[magic moments]

hi im planning on setting up in january,cheap van ,wfp,trad gear etc ,now i believe it wont be easy canvassing in jan but surely there will be some customers wanting a clean anyone have experience of canvassing in jan im doing leaflets plus door knocking will do this for around 5 hours pr day mon-fri and maybe on sat as well for 2 weeks then hopefully start getting some work,cant wait to leave my current job and work for myself im not after riches just an income that is achieved on my own please would be gratefull for advice.

[rscleaningservices]

Yes I got an idea dont bother stay at your job theres no money in this window cleaning trade !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sean84]

hi im planning on setting up in january,cheap van ,wfp,trad gear etc ,now i believe it wont be easy canvassing in jan but surely there will be some customers wanting a clean anyone have experience of canvassing in jan im doing leaflets plus door knocking will do this for around 5 hours pr day mon-fri and maybe on sat as well for 2 weeks then hopefully start getting some work,cant wait to leave my current job and work for myself im not after riches just an income that is achieved on my own please would be gratefull for advice.

Im in the same position as you. IMO January should be a good time to canvass, im going to start the day after new years day as most people still not at work etc... People in a more relaxed mood after a break from work I reckon we can pick up a lot of customers this time of year, good luck!

[richard jagger]

You guy are crazy leave your job in the middle of winter to clean windows.  : : : : : :

[sean84]

You guy are crazy leave your job in the middle of winter to clean windows.  : : : : : :

I'm not leaving my job, I've been laid off.

[elite mike]

good luck to both of you

[Dave66]

by april they'll be laffin 

[Mike_G]

Before you pack in your job if I were you I would be out canvassing to see if there is any demand wherever you live  (which there is sure to be some) but just how much demand there is. Next step would be to drum up enough work before you quit your job to make it worth your while, build up enough work to do on saturdays and see if you like it, window cleaning is not for everyone.

[bobby p]

dont delay,   good luck

[Pope vader]

hi,  knocking any time of the year you will get custys,  just depends on how bad the weather is,  u need to work out what is the miminum you need to live on a week, 

after you have done that work out how much a house is,  dont listen to a lot on here saying they have a min of £10 as depending on where you are, you might/might not get it,

then get out and knock, and take any job you can,  use the first 3 months as practise and after 3 months refind your round to the best jobs you have and fill them areas in,

sometimes it is better to have a load of cheap easy jobs in one area than driving around all day using fuel,

above all knock, knock and knock

[sean84]

Great advice guys! Had my leaflets delivered (which im very happy with) just unsure whether to knock, or just post them. I mentioned to one of my family what my plans are in the new year and they said not to knock and bother people. I think knocking is the way forward....

[AC Window Cleaning]

I started in Jan this year,3rd i believe it was. i have done alright this year.

[AuRavelling79]

Great advice guys! Had my leaflets delivered (which im very happy with) just unsure whether to knock, or just post them. I mentioned to one of my family what my plans are in the new year and they said not to knock and bother people. I think knocking is the way forward....

You're right to think that. All the best.

[LWC]

Go get a proper job

[keen n clean]

Started myself in january 2010.......picked up 42 in that month alone,go for it mate a perfect time to start,you'll see, good luck and keep me posted.
Andy

[magic moments]

thanks for your comments ,i could well be crazy wanting to leave a steady job ,but i would rather try and be happy then dread going to work every day ,i love the outside including the winters ,so im going for it ,will leave my job once i have a few custies ,and if it dont work at least i tried (but i will work dam hard to make it happen for me.

[Handyman Window Cleaning Services]

i started on april fools day 2006   

i found canvassing easier then as evenings were lighter.

i worked for my self on saturdays and my father in the week, then i had more work and worked fri and sat rest with father. then when things improved i was all on my own Mon tue Wed cleaning windows and canvassed on friday and finally had saturday off

now i dont bother canvassing as i am busy enough and i always pick up customs who see me working, january i pick up the most of the winter months.

good luck

[richard jagger]

Sean 84 sorry you lost your job mate I wish you luck.
Magic moments live with your job and do some canvassing  so you have income to leave to.I would door knock as customers like to see your face and judge from that so Knock on. It is the quickest to build a round.

[Perfect Windows]

Good on you.

Don't underprice; you'll regret it later and resent doing the underpriced jobs.  If you're in a part of the country where people have cash, charge more; they'll pay it.  Customers you gain in winter will stick with you like glue.

Leaflet and canvass together.  Work out what frequencies you're going to offer and stick to them.  Decide now how you're going to get round your customers and how you'll add new ones (much easier than reorganising later).

Get a notebook.  Read through fifty pages of posts on here and make a list of who posts sense.  Go back into the past to find good posters.  Ian Lancaster might be a good start, though he doesn't post too much now.  Then use the search facility to find all their posts and read the lot.  Note what they do and take the best of their ideas.  However, don't be afraid to improve what they are doing if you are sure you know better - that's how people beat the opposition.  Ignore any posts that look like they are just a whinge.  (not just when you start, keep up the habit - people who whine about weather and van problems on here just sap your willpower)

Surround yourself with optimists.  

Expect to work twice as hard for everything than you initially expect.

When you start cleaning, make sure you're eating enough.  It's hard work at the start and when you're low on fuel, your morale will drop.  Keep well fuelled by eating and drinking enough.

Finally, the simple bit.  If you keep on turning up and you keep on getting their windows clean, you'll not lose many customers and they'll recommend you to everyone they meet.

Vin

[paulben]

I started jan 2005 £17 for first month .At six months I nearly gave up not enough work then it went mad ended turning work away . dont expect miricles to start with .Do a good job for a fair price and word will get around