Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: geefree on October 07, 2008, 05:19:59 pm
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Would anyone be so kind as to help me get into the commercial work world please,
i know it can become a closed shop, and competition is rife, but if anyone hundreds of miles from west yorkshire would be able to assist in any way, i would be eternally grateful, ... and obviously i would expect it to be via email and not here. :D
thank you Gazasp8@aol.com
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have you ever tried getting a list of old peoples homes and day centres run by your local council (local authority websites have full lists) take down all the adresses and mass mail them with one standard letter.... worked for me
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Thanks, i have the letter all done.... i sent out a few a many months ago, but was really concentrating on residential at that time, so i did not do it properly with 100% commitment, now i will, thanks for that.
Gary.
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no probs mate
youll find that the managers of these establishments seem to run 3 or 4 homes and divide their time between them, so if you get 1 job you will get 4, then they reccomend you to other managers and so on and so on........
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Gaz pop around all your trading estates and canvas, pop into every conservatory suppliers and manufacturers, I've just picked one up (not by canvasing) and its 5 nice conservatories including roofs, they want on a weekly basis, so were looking at a 3 figure sum.
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Thats a great idea Jeff too, thanks very much.... next rainy day i wiil be doing that
Thank you. ;)
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I approached a conservatory company and they now recomend me to there custys if they need cleaning, also i found it better to approach direct any companies that you are after.Have you tried all your local schools as well .And hospital?If its got glass i will approach and find out if and what they would like doing.
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I priced this one last year and didn't get it, I have it now though, I went and confirmed the price with them today.
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k23/jeffo_01/westcountry7Small.jpg)
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k23/jeffo_01/westcountry1Small.jpg)
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k23/jeffo_01/westcountry2Small.jpg)
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k23/jeffo_01/westcountry3Small.jpg)
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k23/jeffo_01/westcountry5Small.jpg)
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Would anyone be so kind as to help me get into the commercial work world please,
i know it can become a closed shop, and competition is rife, but if anyone hundreds of miles from west yorkshire would be able to assist in any way, i would be eternally grateful, ... and obviously i would expect it to be via email and not here. :D
thank you Gazasp8@aol.com
I know how you feel.
Everyone's already got all the commercial stuff tied up.
If I approached every office and business in the area I doubt I'd get one.
They've all got a window cleaner already.
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Would anyone be so kind as to help me get into the commercial work world please,
i know it can become a closed shop, and competition is rife, but if anyone hundreds of miles from west yorkshire would be able to assist in any way, i would be eternally grateful, ... and obviously i would expect it to be via email and not here. :D
thank you Gazasp8@aol.com
I know how you feel.
Everyone's already got all the commercial stuff tied up.
If I approached every office and business in the area I doubt I'd get one.
They've all got a window cleaner already.
Shouldn't worry about it Rog, the commercial guys will be out of work soon & we have the domestic all sorted. ;)
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Would anyone be so kind as to help me get into the commercial work world please,
i know it can become a closed shop, and competition is rife, but if anyone hundreds of miles from west yorkshire would be able to assist in any way, i would be eternally grateful, ... and obviously i would expect it to be via email and not here. :D
thank you Gazasp8@aol.com
I know how you feel.
Everyone's already got all the commercial stuff tied up.
If I approached every office and business in the area I doubt I'd get one.
They've all got a window cleaner already.
Shouldn't worry about it Rog, the commercial guys will be out of work soon & we have the domestic all sorted. ;)
Commercial work is good money but residentials are my bread and butter - lots of businesses going bust at the mo and if they are on the verge and cutting costs the window cleaner is the first to go same as residential really but its easier to replace a residential than a commercial...
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thanks agin....
;)
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Shouldn't worry about it Rog, the commercial guys will be out of work soon & we have the domestic all sorted. ;)
Dont get too comfy. All these businesses closing down all have employees who in turn get us to clean their windows. No job = no sky tv, holidays, luxury items and....having your windows cleaned.
Gas, electric and food prices are rising for eveyone so no one going to come out of this untouched.
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Rog
I started 10 years ago with no commercial at all, it was all tied up then.
Instead of having a defeatist attitude think positive, you will see things start to happen.
I now have commercial work coming out of my ears, i have even started subbing some out.
Never say Never
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Jeff, i do a conserv companies
has it got any inside, as the dust that seems to gather in amazing
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I think you need a steady balance of commercial and domestics if you loose some commercials you always fall back on some domestics.
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I think you need a steady balance of commercial and domestics if you loose some commercials you always fall back on some domestics.
indeed, good advice, i must have about 25 % of my work as comercail, i would like a little more as i normally do it before the school run and before i start domestic houses, it works well
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Rog
I started 10 years ago with no commercial at all, it was all tied up then.
Instead of having a defeatist attitude think positive, you will see things start to happen.
I now have commercial work coming out of my ears, i have even started subbing some out.
Never say Never
Do tell Dave :) did you canvass or letters or phone??
I have done a bit of each but not got very far, but i have not really give it a dedicated effort, done a website too but not had anything from it :(
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Would anyone be so kind as to help me get into the commercial work world please,
i know it can become a closed shop, and competition is rife, but if anyone hundreds of miles from west yorkshire would be able to assist in any way, i would be eternally grateful, ... and obviously i would expect it to be via email and not here. :D
thank you Gazasp8@aol.com
I know how you feel.
Everyone's already got all the commercial stuff tied up.
If I approached every office and business in the area I doubt I'd get one.
They've all got a window cleaner already.
Shouldn't worry about it Rog, the commercial guys will be out of work soon & we have the domestic all sorted. ;)
Very true.
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I went to 1 breakfast meeting last December and from that I got a monthly job from 1 office, a 6 monthly job from a large industrial building and a 6 weekly job from a medium sized industrial building.
I was also asked to quote for another medium Industrial building but didnt get it and another building I turned down because of access.
All of this is from 1 breakfast meeting that cost me £10. totally recommend it!!
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Jef1 - How did you clean the glass roof on those conservatories? Did you use TFR? So far, Ive only used TFR on polycarbonate roofs as Im a little scared to use it on glass roofs. Are they pilkington glass and is that ok with TFR? sorry for all the questions!! ::)
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for me tfr is fine, its all non caustic stuff now nearly.... i went to cleaners merchants, bought 5 litre hard surface cleaner , scented orange.... it brought the lot off, brilliant... and my customers love the small of oranges it leaves behind.... oh little things n all that ;D ;) ;)
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Thanks Gaza, Make sure you look up the brekkie clubs. At least try it!! google it now!!!!
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Jeff, i do a conserv companies
has it got any inside, as the dust that seems to gather in amazing
I've only been asked to do the inside of the first conservatoy once a year Lol the others on there sales site is cleaned by the sales woman (thank god)
Jef1 - How did you clean the glass roof on those conservatories? Did you use TFR? So far, Ive only used TFR on polycarbonate roofs as Im a little scared to use it on glass roofs. Are they pilkington glass and is that ok with TFR? sorry for all the questions!! ::)
If its a pilkington roof just use pure water, if its an ordinary glass roof I wash with ecover first then use a 10' carwash brush connected to mains tap, finished off with a rinse of pure, polycarbonate roofs just get ecover treatment then a wash with the carwash brush, no need to rinse with pure.
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thanks ro... will do...
jeff i learn every day from you... ;)
i do exactly the same as you with con roofs.... but i polish off with pure on every one.... i wont be doing from now on.... ;)
but on second thoughts, i love the way it shines after final rinse... oh i love my job :D
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thanks ro... will do...
jeff i learn every day from you... ;)
i do exactly the same as you with con roofs.... but i polish off with pure on every one.... i wont be doing from now on.... ;)
but on second thoughts, i love the way it shines after final rinse... oh i love my job :D
Your just wasting your pure on polly roofs, they will still shine with tap water, and you wont get white spots.
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If its a pilkington roof just use pure water, if its an ordinary glass roof I wash with ecover first then use a 10' carwash brush connected to ains tap, finished off with a rinse of pure, polycarbonate roofs just get ecover treatment then a wash with the carwash brush, no need to rinse with pure.
So how do you know its pilkington glass rather than ordinary glass. Is there a Pilkington badge or something?
Gaza - sorry for hijacking your thread ::)
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yes, i suppose.... also its another time saving thing... as we all know , instead of simply polishing it off with pure , we tend to give the whole thing another mini wash over, and it does take time.
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So how do you know its pilkington glass rather than ordinary glass. Is there a Pilkington badge or something?
Gaza - sorry for hijacking your thread ::)
no worries .. its all good info... and commercial too : )
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Pilkington glass is identified by a little logo or text often found in the corner, usually you will find any info you need about the glass in the corner of every window, I.e. Pilkington, argon and so on.
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Last question I promise (Wife is sending me to bed!!)
Is Ecover better for removing dirt than non-caustic TFR??
Good night gents
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I think ecover is the corgies conkers, it does an excellent job and its eco friendly a lot of custys seem to like this idea.
Its a little more expensive but in my mind well worth it, have a look on my web in the guttering section to see the results of ecover.
When you've checked it out get to bed, I'm trying to eat my bananas in custard Lol
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zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..............................
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I have about 70% commercial 30% dom.
It takes time to get good commercial work be patient right place right time.
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Ive been getting some commercial work in but i find that a lot of big companies take back handers so we have no chance!
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I went to 1 breakfast meeting last December and from that I got a monthly job from 1 office, a 6 monthly job from a large industrial building and a 6 weekly job from a medium sized industrial building.
I was also asked to quote for another medium Industrial building but didnt get it and another building I turned down because of access.
All of this is from 1 breakfast meeting that cost me £10. totally recommend it!!
I belong to a local networking club, been a member for about two years. I go to all the breakfast meeting because I enjoy the banter. Never had a single job as a result, though, the only reason I stay a member (apart from the breakfasts!) is that the organiser is a customer, and we charge him more for cleaning his windows than he does for us being members of his club ;D
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My daughter Michelle picked up 2 large residential care homes today apart from that she priced 7 domestics and got 6 out of them, I thought we were in a recession?
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thanks for all your help.... whats a breakfast club/meeting ???
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I have been going to breakfast club meeting for a year now and not a single job from it. So have decided not to renew the membership this year.
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thanks for all your help.... whats a breakfast club/meeting ???
its a bit like a boys club ( though i believe girls can join )
you go along, met others who take about how successfull they are and what new BMW they are going to get next
the idea is to network and exchange details and get work from it, it rarely happens like that though
next step up is the masons, bigger and better and you do get results
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I was invited to join a breakfast club recently... £500 per year!! I said 'No thanks!!' :o
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thanks for all your help.... whats a breakfast club/meeting ???
its a bit like a boys club ( though i believe girls can join )
you go along, met others who take about how successfull they are and what new BMW they are going to get next
the idea is to network and exchange details and get work from it, it rarely happens like that though
next step up is the masons, bigger and better and you do get results
Basically like the rotary or round table clubs? Social events for fund-raising but obviously a place to mingle.
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hiya, going back a few posts. what is TFR? cheers :)
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traffic film remover ... mainly used for washing trucks.... but we use it on con roofs. ;D ;D
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thanks, not heard of that before. do you dilute it in the bucket? does it bring a shine? cheers :)
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I was invited to join a breakfast club recently... £500 per year!! I said 'No thanks!!' :o
£30 a month where i am i looked it up last week, bit steep, but you get breakfast, but it'd make me late for work
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I reckon you've got to get an add into the phone books (Yellow Pages and the Thompson Local) and keep it there for at least three-or-four years to get commercial work; and be patient.
However, within six months of starting window cleaning we picked up the Hilton Newport from a Local Pages advert (but that's another story).
Anyway, we've picked up two nice jobs this year, both into a three-figured-sum (okay I'll say, 'cos that could mean £999); one at £130 and one at £140 from previous years entrys in the phone books. I've also got a third commercial unit 'in the pipeline', but that is from a contact from Wor Lasses running club.
I stopped advertising in the books about two-years-ago, things were financially tight at the time, but will start again.
And there's always the element of luck; I picked up a nice £70 pub not so long-ago; just by wearing a sign-written T-Shirt and was asked to quote while I was shopping in Tescos, and also my local Spar at £15 a week which is a 'gift'; very quick and easy.
I also did the 'mailshot' thing a few years ago; it was quite a lot of effort; but received only one quote from it, and I didn't want the job.
The phone books are the best bet though.
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I reckon you've got to get an add into the phone books (Yellow Pages and the Thompson Local) and keep it there for at least three-or-four years to get commercial work; and be patient.
However, within six months of starting window cleaning we picked up the Hilton Newport from a Local Pages advert (but that's another story).
Anyway, we've picked up two nice jobs this year, both into a three-figured-sum (okay I'll say, 'cos that could mean £999); one at £130 and one at £140 from previous years entrys in the phone books. I've also got a third commercial unit 'in the pipeline', but that is from a contact from Wor Lasses running club.
I stopped advertising in the books about two-years-ago, things were financially tight at the time, but will start again.
And there's always the element of luck; I picked up a nice £70 pub not so long-ago; just by wearing a sign-written T-Shirt and was asked to quote while I was shopping in Tescos, and also my local Spar at £15 a week which is a 'gift'; very quick and easy.
I also did the 'mailshot' thing a few years ago; it was quite a lot of effort; but received only one quote from it, and I didn't want the job.
The phone books are the best bet though.
Just got my new phone book (yellow pages) through the post, and although im only a one liner in it, theres only a handful advertising, so wait and see what happens now :)
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I think ecover is the corgies conkers
The what ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
that is a new phrase to me, I promise to use it regularly ;D ;D
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I reckon you've got to get an add into the phone books (Yellow Pages and the Thompson Local) and keep it there for at least three-or-four years to get commercial work; and be patient.
However, within six months of starting window cleaning we picked up the Hilton Newport from a Local Pages advert (but that's another story).
Anyway, we've picked up two nice jobs this year, both into a three-figured-sum (okay I'll say, 'cos that could mean £999); one at £130 and one at £140 from previous years entrys in the phone books. I've also got a third commercial unit 'in the pipeline', but that is from a contact from Wor Lasses running club.
I stopped advertising in the books about two-years-ago, things were financially tight at the time, but will start again.
And there's always the element of luck; I picked up a nice £70 pub not so long-ago; just by wearing a sign-written T-Shirt and was asked to quote while I was shopping in Tescos, and also my local Spar at £15 a week which is a 'gift'; very quick and easy.
I also did the 'mailshot' thing a few years ago; it was quite a lot of effort; but received only one quote from it, and I didn't want the job.
The phone books are the best bet though.
How much were you paying the yell tosh?? looking in my local yellow pages there are only about 7 decent ads, but only 2 inches big, how much is about a half page? too much??
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I think I paid about £20 per month for a small ad, probably about three-centimeters long; and not flashy at all; but a fellow member of this forum informs me that he has a big ad for £160 per month and does well out of it, for big commercial jobs. Big companies will phone the big ads I guess; they look more professional and able to carry out the big jobs.
Now, I couldn't afford £160 on an ad, without making some cut backs on other areas, like food and beer; so I'll just stick to a little ad.
But I think the real secret is to stay in the books for year-after-year. People and companies get new books and they end up in the bin, and they keep on using their old books. I've done the same.
But after about three-or-four years, you'll be in every book that everyone has; if you know what I mean.
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Yellow Pages or Yell.com?
which is the best to be in nowadays?
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yell for commercial
yp for domestic
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yp for domestic
In my limited experience; YP Book has a massive distribution for any given area, and I was receiving phone calls asking to clean small terraced houses from places an hour away by car. I can't think of any domestic work I've got from the YP Book.
For domestic houses, I know where to advertise, and it isn't in any of the main books.
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yp for domestic
In my limited experience; YP Book has a massive distribution for any given area, and I was receiving phone calls asking to clean small terraced houses from places an hour away by car. I can't think of any domestic work I've got from the YP Book.
For domestic houses, I know where to advertise, and it isn't in any of the main books.
where lol
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my wife reckons im wasting my money putting a big ad in yellow pages, but i reckon you would get work, but enough to justify 160 a month?? be good if that was the case but that would be a 160 a month job just to break even!!
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yellow pages called me up last week and eventually after lots of one sided talking she eventually asked me if i would like to be in there.
I told her i wasn't interested in it as my catchment area is quite localised.
After several more minutes of bumpf which i left the speakerphone on and made a cuppa, she told me that the add would cost me £190 for the year. A 3 line advert i think she said.
As for getting commercial work, approach cleaning companies and ask if they have any work they can sub out to you. If not now then in the future.
I do some work for 1, they have window cleaner subbies already but occasionally they have jobs come up that doesn't fit in any area there subbies will travel to.
I think with these it is a case of getting your feet in the door first. Then doing a good job and reliability will see them offer you more.
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yellow pages called me up last week and eventually after lots of one sided talking she eventually asked me if i would like to be in there.
I told her i wasn't interested in it as my catchment area is quite localised.
After several more minutes of bumpf which i left the speakerphone on and made a cuppa, she told me that the add would cost me £190 for the year. A 3 line advert i think she said.
As for getting commercial work, approach cleaning companies and ask if they have any work they can sub out to you. If not now then in the future.
I do some work for 1, they have window cleaner subbies already but occasionally they have jobs come up that doesn't fit in any area there subbies will travel to.
I think with these it is a case of getting your feet in the door first. Then doing a good job and reliability will see them offer you more.
I have written off to loads of contrsctors recently, i dont particarly want to work for someone who will take a chunk of the price, but i theres is inflated enough then it might be worth it?? but its a foot in the door like you say, and might be able to pick them up for ones self then later when you get to know management etc...alls fair :)
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sean, i felt the same way.
They did approach me 3 years ago asking me to employ someone to do my work and subcontract myself full time for them. I hated that idea though.
Although there wasn't a wage or salary involved, it was all price work.
But, since the beginning of this year i was asked again to quote for a job for them.
How they worked was for me to quote and give them the price. They add on their bit and submit quote.
Also, i have done a couple of jobs which they held the contract for, so the price was already set. And i have to admit the price was better than what i would have quoted.
I have known the family well for 30 years they told me that the window cleaning side is just to keep all the cleaning under 1 roof, so as to keep the cleaning contracts.
They don't have window cleaners on their books but sub all the work out.
They are in east anglia with work all over the region.
It has been good for me as i look on it as bonus money. However, my domestic work is my priority and still wouldn't want too much of their work.
I would be too accountable for my time and movements. So i just get a call every now and then to quote or to clean.
I prefer it this way.
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sean, i felt the same way.
They did approach me 3 years ago asking me to employ someone to do my work and subcontract myself full time for them. I hated that idea though.
Although there wasn't a wage or salary involved, it was all price work.
But, since the beginning of this year i was asked again to quote for a job for them.
How they worked was for me to quote and give them the price. They add on their bit and submit quote.
Also, i have done a couple of jobs which they held the contract for, so the price was already set. And i have to admit the price was better than what i would have quoted.
I have known the family well for 30 years they told me that the window cleaning side is just to keep all the cleaning under 1 roof, so as to keep the cleaning contracts.
They don't have window cleaners on their books but sub all the work out.
They are in east anglia with work all over the region.
It has been good for me as i look on it as bonus money. However, my domestic work is my priority and still wouldn't want too much of their work.
I would be too accountable for my time and movements. So i just get a call every now and then to quote or to clean.
I prefer it this way.
i have a similar arrangement with a chap in the cleaning game, however i got in with him late, he already has a guy who does all the big stuff, i get the stuff he wont touch, but its usually an hrs worth of work, so i stick 40-50 in and the manager bangs a tenner on, everyones a winner, but wouldnt mind some of the bigger jobs!!