[Clean Cloth]

I used to have 15 four weekly residential jobs on this Monday coming.
Only 10 left now.
3 sent texts saying their businesses have come to a halt and husband furloughed, strapped for cash.
2 bungalows in the same road cancelled, I think from fear of catching Covid19.

With the lost commercial work things are looking grim right now.
Even if I am invited to apply for the grant it wont come close to lost earnings.

My business is only 2 years old and not as established as a lot of posters on here.

[simon w]

You need a more diverse customer base and always fill your work diary with more than you can handle so your bursting at the seams. This way your less likely to lose certain types of window cleaning work and if you do lose a portion your over subscribed and won't feel the loss anyway

[dazmond]

look for ways you can upsell and make more money out of your existing customer base whether it be f/s/g cleans,conny roofs,solar panels,etc.......look out for them next time you clean their windows if you need the work....

i had my worst day since the lockdown for skipped cleans yesterday but today has been great,customers really pleased to see me plus i picked up 2 new regular window cleaning jobs......

[andyM]

If i found myself in that position i would be:
Trying to get more customers
Up selling other cleaning services (conservatory roofs, upvc gutter/fascia/soffits, solar panels) to current customer base
Diversifying into other exterior maintenance such as grass cutting, hedge trimming, gutter clearing, gutter repairs, garden furniture cleaning, patio and drive way cleaning etc. etc.

[G Griffin]

He's trad, I think.

[Slacky]

Even if I am invited to apply for the grant it wont come close to lost earnings.

You're saying you've lost 80% of your profit? Because thats what the Govt will be giving you.

[Don Kee]

Even if I am invited to apply for the grant it wont come close to lost earnings.

You're saying you've lost 80% of your profit? Because thats what the Govt will be giving you.

In fairness, if he’s only two years in then there is a big chance his second year profits heavily out weigh his first years (the year they’ll work it out on)

There again, everyone will suffer in some way during this so I’m not sure (most) people can/should complain about getting a grant, it could be worse...it is for some.

[Clean Cloth]

Yes I am Trad.
I have some nice business cards that state I also clean out gutters, conservatory roofs and FSG.
Normally I would have had a few of those jobs by this time of year.

I did cut a lawn and painted a shed for someone this week. I know this can look bad, jack of all trades etc but hoping it will lead to more window cleaning customers.

I live in a small village and also have dropped leaflets in the surrounding villages but this area is saturated with window cleaners from here and the surrounding areas. Most new customers are either new to the area or messers than nobody else wants. I have dropped whole villages before and not got 1 call. I picked up a few where one had retired last year. Just lucky timing.

Correct Don Kee
1st year profits were 1500 ish (3 months)
2nd year profits were 6500 ish
So 4000 ish 80% 3200 266 a month.
2019/2020 profits were higher but they don't count towards the grant.

The grant would help cover the lost commercial work and inside work so yes I am grateful for that but just concerned that the longer this goes on the more will drop out.
I know it can always be worse and some are a lot worse off than me.

[G Griffin]

Ask can you be put on hold rather than cancelled.
Maybe do a free clean or two (or upstairs, fronts etc) to maintain some contact and build some goodwill?
Maybe get a part-time/temporary job to tide you over?

[jk999]

Just finished my 5th week and to be honest probably had about ten cancelled till this is all over but in all honesty i think it depends on what part of country you live in if i lived down London honestly i wouldn't even go out to work with it being worst affected area

[jk999]

Free clean why would you do that with the current situation everyone s in 

[MrChurchMouse]

You need a more diverse customer base and always fill your work diary with more than you can handle so your bursting at the seams. This way your less likely to lose certain types of window cleaning work and if you do lose a portion your over subscribed and won't feel the loss anyway

What would he do though if he did this and then there ended up being no cancellations and they all wanted it done?  Probably wouldn't matter too much in summer when you can work later but in winter when it gets dark early it could be a problem. 

[G Griffin]

Free clean why would you do that with the current situation everyone s in 

To keep a valued customer on the books? As long as you've got the time.
Look at it as furloughing a customer .

[simon w]

You need a more diverse customer base and always fill your work diary with more than you can handle so your bursting at the seams. This way your less likely to lose certain types of window cleaning work and if you do lose a portion your over subscribed and won't feel the loss anyway

What would he do though if he did this and then there ended up being no cancellations and they all wanted it done?  Probably wouldn't matter too much in summer when you can work later but in winter when it gets dark early it could be a problem.

Work your socks off and graft. Take on an employee and expand perhaps

[jk999]

I dont offer free cleans dont need to been i game to long i would rather them sit the clean out

[G Griffin]

I dont offer free cleans dont need to been i game to long i would rather them sit the clean out

I wasn't suggesting that you do it.
It was for Clean Cloth who has lost some work in a small village due to the pandemic.

[Slacky]

Ive lost about £1K for each cycle of the round  so far, there'll probably be more to go, it would foolish to think otherwise; I'll happily take what the Govt is offering and work at the same time.


When Im asked by punters 'hows it going with all this thats going on', I grimace and reply 'I'll get by, thanks for asking....' and traipse off looking dejected.

[dazmond]

I dont offer free cleans dont need to been i game to long i would rather them sit the clean out

I cleaned 2 elderly customers houses for free last week.......it made me feel good.......these have been on my books for over 25 years......👍

[dazmond]

Looks like I'm down around £150 a month at the moment from skipped/suspended cleans but I've also put up lots of prices in March so this coupled with some new regular jobs as well as a few one off add ons I'm not losing out on any income......

[Splash & dash]

We are down about 2:5 k per month on commercial stuff we will get it all back once this is over but but they are hotels and have said they don’t plan to reopen this year , no domestic work affected