[Tim Downer]

Have just sent off a quote for 300 apartments in Central London today along with the communal areas!!

After biting off all my finger nails we will see if we get the contract??

Tim

[maggie67]

Hi !
I operate a small domestic cleaning business
Fell into post-build/sparkle cleaning nearly a year ago after responding to an advert to clean showhomes. Basically we are cleaning for a large constructiuon company on behalf of another cleaning company (basically sub-contracting!) the other side of England!! Have been told we cannot approach new occupants as we are not allowed to let on that we are a company in our own right as this 'wouldn't look good'. No contract to this effect though! Do we bite the bullet! Also there are loads of new properties/apts in my area. How do I go about getting their business? We have not had any formal training but have been doing an excellent job with no complaints and the building we are working in is very well known in our area.

A little unconfident but potentially there is so much business out there! Very Keen for views of other experienced in this field!

[Tim Downer]

Hi Maggie67

I have suggested this approach in other posts recently.....

I personally have found the best way to introduce you and your company, and the Benefits of using your company over all the others, is by letter first.

Call the building company up and ask for the name of the person in-charge or organising all the subcontractors. If they wont give out names, then ask for the department name to send your info to.

Generally, they will ask why you are calling, and by briefly explaining what you are doing will trigger a response occasionally.

Work out a letter of introduction which is brief and to the point and mention in it that you will give them a personal call within a day or two of them recieving the letter

During this phone call, you caould ask such questions as when any new projects are starting etc and that you would like to be considered as a company to give them a competitive quote.

Obviously it would make quite an impression with them if you send them a letter of thanks and send another buisiness card for the phone chat.

Hope this gives you an idea.

Don't worry too much about having formal training, as you can use the buildings you have done already as a possible reference, especially as you have had no complaints from your work.

All the best in your endeavours.

Regards

Tim

[Ian Rochester]

I have been advised that we need to be CIS registered in order to do builders cleans, what is involved in getting the registration and what's its purpose?

Ian

[maggie67]

Hi Tim

Thank you so much for your very helpful advice. I shall certainly take heed. A great way to pursue future business. Watch this space!!

Kind Regards

Maggie 67

[Tim Downer]

Ian

I have been advised that we need to be CIS registered in order to do builders cleans, what is involved in getting the registration and what's its purpose?

Ian

The person in our accounting dept is away this week, and he organized the CIS certificate.
As far as I am aware, you go down to the Tax Office and they help you with this.
I am sure that someone out there knows more details if i am not right!

Regards

Tim

[Tim Downer]

To maggie 67

I line with the post after your one, unless you already are, you will need to have a CIS certificate in order to get paid by the builders.

I know of a chap a few years ago didn't have such a certificate, and the builders let him clean a few of the appertments, and when asked why his invoices were not being paid.....they then said where is your CIS?

We all learn as we go!!

Tim

[Clean 'n' Tidy]

Timbob,

You are right. for your CISW card you need to pop down to local tax office with 2 proofs of ID with address, Passort or Birth cert. Also you will need you national insurance number.

You will then need to fill in a form which takes about five minutes. the form is then sent off and you will receive your CIS form in the post about 10 days later.

Hope this helps.
Kim

[maggie67]

Thank you for this information. Invoices paid so far! But I am sub-contracting at present in this area. Presumably it is the cleaning company paying me who will need to have this certificate? However I am going to apply for this straight away. Would rather not learn the hard way!

[martin19842]

hi there,

CIS there are several different forms of CIS for instance CIS4, CIS5, CIS6. to mention a few.   depending on your tradin g status determines which CIS you will apply for, the local tax office will advice. and whether you are applying for a card or certificate

we are cis 4 registered, which means that all of our payments to us from our main contractor are nett 18% therefore you are prpeaying your tax. you then receive a voucher each month form each company that has made a CIS payment to you, and then at the end of the tax year a calculation is done to see what the balance is, whether you owe the tax man more or whether they owe you.

the good thing in our situation is that the company that we represent is CIS5 which means that they get gross payments from the builders, and therefore cuts out the need for vouchers.

hope this helps

regards

martin

[Tim Downer]

To all,

Thanx for all your postings even if we did cover about 10 different subjects along the way.....mind you, thats what this posting site is about, all of us struggling with questions and problems while running our businessess, but knowing there is someone outthere who has an answer.....usually!!

Anyway, thanx and look forward to chatting with you guys on another posting.

Tim

[adl]

Martin guess what back up to sidiothorpe this weekend,

Guess what just about to book in sidiothorpe again for high level work

Guess what sick of the sight of sidiothorpe

regards Dave ADL