[scrimit2]

Hi, I posted a thread some time ago, titled "Madness" it was about having too much work and the continued bombardment of new work, I recieved a lot of great advice on here which helped me arrive at a decision  (I think) on how to make changes for the best.

so here goes, and please I would welcome further input and advice

I have around 350 jobs located in 10 villages/town, if the weather was perfect everyday and I felt capable of tearing trees up each day I could do them all in around a 5 week turnaround, but as we know the weather isnt always dry, and I don't always feel like superman

So the reality is I get around about once every 7 weeks, to extra dirty windows to clean, my prices need increasing as I havent put them up in ages, but because Im always behind I havent done it.

I think my options are 1) employ someone. (not had much luck with that one before) 2) buy a pole system (I gave this one loads of thought, but I think my customers are not quite ready for this yet)
3) cut down my round (this is one Im going to try)

I think Ive decided to give up around 50 jobs located the furthest from my house (which I wont find easy), they are no worse or no better than any other my work, I didnt know where to start really, but someone has asked me about selling that area, so it looks like the likely choice. and it means all my work is 10 minutes of my home, which is good in rural areas.

I then plan to increase my prices slightly on the rest of my work, and make further cuts in the amounts of jobs I have.

I really hate being behind with my work, but now days its just always like it, Im not not motivated by earning huge amounts, the thing is if Im going to implement my plan, I really must change my working mentality, I find it hard to say no to helping people, which has served me well in building my business, but now Ive created a monster,

I want to earn a living in around 3 days a week, working for people I like and provide them with an excellent service. the biggest obsticle to this is me being to easy going with people (this is where I need the help) I need to learn more about running and maintaining the business now, now the Ive been in the building phase far to long.

[paul mather]

I'm in a very similar situation, just in an area at the moment that was done 2 months ago and I can't remember the last time I lost a day through bad weather. I've considered taking someone on but frankly the only person I really trust to do a good job is me and don't want to spend my days working with someone I neither trust or like.
I've decided to go down the WFP road but do have some misgivings about it. My problem is I could get rid of some domestic work but then Murphys law says I will then probably lose some commercial work & I've cleaned windows too long to allow myself to get stuck without enough work.
So here goes with WFP, lets hope I'm not pouring £1500 down the drain.

[scrimit2]

good luck with that Paul, I agree totally with what you said about having someone to help, and as i said I gave wfp a lot of thought and if I make the changes I plan, the work Im left with will be bungalows and jobs more suited to wfp, if I decide to go down that route later.

my problem is actually telling the people, as I like them, and having too much work makes me feel more secure, but the reality is that more likely to lose work because being behind.

it is a tough call, but its better than not having enough work

[Chris Cottrell]

scrimit2


Have you thought of putting the customers that you dont really want on an "as and when" service telling them that for 25% more per clean they can manage the frequency and call you when they want a clean you could say you will do them within 14 days from when they call

this way some will go for it others may not, but the ones that do will be the people that value you're services

this way you get to keep most of your customers and not do them at the same time also when you do you earn 25% more

Chris

[scrimit2]

scrimit2


Have you thought of putting the customers that you dont really want on an "as and when" service telling them that for 25% more per clean they can manage the frequency and call you when they want a clean you could say you will do them within 14 days from when they call

this way some will go for it others may not, but the ones that do will be the people that value you're services

this way you get to keep most of your customers and not do them at the same time also when you do you earn 25% more

Chris

Thanks for that, I havent thought of doing that but will certainly give thought now, you see it really goes against my nature to turn work away or upset people, even if it costs me money and time. Im not really cut out for business, this I know,

[AuRavelling79]

OK - take your best 20% of customers (that pay well or are geographically close to you or both. Sift thru them and put the price up by a modest amount. (say 10%) Reason? Increasing fuel charges and bank charges over this last year.

Now take your "average customers" (say 60%) that are OK but not good enough to worry if you lost a few (that's partly the point of the exercise!) - bite the bullet and put them up between 15 and 25% - you'll lose some - perfect!

Your last 20% - either of

a) Drop a note in explaining that you have recently had a large customer greatly increase your workload (if integrity is important to you as it is to most of us then make sure it is an explanation that has a basis in fact) and that you need to ask some of your customers to only have their windows done every two months or as-and-when or whatever suits you.

b) Use a) above but sell them on for 1 or 2x the amount

c) Or if no-one wants to buy them give them away or tell 'em  that - sorry - you are dropping them completely.


This way you get less work and more money in your pocket.

It's just facing the nice old ladies that give you cuppa's and biscuits (and which are hence unprofitable) that's difficult. But you gotta do it to look after your financial needs. It's a business not a social charity.

[matt]

my customers expect me every 6 weeks

im WFP upstairs only, its great

i was last around 8 weeks ago

ive just put my prices up by 1 quid each house, expecting to lose a few, NOT 1 was lost

so now i am still 6 - 8 weeks (6 if i dont lose any days), BUT im better off

so my next stage come this winter is to pick select area's and go WFP upstairs and down, thus increase my money, speed up my work, every1 is happy

[windows_chepstow]

Yep, I agree with the above.

Two of us (although one is a part-timer) 320 cleans per month, and this is the first month this year that we've managed to stay on top of it all; and actually get ahead of ourselves.

A price increase combined with a good old customer 'cull' must be the way ahead. 

Remember, if you can't sell the culled customers, pass them onto another window cleaner or at least drop a letter off to your customers reccommending other local window cleaners.

If you don't, you'll get harrassed everytime you go shopping in Tescos and they catch you.

[Londoner]

I don't know how you work but if you are like the rest of us some serious organisation and planning will work wonders.

I speak as someone who feels like he spends half his time running around in ever decreasing circles and thinking "One of these days I'm going to get organised"

I've been thinking about a George system. Anyone got any views?

[Ian_Giles]

Bite the bullet and slap on a biggish price hike...big enough that some will tell you sorry, but we can't afford you any longer.

It isn't any point just putting them up a quid, it has to be a hefty price rise to ensure that some will in fact drop you.

Give them an explanation letter, apologies and so on but you have no option but to put up your prices for your work to remain financially viable.

You will be surprised at the size of price hike you'll need to have 10% of your customers to drop you too.

Consider changing over to WFP, you will almost certainly get through far more work without having to turn into superman to be able to do so.

I'd still hike up your prices though...it'll help pay for a WFP

Ian

[scrimit2]

yeah ive got george, its good.

Yeah I agree, it seems like I spend 2 weeks of the month not getting too much done, and not earning as much, its not that the jobs pay less its more to do with running around catching the jobs up.

[scrimit2]

Bite the bullet and slap on a biggish price hike...big enough that some will tell you sorry, but we can't afford you any longer.

It isn't any point just putting them up a quid, it has to be a hefty price rise to ensure that some will in fact drop you.

Give them an explanation letter, apologies and so on but you have no option but to put up your prices for your work to remain financially viable.

You will be surprised at the size of price hike you'll need to have 10% of your customers to drop you too.

Consider changing over to WFP, you will almost certainly get through far more work without having to turn into superman to be able to do so.

I'd still hike up your prices though...it'll help pay for a WFP

Ian

I like the sound of that, if I put £1 on each job in average, I would earn £350 more each time round, I think that would be £4200 a year!

[paul mather]

I don't know about you but there is some comfort in having too much work but it makes very little sense. The sensible thing to do is have 5 weeks work if you have a four week cycle just in case you need the extra cash one month and decide to put in some serious graft.
If you bite the bullet and get rid of your worst work you will ultimately earn more as you are spending your time on the better paying stuffand getting round it quicker
 But I'm too chicken to tell people face to face I normally print up something and shove it through their door and if you just ditch them you can guarantee that you bump into them 3 months later in Asdas.

[scrimit2]

there is one or two I bump into, I had good reason for dumping them but it still is a bit arward though

[paul mather]

"What you mean the guy who I asked to take over from me never came, you just can't rely on anybody these days" said I, as my nose grew and grew!!

[Paul Coleman]

"What you mean the guy who I asked to take over from me never came, you just can't rely on anybody these days" said I, as my nose grew and grew!!

Hahaha.  Yep.  I've done that one as well   

[paul mather]

It's nice to find someone else who can't say no. My big weakness is turning down cups of tea especially on days that you really need to get on.
Why do they never ask you if you want a drink when you first start it's always just as your finishing then their kettle seems t o take about 10 mins to boil as well.

[reah]

Hey
I have a lady that allways asks if i would like breakfast.
We start at 8.00 am it is a small close  of 20 houses and i do nearly the whole close by the time i get to her its about 9.30.
I did accept  toast once but that was not to offend her.
She does not stop to chat just lets us get on with it.
Another guy the other day just got in and asked if i would like a sandwich.
Other days it will be baking hot you have run out of drink no shops about and not a drink offerd funny old game.