7 Top Tips on Growing your Window Cleaning Round

There are many things to consider when running a business and when it comes to making sure it’s heading in the right direction and successfully growing there are a lot of things you can do to support this. Some of the points might seem obvious, but if done correctly you will find they will really help to drive your company forward and become the success you hoped for. Take a look at our 7 top tips on how to grow your window cleaning business and secure more reliable customers.

1. Communication.
It is easy to forget that a lot of customers know very little about the window cleaning industry, therefore it is always worth explaining to them what they will get from your service. For example, if you clean just the glass, or if you include the frames and windowsills as well. That way there is no risk in the customer being disappointed and you know you are meeting their expectations. This is particularly important if you clean using water fed pole, as some people won’t understand the process of using pure water, making it very common for customers to be confused and disappointed when they see that their windows were left to dry naturally. A simple explanation beforehand or even an introductory letter through the door along with their receipt will help to create a strong customer relationship, resulting in a customer that feels looked after and will hopefully book you again and become a regular. The more returning customers you can get, the easier it will be for your business to grow.  

2. Branding/Image.
There are many benefits to creating a brand when growing a business. A brand image will be what makes your company stand out and be memorable to the public, it differentiates you in the market and represents you as a fully established company, with a name, logo and colour scheme that can be recognised.  You can then carry this brand image throughout the business. Invest in getting your van professionally sign written, as this will constantly be in the public eye an is a great way to attract new customers. You can then get things such as a branded uniform, business cards and receipt slips to complete the image. It might all seem like a cost that you don’t need to fork out, but it is what makes your business professional and trustworthy and will really help you to grow your customer base. It could also justify why you might charge slightly more than another company in the market. 

3. Be reliable.
This might seem like an obvious one, but it is so easy to get caught up in a busy working day and get behind on the jobs you had set out to do. Making an extra effort to arrive at a customer’s house at the time you agreed will avoid any disappointment from customers who have planned their day accordingly. At the same time, if you are running late or cannot make it then be sure to let the customer know via text message or phone call. They will appreciate being kept in the loop as it could affect their plans for the day.

4. Online presence. 
Being found easily online will help massively when it comes to new customers searching for your details. They might have seen your van out on the road whilst you were cleaning nearby houses and want
more information, or they could be searching for a local window cleaner in their area – in this case, you want to make sure your website/advert shows up! Ideally, this is in the form of a well-established website, although that can come with some upfront/running costs. You can also have pages on all social media channels which are free to set up and, unless you opt to run paid ads, can be free to run. Using advertising sites such as Yell and Gumtree can also help with online presence.

5. Don’t forget the Admin.
When you have your own company, there is a lot of work you need to get done other than just window cleaning. These tasks can feel a little unrewarding as you’re not getting paid at the end of it as you do with your window cleaning (hopefully!) however they are crucial in order to run a successful, growing business, and therefore should not be forgotten about.
These tasks can consist of:

• Planning your rounds for the next few weeks

• Planning any canvassing in order to get new jobs

• Responding to any new enquiries that have come through via email/text

• Making any updates to your website/adverts

• Posting on social media

• Running accounts

It is worth remembering that
there are a lot of external resources you can use to help you with the above,
including SmartRound, Squeegee App and Hootsuite etc.

6. Expand your team.
If you are used to working on your own, then this will feel like a massive and potentially daunting step. But when the time comes that you are working extra hours to fit everything in, or even turning away jobs, then the only way for your business to grow at this point will be to hire a new member of staff. It will mean you can get double the amount of work done and will also free up your time to focus on admin jobs, such as accounts, marketing and canvassing for more work. However with this, make sure you bear in mind the additional work and costs that come with employment, things such as training, holiday, sick pay etc. There are lots of useful companies available to bear in mind that can help with HR and employment tasks.

7. Keep payment methods versatile.
The world is slowly but surely becoming very anti-cash, with a recent study showing that on average, there are now more payments made using a debit or credit card over cash. With banking apps and smartphone payment methods available, card transactions are so efficient, whilst cash is becoming an inconvenience. You therefore need to think about how this will affect you as a business, as telling a customer that you only accept cash might put them off booking you as they will need to remember to get cash out in preparation for your visit.