[mci services]

These are the pens I were planning on leaving to potential customers after I visit the offices.



Matt

they look good mate but I bet you get more domestic from them than commercial

[gordonswindows]

Hi Matt

We have been commercial for some years now and yes we did and still occasionally do windows for free

Commercial accounts are either national contracts or small local business but there are a lot of SME that sit right in between. Privately owned so make own decisions without "head office" yet successful enough to pay good money. They are always keen to hire local contractors as it is good PR and to this end you need to get yourself "seen" around town. Chamber of Commerce FSB local charity all these places are where you get known.

Keeping the money in the local economy instead of nationals running away with it to London Madrid Brussels or wherever is good for the client as it supports the economy that it draws it's labour force, grants and the like from

The free window cleaning has always been described as a mugs game but in the years we have been doing it we have only been stung twice.When you ask a business if they need a window cleaner they answer with the usual responses described by the earlier posters, got one, it's a friend blah blaah and for you to tell them you are better safer reliable even cheaper gets little or no response but when you tell them you will show how good you are for free they so do ot believe you that they will challenge you to do it

Four of our biggest clients were won this way and they have been with us now for seven, five and four years plus two of them use our contract cleaners and all ofthem have used other services ie power washing carpets or gutters.

Easy? No, worth the cost of one free clean? definitely.Nobody can resist free or the chance tomcall your bluff

Your pens are great and most of us have a drawer full along with the mugs key rings etc but all they do is make promotional sale people rich.They are lovely thankmyou gifts or annual gifts like a calendar but rarely do theywin new work.

Gordon

[Matthew JN]

Sapphire, assuming you are are a one man set-up.

You are thinking along a too basic marketing route with things like pens and mugs.

Firstly if you are thinking of wanting to do work for National multi site companies directly then my advice would be to forget that. This is because the level of infrastructure, professionalism, and contract mangament that these companies will seek will be way beyond what you could provide as a one man set-up.

Secondly if you are looking to tender for public sector work again i would forget this as qualifying and quantifying information that would be required to be approved as a contractor would most definately exclude you as a one-man set-up.

My advice would be to focus more on Private Managing agents / landlords etc, those whose remits are to provide building services and maintenance to their tennants - but it is all about personal relationships and business networking.

Try to attend local trade and chamber of commerce events things like that.  Kate talks about cold calling crunching the numbers on the phone, you may pick up a few leads but unless you are hot you won't be able to develop them and close any deals and get contracts signed. Building business relationships takes time.

Also start getting your infrastructure in place i.e. Get a contract solicitor to draft you Service Agreement contracts and T&Cs, Get a professional website in place, get all your credentials and quality assurance sorted so you have the ammunition to fire when needed m8

[Sapphire Window Cleaning]

Thanks Gordon, I think I will try with free demos.
Don't the commercial clients want to employ window cleaners who are VAT registered?



Matt

[Kate2]

Yes Colt it is number crunching, and I agree with many of your comments, but sometimes you can hit very lucky    With the national chains, some is decided by local manager and local budget.  Its not always head office, very good points raised there Colt, good post.  Its also gathering info too Colt.

[D woods]

Hi Guys

I have been known to price up the odd commercial window cleaning job and a big mistake that many guys make when starting in commercial is going in to cheap its a mugs game dont do it.

You need to be charging 2-3 times more than what you would charge for domestic otherwise it is just not worth all the grief that comes with commercial.

[Sapphire Window Cleaning]

Hi D, how did you start getting the commercial work? if you dont mind me asking.





Matt

[Sapphire Window Cleaning]

Just to update, I went into 8 letting agency offices today, I have picked up one job from a landlord who happened to be there.
I have 3 agencies who are extremely interested in what services I have to offer.
lets see how many jobs I get in the near future from the letting agencies (touch wood)



Matt

[Darranvps]

Hi Matt

Where are you based

[mlscontractcleaner]

I think a lot of success comes down to luck; being in the right place at the right time, or knowing someone who knows someone, that sort of thing.

We've picked up loads of nice work like that

[Crystal-clear]

These are the pens I were planning on leaving to potential customers after I visit the offices.



Matt

how much did those pens set you back mate all in?

[Sapphire Window Cleaning]

These are the pens I were planning on leaving to potential customers after I visit the offices.



Matt

how much did those pens set you back mate all in?

£1.69 each with free delivery, I haven't had the invoice for them yet!





Matt

[Sapphire Window Cleaning]

Hi Matt

Where are you based

Hi Darran,

Sapphire Window Cleaning Services is based in Leicester
MB Window Cleaning is based in Essex




Matt

[poleman]

from someone that was 100% commercial window cleaning!

Commercial work is NOT pathed with gold!

I was asked on one contact to price 100s of site...weeks on the road...at a cost to me

Once I spent days on the paper work...put my quote in and waited...waited so I phoned them up!

They said sorry you didnt get it...and put the phone down on me!

Best type of commercial work is small local! becouse if you lose a job then it doesnt have to impack on your business!

HOW TO GET LOCAL COMMERCIAL

like you have said just walk in! and ask if they need a window cleaning! give your self some selling points! frames cleaned / health & saftey!

its a numbers game really

[bobby p]

i like those pens. 

[windiewasher]

I love my commercial work.I start  at 7 on them and then domestics after.most have come to me.
 Best way imo if your gonna try and pick up them  would be a commercial letter addressed to the company owner and a week later follow up on the phone.just explain your services and how they cab benefit there  company.

[david willis]

Might be worth you looking at our Bid To Win course

http://www.training43.com/training-courses/bid-to-win.php

[Sapphire Window Cleaning]

Hi David, I recieved an email about this course, looks interesting and maybe going on one of them.
I have never been one for door knocking, popping into letting agencies etc, but I bit the bullet yesterday and I don't know why I was holding back for so long!




Matt

[Darranvps]

Might be worth you looking at our Bid To Win course

http://www.training43.com/training-courses/bid-to-win.php

Me and the Mrs are going to the one in Crawley next week!

Matt I might have something coming up in Essex, involving communal area cleaning - possibly weekly. Also up to 20 metre wfp - if you cant do the window cleaning would you be interested in the weekly communal?

[Kate2]

Hi Dave

Do you do tender writing, just out of interest?