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Kwackers

  • Posts: 700
Where are you, and how did you get there?
« on: November 22, 2007, 10:42:58 pm »
Just wondered how you lot are finding building up the business, and how far you've come.

I've been going a few months, after been sacked at my last job, due to loosing my driving licence :(

I've got £700 ish of work, some being gardening, which will be up to £800 come feb, as some jobs have been put off over winter.

I've just decided to get a part time job to boost my income, and still have a few days spare to get some leaflets out etc, so building nicely!
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NWH

  • Posts: 16952
Re: Where are you, and how did you get there?
« Reply #1 on: November 22, 2007, 10:46:27 pm »
Once you get to a certain point it will snowball.
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Sanity

  • Posts: 426
Re: Where are you, and how did you get there?
« Reply #2 on: November 23, 2007, 08:46:03 am »
I got 3/4 through my nurse training and the local health authority decided to close the mental health wards (or the majority of them anyhow) so I jumped ship.  With my last bursary payment I bought my traditional stuff..
I started in September with 7 customers (my neighbours in my cul-de-sac).

I have recently bought a trolley WFP system and a van.  I now have a uniform, logo, business name etc, and over 100 customers.  Mainly through word-of-mouth.

I started doind one house per hour (very thorough) and was knackered at the end of each day.

Now I do the same 7 in an hour and a half with the WFP.

I started charging £5.  Now I charge £7.50 with a £10 first clean charge.

I get about 2 customers a week added to my round via telephone calls etc.
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Count Phil

  • Posts: 656
Re: Where are you, and how did you get there?
« Reply #3 on: November 23, 2007, 08:54:34 am »
I've got so much now I have to either a) work proper hours, b) get enough water capacity to do ups and downs which means new van or C) drop some.

I preferred having just enough.
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windowwashers

Re: Where are you, and how did you get there?
« Reply #4 on: November 23, 2007, 08:57:22 am »
Quote from: NWH on November 22, 2007, 10:46:27 pm
Once you get to a certain point it will snowball.
That is very true, goes the same with anything, once you do not really need it, it then starts coming in, something to do with sods law.

You are doing well get £700 a month from scracth in a couple of months, carry on the way you are and you will be taking on another guy in a few months time.

Your a grafter it will come if you go out and get it. Alot of people moan that they have no work because they do nothing to get it, you on the other hand with the chats we have had do something every day and thats fantastic for your business.

Cant wait to see your posts in 6 months with subject (to many customers  :o)

Ian
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AuRavelling79

  • Posts: 23783
Re: Where are you, and how did you get there?
« Reply #5 on: November 23, 2007, 09:21:01 am »
"Where are you and how did you get there?"

I'm sat in front of my PC eating my porridge and I got here by walking from the kitchen.
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It's a game of three halves!

Rob_Mac

Re: Where are you, and how did you get there?
« Reply #6 on: November 24, 2007, 07:49:51 am »
7 years ago I started with a £20.00 set of domestic second hand ladders and a bucket on top of a Vauxhall Astra.

I started through necessity and wanting a stream of money - however small in my back pocket.

I know have some 700 residential customers, we look after the head office of a major high street building society all year round and since January of this year have been doing high & low level pressure washing, cleaning and renovation cleaning for one of the top 3 supermarket chains all over the country.

We currently have 3 vans.

Next year we already have two large supermarket jobs booked in, one in Sydenham and other in Watford.

Plan for next year is to get at least one more van and team on residential, possibly two more vans on the commercial and are currently looking to employ at least one more person before Christmas.

How did I get there - hard work, quality of service and determination and more than a few grey hairs!!!

Rob ;D
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TVCS

  • Posts: 884
Re: Where are you, and how did you get there?
« Reply #7 on: November 24, 2007, 10:14:56 am »
currently, having a cuppa and a jammie dodger and warming my dannies as the head gasket has gone on my van and trying to strip engine down on the driveway. 
But on the window side of things about 100 domestic customers and about 5 commercial customers.  Earning enough to live on and hopefully pay for the repairs to my little sh!£ of a van.

Good luck to you kwackers, keep it up matey
Logged
Veni, vidi, vino, splatus.

 (I came, I saw, I drank, I fell over...)

Jon-scwindows

  • Posts: 645
Re: Where are you, and how did you get there?
« Reply #8 on: November 24, 2007, 11:54:33 am »
woop woop today i passed my driving test  - 2nd time - im 17 so now this opens the way for more business and more customers, and soon hope to  move onto a van. Only really started up in this business about 2 or 3 months ago, and I currently have approx 45 customers - bought from a round, and have picked up a few along the way. I hope to get to 100 by the end of the year, and get a van early next year. Im currently using a escort estate which is working very well.

wow midas enterprises, 700 customers thats a bit of a goal!
your cash flow much be much better now. Well done
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Ian W

  • Posts: 1161
Re: Where are you, and how did you get there?
« Reply #9 on: November 24, 2007, 12:14:24 pm »
Well done Jonrob!

You sound as if you are in a similar situation that I was in. Just remember persistence counts.
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Do all the good you can, and make as little fuss about it as possible.
Charles Dickens

windowwashers

Re: Where are you, and how did you get there?
« Reply #10 on: November 24, 2007, 12:38:09 pm »
Quote from: jonrob on November 24, 2007, 11:54:33 am
woop woop today i passed my driving test  - 2nd time - im 17 so now this opens the way for more business and more customers, and soon hope to  move onto a van. Only really started up in this business about 2 or 3 months ago, and I currently have approx 45 customers - bought from a round, and have picked up a few along the way. I hope to get to 100 by the end of the year, and get a van early next year. Im currently using a escort estate which is working very well.

wow midas enterprises, 700 customers thats a bit of a goal!
your cash flow much be much better now. Well done
Well done you passing your test m8
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Dean Aspects

  • Posts: 1786
Re: Where are you, and how did you get there?
« Reply #11 on: November 24, 2007, 12:41:49 pm »
Quote from: jonrob on November 24, 2007, 11:54:33 am
woop woop today i passed my driving test  - 2nd time - im 17 so now this opens the way for more business and more customers, and soon hope to  move onto a van. Only really started up in this business about 2 or 3 months ago, and I currently have approx 45 customers - bought from a round, and have picked up a few along the way. I hope to get to 100 by the end of the year, and get a van early next year. Im currently using a escort estate which is working very well.

wow midas enterprises, 700 customers thats a bit of a goal!
your cash flow much be much better now. Well done

Oh no not another boy racer!!
Only kidding well done and now you will be able to expand your business

Dean
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Jon-scwindows

  • Posts: 645
Re: Where are you, and how did you get there?
« Reply #12 on: November 24, 2007, 12:55:29 pm »
thanks guys, i didnt think i had passed offcourse til he said, 8 minors but still, liscense for life hopefully. No thankyou i am not a boy racer, i would hate to be classed as one of those ignoramus fools, offcourse im not experienced, but i try to drive safe, though nearly crashed into another window cleaner's van the other day while out on my round (fortunately i saw him in time). I take cover from this new driver = young man = boy racer automatic prejudice by driving in my silver ford escort estate!  good for working, insurance is a bit more though.

Now i can get out and earn more on my own - and i think i am allowed to drive a van, im not sure what size upto though?

thanks anyhow
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Captain Scarlet

  • Posts: 3087
Re: Where are you, and how did you get there?
« Reply #13 on: November 24, 2007, 12:58:28 pm »
John I too am young and the cheapest place for commercial insurance is Gladiator http://www.gladiator.co.uk/ I pay £400 for my Peugeot Expert 2.0 hdi with my dad on it too, not bad hey!!! The cheapest place for a normal car with a young person is probably NFU http://www.nfumutual.co.uk/ You can have a huge long wheel based van if you want but who will insure you??? If youve got the money a broker would!! Luke

ps. while I'm helping you John would you tell me how to setup the online payment thing with Paypal, that will save me some time, thanks, Luke

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Ffenest ( est 2007 ) is a fully insured premium quality window cleaning service based at Llandderfel near Bala. All our work is guaranteed, rain or shine, year round.

Jon-scwindows

  • Posts: 645
Re: Where are you, and how did you get there?
« Reply #14 on: November 24, 2007, 01:02:43 pm »
thanks - that is cheap- i havent a van yet, but hopefully would be cheaper for the 1.6 escort.
can you pay monthly??
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Captain Scarlet

  • Posts: 3087
Re: Where are you, and how did you get there?
« Reply #15 on: November 24, 2007, 01:06:18 pm »
Yes you can pay monthly but it will cost you more for the privilage, try and get all the money together. And dont forget to get breakdown cover, if you break down on the motorway or anywhere the Police or Highway people will move your van and charge you alot, so get some breakdown cover, Luke
Logged
Ffenest ( est 2007 ) is a fully insured premium quality window cleaning service based at Llandderfel near Bala. All our work is guaranteed, rain or shine, year round.

windowwashers

Re: Where are you, and how did you get there?
« Reply #16 on: November 24, 2007, 01:08:30 pm »
Quote from: Luke Johnson on November 24, 2007, 12:58:28 pm
John I too am young and the cheapest place for commercial insurance is Gladiator http://www.gladiator.co.uk/ I pay £400 for my Peugeot Expert 2.0 hdi with my dad on it too, not bad hey!!! The cheapest place for a normal car with a young person is probably NFU http://www.nfumutual.co.uk/ You can have a huge long wheel based van if you want but who will insure you??? If youve got the money a broker would!! Luke

ps. while I'm helping you John would you tell me how to setup the online payment thing with Paypal, that will save me some time, thanks, Luke


Luke it is easy to set-up paypal online payment, just follow the steps.
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Captain Scarlet

  • Posts: 3087
Re: Where are you, and how did you get there?
« Reply #17 on: November 24, 2007, 01:12:05 pm »
will go to PayPals website and look, Luke
Logged
Ffenest ( est 2007 ) is a fully insured premium quality window cleaning service based at Llandderfel near Bala. All our work is guaranteed, rain or shine, year round.

Ian W

  • Posts: 1161
Re: Where are you, and how did you get there?
« Reply #18 on: November 24, 2007, 02:52:37 pm »
Luke, I wrote some instructions out for someone not so long ago. Give me a while and I will trawl through everything I sent him and pm it to you.
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Do all the good you can, and make as little fuss about it as possible.
Charles Dickens

Captain Scarlet

  • Posts: 3087
Re: Where are you, and how did you get there?
« Reply #19 on: November 24, 2007, 03:07:23 pm »
wow, thank you very much mate! luke
Logged
Ffenest ( est 2007 ) is a fully insured premium quality window cleaning service based at Llandderfel near Bala. All our work is guaranteed, rain or shine, year round.
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