Importing

Well...we have to start somewhere, so let's get this out of the way right up front. If you have a bunch of customers in a current software program or in a spreadsheet, you can export them out of there and "import" them into The Customer Factor. We've created an "example" file for you to follow, but it's easy to prep your file and get it ready for importing. Then just login to the software, navigate to the "Import" screen, and click a button. Bingo! Your business is ready to roll.

Calendars

We offer daily, weekly, and monthly calendars for your convenience. Appointments are color coded. And with our drag/drop rescheduling feature, in a fraction of a second you can have an appt. rescheduled and ready to roll in its new day and/or time. You can also add personal appointments and "tasks" directly to the weekly or monthly calendars. And do you want to see only the appointments scheduled for a particular employee or crew? No problem. You can even print the calendars in pdf format with or w/o job pricing showing. And on the daily calendar you'll be able to print invoices for all customers scheduled for that day by clicking one "Print All Invoices" button. In literally 5 seconds you could have a half dozen invoices printed along with your daily calendar and you're ready to go for the next day!

Update: You can now color code employees and crews on the calendars!

Prospects

Prospects are an important part of our business. But for some reason, we've actually seen software products that don't provide you the ability to work with prospects. Not everyone says "yes" right away to your service when you present your pricing to them. So it's a must to follow up with them. Inside The Customer Factor, you’ll be able to add prospects, search for them, and track them until they turn into customers. We've even placed the 2 most important prospect searches right on the home/quick summary screen. So as soon as you login, you’ll know right away who needs to be contacted and followed up with.

Customers

Add your customers to The Customer Factor database and watch the magic begin. Many service business owners focus on always getting “new” customers. But the true value of a customer is in the repeat business you get from them. So our software encourages you to set a "frequency period" for each customer. And whenever your customers are due to be serviced again, The Customer Factor will display them for you. There's nothing for you to do! Just click on a link and contact 'em. It doesn't get any simpler than this. You’ll never lose any more jobs due to customers falling through the cracks!

Scheduling

It’s super simple to schedule customer jobs. A couple of clicks and it’s done. And the jobs populate on all 3 calendars. Most times you'll be scheduling a specific job for a customer on a specific day or over multiple days, but you may have customers who need your services regularly like "Every Monday", "Every Third Tuesday of the Month", etc. etc. So when scheduling these types of jobs, you can set 'em up on a "recurring" basis. A wide variety of recurring periods are available for you to choose from. 

**Just Introduced: You can now schedule all appointments directly from the calendar screens. In one "quick add" window accessed from the calendars, take care of scheduling estimates, jobs, personal appointments, and tasks. Scheduling is a breeze!

Photograph & Document Uploads

With this feature you can upload up to 6 photographs and up to 6 documents for each prospect and customer in The Customer Factor. Maybe you have a photo of a customer's home you want to keep on file or perhaps there's a contract that a customer signed that you need to keep with the customer. Just browse for the photo or doc on your computer, give it a title, and click "Upload". The software will take care of the rest and insert it neatly into that prospect or customer's profile screen. This is a great way to keep a visual of job sites or make sure you don't misplace any documents that belong to a particular prospect or customer. 

Create Prospect AND Customer Estimates

Although the ability to create estimates for prospects has been available for a few years, we've recently introduced into The Customer Factor the ability to customize and create estimates for your customers. Maybe a customer who you've serviced with one type of job wants an estimate from you for a different type of service that your business provides. So use this feature to get it done. You can even insert a company logo and add some personalized text to your estimates and really make 'em stand out. And when they say "yes" to the estimate, click the "schedule" link to convert the estimate into an actual scheduled job. Can't get any easier than this.

**Just Introduced: You can now email estimates to your prospects and customers from within The Customer Factor. The estimate will be converted into a pdf and then it will attach itself to the email...automatically! You can even create a general email template that allows you to personalize each email with prospect or customer information. When we create features in The Customer Factor, we think first and foremost about how to automate each feature. Well...this email feature is all about automation!

Custom Fields

This recent addition to the software has been a hit. Create an unlimited number of custom fields for each prospect or customer. When created, they'll carry across all prospects and customers so that there is no need for duplicate custom field creation. There are so many uses for this feature that we can't even scratch the surface of what you can do with it. Want to keep track of prospect or customer birthdays? Want to create fields where you can list prices for each item or service you provide? Literally anything you can think of, you can create. And again...it's unlimited!

Personalize It!

With our "Personalize It" feature, you can can create all kinds of different personalized letters for prospects or customers like reminder letters, follow up letters, thank you letters, special "new service" announcements, and estimate packages as a few examples. And each letter can be personalized based on how you want it personalized! You have the option of printing an individual letter for a single prospect/customer or you can print multiple letters all with a single click of the "print" button. This "Personalize it!" feature will really maximize your relationships and increase your bottom line profits! And if you're doing any bulk mailing, you can use our label merge feature to print out mailing labels (with or w/o "or current resident" in each label) in black ink or in your choice of six different colors if you have a color printer.  

Print Work Orders

Directly from the daily calendar you can click a "print all work orders" button to print work orders for all jobs to be done that day. Have the customer sign the top half, give 'em the bottom half, and you're good to go. If some jobs don't require work orders because they just get invoiced, then you can select which jobs you want to print work orders for and click the available "print selected work orders" button. Each work order that prints can be fully personalized with your logo and other information to "spice" it up. 

Invoices

We currently offer three different customizable invoice formats where you can add your company logo, insert some personalized text, add a coupon, choose what you want to appear on the invoice, etc. etc.  This customization feature allows you to present professional, high impact invoices to your customers.

To mark invoices as "paid", it's as easy as clicking one link on the home screen. And you can search for invoices using lots of different search criteria like; invoices that are "paid", invoices with a "balance due", invoices "paid by cash", invoices that are uncollectible, invoices paid by check, invoices that are "unpaid", and many, many more. 

**Just Introduced: You can now email invoices to your customers directly from within The Customer Factor. The invoice is converted into a pdf and it attaches itself to the email...automatically! You are also given the ability to create a fully personalized global email template to be used over and over again in the body of each email. A huge time saving feature that our members are absolutely loving!

Email Individual or Broadcast Emails

This is a brand spanking new feature that we are so excited about and more importantly, our members are too. In a nutshell, you can email your prospects and customers directly from within The Customer Factor for any reason whatsoever! We've even provided you a bunch of email templates that you can use as is or edit to make 'em your own.

So...let's say you have 6 appointments tomorrow. Do a search for customers due "tomorrow", click on the email button, and send all 6 customers an appointment reminder via email just like that! Or let's say you're going to be in 3 different zip codes next week taking care of business. Do a search on the search screen for all 3 zips which will give you all your customers on one screen that are located in those zip codes. And then shoot 'em all off a quick email letting them know you'll be in their neighborhood next week and that you have some time slots available.

The above is really just scratching the surface of what you can do with this feature. You are truly limited only by your imagination. For example, let's say you have a new service your company has started offering. Then fire off an email to your customer base announcing it. Or maybe you have a limited time special offer that ends on such and such a date. Simply email all your customers an announcement with the details and start getting calls! There are literally dozens of additional ways to benefit from this new email feature.   

Important: If you don't have many customer email addresses on file because you haven't had the need for that information, we even provide tips on how you can easily get your customers to give you this information. It's all located in our Update Center inside The Customer Factor!

Reports

The Customer Factor provides you the ability to search for any kind of report you need. Sales, Profit & Loss, Taxes Collected, Expenses, Income Forecast, how many customers (or prospects) you’ve added to your business (and when), what marketing method works the best, all archived customers, mileage driven, and literally dozens more!

You can even retrieve reports that tell you how much money you made for a specific job that your business offers to customers, the # of customers who had that job done, and how much the average amount of money you made per customer for that job. Plus you can break this information down by City or State if you happen to do business in multiple locations. Bottom line...our report feature will flat out give you the information you need when you need it!  

Income Forecasting

This is actually a "Report" so I guess it could just be included in the above "Reports" section and left at that. But this is too powerful to not talk about further. How would you like to know what you might earn next month, next quarter, in 2012, 2013, or any date in between? That's what this income forecasting feature is all about. It allows you to peek into the future. The Customer Factor crunches the numbers and then provides you with what your forecasted earnings will look like for whichever time period you searched for. Future income is not guaranteed of course, but if you use The Customer Factor regularly to follow up and contact your customers, there is a great chance your income forecast will come true. Highly motivational!

Reminders

How would you like to be reminded every morning what needs to be done? This is about as automatic as it gets. Simply choose what you want to be reminded of on the “Settings” screen. You can then select to receive your reminders via email if you want to. And daily just like clockwork, you’ll receive an email with a complete list of what you need to do for the day. An outstanding feature!

Employees/Crews

Add employees to The Customer Factor and/or create “crews”. When you're scheduling a job for a customer, you'll be given the option to easily assign any employee or crew to that job. You can view jobs on any of the daily, weekly, or monthly calendar screens based on “employee” or “crew”. And then you can print the calendars (in regular or pdf format) with only the employee/crew jobs listed so that you can email or give 'em the calendar showing them exactly what appointments they are responsible for.

Google Maps Integration!

To avoid wasting time figuring out how to get to your appointments, we recently introduced Google Maps into The Customer Factor. You can view/print directions from within any prospect or customer profile screen or for the ultimate in simplicity, visit the daily calendar and click the "view daily directions" button to print your directions for the day. 

Hot Tip: We place a huge emphasis on minimal clicks and no wasted time, so with this said, you can go to the daily calendar and do the following: 1) click the "print daily calendar" button to print the calendar so that you have the specific appointment information; 2) click the "print all invoices" button to print all invoices for the day in literally seconds (invoices are already populated with the proper information and ready to be presented to your customers) and; 3) click "view daily directions" to print your daily directions. It really can't get much easier than this!

Data Backup and Exporting

For your extra peace of mind and security, you can backup all of your data in The Customer Factor to your computer, a CD, or any other format. It’s very easy to do if you're not sure about how to backup data. If you can click a button, you can backup your data in The Customer Factor. You can also export prospects and customers in multiple formats.

QuickBooks Ready

If you are a QuickBooks user, you can now transfer data from your account with The Customer Factor directly into QuickBooks. No more duplicate entry! And the data transfer process is so simple. All you do is download a special piece of software that allows The Customer Factor to "talk" to your QuickBooks program. You can even set it up to "auto-run" so that your data will transfer into QuickBooks every x number of minutes or hours automatically.

Note: You don't need Quickbooks in order to use The Customer Factor. We built our software program to be totally stand alone. However there are some diehard Quickbooks users out there, so if you're one of them, you'll love this feature!

Internet/Web-based

If you have internet access, you can login to The Customer Factor from any computer in any part of the world 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Insert your username and password and bada bing! No more being tied to one computer. Most times with software you are given one copy to download onto one computer. In this mobile society, who wants to be restricted to one computer with all your business data on it? Many of our members access their data out in the field away from the office using laptops, iphones, palm pilots, blackberries, etc. Again, as long as you have internet access, you're in.

Note: We have a specific mobile version of The Customer Factor coming within the next few weeks. As it stands right now, you can access The Customer Factor from whatever mobile device/phone you use, and we have many members who run their businesses from out in the field using and benefiting from The Customer Factor, but our upcoming mobile version of the software will be even more mobile friendly!

Unlimited Users

You can set up an unlimited number of users to login into  your account with their own username and password information directly on the "manage users" screen. I've seen some software products on the market today that limit how many users can use the software that you purchased. For example, a software product might grant access to 3 users and if you want to create more users, it'll cost you more money. We believe that there shouldn't be any limits on how many people can use a software program that you purchased! This is just another way for software developers to squeeze more money out of you. With The Customer Factor, there are no restrictions!

In addition to allowing for an unlimited number of users, you are able to create users as either "administrators" or "non administrators". Administrators have full access to your account and can see everything that you can see. Non administrators can only see the screens you want them to see. This is really an incredible feature! If you don't want a user to see your reports or nose around customer invoices for example, then you can easily prevent them from accessing those screens. This was a major feature to create, but our members are loving it, so that's all that matters. 

Just Released! You can now create subusers/non administrators and make it so they can only view the jobs they've been assigned to (prior to this feature release, subusers/non administrators could see all appointments in your account). So if you have an employee or multiple employees that you assign to customer jobs, make each one a subuser of your account, prevent them from accessing certain screens, restrict it so they can view only their appointments, and you're good to go!

Features Galore...

There are sooooo many features and benefits within The Customer Factor that we simply don't have room above to discuss all of them in detail. So below we've posted a few more feature "summaries" and some recent upgrades:

• Multiple job locations - create additional job locations for customers and assign these locations to any jobs that you schedule.

• Time "range" - schedule jobs with a single time (Ex: 9:00am) or a time "range" (Ex: 9:00am to 1:00pm).

• "Specific" notes - In addition to our "general" notes and "directions" areas in The Customer Factor, the specific notes area allows you to "date stamp" specific customer notes.

• Archiving - This is great for when you know someone will not use your service again but you don't want to delete them from your account. And you can "undo" an archived prospect/customer with one click.

• Callback windows - click a "callback" link and retrieve necessary data for callback/follow-ups. Schedule jobs from this screen also. Simple.

• Quick Summary - see summary info. right on your home screen like sales numbers, forecasted income, unpaid invoices (how many and amt.), which prospects and customers need to be contacted, etc.

• No Duplicates- When adding a prospect or customer, the software will search in the database first to see if the prospect/customer you're adding is already in your account. If so, then you'll be given an option to continue to add them or prevent them from being added.

• Alert - Whenever a customer doesn't have a frequency period assigned, you'll be alerted. An Alert window is even provided that you can open up allowing you to set multiple frequency periods at once. A big time saver!

Plus Much, Much More! And let's not forget about...

Full Service and Support!

Support isn’t really a “feature”, but it should be considered as one. We’re available by phone (256-546-2446) and we respond to all help tickets fast. We also provide one on one tutorials in half hour increments for those who might need some extra hand holding. Although The Customer Factor is extremely user friendly, any software product that is new to you will look a little foreign at first. So since our goal is to get you up to speed quickly, you'll never have to wander around figuring out how to do something.  

Bonus ** Bonus ** Bonus

Since the beginning (2004), we've introduced more than 427 new features along with 3 major redesigns. It's what has made The Customer Factor the "go-to" software for service business owners and managers alike. But as our current members will attest to, we like to "sweeten the pot" as they say. And that's what this bonus is all about. So here it is: Members can enjoy FREE website hosting for their websites! How much are you paying to host your website now? Put that money back in your pocket and we'll host it for you on our dedicated and secure servers...For Free! If you don't have any web hosting yet because you don't have a website, we've even included a point and click website builder with your free hosting plan that you can use to build your own website. This bonus is just another value added benefit you can enjoy as a member of The Customer Factor!   

Click the “Join Now” button below. You’ll be directed to a page where you can choose your subscription period and payment type.

Create a username/password and fill in your billing information on our ultra secure payment page.

Shortly after this is done, you’ll receive a “Welcome to The Customer Factor” email with your newly created login details in it.

Log on and start experiencing and benefiting from The Customer Factor.

"..You and your program have been one of the most important resources I have found in building my business..."

Steve,

I have been using your program the customer factor for about 6 months now, its inexpensive and works really well for me, I highly recommend it to anyone who needs a customer software program.

You've also given me unparalleled support and advice on running a business, Im always surprised how quickly and thoroughly you answer any questions I have about any facet of my business.

I really get the sense that you care and want to help window cleaners have the best possible business that they can create. Working with you has been a source of inspiration through tough moments.

You and your program have been one of the most important resources I have found in building my business to date.

Have a great weekend!

Aaron Swanson
Clear Vision Window Cleaning
San Anselmo, California

"...you have built us the best window cleaning software out there."

Steve,

Your product is a very special application, and you have built us the best window cleaning software out there. I really love the fact that the customer factor is a web application that can be seen from any browser. I can even open and modify my customers right from my iPhone. The best thing was tax time, and doing a printout summary for my taxes. It made it very simple for my accountant. Thanks Customer Factor, Thanks Steve,

Dave Levitt
Raleigh, NC

"...it has been like a reliable business partner."

Just when I thought that The Customer Factor was perfect Steve, you make it better. The only thing better than the program itself is the support that is provided. Despite my lack of basic computer knowledge, You have always taken care of me with wonderful articulation and patience. For the record, my “issues” were never “Factor” related. It turned out that I had problems with my computer. The “Factor” has been awesome!

I find that I rely very heavily on “The Factor”. In fact, it has been like a reliable business partner. A web based system really has some nice advantages too.

Thanks for everything Steve.

Don Cahill
PaneLess Window Washing
Pennsburg, Pennsylvania

In Reply to a Support Response from us:

"...I sure do like this software..."

Thanks so much, Steve, for replying. I get what you say about the differences between invoices and estimates. I also am clear now as how to "personalize it" for any other documents. That is a great feature. And thanks too for the daily calendar edit function.

I sure do like this software. So does my accountant. He is thankful I found you. I spread the word daily on the forums and boards, and to anyone who will listen. Good stuff.

Good Luck, Godspeed!

Thank you,

Bert Witherspoon, Owner
I DO WINDOWS

Krum, Texas

"...I'm supremely pleased with all that you and the Customer Factor have to offer..."

Hey Steve,

From the very beginning I have received nothing but top-notch customer service from you. You are always manning the phones when I call with a question. I have called several times with suggestions for the Factor & have found not only are you open to my ideas but you actually have implemented several into the software.

I'm supremely pleased with all that you and the Customer Factor have to offer. This program helps to set my busy mind at ease. I firmly believe that this program should be one of the first tools in a window cleaners business building arsenal be it a new start up or a seasoned professional. They will find order and more time to spend on things that are more important.

Many thanks Steve,

Ken Maine

Maine Window Cleaning

Allendale, Michigan

"...The Customer Factor makes my job run 100% better..."

Dear Steve,

I just wanted you to know how GREAT the Customer Factor is. I don't think I could do my job without it. The Customer Factor makes my job run 100 % better. It's a FANTASTIC Service! I had no experience before hand. Your service and software made every aspect much easier to understand and do. The billing and invoice are a breeze now. Keeping track of my appointments and reminders is all done for me, and there is just so much more. Thank you. You're a life saver!

Sincerely,
Joyce Osgood
All Shine Window Cleaners
Epping, New Hampshire

"...Using this software has made the business part of my business fun..."

Hi Steve,

I have found The Customer Factor to be very helpful because the software is so fluent. What I mean is that no matter what section of The Customer Factor I'm in, I can access info. in other places so easily.

And if I need help understanding how to use a certain part of the software there are tutorials built right into the program. However I many times have had questions that I simply have made the phone call for help, and the person who answers is not a machine or a secretary, I get the owner of the software to personally answer my questions. How nice is that?

The Customer Factor is also so well organized and well thought out. And since it's in my opinion so neat and clean, I feel free when I'm using it to accomplish whatever I need to with my business. It remembers all the notes and details so that when I log off I don't have to remember for example when a customer is due for their next service, it automatically reminds me.

Using this software has made the business part of my business fun. Steve I'm so glad you created The Customer Factor!

Sincerely,

Lance Gibbs
Wareham, Massachusetts

"...it has freed up so much time for me and saved a lot of money from my accountant."

Hi Steve,

I just wanted to let you know that ever since I started using the customer factor, my life has been so easy. It has freed up so much time for me and saved a lot of money from my accountant.

The customer factor runs everything for me. I have had other businesses in the past and spent so much of my time on office work paperwork and money on bookkeeping that this has been a dream.

I also want to thank you for the support that you provide. If I don't get you when I call, I get a call back really quick even on Sundays. Thanks so much for making my life easier with the customer factor.

Take care,

Brian Lenz

"...your software has been a great asset to my company..."

Steve,

I have been using "The Customer Factor" now for about 7 months and have great luck with it. I used a standard invoicing system for about 2 years before this but it was just not structured well for my business.

With the customer factor I can do so many other parts of my business in one stop now. I have had a few questions on it over the past few months and you have answered the phone every time I called and been very helpful with all of my issues.

Thanks Steve, your software has been a great asset to my company!

Kelly Matteson
Window Pros
Watertown, South Dakota

"...100% more organized and operating with 100% more efficiency."

The Customer Factor has our business 100% more organized and operating with 100% more efficiency. We've now completely eliminated our stacks of index cards and lengthy Excel spreadsheets.

The Customer Factor has allowed us to consolidate all of our customer data into one system and, in the process, greatly streamline our operations. As a former Project Manager for a software design firm, I have a true appreciation for the flexibility and ease-of-use that the Customer Factor brings to the table.

Best,

Chris Juricich

"...it seems like you really work overtime at helping your customers succeed."

I have to say that after watching a training video on the old version of the customer factor... WOW did you do a great job at redesigning the look of a great program at it's core and giving it the look to match it's great functionality.

I appreciate all that you have been doing, it seems like you really work overtime at helping your customers succeed. Now I know it is a business for you and there is a living made through it, but at the same time you just have an extra ordinary level of dedication for your work that I honestly have not ever found anywhere else. So my hat is off to you, thank you for all you do...

Sincerely,

Nicholas Menke
President and CEO
Cleanview Window Cleaning

"...the time savings that The Customer Factor is providing to me and our dealers is worth 30 times more than the price of it each month..."

Steve we are really happy with the choice we made to use your software. Its awesome and the time savings that The Customer Factor is providing to me and our dealers is worth 30 times more than the price of it each month. Well done.

I am running right now a 350,000 population route in 8 different cities from your program-again...awesome!!!

And I have been talking your software up on the world window cleaning. I will keep talking it.

Raving fan,

Mike Draper

Bloomington, Illinois

"...It is loaded with well thought out features..."

Hi Steve,

I signed up for The Customer Factor in 2006 and from day one never had a problem using it. If I could write a window cleaning software for my business, it would be exactly like this one.

I'm glad you've already done the hard work! It is loaded with well thought out features that makes scheduling and tracking of all my customers easy. And the learning curve was simple.

Along with a great program, what you share anytime I ask for your help makes the software a double bonus.

Brad Carey
Brad's Window Cleaning

Rockford, Michigan

"...The Customer Factor has been an unbelievable tool..."

To Steve,

The customer factor has been an unbelievable tool for me in my window cleaning business. Over the past couple of years, I've experienced strong growth which has been due in part to having a great software program like the customer factor to keep me in line. Keep it up!

Tyler Kirk
Matthews, North Carolina

"...We have never been let down by The Customer Factor and are planning future growth based on many of its features..."

Steve,

I can unequivocally say that The Customer Factor has helped manage our growing database of customers. The reminders, invoice options, scheduling for both residential and commercial have all been helpful as we grow.

In addition, your customer support is a model and example for us of how to handle our own customer complaints and suggestions.

You have been both timely and effective in your responses to all my staff that have called you with questions. We have never been let down by the Customer Factor and are planning future growth based on many of its features that we have not fully utilized yet. Thanks for everything!

Sincerely, Pat Masar
Director of Operations
Suburban Squeegees

Wheaton, Illinois

"...This is a must-have tool for the person who is serious about growing a successful window cleaning or service-oriented business..."

Time is a valuable commodity for me, so when I began my window cleaning business I made the decision to use The Customer Factor from the start. I have not regretted it for a moment.

There is no way I could effectively & efficiently manage my growing customer base without The Customer Factor. Its ease of use, scheduling & calendar features, and “over the top” customer support continue to save me valuable time each and every week. This is a must-have tool for the person who is serious about growing a successful window cleaning or service-oriented business.

Dale Pittman
Wake Forest, North Carolina