[davids3511]

Hi All

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

I am seriously thinking of joining your ranks as a WC in my area. I currently run a small company selling items I import from China/USB and am making a living but only just. From an average of 65-70 hours a week, I am making about 1700 a month but would really love a change.

I am not afraid of hard work or cold weather, I spent a few years laboring on building sites in my younger years (only 10 years ago) and am aware how cold it can get.

My plan is to make my own DIY water fed pole and use that to do the job. I am aware of some of the other posts regarding summer window cleaners who will do a runner and won't do a very good job in the first place. I understand it will take a while to get the hang of but I do intend to do a good job and not do a runner at the first opportunity. I don't want to rule the world, just to make enough to be able to give my other business the boot.

In my area there is quite a lot of new builds in progress and there will be about 1000 new homes over the next two years. My plan is to regularly canvass these new homes in the hope of creating a decent round. I plan to offer payment options such as credit card (over the phone), cheque, internet banking and cash. I plan on a 4 weekly system but I understand some will not want that. I am hoping to be able to wash on the same day every 4 weeks so my customers slowly get used to the schedule..

Any advise, pointers or criticisms gratefully received.

David

PS Sorry for the long post.

[Ian Lancaster]

Hi David,

How about telling us something about yourself?  Like where you are based, how old you are etc..

You never know, there may be someone in your area with a surplus of work to get rid of

Cheers,

Ian

[Majestic]

Not much in your profile

[davids3511]

Hi

Sorry, in my keenness to get on the forum, I didn't put much detail in the profile. I am based in Timperley, North Cheshire (south Manchester), and am a 34 year old man.

I am interested in WC as a career because it is flexible (I can still drop my son to school as my wife starts work at 7.30am), outdoors, physical (I need the exercise) and in my mind, it is as busy as I want it to be (hopefully). If I have the room for more work I go and try to get it.

Thanks

David

[Ian Lancaster]

David, you've covered all the main points in your first post.

Advice:

Go for it!!

Be prepared to find that there's loads of window cleaners already in your chosen area.

Don't lose heart - keep canvassing.  As you canvass an area keep a record of the response (Yes/no/got a window cleaner already/will think about it/not in).  Canvass again until you get a definitive answer at each prospect.

Even then it's worth while trying again in a few months - people move, change their minds etc.

These days it's difficult to build a round quickly - it takes lots of time and effort, the trick is to keep at it until you reach your goal.

Set yourself targets and try to stick with them.

Don't worry too much about doing jobs on the same day each month, as you grow your round you'll need to reorganise it many times so you need to keep flexible.  Just tell your customers "It's every four weeks - never less than four but sometimes it could be a bit more depending on workload etc."

Good Luck

Cheers,

Ian

[Dave Turley]

with our weather, i would tell them 4-6 weeks 

[Moderator David@stives]

Hi David

Isnt Frank Sidebottom from Timperly ?

Dave

[david wood]

hi there david i water fed pole and some of my work is in hale a few min away from you if you want to see it in action or fancy a chat let me no 07788121602

[pylofm]

Hello David, I have been going for 45 weeks now and am enjoying it for the most part but thats just me.

The only piece of advice I have is to read every single thread on this window cleaning forum....it will take some time but it is very helpfull....

Cheers
Dave.

[davids3511]

Hi

Thanks for all the replies

Dave,
Yes, Frank is supposed to be a Timperley native. Didn't it all begin with 'Radio Timperley'?

woods_windows

That offer is very much appreciated. I would very much like to see it in action. I will give you a bell.

Thanks

David

[davids3511]

Hi Dave (pylofm)

Thanks for the reply.

How did you get the round together? Did you canvass like mad or post flyers or advertise in the local press. What sort of success rate did you have?

David

[Davew]

Dave, unless you buy a round your going to have to do two jobs at once to build up a round. When you have half a round built your then going to have to leap out of one job into another - that's the hardest bit. But if you manage it, it's all worthwhile.

[davids3511]

Hi Davew

The business I am trying to get out of is fairly flexible. I can sell as little as I need to so when (if) my round starts to grow I can cut back on the other, eventually winding it up completely.

Thanks

David

[pylofm]

Dave...if you look at my signature line at the bottom of this post...it will give you an idea of how I am doing...I only use leaflets and so far have put out around 16 thousand and currently have 132 customers and have another 110 to get me to a stage where I am really doing well.

If you really want my view...leaflets work but it would be better to leaflet area's and then follow up with canvassing....

Cheers
Dave.

[davids3511]

Yes, that is my plan. I am going to leaflet the new estates and follow up a few days later with a canvass. It's the canvassing I'm not looking forward to. I used to be in software sales and always hated cold calling. Back then it was for someone elses benifit though. Now it is for my benifit so needs must I suppose.

Thanks

David

[davids3511]

Just reread my original post. Who am I fooling, my younger years were not 10 years ago, they were 15 years ago. Doesn't time just fly!!

David

[Davew]

SIXTEEN THOUSAND leaflets? I havn't put out one leaflet yet and I have over 130 customers since the end of Feb. I honestly think something is going wrong with a return that low. Maybe where you are customers would like to see you in person before they commit? Many older people just don't trust people around here without seeing them first. Dave, that many leaflets would be from the floor to the ceiling and more if stacked on top of each other. I take my hat off to you for trying so hard. I don't think I could handle that rejection rate. Good luck.

[mark dew]

the best move you will make david.

start off traditional with ladders and scrim.
advertise in parish and church magazines to get a foot in the countryside.
use your own name and landline number when advertising.
pass on or drop awkward jobs or slow payers when you can.
get wfp and van
live happily ever after

[davids3511]

Cheers guys, thanks for all the replies and advise.

[colley614]

try and get a days work off a local window cleaner and then see if he would consider selling you some work. It worked for me