Thanks for your response Luke!! It would be quarterly. You think I should charge more based on frequency as well? Usually car dealers are cleaned in what frequency in your area?
1 Like
3-4 dollars a window, use WFP on the outside. I would charge a little extra for first clean unless you can get in writing doing it quarterly. A lot of times they will tell you they want to do it quarterly and you give them a price break because of that then they don’t follow through on the frequency and they got a cheaper price on their cleaning. Doing this over 25 years I’ve had it done to me, too trusting I guess. We really don’t do commercial anymore 90-95% residential, hope all goes well.
3 Likes
Good luck Ron
1 Like
No problem, much success!
1 Like
@SimplyCleanKentucky always giving out that spot on advice !
@Ron yeah I think $3-$4 per window even at quarterly would still be good.
1 Like
Right now I’ve been marketing and trying to clean windows at storefront only. I would take a bigger job, but I’m not even at the adult’s table yet. I’ll tell you how I see myself growing. I don’t know where you’re at right now with your skill or your business, but these are the steps I have outlined for myself.
-
Right now I’m walking for hours every day. I pass by the stores with clean windows to look for the dirty windows that need a lot of work. Incidentally they say they already have a cleaner most times and I’m shocked because there windows look like crud. I just go in, tell them, “Hi. I was walking by and saw your windows was dirty so I thought I would drop off a card. I’m a window cleaner. My quote is on the back. If you have any questions I’d be happy to answer them.” I make small talk if I can, but that’s basically what I say. Today I walked about four hours, got two jobs and another guy said he would call me the next time he needed someone. It’s just a lot of walking. Right now I’m just trying to learn the basics. How to strait pull, how to fan, my basic technique I’ll use, using the pole, detailing, etc. It’s rough, but I’m definitely getting better and getting my grip. I’ve made $158 gross so far. I always price myself fairly low. I’ll give a $5 quote if it’s just a door or a door and one regular-sized window. I’m learning, I’m just being paid to learn. It was said above to get your mind around the fact that you’re a professional. I’m not a professional, I’m just a paid amateur.
-
My next move - tomorrow actually - I’m going to try to contact general managers of restaurants and shops and such in the area. I’ve got quite a few numbers from when I had walked before and I’m going to be calling them in about eight hours. On top of that marketing is huge and I’m going to make deals with several convenience stores that if they let me post signs out front of their shop that I’ll clean their windows for free. Convenience stores are, hands down, in the best locations. They have to be. I’ve got couple of other place I’m going to hit also. The sign will be very important. It will say “Harris Bros.” In small print. Below it, it will say, “Window Cleaning” in huge print. As big as I can fit on the sign. Then below that in smaller print it will say, “Residential ~ Commercial”. Then blow that will give a phone number and website. Not too much to read when you’re driving by and the big “Window Cleaning” really drives through what your sign is for. I’m also planning on signing up with local chambers of commerce. Marketing is huge and you need people to contact you if you want to give higher prices I would think. If you approach a customer out of the blue you’re doing it because you want the job. If they approach you it’s because they want the service. If they approach you they need to pay a little more, but if you approach them you need to charge a little less.
-
The rest of my plan has to do with growing the business and trying to get my how I plan on going from being a cleaner to a salesman to a manager, etc.
We all have been there, not easy starting out. Do you have a vehicle? Do you have a part time job? I was thinking it might be good to have a steady flow of income coming in so you can put some of that income back into your business. That’s what I did, I little by little bought equipment and other things that would help my business. I invested in myself, not just the business. Give yourself time it usually doesn’t happen overnight, be patient. Not sure where you live but that has a lot to do with it too. Your market you’re in has to be able to support your business, smaller towns will be a lot harder then maybe a town with hundreds of thousands of people in it. There’s more to the business then doing the work, that’s half of it. So continue to learn, keep asking questions, you will gain experience and that will lead you in the direction you want to go, hang in the @Stoneface!
1 Like
Bossman, I think you took my post the wrong way. I’m not going to stop this. Honestly it’s very enjoyable to me for one and for two it’s a chance at self-employment. The only way they’ll get me out of window cleaning is in a casket. I do have a part time job, but I had a surgery a few years ago that went terribly bad so I’m living with my dad right now. I’m thinking about quitting my job because every time I go out I get customers. It’s not much, but I figure if I go out an entire month that’s roughly $450, double that and it’s $900 in two months. I haven’t even done any houses yet and have been trying to squeeze it in between my dog training (major hobby) which takes two to four hours per day and my regular job. I’m trying to talk myself out of quitting my job, but I can’t see a reason to stay on. If I quit I can just about triple the time I spend marketing and trying to get jobs. It just makes sense. Thanks for the ode, though. I appreciate it.
Lol, sorry @Stoneface my bad. I thought you were getting discouraged, hence my reply. Just trying to keep your spirits up. Sounds like you have a plan of action, hope all works out with it. Have you been learning any about taxes and bookkeeping and such? That’s a big when going into business too, ive helped some in the past get started and them not planning for that aspect caused issues. So, just a heads up.
No problem man. My surgery gave me some small issues with my memory, so I forget to get receipts all the time. I’m getting better about it though. I have a bachelor’s degree in business and I know about cost accounting, book keeping and taxes, etc. Thanks for checking on me. Not too many people check on the back end of a business when talking to a newbie.
You are doing excellent. Even some of my guys don’t have the same drive as you. You definitely see the long term potential and not the short term for sure.
In regards to that other guy who said he would call you when he needed you, I would have asked him the following “Excellent, I will stop back in two weeks to follow up. What’s stopping you from getting what you want today? What problem, can I help you with right now, even if it was not window cleaning, what can I help you with right now that would solve one of your problems?”
Be in the service mind set. I want you to try something different. When you are pitching, instead of walking away saying you are dropping your card off when they say “we have another cleaner” and they are offering no value, immediately return back with “That was actually why I came. I wanted to help you with that.” Immediately transition to questions and I mean any questions that show you actually care about their past experiences, current experiences or a future experience. Be in the service mindset, show you actually care too. When you do that, you will shift tables and you will no longer sit in the kid corner and you will be at not just the adult table, but you will be in the kings chair. 
Hey, sounds like your way ahead of the game on this business thing, lol. That’s great you have a degree in business, no doubt that will help you out a lot. I know one thing, you have a lot of determination, that’s a good thing. Keep it up the good work, we’re all looking for you to succeed.
What are you using for bookkeeping?
What type of invoicing system are you using?
Do you accept credit cards ?
I’m managing all of my expenses of income on Google Docs. Just a basic balance sheet for now. I’m going to probably go to Quickbooks when I start getting more business. For invoicing I’m going to get House Call. I looked them up thanks to your video and they seem great for just a few dollars every month. Right now I’m just carrying a receipt book around. Don’t accept credit cards now, but will eventually accept them when I start invoicing and have account receivable.