So what are your greatest financial challenges inside you window cleaning business?
Cash flow, billing, receivables etc…?
Mine is probably cash flow in the off seasons… What about you?
Same. Cash flow in the off season.
Another is being able to keep enough for big jobs that take time to complete the work, pay for rentals, labor etc…and be able to wait the 30 days to get paid.
Mine is having enough work to employ someone full time. I had enough work for 3 window cleaners with 20 years experience (my buddies) in spring and fall but summer and winter are dead… 98% residential though. That’s why I got into lawn care, I thought it would solve that problem, I’d have more steady work. Now I’m super busy in the spring doing power rakes and aerations and can’t do windows, still 3 guys but two of them are from labour ready temp help because I don’t need skilled guys for lawns but nobody wants to pay more then $30 a cut for the summer. I got a few that are $60+ but I’m still a one man show and the over head in lawns is crazy compared to windows. My 21" mower cost $1350, my 36" cost $4000, they are commercial but if I buy a Home Cheapo mower they fall apart in a couple months. I don’t even want to talk about how much my power rake and aerator cost either and I have to pull a trailer (that I paid $2600 for) and it burns extra gas. I miss windows, so now that I’ve lost almost all my houses I’m thinking of going back into windows.:rolleyes:
Overhead is my biggest challenge.
I dont mind winter too much, we have a real winter, 5 months long and I have snow clients. I get paid whether it snows or not, but nobody pays me extra if I go out 10 times
uncertainty about tax law and health care reforms and how they will affect budgets
Chris I agree with you, cash flow in the slow months is my biggest struggle. It teaches you to be
humble when times are good. It would be easy to drop a few thousand dollars on something "sweet"
and “cool” this time of year, but I have self discipline because I know I need the extra money for
the winter months.
Plus it is always nice to have a few thousand stashed away for snowboarding season!! It is getting
close and I could not be more excited. Are there any cool resorts out east that I should consider?
Inside of window cleaning? Planning the transition to hiring employees.
Outside of window cleaning? 2 children in college!
Cash flow in Jan and Feb for us. I’ve learned to set aside a portion of the profits from the previous year for this time. Hate it but that’s what I do. When things pick up I leverage ‘the credit line’ for a month to get us going.
Surprisingly even though I am 100% residential I really have no financial complaints. As far as the off season I am all set since I will be laying everyone, including myself off, for 2 1/2 months.
I am pretty good at managing and saving money throughout the season but I could always use extra more cash for more direct mail. 
The challenges I face with my business are more personnel, lousy clients who cancel the night before their appointment at 10pm etc.
Taxes. Once you become profitable you get slammed.
What is your organizational structure?
S-corp.
Cash flow. Collecting the money in a timely manner.
I’m not good at that. At all.
Cash flow for me, definitely. Once we get out of some stupid debt and stay out, I think we’ll be in sweet shape.
Most of my ‘brand name’ commercial accounts take up to 60 days before a check comes in, its hard for me to float cash that long and I have an even harder time making my collection calls. I’ve switched a few of them over to auto billing by credit card, but it still takes time to process. I love the sales, like the window cleaning, but hate running the accounting portion of my business.
I guess as things get tighter here in the UK, things will get worse. But my main problem is a growing number of customers who dont pay on time. Everything for me is on a monthly basis and I have known nearly all my customers for years, many on a friendly basis. Problem is, some of them are starting to owe me not just two months but three and four months of moneys. I am beginning to wonder who is the friend? I know they will pay, they always do, but in the meantime my bank account is not looking healthy.
It is something I have been thinking of addressing actually. As I said, the situation seems to be getting worse (nothing terrible yet!) but I can only see it getting worse…
WHAT!!! Net60’s??!! I passed on a job for Hewlett Packard because of that. Sometimes I get stressed on the Net30’s when they are late, at 60, I’d have a coronary. You must have nerves of steel my friend.
I have to think about this one? I retire in Four years, I’m in the golden years of my business. I dont have debt, truly love cleaning sidewalks.
I guess I need to focus on selling again because i love it so much and really miss being in the trenches even though I dont have too.
I’m a strange bird, would rather close a deal than golf most of the time.
If I said a problem existed it would be employee re-training. Its a never ending battle but is very important. I guess I should call it continuing the training of current employees. The same things over and over and over and over and over gets to be a drag.
Taxes, and transitioning to hiring employees… And corporate accounts waiting to get paid.
finding & keeping good employees and putting enough money aside to get thru the winter when all my residential accts slow…i have enough commercial accts now to make it thru but its quite an adjustment from a busy spring,summer&fall to winter…im jealous of all you warm weather wcers!!
