Is there a need?
When trying to sell a service you need to decide if there’s a need in your area for the service. You should be filling a need, use your imagination. Are there a lot of homeowners and commercial businesses in your area?

Are there people who would be willing to pay you to do the service?
Weigh the time it takes to provide the service against what would be a reasonable price to charge. Charging someone $75 for a big two story house might get you lots of customers, but you probably wouldn’t be able to survive off such a pitiful income.

What service?
Specialize in only one or two services at a time. People won’t take you very seriously if you’re acting like Wal Mart doing 6,000 different things. Stick with services that compliment each other, like window cleaning and screen cleaning or pressure washing rather than window cleaning and bathroom remodeling. If you’re going to do more than one thing, it always helps if they go hand in hand together.
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For example things like caller ID, pop-up blockers, DVR’s, satellite radio, the national Do Not Call List and even spam blockers are driving the way we live. Advertising can no longer simply blast out an undemanding message and expect good results.

Window cleaning business owners must develop relationships with customers and provide real value not only to survive, but ultimately thrive. I’d like to share a few ideas to help you meet that goal:

1. Don’t just sell your services, become a trusted resource for your prospects and customers. Be their source and provide them with the tools and information they need to make informed decisions. A monthly or quarterly newsletter is an excellent way to position your window cleaning business as an expert in your industry. Give them some FREE tips they can do themselves, but don’t give away all your secrets. Give reference to your company website for more details or other ways to gain assistance for potential problems you can help them with.

2. Start the relationship building process by using attention grabbing, powerful marketing that IMMEDIATELY calls for a direct response and conveys benefits to WOW them. Business is a value proposition. Your customer needs a service and you have a solution. Show them the “WIFM” of your service: WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME! The company they choose to go with is the one that provides them with the best value for their hard earned money. Then give them an incentive to CALL TODAY. Don’t just tell them to call, tell them what’s in it for them to call today (i.e. limited offers, discounts, etc).
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Reaching Customers

Since the vast majority of people are active on the internet these days, you will be able to reach more potential customers if your window cleaning business has a website. Your company will also be able to reach customers that are outside the area that is covered by their local phone book. And you will be able to generate new leads or prospects via your window cleaning website.

Outlining the Service

One of the most important things an window cleaning business should do on their website is outline what their business does and what makes your company special. Let people know if you do both residential or commercial jobs. If you offer any other services make sure you detail them on your website as well. Its hard to sell a customer a service if they don’t know you offer it. If a potential customer or client is looking for a particular service, they want to know that your window cleaning business can provide it right away.
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Think about it – you are working on ladders high in the air, using squeegees and razors to clean your customer’s very expensive property. Now, if something went wrong wouldn’t you want to have insurance?

If you are going to stick to small to medium sized residential houses then you probably could get away without having liability insurance. However many times homeowners will ask if you have insurance, and it’s not a good idea to lie to them.

If you are going to be cleaning large expensive houses, or if you plan on going after mid-rise or high-rise commercial buildings (and you should be as this is where the big money is), then liability insurance is a must.

Many if not all companies will not even take your bid until after they have seen proof of liability insurance and business license.

Getting general liability insurance is not as scary as it sounds, nor is it as expensive as you may think. General liability Insurance for window cleaning companies usually runs between $1000 - $1,500 per year for $1,000,000 Liability and $50,000 Medical. Plus once your insured you are protected and can now go after the most lucrative window cleaning contracts.

To find a liability insurance provider, I used to recommend you call around to some of the different insurance agencies in your city that provide home owners insurance like Allstate and State Farm. They may not provide business liability insurance directly, but most agencies are partnered with a larger company that does and they can refer you.

Now like I said that’s what I used to teach, (more…)

In less than three months, Streak Free Profits has helped more than 200 entrepreneurs learn how they can start their own window cleaning business.

Reno, NV (PRunderground) May 26, 2008 – In a world where the fields of technology and medicine rule, there lies a hidden gem, where the only tools needed are a bucket of water, a squeegee, and a window. It’s the window cleaning business and in 2007 alone, it was an industry worth more than $10 billion dollars. And now a man by the name of Tanner Larsson is showing entrepreneurs everywhere how they can start their own window cleaning business, with very little startup costs.

Larsson owns and operates one of the most successful window cleaning businesses in Nevada and over the years he created a detailed multimedia course , which shows people how they too can start their own window cleaning business.

The course is called Streak Free Profits and in the first quarter of 2008 it helped more than 200 entrepreneurs get started. From the initial business plan, to proven marketing strategies, ready-to-go marketing materials, training videos and business forms, Streak Free Profits is a complete package that helps people through every step of the process.
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