Hey guys, I’m looking for suggestions on taking my business to the next level (whatever that may be)
I’m been going since 2016 in business for myself, started cleaning actually in 2013.
I typically offer windows, gutter cleaning, and pressure washing. ( one step I know I need to take is to upgrade my PW set up, there are plans in place)
I had a slow start to my business in 2016-2017, then 2018 I went full time from spring through fall, 2019 I went full time completely without having to fall back on anything else since.
Other than working hard at what I’ve got, do you have any suggestions on the best way to continue from here? Best way to continue to increase as the season moves along?
Hey Luke, I’m good man! I’m mostly still doing Google ads.
Signed up for HomeAdvisor in February to help with the slow months but that’s definitely not something I want to stick with year round of long term
My main reason for looking for improvement is I have the goal of having my wife quit her stressful job and assisting me part time. Right now, she really doesn’t have any experience with this type of work, I’m starting to train her some.
My concern is the lack of her income, until she gets to where she can really help my business to be more profitable, also don’t want to put to much pressure on her for it.
I’m looking just to see what I can do to increase productivity/ income in the meantime.
And “next level”…just a term I guess, we are all at some level in our business ventures. Having ideas thrown out there for good ways to increase business I guess is all I mean by that.
Anyways, I gotta hit the road and get to work now. I’ll check back later.
I guess next level is a perceived threshold that you have in mind. Each small business has their own “level” of success. Main thing I would identify is does your wife actually like cleaning windows? Anyone can develop the skills but if you don’t have the drive then you won’t thrive. My wife has many wonderful and amazing talents but window cleaning isn’t one of them.
What goals are you thinking about? Is it financial freedom, a certain amount of income, is it time off? After a certain time in your business development you look at different goals like productivity and profitability. More work performed in less time. Have you considered doing some networking with professional organizations? There are many out there. Holler back at us so we can help you.
Idk we fill our gaps with storefronts. A lot of guys don’t like them because they say they aren’t worth it or too much competition.
I say thats just a loser mentality. If you work hard at it you can and will grow a profitable route. We built our route up to about 16k per month before covid hit. The work can be done by 2 people in 3-4 8-10 hour days.
For someone to say it just “can’t” be done…I would agree with this statement. You have to at least give your best shot before saying something like that.
Maybe I should consider working a route into the schedule, idk, I’ve talked about that before, I guess I just don’t want it to be in the way of my residential jobs. Still would be good to have in the winter though. And I know you don’t throw out your numbers to boast, but that is impressive man. I will add this to my list of things to consider.
Its not for everyone. And it does take a long time to grow or at least it did us. And you’re right, the warm months are brutal keeping up with both res and commercial. But its a solid, reliable foundation.
I’ve noticed that it peaks and valleys with respect to storefronts and volume. It is definitely a long game mentality. My experience has been the time invested to obtain storefront work is not proportionate to the return on income.
I have had some large volume route work over the years. First sight of downturn in economy they start slow paying.
@AdamPWC Could you list all of the services you currently provide?
I know I have talked to others about diversifying their services within the scope of related fields and using the equipment you already have. For example, January 2019 I did $2,800 the entire month. It is typically my slowest month since everyone has had their houses cleaned and spent all of their money for the holidays. I was only offering house pressure washing and window cleaning at that time. In February I invested about $5k into the tools and supplies necessary to do paver driveway stripping, cleaning, sanding, and sealing. I spoke to clients the entire year and at told them to save their money to do that type of work in Jan-Mar of 2020. I did $16k, $13k, and $19k the first three months this year. Only 20% of that came from window cleaning or pressure washing, which I was able to talk the sealing clients into after doing the driveway jobs. I had new cleaning clients develop from people that saw me do a driveway clean and seal and wanted that done, so I then pitched them to make their house as beautiful as their driveway.
I already had most of the equipment for cleaning the driveways, the investment was in a vibrating plate compactor, a sealer spray cart, and the stripping, sand, and sealer materials to get the first few jobs done.
For the most part, I offer window cleaning, gutter cleaning (typical debris and face cleaning) and pressure washing. I’m in need up upgrading my pressure washing set up but I wanna see things keep going good with the business season before I spend any extra money.
Are you connected with any other trades? See if you can provide your services to elevate or enhance the services of a fellow tradesman, just not someone doing the same work as you obviously.
For example, I refer work for two different painters and contractors. So if one of my clients needs their house painted I will refer one or both of the painters depending on who is busy. I usually then talk to the painter to give them a heads up and to see if they want me to pressure wash the house to prep it for painting. It saves them some work outside if is is hot, or if they are already doing other jobs and are trying to squeeze it in. I will usually then have the client have me come back to clean the windows after the painting to ensure that there are no paint specks or overspray, etc left on the windows. (Both of the painters I use are really good about this anyway so choose who you link up with wisely.)
The contractor that I work with has a deal with a window manufacturer and he does a lot of replacement jobs then has me come and do a CCU/install cleaning once the code inspector has been by. He charges the client $18 per window, I charge him $15 per window. Then I talk to the client to see if I can get them on a maintenance schedule of every 6 months.
Have you tried to link up with anyone at the local chamber of commerce? I was brought into a mingling event by one of my commercial clients and I met a few potential clients, one being an architect firm, the other is the commercial realtor that had me put in the bid for the 3 story commercial building and his $2 million personal mini-mansion ($1000 PW house + Windows, every 6 months). I am waiting to hear back on both of those jobs for July.
