[cat9921]

2007 Will always be special to me. In Jan of this year I went over to WFP.
 
So what I would like to ask is whats been the highlights of the year for you lot,, Ups and downs
 
 
UPS
 
For me it was finding out about reach & wash I have learned more in the past 12 months than in the last 15 years of window cleaning     
 
Downs
 
Finding out the hard way of what sort of customers I had. and the constant battle of getting down when you are trying to offer them a way of cleaning windows that makes it stay cleaner and all they go on about is the windows are wet       
 
Over to you lot, Whats been the Highlights 

[jampot]

im a about a year behind you cat 
hopefully this time next year i will be posting the same sort of things,   

anyway my high was getting the net and finding out about wfp.
so a bigggggggggg thank you to all you guys and a happy and busy  new year


jampot

[pingu]

2007 has been fantastic...I only get customers via leaflets or word of mouth, this is a way I prefer...aimed to get 100 new customers this year..achieved 111, also managed to add 10,000 euros to the annual turnover as predicted in 'George' when I ran the forcast on the 01/01/07...

Dumped 11, 7 dropped us, 3 moved (1 came back when they got their new house), 2 suspended (1 came back after major house extension, other one expected to come back after building work).

Ups:
===

Now being in a position to pay the bills without using savings.

Being able to go on holiday this coming January.

More of a level head with regard to customers and their ways (getting better anyway ).

Downs:
=====

Started this year with a bit of a bad attitude, hence why I dumped so many customers early on in the year when they played games.

Knowing that I have so far to go.


All in all a very good year...

Thanks to all on this forum who have guided me on the way to where I am today...even when the answers and statements on this forum are not what I want to hear...it is always good to hear another view point as these sometimes are the ones that trigger an idea or another way of dealing with an issue, problem etc...So thanks to all....even you Mr. Mills.

I will raise a glass to you all when I am laid out spread eagle like a roasted pig on a beach in Thailand in a couple of weeks  ..

Cheers and busy, busy to you all in 2008.
Dave.

[LWC]

2007 has been the busiest (spelling?) year for me ever. last december got rid of the guy i worked with as he winged about WFP every day and made my life hell, january was the start out on my own again, january was very very poor, my clutch, alternator, battery went, it snowed meaning i couldnt get out of the house for a week, then after about 5 weeks not working, went out to fill my van up and the frost had smahsed my RO. there and then i was about to give up. sell up and go elsewhere.

anyway, middle of february brought a new begining, i started working with another cleaning company and they have helped me soooo much, and i have to thank them for alot!

i decided to go full professional, the van was already sign written, so then and got a uniform. then made a website. work started coming and coming and coming. ive done lots of different cleaning. not just windows and has kept me mega busy.

i now have no problem in going to price up big jobs. last year i wouldve gone a looked, but i wouldve been nervous about going. tommorow im going to price a hotel with 55 premier rooms, its huge, and i dont have a problem with going at all, im actually excited about it!

i have earned double last years earnings already and we got to get to april yet!

i have resolutions next year, get my day organised, gone out and got a diary so im know what im up to. look after my accounts better, but i have just got an accountant for that. new van, i have 2 employees lined up. and when it gets bigger one more. so that mean 3 people under me. 2 in my old van and me and another in the new van...i seriously cannot wait to get this all rolling. things are going to be good in 2008!

[Paul Coleman]

2007 Will always be special to me. In Jan of this year I went over to WFP.
 
So what I would like to ask is whats been the highlights of the year for you lot,, Ups and downs
 
 
UPS
 
For me it was finding out about reach & wash I have learned more in the past 12 months than in the last 15 years of window cleaning     
 
Downs
 
Finding out the hard way of what sort of customers I had. and the constant battle of getting down when you are trying to offer them a way of cleaning windows that makes it stay cleaner and all they go on about is the windows are wet       
 
Over to you lot, Whats been the Highlights 

It's been the year that I feel that I've finaly turned the corner financially - thanks to WFP and a more positive attitude.  It's nice to be starting to chip away at my debts rather than worrying about the ever increasing burden.  At the moment I'm only chipping away at them.  Come next Spring/Summer I will be starting to take a sledgehammer to them.
Funnily enough, I don't have a huge increase in customer numbers either.  It's just that I've taken on better work and poorer work has gradually slid away - often not by my choice either.  It's been a year when I've had quite a few of those moments when a customer dumps me but I have the good manners to wait until I get around the corner before I start celebrating   
Just with my current workload I'm on target to add about 23% to last years turnover (a year being October 1 - September 30).  There is plenty of room to take on more as well before I start making decisions about whether or not to remain a sole trader.

[Tim Rose]

2007 was third year of trading and an increase in turnover on the previous years, each time, so happy about that.

Learnt that dropping customers to spite my nose isn't very clever, but you have to be careful about some of the shysters out there.  Not many, but they can poison the broth if you dont handle them carefully and not drop everyone for the littlest of reasons.

Got to push gutter clearing in 2007.

[Sir Squeaky]

Same as you really Cat.

Highs:

Using wfp now and having an easier faster job.

Lows:

Moaning customers and losing about 35-40 of them because of wfp.
(also a few because they can't be done wfp)

Can only get better...

[East coast window cleaning Services]

If im honest finding this forum has been a massive help people always happy to help if you have a issue with anything.

[ps outthere]

1. Handed my notice in (worked  in finance for the council), started window cleaning again, after a break of 15 years. Bought the round off my mate when fell off his ladders and broke his leg and wrist.

2. After trad cleaning for 4months discovered wfp, from reading the forums. I lost 1 cust, "the water left streaks on her newly painted sill ?". I have gained many more.

3. Looking forward to expanding the business.

Keep helping all that ask.

Wishing you all, a healthy and wealthy New Year.

[advanced]

2008 will be the  year when a hosepipe ban includes us  then we face  the bailiffs

[gary999]

cheer me up why dont you

[Tim Rose]

cheer me up why dont you

[Londoner]

If we are worried about the hosepipe ban its time to do something now. Its no good waiting till it happens, it will be too late then. Also, every one seems to think its up to somebody else to do something.
There are several options but as far as I can see nothing is happening.

[cat9921]

If we are worried about the hosepipe ban its time to do something now. Its no good waiting till it happens, it will be too late then. Also, every one seems to think its up to somebody else to do something.
There are several options but as far as I can see nothing is happening.

What are the several options  :

[Tim Rose]

I think one of the 'options' was to set up a bouncy castle operation wasn't it?

 :

[Conflagration2000]

Won't any hosepipe ban only be enforced during a drought order?

[xpskwindowcleaning]

Won't any hosepipe ban only be enforced during a drought order?

Hosepipe bans are enforced on domestic users even without a hosepipe ban, with a fine of up to £1000. Commercial supplies are only effected during a drought order, as most of these are metered and the water companies wouldn't want to lose the £thousands golf courses etc. pay!

In practice you get two warnings before being fined, although I can't imagine it would do much for your company if your neighbours were ratting on you to the water company.

[Londoner]

My neighbours would rat on me no problem. They are both school teachers and ever so politically correct.

[pingu]

Is it possible to sink a well in your garden?

Cheers
Dave.

[cat9921]

Is it possible to sink a well in your garden?

Cheers
Dave.

And throw those school teachers in That well..