets are a waste of time and money I've done this many times still have loads left from last batch.

7, Last but not least turn up smartly dressed be reliable don't over charge plus if you smoke or vape don't do it under customers noses or use your mobile whilst on their property as this will probably lose you the job.

Good luck.

1) I have a free ad on google and over 100 reviews.

2) I've never used Facebook. Loads on here have said it attracts messers. Maybe you have a different experience.

3) I tried local magazines, we have two around here. They didn't break even.

4) Do they then advertise you somewhere?

5) I have a local non league team I go to watch. Could be an option. Im going tomorrow so will enquire.

7) Do that.

[KS Cleaning]

I think the best thing is to have nearly new white van with good signage on it. Best advertisement I have every had and doesn't cost anything each month. The more people see you working the more work comes in. Be reliable and that also will bring in work because like the other day and old customer told his daughter about me and now she wants me to clean her windows. fwiw

For what it’s worth, read your post before posting. Why would it have to be a white van? Why would it have to be nearly new? Neither of these would make you clean a window any better! Without sounding too harsh, you talk utter b******s most of the time.

[alank]

Dump all the ladder jobs now or tell them that due to your own health and safety and recent risk assessment that you are only able to clean what you can safely reach with a pole with your feet on the ground.
Put the prices up again on any work that you consider under priced and put them up again next year when you intend to increase the price on the better jobs.
Do not take on any new jobs that do not match the price or location that you are looking for.
Fill any gaps that you can in the areas that you currently work.
Charge more for any first cleans.
Set a higher minimum charge for new work and stick to it so that all new work starts at your higher minimum price and above.
Choose a month and time all work that you currently do that will give you a base line to work from.
Eliminate all unnecessary travel and tasks from your working day.

[tlwcs]

Dump ALL your ladder jobs NOW.....or just let them know that you can't clean some windows that require ladders anymore due to safety issues and drop their price a bit. You'll be surprised! Most customers will understand and keep you on at a lower rate.  The ones that don't then fair enough just move on and thank them for their custom over the years....

If you don't do it now you'll never do it!

What are you afraid of?A drop in income? It'll be very temporary and you ll soon be level again....

Remember if you have a fall you  could be off for months or worse.

Yeah the drop in income. I'd be losing £50 a day. Adds up over the month.

As long as you’re also aware of what a fall would cost you a day.
Could you sell the ladder jobs to a 2 man team?
Just tell them you’ve had your ladders stolen and miss those windows out.
Next time round tell them you’re not replacing the them as you feel safer.

Start canvassing after Christmas, hard going but gets easier as the spring comes. Use the extra hour a day your prepared to work canvassing.
Good luck and keep us updated.

[Klean07]

Just to clarify that we only use local village Facebook group pages not personal ones. Haven't canvassed for years. Word of mouth is the best way it works for us.

[Slacky]

I’d forgotten how exciting it is to be putting yourself out there to establish yourself as a competent, professional.

I’ve been putting together some new items as a uniform for myself over here and new business cards from vistaprint.

Also pricing up Gardiner poles over here and new pressure washing setups. Exciting times.


Facebook will be getting a walloping from me come the new Year….

[Scottish Cleaning Service]

I think the best thing is to have nearly new white van with good signage on it. Best advertisement I have every had and doesn't cost anything each month. The more people see you working the more work comes in. Be reliable and that also will bring in work because like the other day and old customer told his daughter about me and now she wants me to clean her windows. fwiw

For what it’s worth, read your post before posting. Why would it have to be a white van? Why would it have to be nearly new? Neither of these would make you clean a window any better! Without sounding too harsh, you talk utter b******s most of the time.

Its to do with psychology. When we meet someone for the first time. The first 5 seconds that goes through peoples mind is can I trust this person.
So if the WC turns up in a nearly new van, well sign written and of smart appearance then you will probably get the job even if the price is dearer than the rest.
Turn up in an old van falling to pieces, no signs on it and looking like you have fell out of bed you probably won't get the job even if you are cheap as chips.
That's what all my psychology books tell me but they could be wrong and You could be right. If you look at all the big companies and they have smart uniform and new van and they do it for a reason.

If I talked rubbish then way am I doing so well? I must be doing something right and I intend to keep doing it. 😉

[Slacky]

As long as you’re also aware of what a fall would cost you a day.

This is an interesting comment. It’s more than money.

If I told you 6 months after my accident I still struggle with pain when steering whilst driving. It’s only this week I’ve even able to close the fridge door with my right arm without any pain, I cannot lift my right arm above shoulder height, currently 100% impossible. It was only last month I was able to reach my left arm- pit with my right hand to wash it pain free. I have to spend an hour every day doing physio to try to stop my right shoulder from seizing up and learning to wipe your arse with your otherwise untrained hand leads to lots of dirty finger-nails.

Those jobs that used to always feel 99% safe really aren’t worth it.

[tlwcs]

That's what all my psychology books

Frankly I’m gutted this has come from a book, you normally have a ‘mate’
Perhaps you could hang around the local hospital making friends?

[dazmond]

Dump ALL your ladder jobs NOW.....or just let them know that you can't clean some windows that require ladders anymore due to safety issues and drop their price a bit. You'll be surprised! Most customers will understand and keep you on at a lower rate.  The ones that don't then fair enough just move on and thank them for their custom over the years....

If you don't do it now you'll never do it!

What are you afraid of?A drop in income? It'll be very temporary and you ll soon be level again....

Remember if you have a fall you  could be off for months or worse.

Yeah the drop in income. I'd be losing £50 a day. Adds up over the month.

You won't lose £50 a day because most customers will keep you on (minus the windows you can't reach with the pole)

The only windows not reachable with a pole are all on flat roofs extensions(Even then most are reachable with a 25 footer unless they are really set back and high up)so it's a miniscule amount.

[Stoots]

Facebook is the easiest way.

Most enquires I've had in 1 evening posting to local groups was over 100.

Granted that doesn't happen everytime but it's very rare I wouldn't pick up at least a couple everytime I spend 10 mins posting in a dozen local groups.

Need a top up myself in the new year I've dropped loads last few weeks getting more picky as the years go on.

[james peters]

I disagree about leaflets not working...... ultimately , door knocking is the best , but leaflets do work.   or at least the" right" leaflet works .
I always put a quote on my leaflets if I am doing them myself ... any calls are then nearly always a confirmed  sale.
its all about numbers ., with leaflets
 I have tried many different leaflets , but my last batch worked . I got about 2% success , sometimes more .so  2 new customers for every 100 dropped . all targeted and delivered by myself at specific properties .

I also , always charge more for a first clean , and so with a steady flow of new customers  , even if only a few a week , it can boost revenue while you grow