[colin bird]

Hi thanks for reading,I'm finding this year compared to others new business enquiries,very slow,
No enquiries on web site,no walk ups,basically dead
I am based in the south east and we have a lot of new builds going up,this seems to be attracting a lot of new window cleaners,I've been out canvassing picked up a few new jobs but not  like it was a couple of years ago.
Is any one else finding the same ? If yes what ideas do you have to generate new jobs?
Is window cleaning not the business it used to be ?
I've been going eleven years and it's not been like this before.
Thanks for reading

[John Mart]

My area is awash with WFP vans. Saturated here. Depending on the population of your town you may need to travel to nearby towns as some will be ripe and some will be dead. For example we picked up dozens in Wantage but virtually zero in Newbury (which is full of window cleaners) and where 70% of my work is.

[John Mart]

To add, with Facebook it’s in some senses a lot easier for new starters to pick up work. They don’t need to get off their arse.

[dazmond]

ive been picking up a few jobs here and there but im not actively seeking new work its all word of mouth,recommendation and walk ups....

i always get leaflets for window cleaning handed to me from existing customers,at least 5 or 6 times during the year so no different to usual....

if you want more work then target sold "for sale " signs.....leafleting and canvassing....

[Shrek]

Iv been getting more enquiries from commercial and residential customers, December & January was quiet which I’m glad about but things started to pick up again in February.
I think in business , if YOU stop trying then it will effect your business.
You mentioned walk up , web site enquiries - these are both things were  you are waiting for customers to come to you.
Maybe start being more proactive and start searching for customers , look at new ideas if the old ideas aren’t working anymore.

[cleaniac]

The type of customer is changing. Less and less prepared to commit to a regular service than a few years back.

Out of the 12 website  enquires I had this year so far, only 4 of them actually wanted to go onto a regular service 3 out of 4 choosing to go to a quarterly clean, all the others were one off requests which I didn't get or want anyway, the interesting thing is that these people had used several window cleaning companies in my local area before.  Social media enquiries are ignored now, as last year out of the 30 odd, every single one of them was looking for the cheapest price with no commitment.

I have said this before, window cleaning  saturated with guys starting up thinking they are going to make a fortune. Over the last 8 years I have seen a number of window cleaners start up, buy a flashy van with lots of thermo pure logos all over it, for them to pack it all up in 4 or 5 years.

This is why I am looking into other business ventures, as I do feel that in the next 5-10 years window cleaning will have changed to such an extent that you will need to supplement your income with something else, which is the way most things are going anyway.

Good news is for us who have established rounds, the value of them should increase with the demand for work going up.

[AuRavelling79]

It's not like the "old days of wfp" round here - and there is plenty of unskilled work for people in my side of Bristol on the Avonmouth warehouse/industrial estates. But the low sun and the good recent weather has brought in a few enquiries - I really am not trying at all and I am only interested in making my round "creamier" and I have had success in price increases!

However, for the first time in a couple of years, last week I had my daughter drop off leaflets while working alongside me in a long road of 60 houses that I have as compact work and I have about 20 of them. I asked her to not put leaflets in existing and "dumped" customers and I reckon she dropped off about 35 for me. Not one enquiry from it. So I guess that this  bit of my round is "saturated".

Also a few JW window cleaners have started up in the last couple of years as they have been asked to leave the London HQ or want to start up - they are usually part time - and I have had two JW window cleaners ask me if I have any work to sell (I haven't) which tells me that all is not sweetness and light anymore.

Do a good job, be reliable and you'll be OK.

[deeege]

It’s the ‘CleanItUp effect’. New guys lurking on here listening to people talking about earning £xxx hundreds of pounds a day then thinking they can buy a shiney new van/system and do the same. I’d hate to be starting up these days.

[Slacky]

I have found the amount of new enquiries is dramatically down too.

I reckon the majority of it is down to new boys in their vans running around. I live in a fairly nice area on the outskirts of Basingstoke and regularly now see plenty of window cleaning vehicles about. The other day 3 newish on the scene vans passed my house within 30 minutes of each other. Im sure the work is still out there, just its a little sparser than it was 5 years ago. In other words, you've got to go out and get it rather than it coming to you...

[Slacky]

Im getting new and fresh pressure washing enquires but gutter cleaning seems dead this year. Im assuming thats because of the dry winter we've had.

[Stoots]

The rapid growth of canvassing companies popping up everywhere and social media advertising etc it means that competition is getting higher and will continue to as more and more come into window cleaning.

The internet has been responsible for pushing prices down in all businesses and ours in no exception.

No longer can you sit on your backside and expect work to come to you, you have to be constantly looking for it with  either your time or your money. I budget £200 a month at the minute, some growth and some simply replacing drop offs.

[andyM]

A customer of mine who has been a Painter and Decorator for decades with a good reputation told me that so far this year this has been the quietest start to the year he has ever known since he has been in business.

[The Jester of Wibbly]

It definitely get worse year on year.   So many new ones pop up as see so many when out and about, but majority I never see again.    There are a handful I regulally see out and about. 

Facebook is a waste of time.   Every group or page you see someone trying to set up a wc business.  I would not want to start again. 

The phone has been busy this week as the sun comes out so its too early in the year to be too worried.

Supply and demand.   Supply has increased and demand has decreased which lowers the value of the job.

[The Jester of Wibbly]

Blame Brexit.   Thats what everyone one else does 

[dazmond]

The type of customer is changing. Less and less prepared to commit to a regular service than a few years back.

Out of the 12 website  enquires I had this year so far, only 4 of them actually wanted to go onto a regular service 3 out of 4 choosing to go to a quarterly clean, all the others were one off requests which I didn't get or want anyway, the interesting thing is that these people had used several window cleaning companies in my local area before.  Social media enquiries are ignored now, as last year out of the 30 odd, every single one of them was looking for the cheapest price with no commitment.

I have said this before, window cleaning  saturated with guys starting up thinking they are going to make a fortune. Over the last 8 years I have seen a number of window cleaners start up, buy a flashy van with lots of thermo pure logos all over it, for them to pack it all up in 4 or 5 years.

This is why I am looking into other business ventures, as I do feel that in the next 5-10 years window cleaning will have changed to such an extent that you will need to supplement your income with something else, which is the way most things are going anyway.

Good news is for us who have established rounds, the value of them should increase with the demand for work going up.

i disagree.....window cleaners were saying the same 10 years ago.....most of us have never had it so good in this game IMO....

[dazmond]

It’s the ‘CleanItUp effect’. New guys lurking on here listening to people talking about earning £xxx hundreds of pounds a day then thinking they can buy a shiney new van/system and do the same. I’d hate to be starting up these days.

yeah they start up and dont last long when they realise its takes years to build up a decent income week in/week out in this game.....

[AuRavelling79]

I'm moving to Dazmondland.

The world of gorgeous girlfriends, 5* hotels, perpetual holidays, gyms that turn you into a greek god and a positive attitude that would make duracell blush.

Oh and where sun-glasses are rose coloured!

 

[dazmond]

The rapid growth of canvassing companies popping up everywhere and social media advertising etc it means that competition is getting higher and will continue to as more and more come into window cleaning.

The internet has been responsible for pushing prices down in all businesses and ours in no exception.

No longer can you sit on your backside and expect work to come to you, you have to be constantly looking for it with  either your time or your money. I budget £200 a month at the minute, some growth and some simply replacing drop offs.

no you dont......i never advertise or very rarely go looking for new work and ive been picking up steady new jobs for many years,ive even built  entire new pockets of work with better prices in some areas over the last 7 or 8 years.....

the only advertising is sign written van and  logod workwear.....

by the way there are over 20 different window cleaning companies that i know of that work my areas too....

[dazmond]

I'm moving to Dazmondland.

The world of gorgeous girlfriends, 5* hotels, perpetual holidays, gyms that turn you into a greek god and a positive attitude that would make duracell blush.

Oh and where sun-glasses are rose coloured!

 

Its a good place to be......

[Shrek]

I welcome 8 weekly / quarterly cleans - charge more than a monthly clean and you’ll enjoy them