[Murdie window cleaning]

My former mrs (who I still get on ok with) asked me a question today that had never entered my head. She said "what are you going to do if this window cleaning thing doesn't work out".

Now here's where I am, I have spent a long time looking into many different ideas of setting up my own bussiness over the last year. I have been working in retail management for the last 10 years and I used to enjoy it, but over the last couple of years it just got me so down that it was having an affect on my health and general happiness. So a couple of months ago I made the decission that I would start my own window cleaning round and work at it part time untill I was in a position to take the plunge and go full time.
Well that decission to go full time has just been made for me as I have lost my job and I have no where near enough custies yet, but I'm fully confident with hard work and lots of leafleting and door knocking I will get there. But untill today it had never even crossed my mind that I wouldn't get enough work.
Should it have or am I correct in thinking that the work is out there ?

Paul

 

[pingu]

                                             STOP RIGHT THERE !!!!
                                             -----------------------


If you put in the miles i.e leaflets and canvassing...whether rain or shine YOU WILL SUCCEED FULL STOP.

In a couple of years from now...you'll get back on here and say you wished you had done this years ago and you'll have built yourself a business that you'll be proud of.

Now you only need 1 customer, then another, then another...repeat, repeat.

Dave.
 

[martinsadie]

buy a small round to get you on your way

[Murdie window cleaning]

buy a small round to get you on your way

even if there was one for sale in my area, I would strugle to get the funds together to buy one.

[R W C]

buy a small round to get you on your way

Yer because rounds are always for sale arent they,

                                             STOP RIGHT THERE !!!!
                                             -----------------------


If you put in the miles i.e leaflets and canvassing...whether rain or shine YOU WILL SUCCEED FULL STOP.

In a couple of years from now...you'll get back on here and say you wished you had done this years ago and you'll have built yourself a business that you'll be proud of.

Now you only need 1 customer, then another, then another...repeat, repeat.

Dave.
 

Listen to cozy or what ever his name is today

[pingu]

LWC how VERY DARE YOU...

[Murdie window cleaning]

Pingu

I think  

I must admit, I have no doubt that I WILL get there, it was just the first time that any one close to me had even  shown any doubt, and it got me thinking just a little.

Paul

[AuRavelling79]

Pingu

I think  


I must admit, I have no doubt that I WILL get there, it was just the first time that any one close to me had even  shown any doubt, and it got me thinking just a little.

Paul

Go to Citizens Advice and find out what you can claim for while you start a new business.

[TonyD]

This window cleaning " thing " ?

For a start, let her know that it's a planned business venture that you're entering into !

Only you can make it work, put in the hours canvassing, ensure you're punctual, polite and do a quality job and there's NO reason for it to fail.   Don't even think about failure till you've put all the effort you can muster into it.

So tell her - IT WON'T FAIL.  That's how committed you need to be.

[Blue Frog Systems]

Paul,

It can be done, just put in the hours and knocking is your best way. Leave leaflets when no one is home.

In 7 months ive gone from being jobless to 260 regular customers, one off jobs coming in that much that i sub work out to my brother to make life easier for myself and still make money.

Tips...

1) knocking is the best way to gain custys - all i say is do you need a window cleaner
2) Leave a leaflet if no one is home
3) Advertise window, conservatory & fascia cleaning (gutters if you can do them) on you leaflets
4) I someone asks for a quote only and says they need to speak to there other half, ask for a phone number and if they dont call in a few days.... give them a bell (picked up loads that way)
5) leave a card / leaflet in shops - had a phone call yesterday from a leaflet my wife left in a shop (10p a week - 4 weeks paid) the woman says its a 'rather large house'
6) do a good job and your customers will reccomend you to friends / family (had 3 reccomendations this week alone)
7) One off jobs come back - my first ever conservatory job i did in my first week came back to me and wants me to do her windows as her w/c is leaving
keep a record of one off jobs, ring them next year
9) You get what you put in - more hours you put into knocking / quoting the more you get.
10) Dont forget you need family time
11) Software helps - i got george the other month (there are others) wish i had got this sooner as it would have made my life alot easier.
12) learn from your mistakes - everyone underprices - take your time when giving a price and get back to them if needs be.
13) Dont offer lower prices - i believe in karma - if you go stealing other windys customers for a couple of quid lower it will come back and kick you up the ass.
14) stick to your price - ive always said my price is what im worth - if they want cheaper, they will drop you for the next person who will give them a lower quote (crap customers are not needed)
15) Read the forum twice if you have to, i spent 3 days reading back posts and slept little. The knowledge i gained was immense though.
16) There will be people who say different things work for them. Try them all and see what works best for YOU
17) Black & white leaflets work great. Something nice and simple. I pay 1p per leaflet when i order 3000 + (A6 / 1 sided)
18) be polite in your manner, i find a smile helps even if you dont feel like it
19) dress code - knocking... smart casual (shirt and tie and they think your a double glazing canvasser) cleaning... you dont need a fancy outfit, just something plain (i have my old companys polo shirts)
20) if you have a bad days knocking and get nothing remember this. I have had a call 5 months down the line from a leaflet i first put out on my first day.

Good luck, you can build a great business

Keep us posted on how you get on

[Robin Ray]

Dont worry as has been said if you put in the miles you cant fail.

Ive never bought a round so I cant comment on that. But in ten years of window cleaning Ive sold quite a few. The key is knocking on doors and speacking to people and being straight and fair. If you can do that you cant fail. Everyone will have there own way of getting work but the main thing is it is out there ready and waiting.

[Niall McAllister]

if she asks again tell her the back up plan is serial killing, and would she mind being your first victim client

[Murdie window cleaning]

if she asks again tell her the back up plan is serial killing, and would she mind being your first victim client

[kenaltobelli]

i started and did painting outside anything you can to take you up and away;
the best about this job is when some one kicks you in the privates you allways seem to
have some one rub it better . i never had that in the mlik rounds i did.
this is all metophorically speaking by the way;
mai thing is BE POSITIVE

[prestigeclean]

i started at this time of year 3 years ago and now have approx 600 customers , if you get out and knock the doors you will be alright , just don,t under estimate the hard graft involved , i was 51 this year and before starting in this business i had been in sales for a few years so the graft side of this takes a bit of getting used to , however once you get the customers rolling in its a great business regards alan

[bobby p]

there will always be folk who will question how serious you are ,in the early days . but keep on knocking or leaflettin and by the law of sod u wont fail.  once your up to 100 custies,ease off from door knockin etc and watch your reputation start drawing them in newbies  . soon u will be fighting them orf !

[Murdie window cleaning]

there will always be folk who will question how serious you are ,in the early days . but keep on knocking or leaflettin and by the law of sod u wont fail.  once your up to 100 custies,ease off from door knockin etc and watch your reputation start drawing them in newbies  . soon u will be fighting them orf !

I've worked out I need around the 100 mark to make my life easier, untill then I'll be living of goodwill and my overdraft(and a little bit of savings). As I said in my OP I had been looking to start part time and I have a few custies on the books, but I need lots more and I'm a confident person anyway so I'm sure it will all be good in time.

Thanks for all the advice and kind words though guys.

Paul

[cozy]

Listen to cozy or what ever his name is today

RWC, you've got me confused with Pingu. I'm the plastic Kraut and Pingu is the part time Dutch man. I eat sausages and he eats Gouda.

But what Pingu posted is 100 %

[Sean Dyer]

Paul,

It can be done, just put in the hours and knocking is your best way. Leave leaflets when no one is home.

In 7 months ive gone from being jobless to 260 regular customers, one off jobs coming in that much that i sub work out to my brother to make life easier for myself and still make money.

Tips...

1) knocking is the best way to gain custys - all i say is do you need a window cleaner
2) Leave a leaflet if no one is home
3) Advertise window, conservatory & fascia cleaning (gutters if you can do them) on you leaflets
4) I someone asks for a quote only and says they need to speak to there other half, ask for a phone number and if they dont call in a few days.... give them a bell (picked up loads that way)
5) leave a card / leaflet in shops - had a phone call yesterday from a leaflet my wife left in a shop (10p a week - 4 weeks paid) the woman says its a 'rather large house'
6) do a good job and your customers will reccomend you to friends / family (had 3 reccomendations this week alone)
7) One off jobs come back - my first ever conservatory job i did in my first week came back to me and wants me to do her windows as her w/c is leaving
keep a record of one off jobs, ring them next year
9) You get what you put in - more hours you put into knocking / quoting the more you get.
10) Dont forget you need family time
11) Software helps - i got george the other month (there are others) wish i had got this sooner as it would have made my life alot easier.
12) learn from your mistakes - everyone underprices - take your time when giving a price and get back to them if needs be.
13) Dont offer lower prices - i believe in karma - if you go stealing other windys customers for a couple of quid lower it will come back and kick you up the ass.
14) stick to your price - ive always said my price is what im worth - if they want cheaper, they will drop you for the next person who will give them a lower quote (crap customers are not needed)
15) Read the forum twice if you have to, i spent 3 days reading back posts and slept little. The knowledge i gained was immense though.
16) There will be people who say different things work for them. Try them all and see what works best for YOU
17) Black & white leaflets work great. Something nice and simple. I pay 1p per leaflet when i order 3000 + (A6 / 1 sided)
18) be polite in your manner, i find a smile helps even if you dont feel like it
19) dress code - knocking... smart casual (shirt and tie and they think your a double glazing canvasser) cleaning... you dont need a fancy outfit, just something plain (i have my old companys polo shirts)
20) if you have a bad days knocking and get nothing remember this. I have had a call 5 months down the line from a leaflet i first put out on my first day.

Good luck, you can build a great business

Keep us posted on how you get on

Good post especially no.20

i went out for 2-3 hours today and got one £8 house, however i reckon once i go cleaning it i will pick up more in the area, also last week i picked up a £25 house from aleaflet i left on a bad day knocking

keep at it

[leapstallbuildings]

Paul,

It can be done, just put in the hours and knocking is your best way. Leave leaflets when no one is home.

In 7 months ive gone from being jobless to 260 regular customers, one off jobs coming in that much that i sub work out to my brother to make life easier for myself and still make money.

Tips...

1) knocking is the best way to gain custys - all i say is do you need a window cleaner
2) Leave a leaflet if no one is home
3) Advertise window, conservatory & fascia cleaning (gutters if you can do them) on you leaflets
4) I someone asks for a quote only and says they need to speak to there other half, ask for a phone number and if they dont call in a few days.... give them a bell (picked up loads that way)
5) leave a card / leaflet in shops - had a phone call yesterday from a leaflet my wife left in a shop (10p a week - 4 weeks paid) the woman says its a 'rather large house'
6) do a good job and your customers will reccomend you to friends / family (had 3 reccomendations this week alone)
7) One off jobs come back - my first ever conservatory job i did in my first week came back to me and wants me to do her windows as her w/c is leaving
keep a record of one off jobs, ring them next year
9) You get what you put in - more hours you put into knocking / quoting the more you get.
10) Dont forget you need family time
11) Software helps - i got george the other month (there are others) wish i had got this sooner as it would have made my life alot easier.
12) learn from your mistakes - everyone underprices - take your time when giving a price and get back to them if needs be.
13) Dont offer lower prices - i believe in karma - if you go stealing other windys customers for a couple of quid lower it will come back and kick you up the ass.
14) stick to your price - ive always said my price is what im worth - if they want cheaper, they will drop you for the next person who will give them a lower quote (crap customers are not needed)
15) Read the forum twice if you have to, i spent 3 days reading back posts and slept little. The knowledge i gained was immense though.
16) There will be people who say different things work for them. Try them all and see what works best for YOU
17) Black & white leaflets work great. Something nice and simple. I pay 1p per leaflet when i order 3000 + (A6 / 1 sided)
18) be polite in your manner, i find a smile helps even if you dont feel like it
19) dress code - knocking... smart casual (shirt and tie and they think your a double glazing canvasser) cleaning... you dont need a fancy outfit, just something plain (i have my old companys polo shirts)
20) if you have a bad days knocking and get nothing remember this. I have had a call 5 months down the line from a leaflet i first put out on my first day.

Good luck, you can build a great business

Keep us posted on how you get on

All good stuff.
I will add one of my own.  If you are working an area where you want more work, try to ensure you are working there late afternoon as people come home.  Especially work there on a Saturday.  Mix it up a bit so that you are visible to the highest number of people.