When to think about add on services?

[Max]

My business plan is simple, start with windows,frames and doors and build up the round then think about gutters etc at a later stage, but looking online every windy is offering things from solar to pressure washing etc. Should I look at those things now or just stick to doing the windows while I'm still learning. I was thinking about website promotion etc. but feel it could be to soon as all I can offer is a window cleaning service. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[chris clean]

Hi max I have been doing trad cleaning for quite a few years on and off as a way to make a bit of extra cash on my days off or before a holiday etc. I'm going into it full time now and about to buy wfp set up. The way I see it is as soon as I can afford the equipment for add ons e.g. pressure washer I will as its another opportunity to earn some wedge. The more experienced Windies will have better advice I'm sure but that's my plan. When I have done trad before for people ive had alsorts of requests do you do grass cutting can you pressure wash my drive so more i can do the better I reckon. Good luck mate

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

Hey Max, it is never too soon to start promoting yourself and a good web site will pay dividend from the start.

On the topic of add on services think about the additional cost involved in setting up. Let's say you decide to add carpet cleaning, well a good machine, even used can be £700 upwards, do you have the client base or the funds ready to tackle that yet? You may get a call to do one small flat of a value of say £150 and then be waiting an age before you get the next job and be out of pocket waiting for a machine to pay for itself.

The alternative is to only tackle jobs you have the tools for, window cleaning: are you asking each client if they want insides doing also?

Have you got ladders? Well there is plenty of gutters to clean out, can be good money too.

Got a WFP? Makes conny cleans a lot easier.

All from tools you may already have.

Also as your window round fills up you could well find that you end up with your days so nicely booked you don't have time to add on extras.

Good luck.

 

[steve garwood]

Something you could add until your busy window cleaning, is grass cutting. Get yourself a motor mower and build it up along side the w/c, then replace it as you go along

 

[Solarpanelcleanington]

Glass and grass!

 

[Dave B]

Personally i would stick to windows and any other job you can do with the same gear

Like gutter cleaning, fasia cleaning and conservatory roofs

Once you are getting busy then diversify

You need to be spending all your time and energy building up that customer base rather than off doing other things at first until you are earning a good wage

 

[Tuffers]

I find add ons a PITA a lot of the time as I don't have a lot of spare time to do them. I tend to keep any add ons for a Saturday morning. I do conny cleaning, S/F/G cleaning and gutter clearing. Some lads on here do jet washing but I'd never contemplate doing that as it looks messy and you'll have lots of gear to store. I've got a gutter vac and that takes up too much space in my garage, it also leaks :turd: all over my van floor. I'm always glad to get the thing out of my van!

 

[steve garwood]

I find add ons a PITA a lot of the time as I don't have a lot of spare time to do them. I tend to keep any add ons for a Saturday morning. I do conny cleaning, S/F/G cleaning and gutter clearing. Some lads on here do jet washing but I'd never contemplate doing that as it looks messy and you'll have lots of gear to store. I've got a gutter vac and that takes up too much space in my garage, it also leaks :turd: all over my van floor. I'm always glad to get the thing out of my van!

I only do my pressure washing on days when its lashing down all day. Just gives you an option to earn when there's a monsoon happening

 

[Adams0211]

Something you could add until your busy window cleaning, is grass cutting. Get yourself a motor mower and build it up along side the w/c, then replace it as you go along

That's exactly what I did last spring/summer when I was starting to build my round. Spent £50 on a used petrol mower and it paid for itself within a couple of days.

Sent from my iPhone using Window Cleaning Forums mobile app

 

[steve garwood]

Yep me too. Worked for me

 

[adamangler]

Its tricky to know what to do isnt it. I bought a really good pressure washer a year ago and couldnt get the work so sold it, i keep thinking to get a gutter vac but i could count on one hand the amount of times ive been asked so not yet. I get a lot of car valeting work with nothing more than £10 a month for my website, brings in a regular 4-5 jobs a week but for some reason try as i might i cant generate hardly any web leads for the other services. The car valeting is a bit of a double edged sword for me atm its providing money to pay my bills but i dont really enjoy it and in general money isnt as good as windows. I could put my prices up but that may result in less work so i need more windows before i do anything.

I know what im going to do now though, build up the windows to get a good regular income then invest in a lot of marketting for carpet cleaning as theres some nice money in it, i did one yesterday £40 in half hour now if i could get that all week...

Also another thing about doing everything is a mess about, yesterday i had to load the van with carpet cleaner and all accesories, car valeting gear, pressure washer, vacs, gennie, plus wfp gear and check i had everything. When i got back i had to put everything away and sort the van out as it was a right mess from all the stuff rammed in.