Hi Smudge,
I've e-mailed my documents to cleanitup admin who will hopefully put them in a down load area where you can get them from. If they don't, and you still want them - re-email me - and I'll send 'em on.
As for getting started into commercial - the best way is to advertise in the yellow pages, local pages, BT phone book. If a company wants to change its window cleaners - that's where they'll look. Then its down to you to sell yourself (not literally mind). It takes time though. It took 8 months of being in the local pages to get just ONE commercial contract. I thought it was a waste of time - but the contract I got was a huge one.
I've had nothing from the phone books since (apart from scattered about residential - most of whom I haven't taken on because they're not in my areas). But remember, advertising is tax deductable, so it's worth doing.
Word of mouth is also good and this comes from the residential part of your round. I've had numerous shops (and one pub) just from leafleting houses. I end up doing the houses and eventually the shops that the person owns/manages.
For window cleaning - I prefer houses. We do them quick and earn more money than we do from commercial properties. With large commercial properties, generally the cheapest quote wins. With residential - you charge what you want - if you dominate the area. The only pain with residential is collecting your money from lots of customers, where-as commericial, you only have one collection point. Commercial window cleaning can be done (as you probably know) in almost any weather, and often you have an 'inside' aspect you can save for a rainy day.
Anyway, good luck with your business - I'm sure you'll do well. Start with residential - they're easy to get and grow from there. A good leaflet helps (email me and I'll send one).
I do it with my missis and she's good at bringing in residential business. Potential customers tend to approach her and ask for a quote, probably because females seem less threatening than a male window cleaner. My missis is very fit (marathon runner) but she only does the bottoms. She's only 5' 1" tall and couldn't cope with a set of doubles.
I take it you're strong enough to carry a set of light trade double ladders around? If so - I'm impressed. If not, I'm still impressed. It's not a job many females go for. I've two young daughters and women who do traditional 'mens' jobs set them a good example that gender is not a bar to anything they want to do.
Take care and no more falling off ladders.
Tosh.