Dial-a-clean

pitkin2020

jamesy wrote: »

Some of you guys just don`t get it, the window cleaning business model is stuck in a time worp.

Some of you have a window cleaning round, and some have a window cleaning business

For years anybody starting a window cleaning round are told build up a steady round of regular customers, this is all very well but how many on a yearly basis want you to do extras like gutters, facias,paths etc.

I was talking to a domestic cleaner yesterday who i know very well and was asking her how her business model was set up,

Well they have there regulars, one off`s and are always getting referals,

this person has in the past,has past on about 60 customers to me customers who only wanted them done now and again and i still do them now customers understand ther is a premium for one off`s it dont stop them calling you,

Now as i said talking to this cleaner made up my mind window cleaning can run in a simular way,

When she first started up her target was for regular customers she then got one off`s and referals it got to the stage she was getting to much work and turing it down,

not now because she has took on extra staff,

Thing is she used to pass the window cleaning side on to me but she now takes this on herself because it is becoming a big add on to her business,

I keep hearing window cleaners moaning about customers that look down on window cleaners,

Why is that! they don`t look down at any other cleaning service house cleaners etc do they so why window cleaners could it be the way our business model is run

I mean any other sevice customers require they phone for they don`t with window cleaners because they have there regular cleaner some customers want this some don`t but keep them on incase they can`t get an other,

Well what if customers wanted a window cleaning service where they could just phone up like every other cleaning service and not be tied to service they don`t really want

Now i have about 240 customers of which about 50 want extras like gutters, facias etc

If i have customers phone me up for a one off clean and i can get gutter cleaning, facias as well its more work in what i would have had,

I see some window cleaners are saying you won`t get this and you won`t get that in my area, this is rubbish i work in an area with the £4/5 mob i have a few £10 houses

Thing is some run a window cleaning round and some run a window cleaning business,

What you have to realise window cleaning as we know it is changing its not just about wfp that is just a new way of cleaning a new tool,

Now i know a lot of people have new sign written vans company t-shirts the lot they only thing that has not changed is the business model this has to, some customers will always look down on window cleaners until we bring it into the 21st centuary

Customers should have the right to phone a window cleaner of ther choice and window cleaners should have the right to work where they want,

if a customer phones me to have a service done at there house i will do it, i as in the past have turned this work down because am told that a certain person owned that area, not now this is the only cleaning service that this applies to no other service runs this way,
Can you imagine if a customer phones a domestic cleaner only to be told she can`t do her because someone owns her area get real we have to bring window cleaning into the 21st centuary

Well done it only took you a few days to work out how business works. The majority of the advice you received was positive and to this kind of service as an add on to regular round of window cleaning. If you seriously think you can get by only by doing one off cleans I think you will be out of money before the month is out.

Like any business you have to adapt and explore new ways to increase revenue. With window cleaning ideally you want the regular custom so you know you have work booked and ready to do, where as one off cleans are just that one off on an irregular basis. If you turn down or point blank refuse to do one off cleans not only will look like a nob to potential customers but word will also get around that your a prat and people do business with people they like.

As for other window cleaners doing things like facias and guttering that is usually a service they offer when starting out to get known around the area and to pick up work. Along with anything else they can that will help to earn a few pounds. A lot of well established window cleaners don't need to continue with that sort of work because they can easily clear a good amount of money, 100 houses a week @ £10 is £1000, so you need roughly 400 houses on your books for regular work to make a decent living.

As for getting into the 21st century rubbish, if you chose to follow the same path then thats up to you, the basic business model is still the same. The thing about window cleaning is its always been a business accessible to anyone. How you promote it and carry it out is what makes it unique. TBH sounds like you have been a bit of sheep and just followed everyone else, your suffering as you have nothing different to offer from anyone else with a squeege and ladder.

jamesy

Sounds as though you are a window cleaner,
the truth is customers want flexable cleaning to suit them not the window cleaner

flexable working is the way forward

chocsessential

I'm just wondering if you could do a flyer to resemble a takeaway menu. What I mean is like a list of services with the prices alongside. People can stick the
flyers to their fridges or noticeboards and give you a call when they want their windows done or gutters cleared knowing exactly how much it's going to cost them. What I hate is when I call someone and he's deliberately evasive about his charges. I prefer the information to be upfront and I'm more likely to call you if I can I see how much it's going to cost first.

thewad

1. Your going to be running around all over the place with one offs.
You could have 4 jobs on and they could be all over the place.

2. Your going to have to charge more for the one offs because they 'aint going to be calling you till there filthy so they'll take longer. Plus your travelling there to do just that one.

I'm a self employed carpet and upholstery cleaner.
About 12 years ago the window cleaner round here mentioned he was retiring and I asked him to give me first bid on this area and he did.
I then used this as an extra wage meaning I could put prices up on carpets and afford to lose the odd one and it worked a dream.
But I love the fact that it's right outside my door and is all in one place and I can do it when I want, usually once a month, and everybody is happy with that.

jamesy

Again you are doing what suits you and not what the customer wants, The truth is most window cleaners will offer a 4/8/12 weekly clean some just dont tell the customer this

thewad

Must be doing what the customer wants, have put nearly £200 on to the round with new customers.
Never had a complaint about the time scale, in fact went on hols for 3 week last year and when I got back some were saying they thought I must be ill for not being round for a while.
Can't be profitable driving to point A, getting gear off, cleaning and packing up then off to point B and same again.
At that rate your going to have to charge £20+ just for a 3 bed semi and you won't get that.

John

jamesy

Hi john out of all the new customers you say you have added have you given them the option of 4/8/12 weekly cleans!

Thing is with customers they put up with certain window cleaners to do there windows because they are led to believe that the window cleaner has bought the area or owns the area and that no other window cleaner can do there house,

Now we know this is not true and by having dial-a-clean will mean that the customer can phone any window cleaner of their choice to come and clean their windows just like they would if they wanted their carpets cleaned,

As fror running around they would be booked in when you are in that area for you would be working to a certain radius

thewad

Why would want to trail about cleaning one house her and one house there??
You'd have to charge a lot more and the people who only want them doing now and again are usually the people who don't like paying much out.
I do have people on my round that just come out whilst I'm around and say will you do mine this time and I do but charge them double.
Cleaning a semi's windows as and when they want and cleaning their carpets when they want is totally different.
Roll up and clean an average 3 bed semi as and when price £15 - £20.
Roll up and clean lounge and dining room carpets in a 3 bed semi £55 - £65.
The price makes the difference.
I can afford, at that price, to clean one then travel 4 miles and clean another and then 5 miles and do another.
Could you do the same at those prices, assuming you could get that price.
I wouldn't mind betting you'd get takers at no more than a tenner, above that it isn't worth their while they might as well have them done regularly.

John

jamesy

John you keep going on about here and there,
You would be working in a small area at a time,
It works i do it now! you canvass an area 2/3 nights before you are going to work that area wheelie binners do this so does the franchices and it is proven method, if customers call outwith that area you book them in when you are in their area,
as i have said customers now dont have to stick to one cleaner they can phone whoever they want to come and do their windows and it means window cleaners can then be compeditive,

the only window cleaners that seem to be against this are the ones not doing a very good job and are worried about losing work well if they do it right they should not have to worry

thewad

So you book them in when your in that area.
So if someone ring and says I want my windows cleaning tomorrow and your not in the area they have to wait?
Not exactly dial a clean.
And going round canvassing, even more work so price needs to reflect that as well.
You seem to be making an easy system into hard work.
What could be easier then knowing that, say tomorrow, I can go out and do £x worth of work then pack in. And the customers are happy.
I hate going out collecting at night so canvassing I 'aint doing.
Don't need to the works there.
Have you actually got an established round?

John