What customers want

If you are going to start a business, the first thing you need to wrap your head around is what your customers want. I know that seems pretty obvious, but I've met a lot of people over the years who have their own finances and comfort as their primary concern. These people are no longer in business.

Here's the short list of customers' desires:

1. Results. They are much less concerned about how much time you put in than the finished product. If you worked like a dog for 5 hours, but the place is still dirty,it will be hard to get paid. When I clean windows in a big house for $350, and it takes 7 hours, they are not thinking, "Hey! I'm paying this guy $50 an hour!" They are thinking, "Last time it took me 2 weekends to do this and it still didn't look this good." I just improved the look of their half million dollar home in a day and saved them a couple of weekends. 
2. Cost effective. This is not the same as "cheap." People who want "cheap" are the kind who are angry that you are making a good living cleaning houses. They are usually on thin ice financially, and they really cannot afford you. These people cannot perceive value in the same way as someone with more disposable income. For instance, someone who either won't take the time or spend the $50 to get their gutters cleaned out is not thinking ahead. I've seen gutters with plants and trees growing in them. They are so full of composted leaves and debris and they are now planters with roots running out and under the roof shingles. Because these gutters haven't drained in a very long time, the water and sludge have been running over the sides and over the fascia boards and now they are rotting and growing fungus. That $50 job that didn't get done is  now at least $1,000 worth of wood replacement, roof repair and repainting. People with money don't let this happen.
3. Trust. This covers everything from the customer knowing you will follow through and not skip any of the work they have paid for, and that you won't steal stuff. I am frequently left alone in someone's house merely on the strength of my reputation. That means they don't have to house-sit until I am done. Trust also creates convenience for them because they can go to work and just have me lock up when I leave.

Your customers will not only pay you happily for your work over and over again if you cover these bases. They will give your name to other people. And if they are happy, make sure you keep their name and contact information and make sure you call them back once in awhile. And get a reference!