What should I check about client cancellations at a maid service?
Look at who cancels, how often and why. Ask for a list of clients lost and clients paused, with dates and reasons, then compare it with new bookings. Check whether cancellations cluster around one cleaner, one route or the time the owner stepped back.
Ask for the cancellation record in writing. It should show the client, the date, the reason given and whether the cleaning was last-minute or ended for good. A business that does not track this is harder to judge, so be ready to rebuild the picture from the booking system and invoices.
Look for patterns. Do clients leave after a change in cleaner, after a price rise or during certain seasons? Do many leave within the first few visits? Early departures can mean problems in sales promises or first-visit quality, while later departures may point to price or life changes.
Check the money side. Late cancellations may have been charged, waived or absorbed. Compare invoices with the schedule to see how much income was lost. Your accountant can compare the statements with the booking history. Finally, read the purchase agreement closely for how clients who cancel around closing are handled. Your lawyer can help you decide what protections to ask for. Speak to a few active clients if the seller allows it. Ask which cancellations the owner saw coming, and which were a surprise. The answer shows how closely the owner knows the clients.
Key takeaways
- Get a dated list of cancellations with reasons and compare it with new bookings.
- Look for patterns tied to a cleaner, a price change or a season.
- Ask your lawyer how cancellations around closing should be handled.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentMajor pitfalls to avoid when negotiating a purchase agreement
- 03Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are financial statements?
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