[D.Salkeld_Ltd]

Hi All,

I often read on here of window cleaners who aretrying to get Commercial work.

Maybe, in thier areas there is good potential?

But, here in Louth, Lincs.........I don't believe there is?

I have been in this business for over 20 years.  Mainly domestic, but, since working in Louth town itself for the past 15 years I have gradualy picked up a few shops and offices. Now probably 1/3 of my round.  Nothing big.  No more than a couple of hours work on my own (biggest job).

The point is it is these commercials who tighten up this time of year and drop off.  The ONLY work I have lost over the past 2 months is Commercial work.  Whereas houses chase after me 

I have taken the step to employ someone so I need to increase the round by 50%.  This increase is going to be DOMESTIC targeted not commercial?


David

[windowwashers]

Hi All,

I often read on here of window cleaners who aretrying to get Commercial work.

Maybe, in thier areas there is good potential?

But, here in Louth, Lincs.........I don't believe there is?

I have been in this business for over 20 years.  Mainly domestic, but, since working in Louth town itself for the past 15 years I have gradualy picked up a few shops and offices. Now probably 1/3 of my round.  Nothing big.  No more than a couple of hours work on my own (biggest job).

The point is it is these commercials who tighten up this time of year and drop off.  The ONLY work I have lost over the past 2 months is Commercial work.  Whereas houses chase after me 

I have taken the step to employ someone so I need to increase the round by 50%.  This increase is going to be DOMESTIC targeted not commercial?


David

dont blame you if i am honest

[tonylee]

hi David
i ve got 11 small commercial and 243 domestic.
better cash flow quicker turn round. i wouldent have it any other way.
good luck with the new lad.
tony

[NWH]

Big commercial jobs can keep you awake at night when the weathers like it has been over the last month,good domestic work on the whole will stick with you through thick and thin where`s commercial jobs will drop you in a heartbeat.Sacking staff cleaners-window cleaners on daily basis is just another task for commercial customers,never think i`ll never lose that one when your talking commercial cos you`ll be in for a shock,if your going down the employing route get yourself a good base of domestic work,like i say there less likely to let you down in the long run.

[supernova77]

95% of my work is Domestic.

In March I am going to be employing someone, and during 2008 I'm going to chase a lot of commercial work - which my employee will look after.

Andy

[windowwashers]

95% of my work is Domestic.

In March I am going to be employing someone, and during 2008 I'm going to chase a lot of commercial work - which my employee will look after.

Andy

flats and big office building is another thing we are targeting this year.

[D.Salkeld_Ltd]

hi David
i ve got 11 small commercial and 243 domestic.
better cash flow quicker turn round. i wouldent have it any other way.
good luck with the new lad .
tony

He'll love you Tony.................................he's 6 years older than me

David

[mark dew]

I don't think you can beat a well priced domestic round for a good nights sleep each night.
Several people on here whose opinions i respect have mentioned making very good money from commercial work and listed several advantages, but the commercial work local to me appears to be fairly good money but to do it you would become a slave to the clock.
Fine for employees but a sole traders burden imho.

[Richy L]

the way i look at it, domestic customers pay the bills and the money i earn from them is what i live off.
Commercial is more of a bonus now and again.
If someone will not pay you, domestic, its not very nice, you may lose £15?

But i have just done a commercial job for someone, jet washing, and it now looks like they have gone bust!
... so it looks like i may have lost a lot of money!!

[bluez]

Domestic work is great for all the reasons listed above(peace of mind, cash flow etc) but it is great to have a mix because it gives you a number of cash streams at different times of the year.

I couldnt do the bigger commercial without the domestic because of the time it takes to gewt paid and I couldnt do the domestic at a large level without the bigger commercial to fill in the gaps in the work schedule when the weather is not so good.

Big difference is that the vast majority of my domestic are not on a round but have to be canvassed each time and you have no hope when the weather is bad.

[Andy@w.c.s]

I couldn't agree more a large domestic round is safe and very profitable
all my commercial work is used as hospital jobs ,If it going to be wet in the week then that's when they get scheduled in
the biggest problem is getting the money in
I think at the moment its running at over 3 grand
It wouldn't be so bad if i could get that in as well
Still luckily for me it does come in and as yet not lost to much in bad payers
In the past i have bought rounds and whole businesses
and have not paid the real value for any of them as it all down to the deal on the day and just how desperate the guy is to sell
I suppose I've been lucky

[newpy]

I'm splitting my round too, one van for domestic (the bread and butter,as my old man says!) and then one for commercial.

[Dale Smith]

A balance between the 2 would be good, not sure what the best balance would be though myself  , still finding my feet at this game.
Our commercial work is about 15% of our round at the moment, but I would like it to be at about 30%.