[Paul Clapham]

I run a small carpet cleaning business , and I am thinking of setting my 21 year old son  up with his own full time business as a window cleaner this summer when he finishes Uni.

As a family we know how to run a business etc , but my main question is about "door knocking " and  canvassing , if you knock on a door and the home owner tells you they have a window cleaner do you say Ok thanks and move on, or try to find out what the other guy is charging and convert that customer over to you , I am not interested in trying to start price wars or dropping to very low prices to win business over as nobody wins by doing that !

On the estate we live on there are about 100 houses and about 3or4 window cleaners clean on the estate, would it be seen as "unprofessional " for one window cleaner to try and win over all the house holds? or is that how most of you working by "sharing" areas as you know that you cannot clean 100% of houses on an estate / street / area.

cheers , Paul.

[tlwcs]

Hey Paul,
Should the first question not be does my son want to be a window cleaner.
If his hearts not in it your wasting your time canvassing.
Can you not send him out with someone local to gain some experience?
Tony

[Michael Peterson]

dont look for just your estate to set up a viable business you will have to knock upon thousands upon thousands of doors, many times, i prefer not to work on my own doorstep.

dont try to convert customers or undercut EVER

[C o z y]

dont look for just your estate to set up a viable business you will have to knock upon thousands upon thousands of doors, many times, i prefer not to work on my own doorstep.

dont try to convert customers or undercut EVER

Good post

[ben M]

i wouldn't like my son to be a window cleaner, he is a clever boy, he deserve much better!

[Johnny B]

Has your son told you that he wants to go into window cleaning? If so, what plans has he made regarding getting the project off the ground?

When canvassing, if I am told they have a window cleaner already, I just thank them for their time and move on.

I was canvassing some shops the other day, and only targeted those who clearly weren't being cleaned at all, even though I noticed others that had had a really poo job done on them!

Don't go out to get another guy's work. Once you are seen regularly doing a good job, you will likely be approached by the customer anyway.

John 

[Paul Clapham]

Not thinking about working on our estate or even our village ( I don't even advertise here as a carpet cleaner )

He is prepared to  do it  IF he cannot find work we are just working on a "backup plan" , his main aim is to get into politics, he is a very clever lad and is studying Politics , Philosophy and Economics  and is expected to get a high 2:1,

And at the end of the day if it dose not work out or he gets the job he really wants I won't lose any money as I can sell the van and kit and maybe even a window cleaning round! or do it my self  we will just see how it pans out .

[Nick_Thompson]

Just reverse the situation.  How would you feel Ben if, after you had canvassed for your son's round, you found out that someone else was going around and purposely trying to aquire your customers by under cutting your price?

When I started window cleaning I was informed that it was an absolute no no, and in my opinion,  rightfully so.

[DG Cleaning]

Seems a lot of messing about just in case he doesn't find work.
Has a thought of doing a gap year?
You're a long time working.
I did it but mine lasted several years

[robertphil]

as said its a lot of hassle , plus at least a year till you start earning decently after paying off the van /getting rid of the bulk of the messers etc .
  if was in your shoes id start a small Ebay biz  that can be run by a boffin

[windiewasher]

I wouldnt undercut people else you will have a war on your hands.
If someone has a window cleaner you smile and walk away.

[colin purewater]

i wouldn't like my son to be a window cleaner, he is a clever boy, he deserve much better!
[/quot

  why? my sister us a doctor i earn more than her...

[ben M]

i wouldn't like my son to be a window cleaner, he is a clever boy, he deserve much better!
[/quot

  why? my sister us a doctor i earn more than her...

nothing to do about money colin!

[colin purewater]

Everything boils down to money at the end of the day mate

It makes the world go round!

[ben M]

Everything boils down to money at the end of the day mate

It makes the world go round!

not for me mate!

[colin purewater]

Everything boils down to money at the end of the day mate

It makes the world go round!

not for me mate!

That's what rich people say   

[ben M]

Everything boils down to money at the end of the day mate

It makes the world go round!

not for me mate!

That's what rich people say   

i wish i was 

[mark turton]

why arent you taking your son on as a trainee in your business or passing some cc work to him once his up to speed. i appreciate you wanting to help get your son established and up and running but like otheres mentioned here in threads, if hes not committed to it then youll just be ping in the wind.

i like to see anybody who wants opportunity to show some gritty graft and determination to achieve before id take them seriously, family or not.

i have helped family members in the past  (just a few thousand over the years)
only one has made something of it. and tat one has never thanked me or paid a penny back.

leaves a bitter taste in your mouth and sowered and estranged relationship.

[steve rix]

I run a small carpet cleaning business , and I am thinking of setting my 21 year old son  up with his own full time business as a window cleaner this summer when he finishes Uni.

As a family we know how to run a business etc , but my main question is about "door knocking " and  canvassing , if you knock on a door and the home owner tells you they have a window cleaner do you say Ok thanks and move on, or try to find out what the other guy is charging and convert that customer over to you , I am not interested in trying to start price wars or dropping to very low prices to win business over as nobody wins by doing that !

On the estate we live on there are about 100 houses and about 3or4 window cleaners clean on the estate, would it be seen as "unprofessional " for one window cleaner to try and win over all the house holds? or is that how most of you working by "sharing" areas as you know that you cannot clean 100% of houses on an estate / street / area.

cheers , Paul.

I think the same as most, get him to do a month or so with a established windy, if its for him proceed. When canvassing just say thanks for you time and walk away, unless they say they are not happy with present cleaner. Decide what your prices are going to be ( rough guide £20/25 ph) and stick to them,  stress the advantages of you ie reliability, insured references if required etc. if you find you are not getting any work try a little lower, but not much. Never undercut another windy it looks like you are unprofessional and desperate for work. Most areas have several windys and mostly they get on fine.
If after a few months your son doesn't want to carry on you will have an asset to sell valued at between 3 an 6 months turnover (some will say 10 times but never in my life have I come accross anyone paying that much for what is only good will)
Whatever you do I wish you luck and keep us informed
regards Steve

[Ian Lancaster]

if you knock on a door and the home owner tells you they have a window cleaner do you say Ok thanks and move on, or try to find out what the other guy is charging and convert that customer over to you

I try to avoid the situation altogether.  I knock and say something like: "Good evening, my name is Ian Lancaster, I run a local window cleaning service and I've knocked to ask if you would like a quotation."

I never ask if they already have a window cleaner, I don't want to know.  If they want to tell me they have, then I take that as a no and move on.  If they say they would like a quote then I give them one.  I don't know if they already have a window cleaner or if they have how much that window cleaner charges - I'm not interested.  I know how much I want for doing the job and I say so.  If I'm cheaper than their current one I haven't undercut him, I've just given the householder the quote they requested.  I may or may not get the job.  I may or may not be cheaper.  I may even get the job if I'm more expensive.

Whatever the situation I haven't undercut any existing window cleaner so I've behaved ethically.

I try to behave in the way that I would hope any other window cleaner would if he were canvassing an area where I have work.