[Kev R]

I have been incredibly busy all through February and March, we are also fully booked also for April. I have been amazed at the amount of "extra" business I have picked up of late. The window cleaning has grown a little but the gutter cleaning service has been incredibly busy, as has the carpet cleaning. I am cleaning carpets over the bank holiday weekend as two of my clients are away an have left me keys.

I know this is all due to the work I have done on the websites I have this year and the investment in the Omnivac system. I have received no calls from yellow pages, I have not been advertising in the local press as I was doing before xmas. My new van is not sign written at the moment and the advertising trailer is in storage awaiting the better weather, and everyone I ask says they found me via my website. Just this Friday I picked up a new £60 domestic house from my commercial window cleaning site as the customer wanted a " more professional service" (her words not mine).

I have invested over £2K in web design/ building and SEO work,  this year (built the site in December) but this has paid for its self many times over. I to be honest expected to break even over the first six months for the website costs compared to new business but have been amazed by the result.

I also invested in the Omnivac system and pushed this service to my existing commercial customers. The Omnivac (full camera and generator system) has paid for its self 15X over!!!!

Growing your business can be a gamble at times but for me this year the gamble paid off and its only March!

I am really looking forward to the Windex trip for a few days off. I worked a 19 day straight run during Feb. Not good for my health I know but  its the only way i know If I want to grow my business.

How has business been for you this year so far?

Have you made any changes to your business?

If you advertise what methods do you find most effective?

If you employ people how did you make the jump from sole trader?

[mick hay]

Hi Kev, i'm at windex on friday, mainly to look at the omnivac, seriously thinking of investing in one in the near future!!1

Can you give me an idea what you charge on residential gutter cleans,

Thanks...Mick

[Kev R]

An average three bed semi i charge £20 per side for emptying the gutters only and then some more for cleaning them and the fascias etc.

I mostly do commercial to be honest and the charge for three storie work is  massively higher as we dont need cherry pickers or scaffolding etc.

[Paul Coleman]

I have been incredibly busy all through February and March, we are also fully booked also for April. I have been amazed at the amount of "extra" business I have picked up of late. The window cleaning has grown a little but the gutter cleaning service has been incredibly busy, as has the carpet cleaning. I am cleaning carpets over the bank holiday weekend as two of my clients are away an have left me keys.

I know this is all due to the work I have done on the websites I have this year and the investment in the Omnivac system. I have received no calls from yellow pages, I have not been advertising in the local press as I was doing before xmas. My new van is not sign written at the moment and the advertising trailer is in storage awaiting the better weather, and everyone I ask says they found me via my website. Just this Friday I picked up a new £60 domestic house from my commercial window cleaning site as the customer wanted a " more professional service" (her words not mine).

I have invested over £2K in web design/ building and SEO work,  this year (built the site in December) but this has paid for its self many times over. I to be honest expected to break even over the first six months for the website costs compared to new business but have been amazed by the result.

I also invested in the Omnivac system and pushed this service to my existing commercial customers. The Omnivac (full camera and generator system) has paid for its self 15X over!!!!

Growing your business can be a gamble at times but for me this year the gamble paid off and its only March!

I am really looking forward to the Windex trip for a few days off. I worked a 19 day straight run during Feb. Not good for my health I know but  its the only way i know If I want to grow my business.

How has business been for you this year so far?

Have you made any changes to your business?

If you advertise what methods do you find most effective?

If you employ people how did you make the jump from sole trader?

My year started on October 1st.  In those 6 months, I will have turned over nearly as much as I did in a full year 2 years back.  I get a bit from YP, I've started to get a bit via Windowasher's (Ian's) website, but most of it comes through the tried and tested method of people seeing me working and through referrals.  I've got a good name for not poaching other guy's work.  This has stood me in good stead as other window cleaners (trad) have put me forward for pole work that they can't do.  Some while back I was cleaning a house next door to some guy who has his own cleaning company.  I sub some work from him too - decent sized jobs as well.  Such jobs don't really add value to my own business but they are useful for plugging any financial holes.
To answer your other questions:
I price higher than I used to for new work and have a more positive attitude.  That can go a long way.
I'm not an employer and have no plans to employ in the near future.  I don't rule it out in the mid to longer term though.  I will be asking the same questions as you when I do   

[Andrew44]

If you employ people how did you make the jump from sole trader?

Sole trader's can employ people.  The term does not refer to you being on your own, but the businessset-up.  You are the business and the business is you.  But you can still employ people.