[afssm123]

Hello. Its been a while since I have been on here - I wont bore you with the reasons why!

OK, my situation and question is simply this ...

I am convinced that I can make a reasonable living from this job, however my wife is not convinced there is a market for another window cleaning services company.

Should I get 250 leaflets printed and go and carry out some market research to see if the demand is there?.

In my business plan after month 3 I am hoping to have an average of 60 customers - is that unrealistic?. I live quite close to Milton Keynes which is a spralling mass of homes.

Now please be brutally honest with me!

[wpclean]

Why dont you get some professional looking cards, and both you and your wife go out knocking for a few hours each evening and see the response ?

If you are determined the sky is the limit with this job, it is a numbers game and the more you put in the more you will get out.

Hardest thing is to keep going when you get a lot of no thank yous, you have to just keep going till you find a nice purple patch 

[Richard 01903]

If it what you want to do, go for it .People aways want a good window cleaner ,but dont waist your money on leaflets ,just go door knocking and you will pick up work the more doors you knock the closer to to a yes you,ll get.
Good luck

[mci services]

Wives never think it is feasible : no matter what business idea you choose, at least mine doesn't. 60 customers is easily do able in 3 months

[formb]

Say 20 working days in a month, 60 in 3 months.

1 new customer per day?

Aim higher.

[Alex Allen]

Hello. Its been a while since I have been on here - I wont bore you with the reasons why!

OK, my situation and question is simply this ...

I am convinced that I can make a reasonable living from this job, however my wife is not convinced there is a market for another window cleaning services company.

Should I get 250 leaflets printed and go and carry out some market research to see if the demand is there?.

In my business plan after month 3 I am hoping to have an average of 60 customers - is that unrealistic?. I live quite close to Milton Keynes which is a spralling mass of homes.

Now please be brutally honest with me!

wouldnt it be better if your wife did the market research

[Ian101]

like someone else said forget the leaflets and just go door knocking ... u should have 60 customers EASY after 2 weeks and 2 weekends of knocking ... do YOU really want it that much though ?? this job only happens if u make it happen ... gurantee 1 think though if u just deliver 250 leaflets and wait for phone to ring u MIGHT get 3 to 5 enquiries and your missus will be saying "told you so"

get door knocking m8 

[Crystal-clear]

no need to test market it works.

[afssm123]

Thank you everyone for the responses.

[bobplum]

leaflets dont work...example,dropped some on an estate by me,nice big houses,one house you could tell it had never been cleaned in a while this was about two months ago so yesterday knocked on the door "hi do you need a window cleaner" "oh yes ive been looking for ages for a window cleaner" in my mind i was saying "then why didnt you call the number on the leaflet" i actually picked up two,£16 and £14
as everyone says DOOR KNOCK or by a round from someone and build from there
if you look at ian 101 who as posted to your thread he was selling cars less than 12 months ago now his living in malaga running his empire (sorry i meant MOLD)

[formb]

leaflets dont work...example,dropped some on an estate by me,nice big houses,one house you could tell it had never been cleaned in a while this was about two months ago so yesterday knocked on the door "hi do you need a window cleaner" "oh yes ive been looking for ages for a window cleaner" in my mind i was saying "then why didnt you call the number on the leaflet" i actually picked up two,£16 and £14
as everyone says DOOR KNOCK or by a round from someone and build from there
if you look at ian 101 who as posted to your thread he was selling cars less than 12 months ago now his living in malaga running his empire (sorry i meant MOLD)

Leaflets work.

Never knocked on 1 door.

Never will.

[steven ainger]

i never knocked on any doors either, i posted business cards not leaflets, i found people were more likely to keep them not bin them.

[Ian101]

good old leaflets V door knocking debate near as fun as WFP v Traditional 

Leaflets do work but take a long long time to build a round with just leaflets ... if your in a hurry like me then door knocking a lot quicker.

and like Mr Plumb ive dropped whole streets with leaflets and got nowt then knock em and amazing they all say weve been looking for a window cleaner

I use leaflets now but just for compacting purposes which is a different situation to the OP also different kind of leaflet ... well more of a note really along lines of "we clean a neighbours of yours ... do u want urs doing as well"

[Nathanael Jones]

250 leaflets is a waste of time. 5000 minimum. www.printmarketuk.com is really cheap.

Doorknocking is the best way to get new work though,.. leaflet those not at home.

[formb]

good old leaflets V door knocking debate near as fun as WFP v Traditional 

Leaflets do work but take a long long time to build a round with just leaflets ... if your in a hurry like me then door knocking a lot quicker.

and like Mr Plumb ive dropped whole streets with leaflets and got nowt then knock em and amazing they all say weve been looking for a window cleaner

I use leaflets now but just for compacting purposes which is a different situation to the OP also different kind of leaflet ... well more of a note really along lines of "we clean a neighbours of yours ... do u want urs doing as well"

Sensible post.

It really annoys me when people say leaflets don't work. They do work it's a different approach.

I believe you get more of a solid customer base with leaflets as they contact you not vice versa. Although having never door knocked myself, this is purely speculation.

[Kate2]

Im no expert, but I would say door knocking for quick turn around.

Just feel that everybody has a differing point of view, leaflets seem to work for some, cards for others.

But initially I would think DN covering alot of ground, as quick as you can, people contact and need.

Chap said earlier a couple of posts about compacting the round, he does leaflets - can see the logic behind it.

[Taylor & Taylor WC Services]

Sensible post.

It really annoys me when people say leaflets don't work. They do work it's a different approach.

I believe you get more of a solid customer base with leaflets as they contact you not vice versa. Although having never door knocked myself, this is purely speculation.

You're right in the way that customers that want you will contact you through leaflets therefore a solid round. In my experience (in my area) leaflet dropping is a waste of time versus door knocking. I hardly ever get a response from leaflets but I can pick up 10 or more new customers a day by door knocking. If I lose 2 or 3 of them over the course of a few months so be it as I'll have replace them soon enough. I think it all depends on where you live?

Loving the Land Rovers by the way souter.

[windiewasher]

i've been offered 2 sided a6 leaflets designed,printed and delivered for only £85

250 leaflets is a waste of time. 5000 minimum. www.printmarketuk.com is really cheap.

Doorknocking is the best way to get new work though,.. leaflet those not at home.