[Mrs Nicholls]

Hi All

I am thinking of starting up my domestic & offices cleaning business again, and reflecting on what caused problems or didn't work right the first time.

Just wanted to ask if you could start over what would you do differently?

One of the many problems we had was most domestics were dotted all over the service area and a lot of time and money went into travelling rather than cleaning.

I think this time i'll either target the area where i pick up my first new clean and build a round around that before moving on t another area.

OR
i'll target a specific area pick up cleans and build around that before moving on to another area.

Problem with scenario 2 is that if i get asked for quotes not in my target area, do i honor them and lead myself back to my original problem of jobs dotted about just to pick the work up? lol

Last time i started up completely from scratch, built rounds up cleaning myself and my ex biz partner (less said about her the better) This time i want to go in as the business owner/manager and not the cleaner as such although i'm always mucking in, it's  just now i have the experience behind me i think my value lies in the business end rather than the manual side, its a bit chicken and egg with jobs then though and the wages a cleaner makes could be money for me. Could this approach work if organised correctly?

Just realised i sound quite serious lol any suggestions/reflections welcome x

Lisa

[Paul Nevins]

Where I live is a very rural area with four bigger towns dotted about. Im an oven cleaner and carpet cleaner and travel out as far as 85 miles away, the secret to making it work for me is having set days for certain area's, I am usual booked up 7-10 days in advance, so I try to get 3-4 jobs per area per day. If its inconvenient for customers on that day or if Im booked up, they get their day of choice the following week.

For me its all about good logistic planning, you are better been in the mindset that the customers have to fit in with your schedule (obviously without inconveniencing them too much), rather than them dictating to you. May sound harsh but as you said, you will find yourself running here there and everywhere if you dont.

I also offer customers a discount if they can get their neighbours onboard for an oven or carpet clean, they save money on the clean and I save time and fuel money!

Hope this helps! 

[Mrs Nicholls]

Hi Paul

Thanks for replying, i have been reading through some of my old posts lol, i think i've grown some balls since then lol.

I think that was the problem before, we wanted to bend over backwards to give the customer what they wanted, and it didn't do us any favours. Instead of saying "when is convenient for you" we should have said "we are available on..../in this area on tuesdays" for example.

There is a lot of weighing up to do. I'm thinking of building a round in my local area, then staffing it and then moving on to another area and repeat. and see how it goes.

[DREAM CLEAN]

Mrs Nicholls

You will find it hard to start a domestic cleaning round that will pay a wage at the moment, the domestic sector really is not paying ( I am sure someone will challage that statment) .
Keep away from busness partners, go solo it's the only way.

We split the areas into days and then fill the days, some days we have 3 jobs in 2 mins of each other.

Out of intrest what area you in?

Nick

[Mrs Nicholls]

Hi Nick

Thank you for replying, I'm in Shrewsbury, Shrops, I think we have spoken on here in the past. Your name seems familiar 

I had no intention of partnering up ever again, although my husband ( who wasn't on the scene first time round ) asked if we would become a husband and wife partnership team or i would employ him, he seems to think he's in on this with me, i haven't decided that yet.  not sure if its best tax wise to share the taxable profits or just pay him a wage. but thats another thread lol

[DREAM CLEAN]

Hi

Not sure if we have spoken before

I think going solo would be better, I would not worry about Tax and profit just yet just get the turnover in.

If you husband gets his own job or evenstarts another section to the company I.E build cleans, cladding cleans then he has his own salary.

I do not think domestic customers are too keen on men in their house either

Just go solo find 3 customers a day at 3 hrs each at £11 hr  will give you £99 a day  £495 a week  not bad for 1 person

Regards

Nick

[Mrs Nicholls]

Thanks Nick.

We did have issues before with customers not keen on male cleaners. I don't know why. 1950's Stereotypes i should imagine.

Maybe i'm barking up the wrong tree, and i should consider doing office cleaning again instead of domestics.

I have a 2 year old so have childcare to consider so can't do all the hours i did when i started up before.

lots to consider..

[drive surgeon]

good luck