[Jo - Jmr Cleaning]

Hi  everyone.

I was just wondering if anyone knew of any national cleaning companies who sub contract work out.

I have a friend who has been a locksmith for sometime and he is registered with national locksmith companies who send him 2 or three jobs a month. He admits that the arrangement isn't going to make him rich but it tides him over during the quiet times and it builds contacts which he can develop later on.

I just wondered if the same exists for domestic/commercial cleaning?

Jo

[gordonswindows]

Hi Jo

We try and try to work with the nationals but they don't help themselves......they offer peanuts and take a long long time to pay but when they want things done they want them done NOW. They will have to change the way they work if they wish to make it successful, it seemed so easy in the beginning.........quote for a national contract but don't employ any window cleaners just sub it out across the country, pay the "local windies" pennies and rake in the profits.

But its not working like that the tide has already turned and national contracts are being broken down to smaller areas with the work being given to locals directly.

If they had only been more organised,experienced and upfront the system would have suited so many and we all may have made money

Cheers

Gordon

[Rob_Mac]

The nature of the works unfortunately.

Ability and end product very rarely come into the requirements.

We get phone calls to clean substantial car parks, when asking when the usual answer is 'tomorrow'

An average supermarket car park will be over 10 000m2. I have been to Wandsworth today and have two floors of car park to price up. Lots to do and not helped by no immediate water supply - the job still wants doing and must be done.

Not getting the money before a three month wait is the least of my problems.

You will wait and I am still waiting for a large payment from York in May but everyone in the chain below me has been paid.

I have another from Romford that will be invoiced tonight, a payment certificate will be emailed and I can put it to their accounts department - Darren from Purple Rhino is waiting for a payment off this,  should be settled this week.

It is a game, not a nice one but if you can put up with it and get the no notice jobs done the rewards should be worthwhile.

Rob

[TN Cleaning Services Ltd]

I do a lot of work with the Mainstream companies, I've never had a problem with them
built up a good working relationship with them and get calls from area managers who I have got to know over time working with them.
all over the country with requests all the time as they refer me on to each other
from previous works carried out.
A lot of times they even ring me for advice as they don't understand processes of different cleaning methods or alternative ways of doing things etc.
I don't sub the work out to locals because that way you cant guarantee standards of work
unless you physically check everything yourself anyway.
I haven't found that they pay peanuts,
I charge what I charge and they add their margins.
Most companies have a Month of work then another Month turnaround time for being paid,
That's just life
Tim.

[TheWindowManChris]

We started to get a few sub jobs from FM companies.

I operate a 30 day payment and if payment not paid I add Intrest and chase them for payment.   I would say if your going start doing sub-contract work I would advice to have some spare cash in your bank.

With other company they pay half up front and half once completed.

[Aqua Power Solutions]

Jo, i agree with Rob & Gordon. Working for any National Company . Firstly must be flexible to work round their diagram . Your initial out lay for labour costs,equipment hire,accommodation,fuel ect because when  the job is complete forget about getting paid for an average of 3 months. If you can do that,then you can earn a decent sum if you price it correctly. Ed

[TheWindowManChris]

Jo, i agree with Rob & Gordon. Working for any National Company . Firstly must be flexible to work round their diagram . Your initial out lay for labour costs,equipment hire,accommodation,fuel ect because when  the job is complete forget about getting paid for an average of 3 months. If you can do that,then you can earn a decent sum if you price it correctly. Ed

I only let them do 3 monthly payments if I am doing a On-going project with them or any one-offs are just 30 day credit.    However Goverment & Councils are a HEADACHE for getting paid and it all due to the got 40 people doing the same thing.

[Jo - Jmr Cleaning]

Thanks for all the info guys.

It may be something that we may consider in the future. Clearly everyone is trying to make a living so it will always have its pro's and con's.

Thanks again.

Jo

[BDCS]

I've subbed for various large nationals and have knocked them all on the head. Mitie are a shower of merchant bankers, the big drain firms are worse (Able, Econorod, European waste solutions ) but I do most of the Kent county council gypsy site drains and cannot complain about the council who pay promptly and most of the residents. If subbing works for you then fine but on the whole I swerve it but I have no problem in filling the diary    

[Rob_Mac]

This is partly why I am going in reverse - back to the more local & residential.

I still see the national works as extremely important and I will continue to do them, as they pay well (for me all the other headaches are worth putting up with).

The wet blasting & drain jetting will link to the national works but will be marketed locally, so we wont chase these services commercially but will do them if asked.

On the site visit to Wandsworth yesterday, I told the client that we have the Farrow System and he said leave it with me because the lower car park wants reconfiguring and all the white lines want burning/taking off and it costs us an absolute fortune. Possibly the right place and the right time, with a little bit of offering a service, without being direct

Not suited to me as I want to get the blasting set up in a vehicle but if the works come in then I am going to do them and will worry about VOSA getting hold of my a*se again, if that happens.

'Sorry Mr VOSA man - I didn't realise I couldn't tow this trailer into London, from Stoke on Trent, No No No it is not for commercial purposes, just helping a friend out that has just paid for it, honest!!!!!'

Rob

[TheWindowManChris]

This is partly why I am going in reverse - back to the more local & residential.

I still see the national works as extremely important and I will continue to do them, as they pay well (for me all the other headaches are worth putting up with).

The wet blasting & drain jetting will link to the national works but will be marketed locally, so we wont chase these services commercially but will do them if asked.

On the site visit to Wandsworth yesterday, I told the client that we have the Farrow System and he said leave it with me because the lower car park wants reconfiguring and all the white lines want burning/taking off and it costs us an absolute fortune. Possibly the right place and the right time, with a little bit of offering a service, without being direct

Not suited to me as I want to get the blasting set up in a vehicle but if the works come in then I am going to do them and will worry about VOSA getting hold of my a*se again, if that happens.

'Sorry Mr VOSA man - I didn't realise I couldn't tow this trailer into London, from Stoke on Trent, No No No it is not for commercial purposes, just helping a friend out that has just paid for it, honest!!!!!'

Rob

Why can't you take a trailer into London from SToke on Trent?

[BDCS]

Its more than 3.5 tonne all up and more than 50km from base so "should" have a taco fitted.

[Darranvps]

The nature of the works unfortunately.

Ability and end product very rarely come into the requirements.

We get phone calls to clean substantial car parks, when asking when the usual answer is 'tomorrow'

An average supermarket car park will be over 10 000m2. I have been to Wandsworth today and have two floors of car park to price up. Lots to do and not helped by no immediate water supply - the job still wants doing and must be done.

Not getting the money before a three month wait is the least of my problems.

You will wait and I am still waiting for a large payment from York in May but everyone in the chain below me has been paid.

I have another from Romford that will be invoiced tonight, a payment certificate will be emailed and I can put it to their accounts department - Darren from Purple Rhino is waiting for a payment off this,  should be settled this week.

It is a game, not a nice one but if you can put up with it and get the no notice jobs done the rewards should be worthwhile.

Rob

Hi Rob we are owed so much it doesn't matter any more although I do ask for percentage up front from new large customers and surprisingly had a 25% payment for nearly 7k last week and a 50% payment of 8k today - never asked before but now i do all the time and most seem OK about it - weird twenty eight years in business and only just figured this out  

You only owe me a small amount and its not even been a month yet - so don't worry about it  

[TheWindowManChris]

The nature of the works unfortunately.

Ability and end product very rarely come into the requirements.

We get phone calls to clean substantial car parks, when asking when the usual answer is 'tomorrow'

An average supermarket car park will be over 10 000m2. I have been to Wandsworth today and have two floors of car park to price up. Lots to do and not helped by no immediate water supply - the job still wants doing and must be done.

Not getting the money before a three month wait is the least of my problems.

You will wait and I am still waiting for a large payment from York in May but everyone in the chain below me has been paid.

I have another from Romford that will be invoiced tonight, a payment certificate will be emailed and I can put it to their accounts department - Darren from Purple Rhino is waiting for a payment off this,  should be settled this week.

It is a game, not a nice one but if you can put up with it and get the no notice jobs done the rewards should be worthwhile.

Rob

Hi Rob we are owed so much it doesn't matter any more although I do ask for percentage up front from new large customers and surprisingly had a 25% payment for nearly 7k last week and a 50% payment of 8k today - never asked before but now i do all the time and most seem OK about it - weird twenty eight years in business and only just figured this out  

You only owe me a small amount and its not even been a month yet - so don't worry about it  

I now understand did not realise it was a 3.5tn vechial

Plus I always ask for a % upfront for anything over £1,000 and most people are happy with it too and with the few who don't like it and I just say 'Its our Terms and If you don't like it then don't use us'  I of course put it in better phrased!

[Rob_Mac]

WindowmanChris

You really do talk a load of crap!

Rob

[Rob_Mac]

Are you busy Darren?

Rob

[chris scott]

WindowmanChris

You really do talk a load of crap!

Rob

caldera llamada olla negro

[Rob_Mac]

You'd know all about that, hello !!

Rob

[TheWindowManChris]

WindowmanChris

You really do talk a load of crap!

Rob

I know!   Should properly not of sniffed the glue

In all Seriousness - Defo Take a % of work over £5,000 does your cash flow a world of things!

[Rob_Mac]

It doesn't matter which way round I put this -

Chris are you related to Chris?

Rob