[Blue Frog Systems]

Hi Guys,

Im a new cleaner building up a round and starting next week.

At the moment im knocking the doors and dropping leaflets for the ones that are not in.

My question is how do you guys keep a record of your customers ?

At the moment I have an A5 book that im writting all the details in. Thought i'd ask you what your method was? If possible a picture of a page in your book would be great or just tell me how you do it.

Thanks in advance

JP

[andyatkinson]

most guys use a computer programme called george or window cleaner pro another one, someone should be able to get you a link or 2, i think u get free trial on both, and would use on a palm top/ pda when out and about

[Llaaww]

www.windowcleanerpro.com/

[birdymiller]

Most guys use an a5 book like you pal, street names, numbers, price, frequency and finally whether they paid or not.

[Tosh]

JP,

Can you use an Excel Spread Sheet?

The computer you're using will have one; or something similar.

[Blue Frog Systems]

JP,

Can you use an Excel Spread Sheet?

The computer you're using will have one; or something similar.

I have a 'limited' knowledge of Excel and yes it is on my computer .... anything techy though and ill have to butter my wife up to help.... what you thinking

PDA .... hmmm .... I have a Blackberry Curve (everyone should have one) .... If there is software for that i would def be interested. As for buying a PDA, thats not an option at the moment - had to beg for the money for kit off my loving mother 

[kris martin]

i have been using george for the last 3 months and i tell you what it is like a breath of fresh air, ten minutes at the end of the week and bobs your uncle 

[Blue Frog Systems]

PDA's arent as bad as i expected them to be. Thought i was looking at £300 mark, but looks like i can pick up a decent one for £75.

Will have to be something for the future though as i need every penny i can get.

[Tosh]

With an excell spread sheet you can also use the 'sort function'; found under 'Tools' to sort information.

Before you go fannying around with a spreadsheet ALWAYS COPY IT TO ANOTHER 'WORKING FILE'; so you don't lose any information.

With this 'working file' you can manipulate it using the sort function; for example you could sort all those customers who owe you money by 'sorting' on the 'owed' column.

Or you could see whose due cleaning by sorting on the 'date column'.

And the more you learn about excel, the more you can do with it; it'll even help with your accounts.

It's simple to do, but tough to explain.

[simp]

I use Microsoft Office Outlook. Most have it on their computer. All my custy info goes on the calendar and recurrences can be set etc so a job sheet can be printed off each evening for the next day.

[mark dew]

I also use office to keep my records.
I keep the customers schedules on microsoft caklendar and i use excel for accounts.
I can send you a copy of my excel accounts if you want. And have emal address.
 

[Blue Frog Systems]

Thanks for the advice guys 

Will PM you my email address thanks Mark Dew

[LSB]

i use a pen and paper !

[JSMC]

get yersel a large page a day diary mate and when you have done the job then mark it in yer book for next time.

note down all yer jobs at the back of book and prices etc

[andyatkinson]

or you can amaze yourself with the power of your own memory like i did for 7 years!

[Niall McAllister]

if you get a dedicated program  it saves a bit of the hastle.
i have found george http://www.georgesystems.co.uk/Download/download.html to be a good prog (couple of months free trial to get a feel for it then £50 payment) and it helps when it comes to doing the taxes at the end of the year, if you have a good record of payments and expences.
but you wont need to worry about the tax as most window cleaners don't declare according to the posts i've read

[Steve B]

Yep George all the way you can't go wrong.

Once you have paid and registered your copy you also get 6 months back up to the internet facility and also allows you to back up to another hardrive as well.

This program was recommended to me when I first started and does everything I need.

Good luck!

[Rob.Hall]

I am sure you can download George onto a blackberry???

Could be wrong there though. Its the only phone that will do it...I think.

[LWC]

Window cleaner pro all the way

[kenaltobelli]

get a diary week to view best thing put all work you have done whos paid.
keep a5 or whatever and put jobs to do tick off as done end off week you then see
whos due with next weeks as well