Forget everything I ever said, I got it all wrong!

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

The pie @peter rogers

 

[peter rogers]

oh god lol @Solarpanelcleanington u on bout carve it up to avoid vat ?

 

[Kennygggkent]

Oi!! Less of the Statesman!!
I appreciate the compliment but I am pretty much still a nooob by comparison to some of the veterans on here as i only have a decade in the game. As for targets? Well our target is the Midlands, no not the Midlands Building Society, but The Midlands. Looking to add the next van this week hopefully. Currently we estimate we will have to VAT register before the year is out. As I am looking at an additional £16K on my tax bill this year I need to haul in a shed load more to off set such a hit.

FYI, Jade has returned however she has asked to come back on a commission only basis, with the agreement that she does not collect that commission until the first clean has been done, the customer spoken to and everybody being happy. We have also retained the services of a very well know canvassing company that targets commercial work only.

As I have stated in another thread I believe we are entering the golden age of window cleaning and I, for one, intend to take my slice.

Thanks for replying green, it's great to get an insight into where your targets are, I guess I just hate canvassing lol. Do you and peter rogers work together or something? I do reckon there's is a lot to be said for getting new customers to keep thing fresh, can be so boring going over the same old routes. did I read that you just sold a sat round or was that someone else?

 

[peter rogers]

lol im in belfast and he is nottingham we got al these areas covered mate stay away lol /emoticons/tongue.png joke no both us are extremly pro canvassing into building business fast

im looking to expand alot this summer and so is the main man

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

oh god lol @Solarpanelcleanington u on bout carve it up to avoid vat ?

Aggregation of business act. Opening multiple companies in the same game will not help you dodge VAT. The gov will simply decide you are one and same business and smack you with a massive bill.

Do you and peter rogers work together or something?

No mate. Couldn't work with Peter, we don't speak the same language. I speak English.

Although he did once threaten to pop over and buy me a pint.. still waiting.

 

[peter rogers]

itll come mate itl come

 

[peter rogers]

i tell ya what having canvassers working for u is some craic lol

 

[adamangler]

Well ive let the guy/guys i was using go as they just didnt listen to what i wanted when left alone working for commission only.

The lad i had we did 2 days together, 3 hours per day and picked up 8 custies, wasnt great but i was more than happy. we were writing everything down who said no etc and i showed him how i price and what questions to ask on the door.

He then said he didnt really have time to work when i was so can he do commission only at 1x and he would get his mate to help. I didnt like his mate from the off was a bit cocky especially when he rang me asking if i can trad a house for £8. i sadi no wfp only, he said youve got ladders and started being a bit funny. I told him no i dont trad end of story. Then they got me a couple of jobs with no contact numbers and hadnt expleined anything to them. He kept calling me from a private number which i dont answer and told him so yet he still did it so im wondering whats he tryna hide (the mate). Anyway he then got me a job for £7, i told him my absoloute lowest is £8 for a terraced, he argued it only had 7 windows, told him i dont care if its got one please do as i asked.

Anyway few days went by and heard nothing so i text the guy and said if u still want to do it we have to meet up to go over how i want ot done otherwise theres no point.

Long story lol but never heard back. Moral is i would keep an eye on any future canvasser.

Ive been off work this week as my Gf is in hospital but ill be back adverising for another next week, but i think to be honest ill just do it myself at least until i have a full round and its more hassle than its worth.

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

Hope she's well soon Adam, I think the biggest bonus for you from this experience is it has gotten you past your worries of knocking on doors.

Worst case scenario? You get shot in the face.

And be honest that's only really gonna happen once aint it? /emoticons/smile.png)

J/K/ Dude sounded like a **** so I think you are well shot of him.

 

[adamangler]

youre right green, it doesnt really bother me now, i actually found it quite enjoyable!, nice stroll round and a chat with some pleasant people, you get the odd retard answering the door which knocks you a bit but then you get that lovely old couple who sign up and you can tell they are going to be good custies.

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

youre right green.

You sound surprised?

 

[DMD]

Green, Are you a limited company?

16k tax bill sounds ridiculous. I turnover a decent amount, well into the VAT threshold and we have a good accountant who makes sure our corporation tax bill is very little in comparison to what it would be for a sole trader.

A canvasser in my opinion is very hit and miss, we toyed with taking one on, but as its been shown on here - none of them do 100% what you ask them to, even if its priced £2 less than you would, you always know in your head its priced low. Then you have the ones who just take any job to bump the numbers up. its a minefield.

(we don't do window cleaning as a trade by the way, we are cleaning contractor subbies)

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

£16K is not my tax bill that is what the VAT bill would be ...... actually £16400 on £82k turnover.

Corporation taxes are whatever the accountant can get it down to but once you go over £82400 on any given 12 month period you have to pay 20% VAT.

Now in your case you probably cahrge VAT on top of the bill so you dont notice it but for those with large residential rounds trying to add 20% on each customer is a real **** shoot. You only have two options add it on to the customers charges or swallow the bill yourself. Not an easy choice.

 

[DMD]

ah, VAT bill, not tax bill. got you now.

yes we are always business2business and hence the irrelevance of VAT. In fact, in most cases - because we are doing new build, it attracts zero vat which is even better.

On a residential round you are correct, VAT is a killer, and with window cleaning there isnt a lot of outlay to counter the bill either

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

VAT is VAT no ammount of outlay counters it. It is based solely on turnover regardless of expenditure.

 

[peter rogers]

whatever u buy there is vat on it wether it be a pair trousers or petrol for the pressure washer or equipment

as of canvassers i have 2 and yes sometimes they price a job 1 or 2 pound under but like /emoticons/tongue.png still making good money

 

[Woody]

From reading on the forum there seems to be a delicate balance between the canvassing and cleaning windows. I'm new to window cleaning but have lots of years canvassing experience.

Most of you are looking for canvassers, but I'm wondering if it would be more beneficial for me personally to go out canvassing and get window cleaners in to do the cleaning.

Turning the tables, so to speak.

Any thoughts?

 

[adamangler]

I think if you could canvass full time and keep employing people you could build a massive business. After all its getting the customers that's the hard bit the rest us pretty easy.

 

[peter rogers]

Gettin the right staff is key

 

[GleamCleanUK]

I feel your pain.

I got 2 guys on now canvassing. They get 100% first clean commission. I don't charge 1st clean rates but have a 3 clean contract for every new client. If they get 10 + custys they get a bonus. The trick I find is in the training. 2 weeks I spend shadowing them while working. So I can be working in the same area all day as they are in. Any hard quotes for really bogging jobs. I can get a call to do a quote and they watch me quote and gradually learn the ropes. Both guys get an average of 15 each a day. Sometimes work 6/7 days a week between 12/7:30pm. Some days they get **** work and I just have to tell them if you get rubbish they won't be staying. You lay down the law from the start and look after them the best you can, then sack em if they are ****. Had a lad on 2 years ago who took the mick big time. Got so much bad quality work. It's a tough one but finding a quality window cleaner is going to be more difficult than finding a good canvasser. Hope you find another decent one soon. Good luck mate

Sent using the Window Cleaning Forums app

 

[Leeds]

I think if you could canvass full time and keep employing people you could build a massive business. After all its getting the customers that's the hard bit the rest us pretty easy.

And you'd get really good at canvassing too!! Rich get richer!