[frames to panes]

Hi, Pingu, long time no see, are you up to capacity yet? I always follow your progress with interest 'cos you were a few months ahead of me. Your approach is totally different to mine, i'm always amazed at your leaflet output and your persistance. 
Youv'e also been through the "locked gates and crappy customers" a few months before me too. I've been there and got to the stage of dropping customers with dog poo, very poor payers, the not "today thankyou" (they go immediately now, no second chances) and any messers. I'm probably two thirds of the way there after a year - need to push a bit more this year.  How about you? 

[pingu]

Hi DJW....good to hear that work is going well for you....more power to your elbow...I have 168 acounts and still need another 100 - 112 to get me where I would like to be if the average prices per\hour, per customer follow the same patterns.

Having just been away for my holidays and gettng over Christmas...I am now getting back into the swing of things and planning the following 16 weeks targets as you have no doubt sussed ...I like spreadsheets, targets and numbers...very sad but true...

Have set myself a PA earning target so that I can go to the banks and get the mortgage I am after....so we are a bit focused on a particular figure at the moment...money is not everything but sometimes it is a major goal...I just hate renting but have little choice at the moment...

Business is going well despite the weather and other issues that always seem to crop up...have lost 2 this year and have dropped 1, suspended 2 but they have now come back as they paid their bills.... 

I have to admit that I run a 8 weekly cycle and am keeping the last week free of any work for the time being as I think I may use that to try other projects in the future...there is plenty of work to do to fill the remaining 7 weeks....

So how are you getting along? busy, struggling to find new accounts?

Keep us informed....

God to hear from you

Dave.

[frames to panes]

Yep getting along ok, never quite enough work, enjoying the job still. Trying to compact my round as much as possible which can be hard when you have gaps - i'd rather do them and have the money at the moment, than push them back and have no money in the short term. I've got a dire week next week but something often pops up (gutters, cladding or conservatory roofs) so by the end of the week my earnings are still quite respectable. Biggest mistake is to stop canvassing on my busy weeks - i just can't be bothered when i'm busy and tired but then i pay for it when it drops. Overall quite happy with my progress but it's a long haul and definately not a get rich quick solution - it can't be done in my opinion. I would think three years to get the perfect balnce of work/earnings with profit going back in to the business for future investment (newer van etc). Like i said i'm amazed at your leafletting quantities - i've probably leafletted a hundred and fifty max.

[pingu]

150 Leaflets....I did 240 last friday whilst listening to Chris Moyles podcast...easy peasy lemon squeezy....

Dave.

[mark dew]

JM123 (j.mills175@btinternet.com) PAY BACK THE 88 QUID YOU HAVE OWED ME SINCE JULY 2007

still not sorted dave? have you heard anything? Why don't you take him to small claims court?

[BUFTON]

Hi pingu, Just read your comments on the 8 week round. Is that the shortest time you can get customers to agree to in your area? I have tried 4weeks but found it to soon ( got fed up with the "is it that time already" comments. Then tried 6 weeks but realised how much more work was needed for same weeky wage, eventually settled on 5 week round. seems to work and only a few say " i.i.t.t.a?"
To which i really jokingly it is and they need to get out more often. I cant stand canvassing so run a weekly add in a local free paper, costs £15 per week. lazy or what!

[Andy@w.c.s]

 Hi Bufton
do you get
much from you weekly ad?
Andy

[pingu]

Hi Mark...still no joy from Mr Mills....we'll leave it at that 


Bufton.....I have around 10 monthly customers and when I am able I will be changing them over to 8 weekly with a little increase....but I have to admit most people prefer the 8 weekly and I have to say that I like it that way too. I have not found that there is a massive difference between 4 and 8 weekly....By the time 8 weeks comes around the customer can see they need doing....

If I had started with 4 weekly I would be full now but in the long run 8weekly takes longer to get established (full) but in the end the financial rewards will make up for the time and effort required....

We also give specific cleaning days to all our customers....i.e the same day every 8 weeks....I find that works for me too..I suppose it's different strokes for different folks ...

Cheers
Dave

[steve m]

If you give them the same day thing, what do you do about the weather ie: rain, snow, high winds

[BUFTON]

Hi Andy, i advertise feb-oct which costs in total £480.In 2006 it produced £1,086 worth of work over the 9 mnths. This equates to £10,860 per year( 10x5 wkly clean).In 2007 it produced £480 for the same 9 mnth period = £4,800 per year.So for 2 years it amounts to £15,660.
Seems to be slowing down a bit, so be interesting to see what this year brings.

[pingu]

Steve M...in the event of unsuitable weather I just reschedule them...much as you would, I either put a note through their door with an explaination and next date or they get a phone call.

We do have some bad weather days but it is not like 2 full weeks or anything like that...I have been working this way since I started not that long ago OCT 06 and so far it works for me....

Cheers
Dave.

[alan andrewswestsi]

hi guys interesting post , i started a year ago and currently have 240 customers all gained by a mixture of door knocking , leaflets and yellow pages , i always knock the door before dropping a leaflet as i believe this is the most effective way of growing your business having said that the best quality custie is the one that replies to a leaflet months after you dropped it , i won,t bother with yellow pages again as the response is poor although it does pay for itself , my work is all up to date and i now have a week free so tomorrow i will be out knocking again and will make sure i get an absolute minimum of 25 new custies this week, i have 2 ladies starting to canvass for me next week so will have a complete round by the end of march , i then intend to build another round which i will rent to a pal of mine , so all in all i am very pleased with the way its gone this is a great business to be in but you have to do the leg work and remain positive , keep going guys regards alan

[pingu]

Have to agree with you Andrew canvassing is the way to go if you are ok with it, for me I prefer leaflets and the speed which they draw in business suits me.

But as you have clearly demonstrated....you have built a 240 a/c round in a year...well done..

Cheers
Dave.