Social Networking

I have been busy the last couple days getting knee deep in social networking. I have been working hard on my LinkedIn page creating a company page, creating a group for Canadian Window Cleaners, and trying to connect with other window cleaners and current and former customers, friends and colleagues. I am also learning how to use Twitter properly and the etiquette that they expect.

I certainly think that all this work I'm doing will in the end bring some dividends in terms of more traffic, more phone calls, better SEO and less of a chance that my customers lose my info and lose touch with me.

I have followed Rob Young's sage advice and made sure that I always have a signature that has all my information. I thought I did. But when I checked my signature I realized some information was missing. You should make sure that all social networking has all the necessary info filled out, including your website, phone number and other ways to connect with you.

It certainly is a time wasting endeavor. Hopefully the time will be an investment and not a waste.

Now I have to go back to the urgent matter of preparing my books to send to my accountant to do my taxes. I hate doing that.

Mike Polsky
647-409-8144
http://mmwindowcleaners.com

Google Adwords

 

I have used Google AdWords to help draw more people to my site, and hopefully get more phone calls and sales.

My initial experience has been one of disappointment. It's challenging to create an ad that will get many people to "click-thru". As well as creating a good ad you must use correct adwords that match what people enter when wanting to find your company.

I'm committed to getting my click thru ratio high because it is all part of my plan to get my phone to ring off the hook. I want to massively increase my revenue and get many more stores, condo units and residential houses.

I understand that Google advertising is optimal since you are finding people that want to use you, rather than distracting and annoying people that have no interest in your service.

My click thru ratio is a dismal 0.1%, but I have managed to double it to 0.2%. According to Facebook discussions a good CTR is between 2 and 4%. I would love to get to that point, get more sales and greatly increase my Google spending.

I have bought Adwords for Dummies, and I'm trying to implement the suggestions of some information online.

 

If you have any suggestions for me, feel free to email me

mike@mmwindowcleaners.com 

647-409-8144

http://mmwindowcleaners.com 

 

 

Updated Working As A Subcontractor

Working as a subcontractor

Working As A Subcontractor

I wanted to speak about something that could really add a nice income stream to your business. Subcontracting. Many janitorial companies in particular, don't want or don't know how to properly clean windows. Many are very eager to work with a window cleaning company to clean windows for their clients. They may be happy because they may have turned down window cleaning jobs before, but now, they can have someone they trust clean the windows, and they can make a tidy profit on it.

Also, if you think about it, many jobs are locked out of reach. Janitorial or cleaning companies have the contract to clean the windows, and no matter how much we try, it may just be out of reach for us. So working with janitorial companies, or property managers opens up a huge new market for commercial window cleaning.

I have worked with several janitorial companies over the past year. One janitorial company I have cleaned a restaurant for. Another has me clean some insurance office windows. Another had me clean payday loan centres, And one had me clean a condo sales office. Generally there are two kinds of companies, serious business owners who charge good prices, and are reaping the benefits, and ones who charge very little and are working like dogs. I have worked with both.

The important things to deal with when you work with companies is this. Provide a pay period that they must pay you by. For example due on receipt or due in two weeks. You deserve your money, and don't stand for not getting paid til the customer gets paid. Let the contractor manage the risk, that will be a large weight off your back.

One cleaner that I worked for took one whole year to pay me. Thankfully it was a tiny amount, but it really shows that you must clearly state payment terms, which I did, and be on them persistently for payment.

Try to put things in writing, even if it's just an email. For each new job you bid on send an email outlining what work you will do, and how much you will charge. Often terms are forgotten and arguments or misunderstandings may arise.

Don't feel that you need to cut your prices. I have charged decent prices, and the contractor was still able to put a decent cut on top of it.

Good communication is key. A janitor doesn't think like a window cleaner, and he might not understand your pricing, what work is involved, or other issues.

An advantage of working as a subcontractor is that you may get jobs that you may not get through your marketing efforts, or you may not be allowed to bid on.

Of course, janitors are not the only people you can work with. You can subcontract for property maintenance companies, national service companies, even other window cleaners. Any window cleaning job where the customer is not yours is subcontracting.

So, in summary. Set payment terms, communicate, put things in writing, and don't cut your prices if you don't have to.

Just recently I've added another company to the janitorial companies I deal with. It's an initial clean, that is decent money. I'm going to do the initial clean on Tuesday and we are going to sit down for coffee that day and talk about cleaning all the buildings that he cleans. He called me based on a referral from a client I serviced last year so it also shows the power of referrals.

Currently I only clean for several cleaning companies. In fact I can count them on my hand. However, I would like that part of my business to explode so that I can diversify my revenue quite a bit and not be too dependent on any one aspect or customer. I plan to call up janitorial companies and see if I can meet with them and make arrangements to provide quotes.
Thanks for reading my blog. If you are in the Toronto area, and want your windows cleaned. Call me. I am the Toronto Window Cleaner. 647-409-8144

What every window cleaner hates

Yesterday I pulled up to a gas station to clean their convenience store windows. When we parked we saw that there was a bucket and a pole and clean windows. My heart dropped. I went inside and stood in line to see that a tall man in his forties with brown long hair, a scruffy unkempt beard and eyes that looked like he was sleep deprived or a drinker or drug user was awaiting payment. I asked for the owner but he was on holidays so I spoke to the assistant manager. She is a nice women who always gives me a Tim Horton's coffee (they have Tim Horton's there sorta like Dunkin Donuts but better). She is very nice.

I spoke to her and asked what was going on. Well, a few weeks ago this man gave the invoice. He said he works for me. He gave her a small invoice, whereas mine is a nice Quick Books computer printout, 81/2 by 11. He just said they changed the invoices. I have no idea why she paid him in the past with a different price, a different invoice, and he is a scruffy scary looking guy, whereas I may be scary because I'm tall and have a deep voice. But I'm clean shaven and I try to dress neatly.

I charge her $20+tax whereas this guy charges $10 no tax. He didn't even want payment, he wanted a $10 worth of gas for his old beaten up unlettered Cargo van. He had a another guy with him that looked like it might be his brother who was just a scruffy looking.

I made clear to her that he doesn't work for me, that they are still under contract with us because they haven't cancelled. And furthermore we have been doing the windows for months.

I told her not to pay him. 

She said there was nothing that she could do, we had to wait for the owner to return. But strangely enough she still paid him, sounds like she still has some authority.

He cleans several other gas stations of the same company, but he may just be lying for all I know. And he said that the owner got him to do the windows.

So either I lost the job and they forgot to tell me, or this guy is an impostor, otherwise the owner would have told her about the change.

In any case it's a very small job so it won't hurt me to lose it, but it was maddening.

I did feel like emptying his bucket or doing something, or at the very least threatening him to never return. However I'm a professional and no good comes from revenge or getting even it would just reflect badly on me. Besides this guy could probably beat me up.

I will have to speak to the owner when he gets back and see what's going on.

This occasionally happens to me, but it's fairly rare, usually I'm told on the phone or in person that they are cancelling for someone cheaper I don't remember the last time that I had a situation like this.

Check out my website at http://mmwindowcleaners.com
647-409-8144

Marketing with Other Service Professionals

Today I had the privlege of doing cold and warm calling with Victor a printer and toner salesman. He sells printers and cartridges and also services them when needed. He is well liked and has two hundred and fifty accounts.

I moved out to Bowmanville where Victor has lived for many years. We both attend the same place of worship so he graciously offered to help me find accounts in Bowmanville and Oshawa.

Today for the first time I canvassed with another salesman. It was quite the fun experience. It was far more encouraging and easier.

He introduced me to his clients who were very friendly and took my card. That is what I call warmcalling. Victor simply said this is a friend of his who has moved to the area from Toronto proper and is looking for some clients. It worked well. WE only visited about 5 or 6 places and of those I have two serious prospects. That is quite something, often when I cold call I have to make several dozen visits or calls before I get a serious inquiry.

We are going to plan to do this again. Speaking in person to existing customers is very valuable since the clients are warmer and they trust you more quickly. I am likely to get jobs that I wouldn't normally get since they may only choose a window cleaner who is recommended by their friends.

On an encouraging note a pizzeria owner called me. I had left a quote and card a couple months ago, and she wanted me to come biweekly to clean the windows. She was happy with our work and is now a new client. It restored my faith that leaving business cards works at times, I was starting to think that it was pretty useless since I seemed to get little response from even serious people that took my card but for one reason or another never called me back

Are you looking for a reliable Toronto Window Cleaner. Call Mike, 647-409-8144

mike@mmwindowcleaners.com
http://mmwindowcleaners.com

Money, Money, Money? Are you getting yours? How to get paid quickly.

Are you sitting on a mountain of unpaid invoices?

I wrote before on the importance of getting paid. I make sure that after just 2 weeks the majority of my customers that haven't paid an invoice that is aged 14 days get a friendly reminder letter.

I have found that this has sped up payment for me and enabled me to have more cash flow and less uncollected invoices.

Another important thing to do in your small business is to make sure that you have created all the invoices for all the work that has been done, and not delay in emailing or mailing the invoices.

Today, I was surprised at the hundreds of dollars of work that I have not billed going back to Dec 2011. I was wondering why my business bank account was leaner than usual of late.

So, very simple things to do to keep your cash flow healthy is to remind customers after two weeks to pay your invoice and to make sure all invoices have been created and are sent to customers quickly. Remember you have a right to your money. You don't need to apologize for that.

Get More Homestars Reviews

Get More HomeStar Reviews


My last post spoke about using HomeStars to find a reliable contractor. And as I said I used HomeStars to find a good duct cleaning company. Canaduct had hundreds of 10 star homestar reviews. So with that info and checking their website I was sold.

I hired them in large part due to HomeStar reviews. I wondered how they were able to get hundreds of reviews. A couple days later I found out, with this follow up letter.

Now tell me is this a good follow up letter? Would you use it? Any criticisms?

Here it is:

Hi Michael,
I am pleased that you were satisfied with our recent performance, duct cleaning your home.
I would be most grateful therefore, if you would kindly give us a 10-STAR review on www.homestars.com.  It is important to our company that we continue to have updated reviews, lest we be left in our competitor's dust.
Thank you.

Paul  B***
Air quality and HVAC specialist
Www.canaduct.com
Www.heatingontario.ca
416-410-3777(work)
647-999-7062(cell)


________

I was a little surprised about how forward it was in asking for a 10 star review. But besides that it is a good idea, short, and sweet too.

Give me feedback,

Mike Polsky
647-409-8144
mike@mmwindowcleaners.com
http://mmwindowcleaners.com

Links:
homestars.com
canaduct.com

Working as a subcontractor

Working As A Subcontractor
 
I haven't posted for quite a while. So I apologize.

I wanted to speak about something that could really add a nice income stream to your business. Subcontracting. Many janitorial companies in particular, don't want or don't know how to properly clean windows. Many are very eager to work with a window cleaning company to clean windows for their clients. They may be happy because they may have turned down window cleaning jobs before, but now, they can have someone they trust clean the windows, and they can make a tidy profit on it.

I have worked with several janitorial companies over the past year. One janitorial company I have cleaned a restaurant for. Another has me clean some insurance office windows. Another had me clean payday loan centres, And this latest one has me clean condo sales offices. Generally there are two kinds of companies, serious business owners who charge good prices, and are reaping the benefits, and ones who charge very little and are working like dogs. I have worked with both.

The important things to deal with when you work with companies is this. Provide a pay period that they must pay you by. For example due on receipt or due in two weeks. You deserve your money, and don't stand for not getting paid til the customer gets paid. Let the contractor manage the risk, that will be a large weight off your back.

Try to put things in writing, even if it's just an email. For each new job you bid on send an email outlining what work you will do, and how much you will charge. Often terms are forgotten and arguments or misunderstandings may arise.

Don't feel that you need to cut your prices. I have charged decent prices, and the contractor was still able to put a decent cut on top of it.

Good communication is key. A janitor doesn't think like a window cleaner, and he might not understand your pricing, what work is involved, or other issues.

An advantage of working as a subcontractor is that you may get jobs that you may not get through your marketing efforts, or you may not be allowed to bid on.

Of course, janitors are not the only people you can work with. You can subcontract for property maintenance companies, national service companies, even other window cleaners.

So, in summary. Set payment terms, communicate, put things in writing, and don't cut your prices if you don't have to.

Thanks for reading my blog. If you are in the Toronto area, and want your windows cleaned. Call me. I am the Toronto Window Cleaner. 647-409-8144

Paul's great marketing blog

Paul McQuillan, a lively,passionate, and great contributing forum member, of Window Cleaning Resource and National Window Cleaning Directory, has turned his passion and ability in marketing into a book:

Onslaught Marketing "How You Can Survive the Economic Crisis and Emerge 10x Stronger Than Your Competition"

His website address is: http://onslaughtmarketing.com

And he authours a very interesting and informative marketing blog - http://jointheonslaught.blogspot.com

He has brought up an important missed opportunity. Forced Continuity, or putting customers on a schedule. It has inspired me, and led me to share and agree with his point about forced continuity. Here is the blog posting:

http://jointheonslaught.blogspot.com/2009/02/window-cleaners-take-heed.html

Forced continuity is regularly scheduled window cleaning on a indefinte frequency. Whether that is every two weeks, four weeks, eight weeks, or twice a year.

As Paul goes on to say, many residential window cleaners fail to offer regularly scheduled cleans for their residential customers.

This has inspired me to think of offering this service to residential customers I will attain this spring. The only issue would be to make sure that one can make enough money to drive there, stop, get equipment off truck and clean windows. So an important factor is setting the price at a reasonable level. His suggestion of $80 sounds reasonable.

If you could get many customers to go for this service, a route could be made, causing certain efficiencies to develop and lowering your costs (gas, marketing, etc) per customer.

As an example, Mr Squeegee, aka Tony Evans, anewviewia.com has a winter route, where he cleans some of the windows on certain houses once a month, and has a regular route, which enables him to make some money during a hard time for many residential window cleaners - winter.

Having forced continuity, or putting residential customers on a regular schedule would enable you to make more money per customer. would enable you to get through slow seasons better, and enable you to have a little more of a predictable income.

This is why I enjoy cleaning commercial glass. Everything I do is on a schedule. I can predict how much my company will gross per year, I can schedule my customers for the most efficient way of cleaning them to minimize wasted driving time. I'm cleaning relatively clean glass, and I'm not always forced to market like crazy, since one customer will gross me thousands of dollars a year, for an indefinite period of time, perhaps years. Instead of just making a few hundred bucks, and then trying to get another customer.

Putting customers on a schedule makes a lot of sense. So think about ways you can implement that for your business.

And check out Paul's blog for other great marketing ideas.

What Is an Independant Operator? And dealing with WSIB

Many small companies subcontract work. They do this without much thought. They might have the same guy do all their work, for many hours each week, using your tools, getting explicit direction and this person earns all their income from you.

In your eyes he his your hardworking subcontractor. Unfortunately in the eyes of many Government Insurance boards, this person is your employee. As such you would be required to register and pay workers compensation insurance. In the event of an injury, or an audit from workers compensation, you may face a fine, years of premiums due, a possible lawsuit from the injured worker for negligence. This would be of course, destructive for your business, causing you much sleep loss, anxiety, and possible bankruptcy to your small business.

So it is essential to find out how your workers compensation board views the relationship you have with your employee, make any corrections you need to to your relationship, or in the worst case begin paying exorbitant premiums to cover your employee, and your butt.

In Ontario, where I live, you have several options. You can seek, the government agency responsible to make a ruling on your relationship, or possible relationship.

I had to fill out this form for a janitorial company. To determine the relationship we would have, and whether I would be an employee (in their eyes), or an independent operator (who is not legally required to take out WSIB coverage).

Fortunately I was viewed as an independent operator for this instance. This is the form you fill out with the contractor, or if you are the contractor, you would fill this out with your subcontractor. You would sign it, and bring it to WSIB with the subcontractors invoices for other jobs he did, his business registration, a copule of invoices of supllies he bought, showing that he buys his own tools/supplies.

I did that an brought it to 200 Front St, Downtown Toronto. This is the form.

http://www.wsib.on.ca/wsib/wsibsite.nsf/LookupFiles/DownloadableFileIndependentOperator/$File/1158.pdf


What exactly is an independant operator in Ontario. This pamphlet, prepared for construction contractors, clearly shows what makes one an independent operator.


http://www.wsib.on.ca/wsib/wsibsite.nsf/LookupFiles/DownloadableFileConstructionIndependentOperators/$File/ConstIndOp.pdf

So what is an independent operator in Ontario?
offers services to various firms
• reports to the government
as a self employed business (Canada Revenue
Agency/GST)
• owns and operates his/her equipment.


I know this post may look only relevant to Ontario residents but it is vitally important to make sure that if you hire subcontractors that your government's workplace insurance board views it as such. If not, you may face crippling fines, and possible bankruptcy.

Warm Hands

I just watched Mr Squeegee's video. Pretty good stuff on staying warm in the winter.

I wanted to show you what gloves (mitts actually) I use to stay warm in the winter. These mitts are much warmer than the typical mitts window cleaners use, they are cheap too. In Canada I can get these mitts for just $17 + TAX at LeBaron at Dundas and Hurontario in Mississauga.

99% of the time your hands will be warm. So invest in some nice Ice Fishing Mitts, these are what I use.

I would recommend using mitts. I know it's personal preference but mitts keep your fingers together, thus giving your hands more heat.

Try it out, if it doesn't work for you - I doubt it, it's just $20 out of your pocket.

But I have used these mitts for 7 winters. Cold Canadian Winters, and I have been very happy.

Another thing, I never feel a cold aluminum pole through the mitts. Never!

Check it out

http://www.harryfalk.com/Body.cfm?CatID=5&ManuID=31&ProdID=89

The High Cost of a Low Price

I just got off the phone with my phone company feeling anxious, frazzled and like I wasted half an hour of my life.

You see, in November I was threatened to be cut off by my phone company, which was actually a cable, cell phone and media company: Rogers Cable. Now that's not because I wasn't paying, but they wanted me to switch to their way of offering telephone service, through the cable line. But that's not the point of the story, so I'm not going to go into that whole interesting story.

After getting scary letters that they would cut my service, and send men to break my legs...just kidding. After receiving those letters, I realized that I would need to find a new phone service or find myself out of a land line.

So in haste, I went with a cheap company that actually uses POTS (Plain old telephone service through the copper phone line). They offered great prices, 5 features including call display name and number, call forwarding, call answer, three way calling. For just $34.95 + TAX. In addition this price doesn't include any sneaky access fees that the others charge for such silly things like 911, Touch tone calling, system access fees, etc.

I wouldn't have to worry, like I would if I switch to cable, that the cable box that converts cable to telephone, would in a power failure run out, and I would have no phone service in an emergency, when cell service would not work (I didn't work in the great blackout). No, plain old copper wire telephone service would work come ice or blackout.

When I wanted to sign up for this service with YAK, I had to wait nearly an hour to reach a live operator, and I had to listen to the same commercial 100 times, that's almost as bad, as the torture the Americans administer to suspected terrorists! After waiting an eternity I got through and signed up.

I was told I would have to wait 5 to 7 business days to be connected. those few days past, and weeks too, when I wondered what the heck is going on?

I called again, and had to wait another hour, and endure the Chinese telephone torture. After finally getting through, I asked what the problem was, they were not sure, but assured me I would get phone service soon. More weeks past, with no phone service, and I just assumed I would never be hooked up.

Until as the new year came in I realized I was connected. I was happy. And knowing I would get many services at fire sale prices.

Shock came in a few days ago when I got my first bill, after just three weeks. 65! I called them, and fortunately got through right away. I guess they are serous about answering the phone when they know they may get their money faster.

Turns out that their prices went up this new year, although the receptionist was strangely unaware of it, what do they not know how much their prices are?

So although I signed up for 34.95 as soon as I was actually connected, I was billed at 38.95. Seems like a bait and switch too me. I was sold a bill of goods, and then they switched it on me. Because Yak made me wait, I fell under their new price.

I was furious, but of course, knowing how one gets what they want on the phone, I kept my voice, determined but calm and fairly low.

They seem to not know that their price was raised even though I been checking their website twice a week every week for months. And the other packages they offer are substantially different. I know what price I was quoted and I have it written down.

They claimed because they're system is computerized they can't give me the price I was quoted and signed up for. That they would have to credit me every month and they were only willing to give me one month and a half credit.

I of course, since they pulled a bait and switch wanted the price I was quoted and signed up for. The lady said she has to research what the price was at Nov 12 on Monday then call Tech Support to enter it manually if that price was 34.95, then call me back.

Otherwise, what did I get for cheaper phone service. Bad Tech Support, and unknowledgable staff, wasted time on the phone, anger, frustration, and feeling I'd been cheated and swindled. A sneaky price increase too.

What a high price to pay for a few bucks.

Dress for Sucess!

Today I met with a mid size janitorial company based in the Greater Toronto area. I had spoke about subcontracting window cleaning jobs from him, since many of his customers need window cleaning done.

His client list included a who's-who of Toronto, an impressive client list which they showed me when I met with them.

Originally I was going to meet the marketing director in a coffee shop, at the last minute he decided to invite me to his office. Where I would also meet the CEO. This was turning into more of a job interview, and a situation where I want to make the best possible impression.

So I decided to dress well for it. I didn't want to overdress, and look out of place, wearing a complete suit. Instead I wore suit pants, and nice dress shirt top button unbuttoned, and nice polished, good quality dress shoes and socks.

It turns out I made more of an impression then a would have hoped for.

He was impressed because he found some window cleaners in the past have not taken care of their personal appearance when servicing his clients, appearing with dirty rags coming out of their pockets, cutoff jeans and unkempt appearance.

As he told me himself, the way I dressed, showed that I cared about my appearance, that I would dress with appropriate attire, or the people I send would dress appropriately when doing jobs.

He appreciated that because he is concerned with image, and he wants to project a good image with dress, and other matters.

The way I dressed today, practically got me a subcontracting agreement before I opened my mouth.

As you probably know, the way you dress speaks volumes, and dressing appropriately on occasions when you meet important contacts is very important.

Don't feel you need to overdress, but dress appropriately for the occasion, and you may find your business will flourish as you build important relationships with other companies.

Stop leaving so many voicemail messages

Stop Leaving So Many Voicemail Messages

One thing I have learned in the last few months is this. Stop leaving so many voicemail messages.

We hope by leaving them that a prospective customer will call us back when they get a chance, but they rarely do. There are some that have a personality that they return all calls and all messages. But so many, for one reason or another don't. This also applies to email messages too.

Sometimes you might leave one message initially to get the ball rolling. Perhaps you are calling the wrong person and they forward the message to the appropriate party.

But when trying to land a job, don't keep leaving messages. It is far more effective to keep calling, when you get the person on the phone (this requires some patience) they will usually feel like they need to make a decision, and often will make it on the phone. Or they might tell you to call back in a week (call back!). It might takes repeated efforts but some of your efforts will pay off. So be persistant. However, leaving messages will not lead to the same success.

Some other people are worse, and you need to see them in person. Be concious though to do this at a time that you are in the area, and are not needlessly wasting time or gas.

Thanks for reading my blog!

Are you in the Toronto area and want a quote for window cleaning. Call the reliable Toronto window cleaner at 647-409-8144. Or visit my website http://mmwindowcleaners.com

Never Assume!

Never Assume

Often as window cleaners we are filled with much self-doubt.

We give proposals to prospective window cleaners thru email, or fax, and we wait and wait. We might have initially have thought we would get the job, but as time passes. We might wonder, was my price too low? Did another window cleaner get it? Were they not that interested to begin with? The most common thing we might think, is my prices are too high, I need to lower them, they would never go for my prices, they probably have someone who charges them much less.

Often these suppositions are false. Our price was not thought of as too high. Often the problem is this.

Our prospective customer was just too busy to call us, or he was to busy even to look at our quote. Or he had some family emergency to handle. Or he is short staffed and put us on the back burner. Or he's checking with head office to get autority to hire a window cleaner. Or he is still looking to see what is budget is for the year. Or he is waiting on his partner to give approval and she is sick.

It could be a variety of things, but usually it boils down to this they were too busy to call us, or too look into our quote.

So don't beat yourself up, keep a positive attitude. Don't make assumptions tell you hear it from the horses mouth.

I'm writing this because this is what happened to me, I emailed a proposal for window cleaning, and after initially speaking to the customer, I didn't hear back. I thought my prices is too high. But no the customer was waiting on a few people to see if they could go ahead with our window cleaner. Another customer who I emailed, also after several reminder emails had not even looked at the quote because he was busy.

So stop assuming, and stop beating yourself up. Don't change your pricing scheme until you know that it is turning away too many customers.

How do you solve this problem? My next post will shed some light.

Thanks for reading my blog! Are you in the Toronto area and want your windows cleaned? Call the Toronto window cleaner at 647-409-8144

A shout out to Sean!

A Shout Out To Sean
 
Sean is the Salesman for Window Cleaning Resource - of which my blog is posted on the forum. Thanks Chris and Alex.

Sean is a very successful businessman, and has helped WCR to acquire much of their commercial work.

I watched Sean's video today about his new approach to pricing. I must say I'm impressed. He's not going to lowball his prices anymore to win accounts - and he will charge what is good for him - working on commision, and high enough for the guys who work at WCR and Chris and Alex.

I too don't believe in charging lower than I want for an account simply to match local competition or get a client.

My belief in pricing is too charge at a rate/hour that you want, and a rate that you know the majority of your desired clients will accept.

I would rather charge too high and not get a business, than charge too low, and kick myself later, and find myself over time with a lot of underpriced work.

My pricing philosophy is always changing, based on what I think I can charge, what high prices others have charged, and when I find out that I'm not charging what others do.

The most current change I have made to my pricing is to not treat all glass the same.

Before, even when cleaning a large piece of glass, I would charge what a small piece of glass would cost. Most customers understand that they will pay more if they have a store with big glass than if their store had small windows.

If I need to just clean windows with one method, cleaning with just a squeegee and applicator I will charge a basic rate per window. If I have to use a pole (I'm tall - 6 feet 2) than I will charge up to double that rate.

I would advise all of you to not treat all glass the same. Let's say you charge $1/per outside pane) for a regular pane that requires no polling. For one that requires polling, or is much larger charge $2/per pane.

Your pricing philosophy can change, be willing to accept new ideas and make adjustments where necesary.

Are you in the Toronto area and want a quote for window cleaning? Call the Toronto Window Cleaner at 647-409-8144 or visit my webiste at http://mmwindowcleaners.com

Damn! It's cold!

Damn It's Cold

Today, was a freezing day. The windows were whipping up, and the windchill was making it feel like -20.

For some reason, the windchill factor seems to have an effect on the water. Even though the windchill factor was designed to show how cold it feels for a human. Windy days tend to make the water freeze at the windchill temperature, not the actual temperature.

On cold days like this I dress warm. When it's below -10 (14 Fahrenheit) I wear snowboarding pants, or snowpants. I wear a thermal shirt, a solar fleece, a heavy goose down jacket, a touque, and for hand protection, I use snowboarding mitts (Kidd by Eskimo). I wear very warm boots.

I have been having problems with my boots. Although I spend a lot of money, on apparently good quality boots, I still tend to get a little bit of water in my boots. Which should never happen.

To keep the water from freezing, I use Methyl Hydrate (AKA, Methyl Alcohol). Using this product I can work at levels of lower windchills, then windshield washer fluid. I also don't like the soap in WWF, and I think I spend less money usning methyl hydrate than wwf.

I encounter a problem with working on these extremely cold days. It's hard to squeegee with a lot of methyl hydrate because the liquid is thinner, no matter how much soap is added, it can't soften the water so it's easier to squeegee. My water seemed when applied to the windows not to be even, heavy to squeegee too. Perhaps I'll have to add some softener or easy squeegee solution.

On days like this people wonder why you are cleaning the windows. But of course, on days like this, with snow on the ground, and sidewalks oversalted the windows are just filthy.

Word of advice - invest in boots. Make sure - that you get waterproof, warm boots if you live in a cold climate. Before I got these boots, I had very cheap boots, that made my feet freeze. As soon as your feet feel cold, you simply can't work, simple as that. Invest in boots.

I tend to go with very bulky warm clothes, instead of layering. However, I've reduced the amount of cotton I wear (T-Shirts, undershirts etc) I wear, since I found that I either feel overdressed, or it stiffles me.

What a winter it's been.

Accounts Payable

One of the most pressing problems in running a small business is getting paid promptly. In a business like Window Cleaning there are a number of customers that pay immediately. And when your focus is on cleaning houses, you might get paid right away nearly all the time.

However, my business while including residential, has its main focus on cleaning businesses. Many of these are billed and mail a cheque to my office.

How do you get your customers to pay in a reasonable amount of time? Many business suffer, while they are doing a lot of work, a lot of their money is tied up in accounts payable, and people taking weeks or months to pay. That really drains your business, and could stop you from running a profitable business.

Let me share a couple ways that I keep my accounts payable under control. Perhaps you can implement these suggestions for your business.

State Terms

It is important to state at the beginning what you expect in terms of payment. The time that you expect payment, for example, on receipt, or 30 days. Be clear, state upfront what you expect in regards to how and when you get paid.

For our company, I always say due on receipt. I expect payment promptly and I don't automatically give them 30 days to pay. I expect them to take my invoice, and on the day that they usually write cheques, within a few days they will write the cheque and mail it to my office.


Keep Good Records

There are many programs that permit you to keep your business organized and to create invoices and monitor accounts payable.

I use Quickbooks Easy Start for my small business. It keeps everything organized for me, my banking, invoicing, payment, and accounts receivable. With the click of a mouse I can see how much overdue an invoice is, I can easily email reminders, copies of the invoice and so forth. If you aren't organized you can't easily catch those who are taking too long to pay.

Remind them

After 14 days I remind the customer by email that we haven't received payment. I don't at that point say it's overdue, but I say in a nice, kindly written email that we haven't received payment and we are reminding them. I write down the invoice number and date too, and email them another copy of the invoice.

After 30 days, I email them, saying the invoice is overdue, that our terms are payment due upon receipt, and ask them to mail the cheque immediately.

If we still don't receive payment, I call them personally, in the rare instance that that doesn't work, I pay a personal visit.

Give Lattitude

You do however have to be reasonable. One of my customers is Burger King, and the cheque comes from Miami, which is far away from Toronto, ON. So I realize that it will take time for my invoice to go from the managers hands in the mail to Miami, thru Miami back to my office. I give that customer 30 days before I remind them.

Does this work?

My experience with this payment system that I implemented in the spring has been very positive. I have only three customers that take more than 14 days to pay, namely that Burger King, a dealership that has gone bankrupt, which I'm not even sure I'll get paid, and one other company.

All others pay within a week to 14 days. One customer actually pays us through electronic payment, which is incredibly fast.

Remember, it's your money. It's not rude to ask for your money to be paid to your business in a timely manner. By all means be reasonable and kind when reminding customers, but as the saying goes the squeaky wheel gets the grease, if you are not asking for your money, you may be the last business to get paid.


Thanks for reading my blog.

If you are in the Toronto area and want your windows cleaned, call me, The Toronto Window Cleaner at 647-409-8144