[Scottish Cleaning Service]

I turned up to two customers I clean today and they were both talking to each other. One asked if I wanted another customer round the corner because she is fed up with the young guys currently doing them. Then she told me that the original boss had come to her door to ask why she dropped them and went with me. She said your guys don't do it right and don't clean the doors. So it looks like I will be picking up another.

The problem with employing young guys and paying them the minimum wage or less is they don't really care and just plod along. With pensioners having plenty of time on their hands means they can spend time watching you go about your work. Because I spend some time talking to my customers it pays off because they get to know me.

The cost isn't really an issue. That's the main reason I don't want to employ, you lose the local knowledge.

[Slacky]

Try employing, then you’ll have a more realistic reason for not employing.

[Scottish Cleaning Service]

Try employing, then you’ll have a more realistic reason for not employing.

That's the reason I'm picking up customers because the guy is employing. Everyone would like to sit back, provide a van system and get someone do the work. Every week you pay the employee and bank the rest but there comes a point when the employee works out how much is coming in and what they are getting paid and realises they want to work as a sole trader.

[dd]

With all the work you keep picking up Scottish I am surprised you have the time to fit more people in.

I have been saying no to more work, I have dropped a little bit of work, the weather down south has been dry, and I am still constantly behind schedule.

And this is without doing all the add on jobs you do. How on earth do you find the time.?

[Scottish Cleaning Service]

With all the work you keep picking up Scottish I am surprised you have the time to fit more people in.

I have been saying no to more work, I have dropped a little bit of work, the weather down south has been dry, and I am still constantly behind schedule.

And this is without doing all the add on jobs you do. How on earth do you find the time.?

Correct. Now I have come to realise that I want the cream rather than the milk. Only accepting good addons or work where I live. Slowly dropping cleans that are not really worth it for me and trying to concentrate my window cleans in the same area. I have a heart and head scenario going on. Customers that took me on when I started up don't fit my local area plan but I can't come to drop them. A new estate is getting built next to me with 200 houses and I have 3 cleans at the moment and the only cleaner their. I hope to build this up because it costs me pennies on diesel.

I am currently still working 6 days a week and helping friends on a Sunday. Fitting a catflap today for my mate the mechanic and fitting some pvc around a few windows across the road from where I stay. I'm focusing all my money on a new van so trying to build up the cash. Only thing is I'm two steps forward and one back. That window I scratched has cost me £400 to replace and my liability excess was £250 so no point claiming it. Ditched my metal scraper and run with a plastic one now. Experience is the worst teacher it gives the test before it gives the lesson.

[Tam1872]

I have 2 people who work 2 alternative days a week.

Standards definitely go down a bit, and its expected tbh, they won't care as much as you. You have to give Lee way where you really don't want to aswell.

They get £16 ph and not mine wage. It doesn't matter what you pay, they still and won't ever care as much as you. And they shouldn't either tbh

[Simon Trapani]

With all the work you keep picking up Scottish I am surprised you have the time to fit more people in.

I have been saying no to more work, I have dropped a little bit of work, the weather down south has been dry, and I am still constantly behind schedule.

And this is without doing all the add on jobs you do. How on earth do you find the time.?

Correct. Now I have come to realise that I want the cream rather than the milk. Only accepting good addons or work where I live. Slowly dropping cleans that are not really worth it for me and trying to concentrate my window cleans in the same area. I have a heart and head scenario going on. Customers that took me on when I started up don't fit my local area plan but I can't come to drop them. A new estate is getting built next to me with 200 houses and I have 3 cleans at the moment and the only cleaner their. I hope to build this up because it costs me pennies on diesel.

I am currently still working 6 days a week and helping friends on a Sunday. Fitting a catflap today for my mate the mechanic and fitting some pvc around a few windows across the road from where I stay. I'm focusing all my money on a new van so trying to build up the cash. Only thing is I'm two steps forward and one back. That window I scratched has cost me £400 to replace and my liability excess was £250 so no point claiming it. Ditched my metal scraper and run with a plastic one now. Experience is the worst teacher it gives the test before it gives the lesson.

You can just drop the dross  & should. This is my point on other threads about customers not being your friends. There’s no loyalty either way. Just do what’s best for you & take the cream.

You think if they moved 30 miles away they give a toss about you? They’d drop you like a stone. Was a lightbulb moment for me.