[supernova77]

Do any of you guys who clean for commercial clients actually have signed contracts with them, stipulating frequency, payment terms etc..?

If anyone does, would there be any chance of having a template of a contract?

My email address is: andy@southerncleaningservices.co.uk

Thanks in advance

Andy

[supernova77]

Hi Guys,

Anyone able to help at all?

Thanks,
Andy

[Rob_Mac]

Andy

I have no contractual agreements with any commercial clients. I have a new client who we clean 15 nursing homes for, on a 6 weekly cycle, this is ongoing.

It is my opinion that unless you employ a trained solicitor on the set up of the contract then if there was a reason for the client to cancel or cut short the agreement it would be very easy for them to do so.

Basically their solicitors are bigger than yours and they will find a way of getting out of it.

Rob

[sjm]

Andy

I have no contractual agreements with any commercial clients. I have a new client who we clean 15 nursing homes for, on a 6 weekly cycle, this is ongoing.

It is my opinion that unless you employ a trained solicitor on the set up of the contract then if there was a reason for the client to cancel or cut short the agreement it would be very easy for them to do so.

Basically their solicitors are bigger than yours and they will find a way of getting out of it.

Rob ;Ay up Rob    Are you saying that essentially the "contract" is verbal ? 

[AuRavelling79]

Many of mine are verbal, say sub £50 jobs, but I have one that pays £70 from petty cash.

Some are via their purchase orders or e-mail for a years worth of cleaning or "until further" notice and they pay against my invoice - big firms but sometimes small jobs. Ranging from as low as £25 up to £150 per month. They usually pay on 30/45 days as regular as clockwork either bacs or cheque.

I have had one-off schools and the like at £250 plus on the strength of a confirmation letter and payable on receipt of my invoice.

You sort of get a feel for it.

[cswc]

you can use a letter of confirmation which the client should give as this is acceptance of your detailed terms and conditions.

what ever your T & C's are the client must and should have been given a copy.

lets be honest they will only cancel for a couple of reasons: quality, customer service & price.

[wightsurf]

I ask this very Question , But nobody seems to have one they wish to share so with a bit of looking on the web came up with this,of which i turned into a basic contract.I do very large jobs and they seem happy with my tems

................................................................................................................................
heading/title
description/purpose/the service (basically the product/service description)
parties (supplier and client - including addresses)
date
territory/geographical coverage
definitions - essential glossary 'root' of frequently occurring items in the document
term - period of agreement
pricing (refer if appropriate to attached schedule)
pricing adjustment (for example annual increases linked to suitable index)
responsibilities of provider - include or append details of services and SLA's (service level agreements)
responsibilities of client
payment terms
confidentiality
dispute and arbitration process
termination and force majeure
renegotiation/renewal
prevailing laws
signatures and witnesses

[AuRavelling79]

To cswc - and cutbacks nowadays ...

[Rob_Mac]

SJM

(Only got back from London at 4.30 this morning so I am going to deal with what we spoke about in the morning - when I get up to the office).

All of the work that we have carried out over the last 7.5 years has been by verbal agreement. I have done alright so far and year on year have maintained healthy growth - though this year we have had several substantial contracts pulled and I will be happy if we level.

I am giving a price on some work tomorrow that hopefully will lead to more council work, from several councils. I expect this to be a verbal agreement as well.

I have spoken before about wrapping services tightly around your clients and making them choose your service as the first port of call. Their confidence in your service will be determined by a number of factors, these will include quality, availability, width of additional services, overall business impression and your direct relationship with the client.

I would trust my business package more than a contractual agreement - written on paper and would put more time into developing the bigger picture than worrying about tying a client that could easily wriggle out of it.

Not the angle that was requested but it seems to be working for me.

I have a number of templates of various and necessary business stationary and I also feel that these are important in tying a client to your service, risk assessments, method statements, business portfolios, introduction letters, etc.

To gain a commercial client it has to be about the whole set up and package but even then there may be things that you cannot see coming - we lost a substantial client at the beginning of the year, not through any fault or problem with our service.

Trust in you and your service is more important than a contract!!!!

Rob

[supernova77]

wightsurf - Any chance of sending me an actual template, with wording etc..? 

Andy

[wightsurf]

This is the best i could come up with Add your own heading



Window Cleaning internal external including frames and sills.
Property to be cleaned: xxxxxx High School .
confirm start date  ……………….
Quote £0000.0
xxxxxx high School will be responsible for access to buildings on agreed dates and times.
xxxx & xxxx are Responsible for risk assessment .
Payment to be made on completion of windows cleaned and a agreed level of service.
This quote is to be kept confidential between both parties.
Termination and force majeure, both parties to rearrange dates & times.
(xx) days notice to be given to terminate contract.
Please sign below to agree to these terms and return one copy.
x.xxxx
Proprietor

Print name  …………………
Sign            …………………

Services@xxxx-and-xxxx.com
01983-000000                             00000 000000

[Rob_Mac]

Andy

h ttp://www.chriscottrell.co.uk/terms.html

If you have a look at Chris's website that can be adapted or utilised - with his permission. I found this doing a search for terms and conditions

Rob

[mark dew]

www.chriscottrell.co.uk/terms.html

[sjm]

SJM

(Only got back from London at 4.30 this morning so I am going to deal with what we spoke about in the morning - when I get up to the office).

All of the work that we have carried out over the last 7.5 years has been by verbal agreement. I have done alright so far and year on year have maintained healthy growth - though this year we have had several substantial contracts pulled and I will be happy if we level.

I am giving a price on some work tomorrow that hopefully will lead to more council work, from several councils. I expect this to be a verbal agreement as well.

I have spoken before about wrapping services tightly around your clients and making them choose your service as the first port of call. Their confidence in your service will be determined by a number of factors, these will include quality, availability, width of additional services, overall business impression and your direct relationship with the client.

I would trust my business package more than a contractual agreement - written on paper and would put more time into developing the bigger picture than worrying about tying a client that could easily wriggle out of it.

Not the angle that was requested but it seems to be working for me.

I have a number of templates of various and necessary business stationary and I also feel that these are important in tying a client to your service, risk assessments, method statements, business portfolios, introduction letters, etc.

To gain a commercial client it has to be about the whole set up and package but even then there may be things that you cannot see coming - we lost a substantial client at the beginning of the year, not through any fault or problem with our service.

Trust in you and your service is more important than a contract!!!!

Rob