[dazmond]

Luckily for me I started to implement most of these things last year.....

1.no more evening collecting
2.encourage online payment with new slips with bank details on.
3.card machine for contactless,chip and PIN payments.
4.virtual terminal for taking payments over the phone.
5.gather more contact numbers from customers.
6.no inside window cleaning
7.90% domestic/10% commercial work.

I think these things have helped a lot with running my business in this current crisis.....

[Pete Thompson]

Can’t believe you are still collecting!

And payments over the phone? Way too time consuming. (Not to mention the cost)

I offer cash on the day, cheque (by post), and bank transfer. Nothing else.

If you offer 20 different payment methods, a few will use all of them at great inconvenience and cost to you (such as payment over the phone!)

If you offer just the ones that mean you don’t have to do anything, then they all will use them, and you er don’t have to do anything.

[Arnold Palmer]

Luckily for me I started to implement most of these things last year.....

1.no more evening collecting - No collecting whatsoever. Online payment or no clean
2.encourage Insist online payment with new slips with bank details on.
3.card machine for contactless,chip and PIN payments.
4.virtual terminal for taking payments over the phone.
5.gather more contact numbers from customers.
6.no inside window cleaning
7.90% domestic/10% commercial work.

I think these things have helped a lot with running my business in this current crisis.....

Pretty much the same. But also:

Strict working hours (we used to start at 8ish but with everyone at home we've changed it to 10)
No old folks homes.
Texts and emails to everyone we have details for the night before.

[Don Kee]

Luckily for me I started to implement most of these things last year.....

1.no more evening collecting - No collecting whatsoever. Online payment or no clean
2.encourage Insist online payment with new slips with bank details on.
3.card machine for contactless,chip and PIN payments.
4.virtual terminal for taking payments over the phone.
5.gather more contact numbers from customers.
6.no inside window cleaning
7.90% domestic/10% commercial work.

I think these things have helped a lot with running my business in this current crisis.....

Pretty much the same. But also:

Strict working hours (we used to start at 8ish but with everyone at home we've changed it to 10)
No old folks homes.
Texts and emails to everyone we have details for the night before.

Think you’ll be fine starting around 9ish Soups.
Everyone seems to be up and about by then over the last few weeks.

Just remember, little kids are still waking parents up and a lot of people are working from hone so need to be up.
Plus, less chance of kids running around gardens pre 10am (will help your lads keep to social distancing measures!)

[deeege]

Luckily for me I started to implement most of these things last year.....

1.no more evening collecting - No collecting whatsoever. Online payment or no clean
2.encourage Insist online payment with new slips with bank details on.
3.card machine for contactless,chip and PIN payments.
4.virtual terminal for taking payments over the phone.
5.gather more contact numbers from customers.
6.no inside window cleaning
7.90% domestic/10% commercial work.

I think these things have helped a lot with running my business in this current crisis.....

Pretty much the same. But also:

Strict working hours (we used to start at 8ish but with everyone at home we've changed it to 10)
No old folks homes.
Texts and emails to everyone we have details for the night before.

I’d look at starting at your usual time tbh.  I’m finding the mornings far better than the afternoons. Loads of kids and parents using the gardens in the afternoons, wanting to chat and generally getting in the way.

Also why no old folks homes? I’ve been given the go ahead to carry on with my nursing homes, external only of course. The oldies have well and truly locked themselves away so no issues there.

[zesty]

Collecting?

Haven’t done that for years Daz, where you been?

[swanson]

Never collected in my life.
I offer  BACS ,cheque, or cash.

[NWH]

Can’t believe you are still collecting!

And payments over the phone? Way too time consuming. (Not to mention the cost)

I offer cash on the day, cheque (by post), and bank transfer. Nothing else.

If you offer 20 different payment methods, a few will use all of them at great inconvenience and cost to you (such as payment over the phone!)

If you offer just the ones that mean you don’t have to do anything, then they all will use them, and you er don’t have to do anything.

I haven’t collected for 25 years.

[tlwcs]

Daz is late to most things, then bangs on like he invented them.
Wouldn’t change him though 😁

[dazmond]

Can’t believe you are still collecting!

And payments over the phone? Way too time consuming. (Not to mention the cost)

I offer cash on the day, cheque (by post), and bank transfer. Nothing else.

If you offer 20 different payment methods, a few will use all of them at great inconvenience and cost to you (such as payment over the phone!)

If you offer just the ones that mean you don’t have to do anything, then they all will use them, and you er don’t have to do anything.

im not collecting anymore........ ive been doing this job for 27 years and phased it out last september......it had been dwindling for years.........

as for payment methods id say at the moment its

60% BACS(preferred method of payment)
20% cash
15% card payments(including a couple of payments over the phone)
4% standing order
1% cheque

[dazmond]

soupy ive been starting at my normal time........9am(ish)...no problems....im normally finished by  3pm though........

[Arnold Palmer]

soupy ive been starting at my normal time........9am(ish)...no problems....im normally finished by  3pm though........

Today was a bit of a false start. Everything and everyone was a bit rusty.

[SB Cleaning]

I did all that years ago.

[P @ F]

Not interested in 3 and 4 but have done all the others years ago too !

[Arnold Palmer]

Luckily for me I started to implement most of these things last year.....

1.no more evening collecting - No collecting whatsoever. Online payment or no clean
2.encourage Insist online payment with new slips with bank details on.
3.card machine for contactless,chip and PIN payments.
4.virtual terminal for taking payments over the phone.
5.gather more contact numbers from customers.
6.no inside window cleaning
7.90% domestic/10% commercial work.

I think these things have helped a lot with running my business in this current crisis.....

Pretty much the same. But also:

Strict working hours (we used to start at 8ish but with everyone at home we've changed it to 10)
No old folks homes.
Texts and emails to everyone we have details for the night before.

I’d look at starting at your usual time tbh.  I’m finding the mornings far better than the afternoons. Loads of kids and parents using the gardens in the afternoons, wanting to chat and generally getting in the way.

Also why no old folks homes? I’ve been given the go ahead to carry on with my nursing homes, external only of course. The oldies have well and truly locked themselves away so no issues there.

Not nursing homes, old folks homes, like sheltered housing run by the council. We'd need to go in and virtually none of them pay online.

It looks like the council have sent a facilities management company to clean them all anyway. Made a complete arse of it by the sounds of it, I've had at least 10 complaints, people thinking it was us.

[Mike Burd]

Luckily for me I started to implement most of these things last year.....

1.no more evening collecting - No collecting whatsoever. Online payment or no clean
2.encourage Insist online payment with new slips with bank details on.
3.card machine for contactless,chip and PIN payments.
4.virtual terminal for taking payments over the phone.
5.gather more contact numbers from customers.
6.no inside window cleaning
7.90% domestic/10% commercial work.

I think these things have helped a lot with running my business in this current crisis.....

Pretty much the same. But also:

Strict working hours (we used to start at 8ish but with everyone at home we've changed it to 10)
No old folks homes.
Texts and emails to everyone we have details for the night before.

Obviously for some time we’ve always made sure we have full contact details before taking on a new customer, but those we haven’t we’ve been writing to to get them. Because we’re not putting bills through it was necessary. The admin side of this has been massive to be honest.

[Stoots]

Starting a bit later at 9 rather than 8:30. Which still feels too early.

And messaging everyone night before telling them ill be round but if they want to skip no problem.  So far doing this the vast majority that have chosen to skip are new customers or flakey ones/slow payers etc. Ive removed half of them from my round.

Main thing thats different is I'm not doing as much and running further behind as I just cba with the terrible parking and hassle of people in the way.

I wish I had everyone's contact number, I've probably 5 to 10 % that I don't and it's making it awkward, either just turn up and do them or miss them out for a few months. Considering sending a letter out to these asking for contact numbers and to let them know what's going on.

Card payments, I bought one of them reader's over a year ago never used it. I'm online payments only. Stopped offering Go cardless since they put the prices up, bacs is cheaper and as long as you have a mob number easy enough to send reminders with one click via  text local.

[dazmond]

I'm absolutely bang on time on all my work apart from a few skipped cleans obviously.....most work is turn up and clean so no need to message them the night before,the ones I do I tell them I'm coming to clean their windows,not ask if they want them doing......

I dont take on any new work if they dont text me first with their name and address.....

Its amazing how many walk ups ask for a card and dont get in contact with me!if they cant be bothered then neither can I!👍

[Stoots]

When people ask for a card it usually means they are not interested.

"how much do you charge"

Then

"oh, ok can I take a card and I'll be in touch"

Just too polite to say no that's too much, if they want a cleaner they will usually ask when can you do it. People who want them doing don't tend to ask for a card they want to book in or have them done there and then.

I always think when asked for a card, I don't why I'm bothering giving you one.

[Stoots]

I'm absolutely bang on time on all my work apart from a few skipped cleans obviously.....most work is turn up and clean so no need to message them the night before,the ones I do I tell them I'm coming to clean their windows,not ask if they want them doing......

I dont take on any new work if they dont text me first with their name and address.....

Its amazing how many walk ups ask for a card and dont get in contact with me!if they cant be bothered then neither can I!👍

Yeh I could be up to date if I wanted but I've a huge feeling of cant be bothered  since this thing began, it's just not the same.