[Craig]

Hi guys, some of you might remember that I was looking in to starting my own cleaning company. Finally decided to give it ago part time to start off with and take it from there.

There services am trying to push for just now is window, one off, builder, tidy up and end of tenancy cleans, so more commercial then domestic.

Anyway, have designed a logo, made up a web page, used free advertising like yell and Google places. Have just got 6000 good quality leaflets made up for a good price, to get me started and my company out there. Have started delivering them myself around the shops, car showrooms etc round my area when I have the spare time and at evenings.

Am just wondering what sort of success have you have with leaflets? And if you get a job from leaflet drops how long does it normally take for the customer to get in contact with you after the leaflets have been delivered?

Also what other ways do you get business if you are just starting out?

Thanks for any advice.

[H20cleaning]

leaflets if just posted through letter boxes generally aint that good, for example i got rid of 5000 leaflets over 1 and a half years and probley picked up about £170.00 monthly window cleaning jobs, probs £150.00 extras.
never got any commercial work. As for calling you back its usually within 2 weeks, now and again you will get a few who call a few months later.
The best way of gaining regular work is to knock on doors whilst leafletting!!

[Craig]

That's what I was thinking. Didn't expect them to get me loads of business just something to get me started. More using them to get my company out there and 'known' more then anything.

If leaflets aren't the best way to go about getting commercial work what is?

And for handing out my leaflets in store. Am a bit worried about not getting taken seriously because am only 23 and have had this problem through my main job (joiner/shopfitter)    and am not very good at talking myself up. But something am going to need to learn   

[H20cleaning]

ha im only 20 i started when i was 18... aslong as you look and act profesionally should be fine! and as for commercial work you have to be extremely lucky to get some as it took me a while to get any deecent amount!
i suggest you try domestic only atm, get the to know how to price smaller jobs up and undertake them then spread your wings and see where it takes you:)

[Craig]

Haha I was the same. Work for my family business and basically work as self employed but all the tools etc are provided. But have priced and ordered up quite big £100,000 shop fitting jobs. But as most people say don't work with family! Had enough of it, and fallen out of love with my job.

But had done my fair share of cleaning. Cleaning jobs after they are completed. So set up, my own company on the side to clean up jobs when finished and making more then I would. So was more of a take work as it comes company. But now I want to actually find work and build up my own company.

And if I went down the domestic route it would only be to do window cleaning and my be garden/drive way cleans. Wouldn't want to work in peoples houses as I know how much of a pain that can be!!!     

h20cleaning, if you have a bit of spare time can you send me a quick email, it's in my profile. Got a few quick questions to ask if you don't mind, to someone the same sort of age. Cheers

[Rob_Mac]

Craig

Your dad is in construction isn't he, can't he pull some strings, do some introductions, grease some palms?

Rob

[Craig]

Yeah he is. I also have a good few contacts as well. And where am getting all my work for just now. But only doing the smaller jobs just now to build my company and experience up. Before taking on bigger jobs where I would need to get about 5-6 people working with or for me to get it done in the time scale they want 

And just now it's only getting me a few hundred a month at the most  Want to have enough work I can live off of. So I can turn my company into my main job.

But have decided to get another 5000 printed for domestic window cleaning and see have that works out. As around my area there is only 1 cleaner, that doesn't do that many houses and we use to use him and he didn't use to leave a very good job. So it's worth a try.

Only thing I would need to get is a wfp system and water purification system, so maybe about £1000 to get started. As I only have traditional equipment just now

[H20cleaning]

Hi Craig, i don't use email that much but message me through my Facebook page if you want? Look for H20 cleaning specialists " it's the one based in north east