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Your last sentence says it all Mitchel. All contracts come up for renewal at some point, so put together a good portfolio and direct your approach to the relevant Facilities Manger. A foot in the door of commercial work could be all that you need. Once there, ensure that the customer gets what they pay for .....and more! Quality really does not cost any more than an average job.
Exactly what Daniel says!
I'd add always find the name of the person you're writing to. A generic "to the person in charge of your grounds" won't get you far. It's usually pretty simple to find the right name now with a quick search.
Just a word of caution. Are you really ready for taking on commercial work? By this I mean the experience of doing the work, managing the contract and everything that goes in between.
Get it wrong and FM companies will not take too kindly and will not use you again, also it is a small world these and other commercial property owners network alot so news travels fast. However do it right and get great feed back additional contracts will follow.
Graeme @ BGS said:
Sort finances, cash flow out. Bigger jobs = bigger machines = bigger money!!
Also handy to have a back up machine. I run 2 scags (48" & 52") on my commercial work but I also have an old spare 36" scag and an old 36" rideon. Probably worth a few hundred quid between them but are priceless when one of the good ones chucks it or is in for repairs.
I often email factors, property management, business owners, hotel chains etc. I got a private housing estate once by posting a facebook ad on a community page advertising estate management and not charging vat!
hope some of this drivel helps!
These small commercial jobs are ideal to act as a spring board to bigger and better things. On a plus side, potential domestic clients often see you working and will ask for a quote but the flip side is that if you have been asked to do a cut and drop and the job looks messy and whilst the client got what we asked for the potential domestic client will only see the end result. So if you are going for a mix of small commercial and domestic clients, chose your clients and the work carefully.
These clients you are chasing are no different from your domestic clients. They will still need a valid reason to chose you and at your price.
Work out your USP’s, Licensed Waste Disposal, PA1/PA6, CSCS , Public Liability Insurance, Registered business, Experience, Training to name just a few and any other valid reasons as to why they should select you?
Next find out the person’s name as to who you need to contact for a particular site. Identify what areas you feel you can improve upon – reason is that if the site is well maintained the chances of you getting a foot in the door would be next to nothing but if the site generally looks poorly maintained and you can highlight the particular areas that are lacking TLC you will have more of a sporting chance.
Now write a nice brief letter to the applicable person, introduce yourself and the company (two or three lines throwing in the key USP’s). Suggest areas of the grounds that could be addressed (hedge cutting, bed maintenance, grass cutting etc.).
Finish off the letter by thanking them etc. and would he / she mind if you phoned them next week to discuss this is more detail?
Remember the potential client must have a need for your service, you must have the skill set to do the job and you need to convince them why they should take a punt on you and then finally you need to deliver on your promises.