Software for running a window cleaning service

Having gone through a few stages of using notepads and diaries to record my window cleaning work. Window cleaners have a lot to remember and relying on just my brain would prove disastrous. Imagine trying to organise over two hundred customers. Some I clean monthly, others every six weeks and I have a few shops that are done weekly. Quickly found using diary and writing everything done time consuming and not efficient. I would often spent several hours a week updating my records, trying to remember who has paid and who hasn't was becoming difficult to manage.
Started using excel spreadsheets, but found it didn't suit my needs. Still have to input loads of data each day. Then someone introduced me to George which is great for the PC but can't use it on my android device or iPad. Printing off work sheets and then when I get home update it. This worked really well until my laptop went out of action. Why didn't you back up the data I here you say. Well I did, but without another computer running windows and buying another copy to run it on. I was up the creek without the paddle. This is when I started using Google docs now called drive but this was like going back to excel. At least it is online and I can access it from any device.
After searching the web for an alternative or purpose made software designed for window cleaners I settled on Roundpartner.

Online window cleaning software this seems to tick all the boxes. Roundpartner can be used on my android tablet or iPad. I like the idea that my data is safely stored online and I can view this anywhere I can get a WiFi connection or internet. I don't even have to print off a work sheet. Roundpartner has a mobile specific version as well so I just log on with my phone with an easy to use look finding my customers details is like looking up a phone contact in my phone. It tells me when they are due, any money they owe or credit and when the job is done I press done and it is booked for next time. Mainly I have been using roundpartner to check when work is due and update payments but there is so much more. They have added a quoting section called prospects and now when I go to price up a new window cleaning job I put all the details in there. When the client phones or emails with the go ahead I only need to to look in prospects and convert to a customer. They added an extras button where I can record the little extra jobs I do . keeps track of my out goings like petrol and supplies I buy.
This software as save my window cleaning business so much time. For £10 a month less than 40 p a day it is money well spent.
Roundpartner

Window cleaning magazine 'window cleaning wars' state side of the pond

Window cleaning wars. Entertaining way of showing how guys run their window cleaning businesses in America. Love to see a UK version. Sit back and enjoy..................

Using Ecover with pure water

Just recently I have read a posts on FaceBook by other window cleaners about using Ecover.

Well Ecover is great as an alternative to fairy or other dish soap. It is suppose to be environmentally friendly. I have used it for cleaning internal windows and traditional window cleaning externally for a few years but stopped using about a year ago. Why did I stop using it? I had some window cleaning liquid by Unger that I wanted to use up. It seemed to not shift the grease very easily on heavy soiled windows. I was never really happy with the results.

Last Month I returned to Ecover, I clean a fast food take away every week. There are always greasy fingers marks on the glass. With a squirt of the liquid in the water it came off like a breeze. It really made light work of the greasy marks. There didn't seem to any smears, just nice clean and clear glass.

I thought I got to give this a try with water fed pole. With about a teaspoon of Ecover to about 25 litres of pure water I found the part per million level was between 001 and 002. Would it leave streaks, spotting or marks on the glass after the windows have dried. No, the results are brilliant and on first time cleans it made the job easier. 

If your thinking about cleaning your windows this weekend I would recommend using Ecover washing up liquid instead of other dish soap to clean your windows. Most Supermarkets stock it in the cleaning aisle.

 

Window cleaning in the colder months

As we enter November next week, there is a few things that window cleaners need to consider as they prepare for winter. We know it is necessary for windows to be cleaned during the months with low hours of daylight. We all know we are doing our best to save energy and have clean windows will let in more light, relying on artificial lighting less.
For more about this subject follow the link below
window cleaning in the winter months 

Facebook reaches a billion users

Facebook announces a billion users today, while that is a massive amount of users in just eight years. It shows the power or should I say popularity of social networking. Think for a minute, if you have a business and do not have a Facebook page then you are potentially losing out on a sixth of the world. Facebook is a powerful tool for advertising or reaching out to people. Big businesses who advertise at peak times on TV pay millions of dollars, Super-bowl just to mention one event.
We have recently started a Facebook page for our business RoundPartner  . RoundParner is a internet based service helping Window cleaners and similar businesses with automating the paper work side of their service. By using RoundPartner this will free you up to do the things you want to do.
RoundPartner should be due for release middle of October 2012 for more information http://www.roundpartner.co.uk/