Commercial work help?

[paul1]

Hi

How the hell do you get in on commercial work guys? I just cant seem to get any and dont get loads of enquires for it via my site...

Quited a few this year was less than what alot of you recommended on here but still nothing..

Any advice, anyone you can email councils etc etc. thank you

 

[tobyswindowcleaning]

The few shops I have have come to me. I now have 8 Iceland stores as all the managers speak to each other!

Sent using the Window Cleaning Forums mobile app

 

[Leeds]

Same as Toby, offices, shops, gyms, all came to me.

Council stuff is most likely the tender route. Small To Medium sized businesses are either walk in and ask or be referred by someone who knows you. (Having the bosses/managers house as a customer already first is a good option). Large private business (Tesco) I can't say, not tried.

Hope that helps

 

[Leeds]

That advert at the top Telesales apparently works. But you're right, not many people pipe up on here about getting commercial. Saying that, all the "12 vans" big boys hang out on the other forum (not that they say much about commercial either).

@Green Pro Clean Ltd knows a thing or two. Just see if he's feeling generous :thumbsup:

 

[Eviestevie]

Well in my experience commercial is not that hard to get there's new units and showrooms built all the time and if you go and ask for the site manager and get in there first your half way there

But just coz it's commercial doesn't mean it's better than domestic,don't get me wrong you can make good money but at the same time be prepared to wait long periods for payments and always being in arrears and chasing payments

There more commercial you have the more leads you get as you will be seen on industrial parks etc and get approached

Few year back I thought go all commercial now I'm glad to have more domestic

Always feel under pressure working at offices etc

 

[Nicky]

Like Eviestevie said ,when you go for the commercials you are always chasing your money , and they want you this day or that day, when I first started 30 years ago I used to see the old window cleaners on the shops & offices and say I wanted to be on the commercials like them went down that route rafter 5years or so chasing all the commercial work and letting the residential work go,BIGGEST mistake I made, now I can't be bothered with the commercials houses are better all day long , MRS JONES WILL STAY LOYAL the COMMERCIALS WILL DROP YOU LIKE A STONE , and half the window cleaners are doing the commercials for next to nothing

 

[Leeds]

Would any of you guys say that domestic is limited to the VAT threshold?

 

[Nicky]

Why would domestic work be limited to the vat threshold

 

[Leeds]

Why would domestic work be limited to the vat threshold

Because you'd have to price them at what you want (in my city I'm charging at the limit of what most are willing to pay), and then add another 20% to cover the VAT. (Which I'm finding actually is more like 25% as I wouldn't charge £18.70 inc VAT, I'd round it up to £19.00). As you can imagine, it may result in quite a few lost customers and less lead conversions.

Once you get to the threshold, if you go over it, literally every customer, and every bit of income will have to have VAT paid on it, or otherwise you will be paying it with your profits!

The simple route is Purely Commercial work, and no worrying about it. But as said above, it has its drawbacks too!

 

[Markyboy 50]

Think most of the commercial work is done by the same people for years. I've had some jobs for over 30 years now!

 

[David K]

It takes time , but I've leaflettet to most of my shop round . Have made some wit a price tag on it . And then it's the snowball effect, when you got one , you're in the area,it likely you'll get one more nearby.

 

[David K]

It takes time , but I've leaflettet to most of my shop round . Have made some wit a price tag on it . And then it's the snowball effect, when you got one , you're in the area,it likely you'll get one more nearby. Be on the lookout for shops or other companies being built,or is likely to open up. They prob don't got a windy yet. One of my jobs a big dentist,this one I got because I've been watching them a while while they been setting up. Then I saw a sign " opening today," just dropped my leaflet , got the job , 135 pounds,every 4 weeks, 35 min. Wfp. /emoticons/biggrin.png

 

[Leeds]

It takes time , but I've leaflettet to most of my shop round . Have made some wit a price tag on it . And then it's the snowball effect, when you got one , you're in the area,it likely you'll get one more nearby. Be on the lookout for shops or other companies being built,or is likely to open up. They prob don't got a windy yet. One of my jobs a big dentist,this one I got because I've been watching them a while while they been setting up. Then I saw a sign " opening today," just dropped my leaflet , got the job , 135 pounds,every 4 weeks, 35 min. Wfp. /emoticons/biggrin.png

That's a good rate mate!!! 4 of them a day and you're done!! Haha

 

[peter rogers]

Would any of you guys say that domestic is limited to the VAT threshold?

No once u hit threshold it's just plus vat

 

[David K]

That's a good rate mate!!! 4 of them a day and you're done!! Haha

It is ! /emoticons/biggrin.png Id wish all my work had that rediculous rate. I would say it takes 1,5-2 hours trad . Had to once ..

 

[Alec]

Because you'd have to price them at what you want (in my city I'm charging at the limit of what most are willing to pay), and then add another 20% to cover the VAT. (Which I'm finding actually is more like 25% as I wouldn't charge £18.70 inc VAT, I'd round it up to £19.00). As you can imagine, it may result in quite a few lost customers and less lead conversions.
Once you get to the threshold, if you go over it, literally every customer, and every bit of income will have to have VAT paid on it, or otherwise you will be paying it with your profits!

The simple route is Purely Commercial work, and no worrying about it. But as said above, it has its drawbacks too!

If your charging VAT your doing something wrong mate, very wrong You need to see a very good accountant

 

[Leeds]

If your charging VAT your doing something wrong mate, very wrong You need to see a very good accountant

I'm not charging VAT, I haven't crossed the threshold.

 

[Cghwindowcleaning]

Commercial or residential you will find penny pinchers with both as well as finding customers willing to pay well for both.

All of the underpriced commercial I have looked at has been a result of residential only window cleaners under pricing and undervaluing themselves and the job there looking at or just not having a clue.

Some people are desperate to get in to commercial and there pricing shows that.

Over the years commercial window cleaning has become a lot harder to get in to the high street shops are sewn up by long standing oldtimers and nationals.

Health and safety has also played a part in the medium sized jobs meaning regardless of what people say customers aren't changing regardless of price.

 

[dredge3]

I'm not charging VAT, I haven't crossed the threshold.

I havnt crossed the paying tax threshold yet lmao /emoticons/smile.png

 

[Carlwindy]

It's gonna be a bad day here tomorrow so I'm gonna sack work off and spend the day going round shops with leaflets and asking if they have a windy and if not would they be interested in my services kind of thing.

 

[Carlwindy]

I also might make a Facebook page, I still haven't made that plunge yet and seem to do ok for myself but I think it's time to go big or at least give it a go. Do any of you guys do well from Facebook. Sorry to jump on your post mate.