[clinton]

Shaun

You will end up like brian lol.

The problems start if you employ someone mate get what money you need shaun and am sure you will be fine.

I dont do much unsocial hours and thats how i want it so i dont want any commercial that need doing at night etc.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I hate going out at night to do work who do customers think I am Dracula?
Full days work and then back home intime for tea with lashings of ginger beer

Shaun

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Call backs although shows you care are embarrasing, I like to get it done well once but we are all human I get call backs and return immediately at (cue Joe Polish) 'break neck speed' as it looks good to the customer and I can rest as it's out of my head.

Shaun

[Dave_Lee]

Shaun,
The simple truth is most CCs including myself will never reach the same turnover that you do. Obviously the only way of looking forward is to try and improve, year on year. However you have already reached an outstanding level, so whilst someone who is building his business in the early years can make a leap of 50% or more on the previous year, you are doing well by just maintaining the same.
Dave.

[Ricky M]

Dave , I disagree big time , i took over a small CC biz at bottom feeder level earnings , not enough to support a family on 1 wage so I did 2 jobs and with a lil hard work have doubled turn over and profit in ten months with No web site and only putting out 8k of Leaflets and I Dont go out and Quote Yet 
I fully belive you can get what ever earnings you want if you Learn your trade , stand up and be counted & usuing words to your advantage   
as long as your not on the GnTs 

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I'm in that part of my cleaning life 'again' where I need to progress to the next level it seems to happen every 5 years, about 10 years ago I started the big price increases after doing Piranha and never looked back, looking at other cleaning ops to keep me fresh but the next one is to put the prices up again as I am always booked up.

Was interested in reading about Ian rochester with his Furniture Clinic Franchise but I think I'd need an employee with that but he's doing some really good high ticket work, I'm at a cross roads (cue music)

Shaun

[Doug Holloway]

Shaun

The big difference for me has been a different type of work where the price is much higher than in my previous life, i.e big commercial and green carpet cleanong.

Cheers

Doug

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

(Whilst hefting a large piece of "lucky" wood)

No. No difference. I can't really do significantly more than what I am doing. I've lost some clients who think I'm a bit expensive but gained others who think I'm cheaper than what they've paid in the past. Or, simply think I'm good value as they've never really considered having things cleaned in the past but now as they are trying to save money, cleaning is a cheaper option to replacing-or at least making things last a little longer.

The weird thing is that as I've put my prices up over the years I've obtained better quality jobs, bigger in size, with a higher ticket price and more repeat and referral work off the back of those jobs.

Never done leaflets and can't say that I'm planning to start using them anytime soon.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Doug I don't get much commercial work at all internet or otherwise only what's past on from customers I do work for but then again I prefer domestic I like the cash flow of it.

I did get that call from the lady wanting an eco clean, she's talking to her other half first though but thanks.

Shaun

[markpowell]

well thats it worked up, not 1 job in diary now, cant ever remember this happening before!
Phone hasnt rung for nearlly a week either ,
Mark 

[clinton]

Mark

You were busy the last few weeks mind you so it will even itself out

I have got a busy week but wasnt last week so just take it as it comes.

It gives you time to do jobs around the house etc well my mrs finds me them  to do:

[derek west]

6 jobs booked now for this week plus a quote, and did a quote for £185 today, doing that after i get back from ltt next week. phones been busy this week but the week after usually makes up for it.
derek

[JandS]

Same over this end too Mark.
3 jobs booked for this week then that's it.

John

[M.Acorn]

Had the first job from new yellow pages book today  new area for me and very competitive,but i am on 2nd page top left corner so good position.
Indian resturant,member of staff had poured bleach all over the bench seats 20 of them ! looked really bad could not do owt about the bleach but said i would suck it out so custy does not bleach their clothes,also did their belgian wilton carpet.
Was planning on spending the arvo messing with the roc and going for a blast to clear the cobwebs out,but they called at 12.30 and said they need me asap,oh well worth the £300,but that is it now until sat,unless the prop rental get in touch to go ahead with the £180 quote..Not eaten anything all day apart from a bar of choc

[Dave_Lee]

ABILITY,
Thats exactly what I was saying. A new business or to put it another  a business with a comparatively low turnover can be transformed by a large percentage in one year, with a bit of effort. Whereas it is it much more difficult to improve an established top end business on or near its limits in terms of turnover by anywhere near the same percentage. A six fugure turnover for one man, one van is top end business in my opinion. As Shaun says, when working at the limit (ie. always booked up) as he invariably is, the only way to increase turnover is by raising prices.
Dave.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

There's more to it then raising prices though, with a TM it's a matter of increasing the job spend or in other words doing more on one job there's also another way and that's to only go for more profitable work ie carpets and not upholstery the only trouble with this is that you end up not keeping your customer as they will have to use another cleaner for upholstery cleans.

Shaun

[Shaun_Ashmore]

With the LPG I think it works out at £2-2.50 an hour but you can clean twice as fast.

Shaun

[Shaun_Ashmore]

The petrol think is linear to what you are cleaning but you do have to have enough work on or developing your business to make it bigger, that's why I think that Alltec is made for you. (no offence intended)

Shaun

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I thinnk it depends on how you feel with the customer, if the job will take an extra tenner then go for it, many customers think that you must charge the same as when you did it last last time so perhaps it's worth an increase anyway.

Shaun

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

Clinton, you will find that you just get more work when you have the TM, which will take care of the fuel etc.

Cheers

Doug