Guys,
I’m fairly new to this business, I did take quite bit of notice of the forum going back a few months and did post a little hello. I got a great welcome, well wishes and some cracking advice/direction. Just not been on much at all for the past 3 months since starting up purely because of time. But a while ago I saw somebody post about their experience since starting up and thought I’d do similar. If I can help other guys thinking of getting started or those who’ve started and need a bit of reassurance, encouragement or whatever then great.
The really bit of great of advice a few of you guys gave me before I started was to focus on getting a solid round of windows going. In my welcome post I spoke of wanting to offer a variety of external property cleaning/maintenance services. And the sensible and logical advice I got did exactly that – it helped me focus. I was and still am in a slightly different position to most starting out – in that I’ve got a decent, well paid job and work continental 4 on 4 off shifts. Which gives me 4 day blocks, a lot of it in the week, to be able to build up my business. Plus the safety net, that after 24 years with the company, most of it as a manager, that they have to make me redundant in September. My department is closing but others are opening. So, although I’ve focused on the windows, when I’ve been asked to clear gutters, clean fascias, soffits or whatever, I’ve not said no.
The meat and potatoes of what I want to get over is this. Starting up was daunting, it was different, it was unknown and after working most of my life at the same place, in the same extremely secure job I was so unsure how things would play out. I had a plan, some targets and an idea of where I was heading. It was fairly ambitious. Not because I’m greedy. But because I felt I had to be ambitious, to try and ensure as best as I could that things for my family didn’t change now or in the future. That I could swap one good secure income for another with as little problems as possible. And I’m glad to say I’m on the way. I’ve got my 100th customer on Friday after just over 3 months in the business. A lovely lady popped over the road as I was finishing a job and wanted a window cleaner as her last one ‘disappeared’! A common theme I’ve found! I haven’t actively tried myself to find new customers for over 3 weeks now. Purely because the way it’s growing there’s no way I can make it until September and sustain the windows and a full time job. In the last 3 weeks I’ve acquired 25 new customers. In the first 2 months I’d done some door knocking but not advertised anywhere. No social media and no internet presence either. Part of my plan was to be old fashioned in my approach and have a reputation based on word of mouth and that it would spread. And it has!
2 things that stand out.
Firstly and I really don’t mean this in an arrogant or cocky way. Getting customers, making them happy customers, retaining them and have them recommend you is, in my opinion, so unbelievably easy I can scarcely believe it! And most of it doesn’t cost a penny! Being professional, polite, communicative, reliable, trustworthy, honest and complete the service your customers are paying you for. All of those things come quite naturally to me and all I feel all I’ve done is be me. I don’t want to say anything disparaging about the competition and I won’t. Other than I’m picking up work that they very easily could too. I truly hope none of the guys are struggling to make a living at this because they really shouldn’t be! Two things that have come up in various conversations with customers that I’ve stressed I’m not prepared to do. Undercut or try and steal away other window cleaners business. So politely declined a few times to quote when somebody has stated they already have a window cleaner and they’re trying to lure me by also telling me what they currently pay. Or if they tell me they have a window cleaner I wish them a good day and leave it there. I really wish all the other guys the best and welcome the competition. Particularly if it drives up standards and customer service.
Secondly. The way I feel about what I’ve created is difficult to put in to words! In a good way! I’ve had 24 years working for what was once a great people company. They’ve grown substantially in that time but it’s no longer a people company, it’s a numbers company. So when I decided to start a window cleaning business I wanted create something I wanted and something that would give me a whole range of things including happiness. To have great, warm, amicable relationships with the people I was working for. I also wanted to be my own boss, to work outside, in a more physical job, not stuck behind a monitor in a badly air conditioned office! I wanted to have more flexibility in when I worked and have a better work life balance so I could have a lot more quality time with my 2 little ones. Window cleaning is giving me all of that. And much more. Cups of tea are flying at me, biscuits, pieces of cake and a warmness that I’d hoped for but wasn’t sure existed. It’s been truly amazing what’s happened so far. If I was a pessimistic person I’d maybe feel it could only go one way now! And I’m sure there will be bumps in the road. There’s already been a few!
So if you’re thinking of starting, have started but can’t get the traction or whatever stage you’re at keep going. There’s definitely more than enough work out there. And a successful business is only a good chunk of hard graft away. The one thing I will add, in case anyone is thinking this sounds easy! As explained I’ve got a full time job, I’ve got a wife and 2 young kids, god forbid a bit of a social life and there’s only so much time in a day! With the amount of work I’m getting through and in the thorough and professional way I’m going about it I am absolutely knackered. Bordering on exhausted. Which is another consideration for being careful how many customers I take on while I carry on at my other job. But it’s only for a little while longer. But yeah, a combination of using your brain and working your socks off clearly works!
As time becomes more prevalent later this year I hope to engage more with the forum. Because I will say that it’s full of smart cookies who know this business. It’s clearly also full of decent guys who want to help others when/where they can. Which I've certainly found useful and appreciate.
Good luck guys
Andy
I’m fairly new to this business, I did take quite bit of notice of the forum going back a few months and did post a little hello. I got a great welcome, well wishes and some cracking advice/direction. Just not been on much at all for the past 3 months since starting up purely because of time. But a while ago I saw somebody post about their experience since starting up and thought I’d do similar. If I can help other guys thinking of getting started or those who’ve started and need a bit of reassurance, encouragement or whatever then great.
The really bit of great of advice a few of you guys gave me before I started was to focus on getting a solid round of windows going. In my welcome post I spoke of wanting to offer a variety of external property cleaning/maintenance services. And the sensible and logical advice I got did exactly that – it helped me focus. I was and still am in a slightly different position to most starting out – in that I’ve got a decent, well paid job and work continental 4 on 4 off shifts. Which gives me 4 day blocks, a lot of it in the week, to be able to build up my business. Plus the safety net, that after 24 years with the company, most of it as a manager, that they have to make me redundant in September. My department is closing but others are opening. So, although I’ve focused on the windows, when I’ve been asked to clear gutters, clean fascias, soffits or whatever, I’ve not said no.
The meat and potatoes of what I want to get over is this. Starting up was daunting, it was different, it was unknown and after working most of my life at the same place, in the same extremely secure job I was so unsure how things would play out. I had a plan, some targets and an idea of where I was heading. It was fairly ambitious. Not because I’m greedy. But because I felt I had to be ambitious, to try and ensure as best as I could that things for my family didn’t change now or in the future. That I could swap one good secure income for another with as little problems as possible. And I’m glad to say I’m on the way. I’ve got my 100th customer on Friday after just over 3 months in the business. A lovely lady popped over the road as I was finishing a job and wanted a window cleaner as her last one ‘disappeared’! A common theme I’ve found! I haven’t actively tried myself to find new customers for over 3 weeks now. Purely because the way it’s growing there’s no way I can make it until September and sustain the windows and a full time job. In the last 3 weeks I’ve acquired 25 new customers. In the first 2 months I’d done some door knocking but not advertised anywhere. No social media and no internet presence either. Part of my plan was to be old fashioned in my approach and have a reputation based on word of mouth and that it would spread. And it has!
2 things that stand out.
Firstly and I really don’t mean this in an arrogant or cocky way. Getting customers, making them happy customers, retaining them and have them recommend you is, in my opinion, so unbelievably easy I can scarcely believe it! And most of it doesn’t cost a penny! Being professional, polite, communicative, reliable, trustworthy, honest and complete the service your customers are paying you for. All of those things come quite naturally to me and all I feel all I’ve done is be me. I don’t want to say anything disparaging about the competition and I won’t. Other than I’m picking up work that they very easily could too. I truly hope none of the guys are struggling to make a living at this because they really shouldn’t be! Two things that have come up in various conversations with customers that I’ve stressed I’m not prepared to do. Undercut or try and steal away other window cleaners business. So politely declined a few times to quote when somebody has stated they already have a window cleaner and they’re trying to lure me by also telling me what they currently pay. Or if they tell me they have a window cleaner I wish them a good day and leave it there. I really wish all the other guys the best and welcome the competition. Particularly if it drives up standards and customer service.
Secondly. The way I feel about what I’ve created is difficult to put in to words! In a good way! I’ve had 24 years working for what was once a great people company. They’ve grown substantially in that time but it’s no longer a people company, it’s a numbers company. So when I decided to start a window cleaning business I wanted create something I wanted and something that would give me a whole range of things including happiness. To have great, warm, amicable relationships with the people I was working for. I also wanted to be my own boss, to work outside, in a more physical job, not stuck behind a monitor in a badly air conditioned office! I wanted to have more flexibility in when I worked and have a better work life balance so I could have a lot more quality time with my 2 little ones. Window cleaning is giving me all of that. And much more. Cups of tea are flying at me, biscuits, pieces of cake and a warmness that I’d hoped for but wasn’t sure existed. It’s been truly amazing what’s happened so far. If I was a pessimistic person I’d maybe feel it could only go one way now! And I’m sure there will be bumps in the road. There’s already been a few!
So if you’re thinking of starting, have started but can’t get the traction or whatever stage you’re at keep going. There’s definitely more than enough work out there. And a successful business is only a good chunk of hard graft away. The one thing I will add, in case anyone is thinking this sounds easy! As explained I’ve got a full time job, I’ve got a wife and 2 young kids, god forbid a bit of a social life and there’s only so much time in a day! With the amount of work I’m getting through and in the thorough and professional way I’m going about it I am absolutely knackered. Bordering on exhausted. Which is another consideration for being careful how many customers I take on while I carry on at my other job. But it’s only for a little while longer. But yeah, a combination of using your brain and working your socks off clearly works!
As time becomes more prevalent later this year I hope to engage more with the forum. Because I will say that it’s full of smart cookies who know this business. It’s clearly also full of decent guys who want to help others when/where they can. Which I've certainly found useful and appreciate.
Good luck guys
Andy
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