[simon knight]

I once knew a window cleaner that produced the worst results I have ever seen. He never possessed a scrim, and use old bar towels he cadged from a pub.
Over the years, this guy must have lost half of his new customers after the first couple of cleans, but he eventually ended up with a full round of non complaining customers and no stress.

If I take my car to the car wash, and pay a fiver, I don't expect to have my car valeted, and it would be unreasonable for me to do so, and that IMO is what this lady was, totally unreasonable, bad day or not she would have been dropped.
I have persevered with a few unreasonable customers over the years, and then find I am spending twice as long to do their windows for no extra cost. I used to worry in case they could find something to pick on, it's just not worth the effort or stress. DUMP and move on.
I never canvass for work, it all comes from personal referrals from existing customers. Dai

100% truth!

[nat]

More than you NWH!!  

I don't think its appropriate to share that info on here but its far greater than what one person could earn on their own. if you wish to gloat about how much cash you earn then thats up to you. i'm stating the fact that a successful business/team will earn you far much more money than a one person show! one person is limited to a certain amount each day even with the best and creamy work. if you have a winning formula you can keep building. i have a 10 year plan we can talk again then if you wish and we can share pound notes and hopefully you will still be in good health from all your work you have encountered over the past 10 years.

my business is not where i want it to be but it has doubled in turnover in 2007 and the aim is to keep going at the same rate each year for 10 years. tell me that you can grow and expand like that when your a one man show? i think not!!

[NWH]

I am not a 1 man band.

[nat]

what are we arguing about then?

[NWH]

How many staff do you have.

[nat]

why?

[NWH]

LOL.

[nat]

how many do you have?

[NWH]

Why.

[nat]

well then you fool!

[NWH]

 

[Village Gleam]

Come on you two you can do better than than that.You have to back your opinions with either logic or experience.

On another recent thread Ian Lancaster said that you had to beat 35%. This was the magic number needed for the ratio of paying an employee against money brought in.

The problem I have with this is that an employee must earn £210 to earn himself £70 for a days work, and very often I don't hit the higher figure myself. What do you say to that Nat?

[nat]

what i say to that is your not charging enough if all you can do is £210 a day on your own.

i really ain't going into more depth than that. otherwise an on slaught will start about gloating with how much money you should earn.

I've seen it happen before and i ain't getting caught in the middle of it...sorry!

[NWH]

Nat if you have say 3-4 staff with vehicles and equipment i take it your earning somewhere between 20-25k a month.

[nat]

read my last post!!

[Village Gleam]

I know what you mean about getting caught in the onslaught. I don't mind or disbelieve that you can out earn me. It's your basic expansion strategy that I'm interested in.

Several on here say they have been bigger but dropped back down to solo and earn more- Ian Giles the moderater has made comments to this effect-. Others like Helen and Dave seem to employ in a workmanlike way and chase contracts, while still others have franchisees.

You know enought about this forum to know that no ones going to believe you anyway so you might as wel just say. What's your secret Nat?

[nat]

What's your secret Nat?

If you've found a winning formula why would you want to share it? sorry but i don't wish to.

people can believe what they want it really don't bother me.

[Londoner]

I once knew a window cleaner that produced the worst results I have ever seen. He never possessed a scrim, and use old bar towels he cadged from a pub.
Over the years, this guy must have lost half of his new customers after the first couple of cleans, but he eventually ended up with a full round of non complaining customers and no stress.

If I take my car to the car wash, and pay a fiver, I don't expect to have my car valeted, and it would be unreasonable for me to do so, and that IMO is what this lady was, totally unreasonable, bad day or not she would have been dropped.
I have persevered with a few unreasonable customers over the years, and then find I am spending twice as long to do their windows for no extra cost. I used to worry in case they could find something to pick on, it's just not worth the effort or stress. DUMP and move on.
I never canvass for work, it all comes from personal referrals from existing customers. Dai

100% truth!

Yes I agree, 100% right

[P®oPole™]

The formular is easy to work out but not as easy to keep up with, mine is for eight years. 


Pro

[bluez]

I don't understand the reluctance to accept that window cleaning can be run as any other service business. I employ between 3 and 6 staff depending on the time of year and the volume of work. Now I will not try to tell you that everything is rosy all the time but the general idea is that if you can make 20 to 25% of the turnover of each employee and build up a valuable business that you would not be capable of doing on your own.