Five things I’d tell myself on day one of a window round
Seven years in, I’d skip half my mistakes. Here’s the list I give anyone who asks.
In 30 seconds
- Charge properly from the first house
- Take direct debit from day one
- Keep one afternoon a week for the business, not the round
Charge properly from the first house
I started at £11 a house because I was scared of hearing no. It took me two years to get everyone up to a fair price. Start where you mean to stay.
Take direct debit from day one
Chasing cash on doorsteps ate my evenings. Since everyone pays by direct debit, I spend that time with my kids.
Say no to streets you can’t fill
A customer across town costs you the time of two customers on your own street. I only take a new street once there are three houses on it.
“The best customer is the one next door to a customer you already have.”
Find work for February
Houses stop paying in the rain. Schools, dentists and offices don’t. Get two commercial contracts before your first winter.
Keep one afternoon for the business
Every Friday afternoon I do quotes, invoices and the van. If you clean every day, nobody is running the business.
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