[collins82002]

Hi all,
I'm new to the W/C lark just started out.  Have 2 large offices with 11 windows each and do the in/out and thats it.

 Its been a cloudy wet and windy day and spent a few hours in my area trying to get new custies. Tried a dozen shops and everyone said no sorry we got a W/C. really cheesed off how do i encourage more custies. Just finding it a little harder than i thought.  While walking around saw a W/C doing his round,  should I feel bad for knicking work??? Is getting domestic custies easier than commerical cause getting me down a little but not gonna give up.

Any advice??

[CLEANGLASSUK]

I would say that its a bit low to nick his work.

[collins82002]

I.ve seen 1 or 2 cleaners in my area and its a good area but i'm not the type of person to nicking the patch and i do feel bad about thinking it but how do i start my own round without stepping on toes??

[Nathanael Jones]

It takes time and a LOT of effort to build a round. Start by looking as professional as possible,.. some kind of logo'd top or uniform is always good. Have LOADS of business cards and give them out at every opportunity, as well as flyers.

Take a look at where you live and see where there is a need for a window cleaner. Most shops have one already, as do most offices. Its often easier to pick up domestic work in the short term.

Plan for the long term though, get your vehicle signwritten, get a website setup etc and the commercial work might start looking for you,....


And NEVER EVER nick another cleaners work, especially by undercutting. Be friendly with local cleaners, ad respect the hard work they've already put into building up their round, ask where their "patches" are,... and maybe they'll send work your way too when they're under pressure!

[karygate]

hi again. i am in your area and started last year with only 7 customers. i gave them half a dozen cards each and have just worked off reccomendation. when i drop leaflets i worded them like if you do not already have a cleaner etc. there is plenty about but all seem to get on as long as you do not deliberately underprice. for example i now have around 130 customers which is not even 1 estate of houses . just be patient and do a good job and you will grow. i wish i had a couple of office blocks.

[collins82002]

the offices is through a person who knows a person  who gave me the idea to start up and it a important org and they want it weekly.  11 windows 2 office inside and out.

[collins82002]

hi again. i am in your area and started last year with only 7 customers. i gave them half a dozen cards each and have just worked off reccomendation. when i drop leaflets i worded them like if you do not already have a cleaner etc. there is plenty about but all seem to get on as long as you do not deliberately underprice. for example i now have around 130 customers which is not even 1 estate of houses . just be patient and do a good job and you will grow. i wish i had a couple of office blocks.

Where abouts??

[karygate]

there is no such thing as a patch. for example i do some houses in a street where another window cleaner does, but the ones i do he has either previously upset or they are too hard with ladders. some w/c will not do a house if that is the only one in the street. this is where you need to start as the amount will grow. i did 1 in a street for nearly 12 months and now do 8 out of the 11 all of a sudden because people were makinh sure i was regular etc.

[collins82002]

where you from gary

[karygate]

i come from warton but now live in baddesley

[collins82002]

I live in tamworth

[Nathanael Jones]

I live in tamworth

Try Lothersdale,.. when you get to number 99, tell Martin that Nathanael sent you!!!

[karygate]

i do anywhere from atherstone to tamworth but mostly do warton,atherstone,wilnecote ,acorn ridge and amington ,baddesley

[collins82002]

ah i live in wilnecote/ stoneydelph i'm borderline between the two areas

[collins82002]

I live in tamworth

Try Lothersdale,.. when you get to number 99, tell Martin that Nathanael sent you!!!

is martin a customer or W/C

[tonylee]

Hi Collins,
I'm surpised you thought you would find gaining work on the commercial side easy. It is not.(but I guess your learning that!) I have read most of your back posts with interest and wonder if your trying to run before you can walk.
I would suggest to create an income the quickest way would be domestic work. That means canvassing now. between 4 pm and 8pm. Ask people if they have a reliable cleaner and if they have leave a card for their reference. (most people with a decent cleaner will tell so.)
Set a target of 2 a day and in 20 weeks you will have the basis of a decent start. But it will take time.
Also look for houses with clean windos as they sometimes dont have a cleaner and do them themselves.
Tony

[collins82002]

cheers tony.

[*frank cannon]

collins

my advice to you would be look in yr local press for a round to that maybe for sale.

look on the net at window cleaning rounds for sale

ask on this site for work for sale in yr area

speak to w/cs in your local area 2 see if they have any work for sale I,m sure this time of year most lads would lighten their load

One of the above suggestions will get you into window cleaning and you will hit the ground running.

Don,t bother canvassing other peoples work it will win you no friends... that is unless you know a good cheap dentist

[karygate]

franc cannon- is that your real name cos it sounds great .

[*frank cannon]

QUI !!!!

I.m named after a detective from a tv show in the 70,s a fat arsed git...something similar to myself