[Stoots]

What software do you use?

Do you give them the same work all the time or mix it up?

Also with vans do you get them to organise there own van for the next day?

seem like im spending ages on a night sorting both vans, charging batts, filling tanks, making sure has slips, cloths, marking off work done, printing off sheets for next day, chasing my arse when he doesnt get round them all etc.

need some organisation! god know how you lot cope who have multiple vans

I was thinking the easiest way is to give him the same work each  week (an amount that i know will get done) so in effect a seperate round. Just print off his worksheet for the week rather than the day and say once its done its done.

Or im considering going back to one van, getting rid of the extra faff, the downside is of course it wont be quite as profitable.

[Marc Stock]

The way i always imagined it when i employ eventually, would be to give him a round to do and let him do those same customers for a while.

I would choose the easiest most profitable rounds, and leave the sticky harder and less developed rounds to myself.

[nathankaye]

Wouldnt the danger being that the customers build a raport with the new worker and if he picks up extra work he will add it without telling you and pocket the difference and then eventually take over that round.

This actually happened some years back to a group of lads traditionally working in areas that I worked, hence how i got to know about it.
This puts me off taking on an employee long term

[Stoots]

Thats always in the back of the mind nathan, customers getting to know the employee as their window cleaner and it wouldnt take much for them to take those customer off you if they choose.

Theres little you can do about it. its a risk.

[duncan h]

That's what puts me off. They can try taking all your customers and there is nothing, legal you can do.
I would feel safer setting on a young lad.
Working with them is another option but not as much profit

[Phil J]

Rotate the work, that way the customers see your face. You can keep tabs on quality control, plus it helps stop the boredom creeping in.

[Dane]

I assume you have sign written vans mate, a uniform and maybe get some ID cards? Send a letter to your customers informing them of the ID of your business and then mix your employees work from month to month... alternate rounds? Faces will become friendly but not overly friendly and it will become more about the business standards / brand  that the customer is buying into. Just an idea

[Marc Stock]

Sorry i did say for a while.

Not the same indefinitely.

And if he is well paid and full time he won't want to go behind your back.

If i cant make employing work for me in this game , forget it im selling up and going into engineering.

[Stoots]

Thing is you can either let it put you off or just do it anyway.

Ive always been a risk taker though, i can live with failing i cant live with not trying.

But like you Marc, if i cant or dont want to make employing work then i would look at other things as much as i dont mind window cleaning i dont want to be doing it day in day out in 20 years time. Its great in small doses, but by the end of the week im getting fed up of it.

[johnwillan]

What software do you use?

Aworka or Cleaner planner would be fine

Do you give them the same work all the time or mix it up?

As stated you could rotate the rounds on a regular basis or run one massive round

Also with vans do you get them to organise there own van for the next day?

Make it part of the job - as they say "why buy a dog and Bark yourself"

seem like im spending ages on a night sorting both vans, charging batts, filling tanks, making sure has slips, cloths, marking off work done, printing off sheets for next day, chasing my arse when he doesnt get round them all etc.

need some organisation! god know how you lot cope who have multiple vans

By doing the above

I was thinking the easiest way is to give him the same work each  week (an amount that i know will get done) so in effect a seperate round. Just print off his worksheet for the week rather than the day and say once its done its done.

By using an app they can access work on a daily basis with limitations on accessing information

Or im considering going back to one van, getting rid of the extra faff, the downside is of course it wont be quite as profitable.

I assume from this post you haven't given up yet

[NWH]

Nathan you are spot on I would keep moving there work about so they don’t become  that familiar with customers so that they think it’s juat them,this will lead to them chatting saying I’d like to go on my own I’ve had enough of being employed etc. Before you know it they’ve sacked his boss and taken him on as there window cleaner,some on here will say contract contract contract but it means nish,it will be endless hassle trying to prove this and that it needs to be mixed up so he goes to a certain job a few times a year and so do you it stops the familiarity with 1 person. This involves more organising which is hassle for the business owner but IMO it needs to be done unless you don’t mind being fleeced.

[High-Tower]

I think mixing the rounds up makes most sense, especially with more than one employee... it’ll help with quality control if they know someone else will be doing the job next time. It means they are familiar with all the work so it’s no lost time when they need to cover other work. And it’ll help stop bickering about so-and-so always gets the easy jobs, if they all do everything at some point.

[Stoots]

On the flip side though if the employee only knows 30% of your round as that's all he does, the most he can steal is 30%.

If he gets chatty with them all he could take the lot!

So if you give him the worst 30% worse case scenario he buggers off and leaves you with a cream one man round lol


I had just been thinking today about  an idea...

I had thought to split the round into 2, me approx 70% of the workload and him 30%

Now a lot of my work is text ahead due to locked gates, not all but at least half I think.

So what I was going to do is give him a set amount each week that know he can complete in the 3 days he works. Give him the same 4 weekly work each week and make sure it's all work he can turn up and clean no texting ahead.

That way he gets in the van and goes and cleans theres no organisation required each night for his van, I make sure he fills it up at the end of each day and puts battery on charge etc.

So in effect all I need to do is print the weekly sheet off for him.

Then I can just deal with the rest of the work as if I was a sole trader, doing first cleans, add ons and any text ahead work etc.

At the moment I'm spending at least an hour a night sorting everything out which is extra hassle I don't really want and also as happened once I organised all his work only for him to ring in sick and I had to re organise it all.

[NWH]

Regardless of what the so called big boys on here say they get untold grief from staff you always do in this particular job,if they’ve got 10-12 vans out i bet a lot of the time there’s a spare seat coz of someone chucking a sicky.

[wfp master]

Regardless of what the so called big boys on here say they get untold grief from staff you always do in this particular job,if they’ve got 10-12 vans out i bet a lot of the time there’s a spare seat coz of someone chucking a sicky.

or are away doing there own  wee round  they've built up while working for you.

[Smudger]

Looking after staff can b time consuming but gets easier as you get more as you yourself come off the tools - having one employee is THE toughest time for employing

Use good round software ( cleaner planner )
Each day is it’s own round with a full days work ( 7 hrs worth ) this is why our days are scheduled
No one gets the same round more than twice in a row ( everyone knows all the rounds that way to cover holidays )
 No one has the same van - end of day they wash/clean van - fill with water - replace consumables and on return to unit fill with fuel
At unit count up days takings and sign off on tablet ( all i do is collect them and check totals )
In a he morning I drop off tablets and work sheets ( these are for sfg cleans - pressure washing etc )
Guys come in 15minutes early to check van, load any special items listed on work sheet have a coffee go
They have their own trad gear, ppe, wfp, tools and sundries
Darran

[Smudger]

Regardless of what the so called big boys on here say they get untold grief from staff you always do in this particular job,if they’ve got 10-12 vans out i bet a lot of the time there’s a spare seat coz of someone chucking a sicky.

Why o why do you spout so much cr@p on staff - it’s something you failed to do, it does not mean everyone fails at employing
My guys work hard - they now clean more in a day ( my illness aside ) than I can - that’s volume and monetary wise - with  NO customer complaints

Yesterday they were on the road at 6am and didn’t knock off until 7pm as they wanted to finish a large 1500 solar panel job

Yes you get a few frustrations but you need to take a step back and not take things personally - things break, go wrong etc but it’s no done deliberately

Darran

[wfp master]

The way i always imagined it when i employ eventually, would be to give him a round to do and let him do those same customers for a while.

I would choose the easiest most profitable rounds, and leave the sticky harder and less developed rounds to myself.

ye  & any new customers he gets he pockets the money without telling you about  them.  using your equipment to clean his customers.  nice bonus at the end of the day for him.  its a nightmare & it does & will happen if youre not around to see whats going on.

[NWH]

It sounds fantastic to the person without the knowledge of this job on a domestic basis thinking he can employ half a dozen blokes and sit back and oversee it,the short honest answer is if you think this is quiet simple to do then you will be disappointed. All companies cleaning commercial these days are so cheap I don’t know how they keep going with staff,they are cleaning stuff I used to do for 150 for 60-70 quid. If you are earning just shy of the VAT limit and are thinking of employing sit down with an accountant and work out what you need to earn net to end up with the same in your pocket with 1 employee lol,the conversation will be sobering. If you think going big is the way to go then go big but it won’t mean you’ll be earning big,it may look like you are on paper but by the time you’ve paid all wages and debts you might fancy going back on your own with a bit of help and home early to watch the snooker 😂. At the end of the day it’s what you end up with in your pocket not how many idiots you take out with you of a morning,we’ve all got mates who give it the Charlie big balls down the pub-club about how much they closed a sale on etc,they don’t tell you that when they sell that 100ks worth of kit that they struggle so hard to sell they end up with .5% profit before Tax do they it’s I sold 100 grands worth today lads,yeah maybe mate but you actually made 500 quid didn’t you. I think I read somewhere the other day on here someone turning over upwards of 7-800 grand I think to earn an income of 100k a year,I maybe wrong but I don’t think that’s particularly great tbh in this job with over 10 staff.

[NWH]

The way i always imagined it when i employ eventually, would be to give him a round to do and let him do those same customers for a while.

I would choose the easiest most profitable rounds, and leave the sticky harder and less developed rounds to myself.

ye  & any new customers he gets he pockets the money without telling you about  them.  using your equipment to clean his customers.  nice bonus at the end of the day for him.  its a nightmare & it does & will happen if youre not around to see whats going on.

You will convince no one m8 😂,they think they’ve got 5-6-10-15 staff and not one of em is bending them over on a weekly basis and giving it  to them dry 😂. Once you get so busy in this job you have a list of work if Ann old boy says here m8 clean my windows and chucks him 20 quid what’s he gonna do say oh I must let the boss know about that 1 lol I think not,a customer cancels ok that’s fine he-she gives some excuse next month one of your employees is cleaning it off your books for cash with your van and water,some say paranoid another says it happens. The truth in this job is when you get so much work even with computers you don’t know what’s happening out there in the real world even with trackers,he might be parked up near your work being tracked cleaning houses next door to the ones on your books. If you employ staff in any job they will try and dry hump you in window cleaning where there’s cash involved more so.

[NWH]

If they have 20 working days a month give them about 13 days maybe 12 days to clean,sick days picking the kids up early and girlfriend trouble they maybe get that done or maybe not 😂. It’s probably coz I’m such a bad employer maybe not but that’s the reality,don’t sit down and think right I’ve got that much for em to clean this week- month and I expect it done coz more often than not it won’t get done m8.

[Stoots]

Does it really matter of staff take a backhander though?

I mean if you give a man £200 and he comes back with £200 done, no complaints etc that's all that matters surely.

Staff will take the p, speaking as someone who has been an employee and taken the p myself.

[Dane]

For a man who’s been there and done it Darren (if you don’t moment me asking) how many staff are under your wing?

[Marc Stock]

These threads really make me laugh.

NWH, wfp master

There are plenty of guys on this forum that manage and run a team of well-paid, motivated, hard working employees. So why don't you just stop being so negative, just because you cant do it doesn't mean it cant be done, or isn't being done.

Myself & Adam both want to come off the tools eventually. I don't want to window clean in my 50's. I have been doing it now for 15 years and just the thought of another 5 years window cleaning is a hard pill to swallow, and i recon i will be doing it for this amount of time before i am able to completely come off tools.

Odd Bods are doing it no problem, and Lee Pryor, has simply done amazingly in a short space of time, you both are looking very silly with your comments.

[NWH]

Marc maybe you think my comments are silly and to some they maybe I agree,I can understand you don’t want to keep working but running yourself into the ground to earn what’s in reality no  amount more than you can do with say 1-2 people helping you with quality work,you will build a business with a lot of work quickly I don’t disagree but it won’t be quality work with every job being say for example 30-40+ that takes years m8. Ive employed before m8 still do but not on Windows I’d rather sub windows out at the mo,who knows I’m sure I’ll give it another go but like I’ve said they would have to have done it before I’ve spent years teaching people onlynfor them to then say it’s not for them.

[Marc Stock]

I disagree.

I wont be running myself into the ground at all if i have 10 or 20 staff all doing the work employed in my window cleaning business. Ill be running the company, and ensuring that its profitable for everyone in the company.  I will also demonstrate that i can run a company and make is profitable, all valuable CV skills.

I'm not doing this to get rich, i'm doing this for stability, for my future, for my sons future. window cleaning is one business i will be involved with over many; i already am partly involved in my fathers engineering business in Basingstoke which no doubt will eventually come over to me when he retires. This is why Bramar Ltd exists, to go into further business avenues once the window cleaning business is ticking along on its own, the idea is to have a number of businesses. For stability. Yes, it would be nice if i make some decent money from it, but its not about the money, its about the journey.

[dazmond]

its all about the money.......

[dazmond]

adam you ll find your own way of organising employees as you gain knowledge and experience......most of it is common sense....as long as you know/expect that things wont run smoothly at times you ll be ok.....

[NWH]

Lol yeah it’s  all about the money Daz big national cleaning companies killing the cleaning business for everyone doing jobs for 1980s prices lol. You won’t build a big good quality window cleaning business overnight you’ll get lots and lots of work but most of it will be not today’s and we will give you a call when we need you again thanks. You don’t need 10-12 staff to net 100k a year for yourself if you’ve good quality work,if you took that pitch to dragons den they’d be out.

[NWH]

It’s not your employees you need to organise it’s there silly girlfriends with 3 kids from 3 different blokes saying you can’t work tomorrow your looking after the kids tomorrow lol,you don’t need to go in anyway it’s dole day tomorrow 😂,just tell him you won’t be coming in it’s only window cleaning it’s not a proper job is it. First question you want to ask is do you have bills- mortgage etc that’s the first thing I’d want to know if they didn’t I wouldn’t even bother with em,9 out of 10 normally say I just want enough for the football and a few pints,it is cash in hand yeah 😂

[Smudger]

God there are some bitter and cynical people here 🤪

I have 5 full time and a part timer - getting to the point where I will need another full timer soon

Darran

[Marc Stock]

Lol yeah it’s  all about the money Daz big national cleaning companies killing the cleaning business for everyone doing jobs for 1980s prices lol. You won’t build a big good quality window cleaning business overnight you’ll get lots and lots of work but most of it will be not today’s and we will give you a call when we need you again thanks. You don’t need 10-12 staff to net 100k a year for yourself if you’ve good quality work,if you took that pitch to dragons den they’d be out.

Tesco made sales of £57.5 Billion end of 2018.

Pre tax profits were £1.64 Billion, thats just a bit less than 3% profit vs turnover, just because its 3 percent doesnt make it crap.

Lee pryor sales are approx £800k with retained profits of around £200k? Im guessing thats a 25% profit....?

So lees window cleaning business is many times more profitable than Tescos.

As the dragons would say....im in

[Marc Stock]

It’s not your employees you need to organise it’s there silly girlfriends with 3 kids from 3 different blokes saying you can’t work tomorrow your looking after the kids tomorrow lol,you don’t need to go in anyway it’s dole day tomorrow 😂,just tell him you won’t be coming in it’s only window cleaning it’s not a proper job is it. First question you want to ask is do you have bills- mortgage etc that’s the first thing I’d want to know if they didn’t I wouldn’t even bother with em,9 out of 10 normally say I just want enough for the football and a few pints,it is cash in hand yeah 😂

Ahh yeah but we done get that sort living here in surrey. So..

[NWH]

Don’t matter what area your in pal there’s a council estate round every corner

[NWH]

Talking of Tesco’s you want to see there Windows you ain’t seen dirt and filth like it,they’ve gone down the national tuppence per clean route too. I saw a bloke cleaning em a while back he looked like he’d just walked out of a hostel 😂

[Dane]

I take my hat off to anyone who has built a business for themselves whether it has 1 staff or 20 its tough to get to either from the beginning with nothing... it’s not a competition or if it is then it’s only with yourself.

I often think there must be something about having a huge business for people to want to do it and then carry it on..... I also am happy with where I’m at building my business little by little.. I might have a good 5 year push and try to employ full time see how far I get when I turn 30 otherwise credit where credits due to the people with ambition and fairness play to the people who tried it and thought it wasn’t worth it

[KS Cleaning]

The most annoying thing about employing is when you spend 30 - 45 mins planning next day’s work, sorting equipment, filling water etc,etc then you get the dreaded phone call in the morning from employee to say he won’t be out.........30 - 45 mins wasted

[wfp master]

The way i always imagined it when i employ eventually, would be to give him a round to do and let him do those same customers for a while.

I would choose the easiest most profitable rounds, and leave the sticky harder and less developed rounds to myself.

ye  & any new customers he gets he pockets the money without telling you about  them.  using your equipment to clean his customers.  nice bonus at the end of the day for him.  its a nightmare & it does & will happen if youre not around to see whats going on.

so this does not happen mr stock. silly me.

[Marc Stock]

Don’t matter what area your in pal there’s a council estate round every corner

Sorry mate but where i live, there just isnt.

There are ex council estate houses, but these are all privately rented or owned now. But its becoming more and more "cleansed" here in woking than ever. Is really quite unnerving and thats the truth of the matter.

[Stoots]

One thing i cant moan amount is the lad i have working for me.

I know where NWH is coming from, i had dozens of those types apply for the job, but i think you can or should be able to weed them out at the interview stage with plenty of questions.

I know you shouldnt discriminate lol , but lets face it most of us could spot a wrong un before they open there mouth.

[james peters]

Talking of Tesco’s you want to see there Windows you ain’t seen dirt and filth like it,they’ve gone down the national tuppence per clean route too. I saw a bloke cleaning em a while back he looked like he’d just walked out of a hostel 😂

you been drinking?
I do to a certain extent agree with what you say on many topics , but your last few posts ? well a bit OTT!
It is quite simple realy
some have built a buisness . each employee makes a small small profit. but when totaled all together it makes a nice nice profit!
why does it bother you so much ?
you are coming across as a wolly 

[NWH]

The most annoying thing about employing is when you spend 30 - 45 mins planning next day’s work, sorting equipment, filling water etc,etc then you get the dreaded phone call in the morning from employee to say he won’t be out.........30 - 45 mins wasted

Been there so many times I know where your coming from,the most annoying thing is when they say I’m on my way give me half an hour and then they text and say I won’t be coming. That’s almost an hour gone out of the day without the planning the day before,you’ve planned jobs that take 2 people so you then have to rearrange that too which is more time,then they wonder why there’s an atmosphere the next time there into work

[NWH]

I come across as a wally I like that 1 lol,all I’m saying is you don’t need 10-12 employees to earn a 100k from window cleaning.

[Marc Stock]

I come across as a wally I like that 1 lol,all I’m saying is you don’t need 10-12 employees to earn a 100k from window cleaning.

Yes, but thats not the debate is it.

You are sounding like a wolly. No one said you cant earn 100k with less than 10 employees. But i dont want to be on the tools, i want to be running the show, so for me i need employees.

Are you sure you have employed before NWH because you are sounding like someone who hasnt.

[NWH]

Yes I have done m8 for over 10 years drove me mad nearly,it all looks lovley on paper. I’ve always said if I could have 2/3 like myself I’d be able to lay in most days and get paid for doing nothing. The trouble is this job attracts idiots that just don’t treat it the same as is as it’s our business,I’ve always said you need someone without to much ambition anyone with any sense won’t work for someone cleaning windows long term. As an employer now let’s be honest about this is a bright bloke going to chose window cleaning as a long term career working for someone,there’s one simple answer to that. It’s works for most because they work for thereselves earn more or as much as someone with untold qualifications,you are not going to get 5-10 bright blokes working for you cleaning Windows it won’t happen.

[Dane]

I don’t think it’s all about “being bright” from what I’ve read on this topic.

If you can provide a good wage and amount of work to -

a family man who wants a decent paid job without all the hassle so he can go home to his family and have his weekends to himself? he might just have different ambitions in life (to watch his kid play football on an evening maybe) - not doing paper work, van set up etc but to shut off.

Are they hard to find? Sounds like it based on the majority of experiences in here.
Are they out there? They must be for some people to have got where they are.

I imagine you have to go through a load to get there but sounds like it depends how much you offer and how hard you look.... maybe some people’s rounds generally are better then others and that’s why they attract the right people.

I dunno...... I’ve never tried it

[Marc Stock]

Yes I have done m8 for over 10 years drove me mad nearly,it all looks lovley on paper. I’ve always said if I could have 2/3 like myself I’d be able to lay in most days and get paid for doing nothing. The trouble is this job attracts idiots that just don’t treat it the same as is as it’s our business,I’ve always said you need someone without to much ambition anyone with any sense won’t work for someone cleaning windows long term. As an employer now let’s be honest about this is a bright bloke going to chose window cleaning as a long term career working for someone,there’s one simple answer to that. It’s works for most because they work for thereselves earn more or as much as someone with untold qualifications,you are not going to get 5-10 bright blokes working for you cleaning Windows it won’t happen.

Wow ok. So tell us what issues you had to become so cynical.

[Stoots]

I don't agree that "anyone who has half a brain" will want to go it alone.

There's Millions employed on low wages in dead end jobs and they stay there because they don't have the ambition or the self belief to take a risk and become self employed.

Just because we (all self employed people) have the vision to go out and take risks etc not everyone has it in them.

I know plenty of friends in low paid jobs, they've been there years. I was one of them.

[NWH]

There is no big secret to employing if you ask the opinion of others all they say is you must be either not paying enough or treating them badly,that’s not the case. Things have not changed much even in recent years towards window cleaning,people still see it as a stop gap in employment window cleaning that is,we don’t because we’ve built it and it’s our baby so to speak. A hell of a lot of well established businesss in window cleaning are handed down son worked with dad etc as did I,we knew in the end it would be ours to run and develop it as we wanted to whether it be by expanding it or staying solo we have a connection to it. Getting that level of commitment from someone is like looking for hens teeth you’ll look forever,I love the job because it’s my business I can do what I want day to day with next to know stress,now look at it from an employees perspective they have no connection with it no history it’s just a job cleaning windows to them,hence the lack of commitment to it. Like I say if I had 2/3 like me with my commitment I’d be able to semi retire,when you sometimes speak to other WCs with there own business they still lack enthusiasm to get out on a dull day what chance will you have long term with finding an employee in my experience it’s very very hard. Some have done it good luck to them but it’s not easy to do without loads of hassle.

[NWH]

I think a lot of people look at it in a way that if I can get someone out doing what I’m doing on a daily basis I’d be getting an extra X a week,if I had 2 doing it I’d then have another X a week. In practise this is very difficult to achieve like I say people don’t have the same commitment as you it’s your dream not there’s it’s just a job. Money doesn’t motivate all employees they want job satisfaction and if they are cleaning Windows day in day out it’s very hard to keep them keen enough to be reliable.

[dazmond]

Talking of Tesco’s you want to see there Windows you ain’t seen dirt and filth like it,they’ve gone down the national tuppence per clean route too. I saw a bloke cleaning em a while back he looked like he’d just walked out of a hostel 😂

i agree with you there nigel!i seen 2 guys cleaning our local tescos a while back!they looked like they needed a good meal!(capitol cleaning)and they did a crap job....they looked totally disinterested  and had scruffy trainers/jeans on.no logo d uniform or anything

[Lee Pryor]

I think like most things in business it's about having a formula and processes in place  that works.

[Smudger]

The most annoying thing about employing is when you spend 30 - 45 mins planning next day’s work, sorting equipment, filling water etc,etc then you get the dreaded phone call in the morning from employee to say he won’t be out.........30 - 45 mins wasted

Been there so many times I know where your coming from,the most annoying thing is when they say I’m on my way give me half an hour and then they text and say I won’t be coming. That’s almost an hour gone out of the day without the planning the day before,you’ve planned jobs that take 2 people so you then have to rearrange that too which is more time,then they wonder why there’s an atmosphere the next time there into work

And there is the problem - in a nutshell

As you say your a father/ son business so have you any real experience of the wider world other than what daddy told you ? - small, medium, large, international companies all employ some do it well some don’t
Many, many people probably the majority are employed and a case can be made for every one of them to have their own business - they just don’t want it !

I expected an employee to last 18 months to 2 years ( from week one we say window cleaning is boring ) yet I have staff who have been with the company 5 years and 4 years I have a chap who left after 3 for “more job satisfaction” 6 months later he asked to come back even though he was earning more - just hated the stress and pressure


I don’t employ to be mega rich, but I did employ so I had a built in safety net for my family, this business provides a wage for myself and wife - we pretty much plan our day to suit us and the kids, recently I spent 8 days in hospital and soon to be facing an op that may put me out of action for 3 months - but I didn’t lose a penny and all the bills got paid because the work kept on turning over - as a single operator where would I have been ? - we’ll short of income at the very least.
I see the business as a retirement fund - seeing as my company pensions are worth jack sh!t€

Darran

[NWH]

Darren you are so wrong m8 I’ve been working separately from the old man for 15 years,I’ve had a couple with me fulltime at once over the years 1 guy was with me for 8 years. It’s not about how many vans you have driving out of your rented cow sheds everyday it’s what works for you,You can bang on that your blokes are happy and it’s all about the right formula blah blah blah window cleaning is not a career choice for 99% it’s where they end up inless it’s been family etc,this is my point most people that you’ll get are idiots not all I agree but most of em hence the reliability problems

[NWH]

I had 1 bloke got RSI in his thumbs from constantly texting his Mrs 😂 where are you now I need you to pick the kids up at 1-30 don’t forget love,ok I said I’m between running your life shall we clean a few windows in between what do you reckon numb 🥜

[Stoots]

I had 1 bloke got RSI in his thumbs from constantly texting his Mrs 😂 where are you now I need you to pick the kids up at 1-30 don’t forget love,ok I said I’m between running your life shall we clean a few windows in between what do you reckon numb 🥜

I used to work with a lad like that. Always on the phone to the Mrs about one thing or another.  Can you pick kids up can you get some shopping, blah blah. Full blow family discussions shouting and arguing etc .

I don't know how some people can have the cheek to do it.

[Dry Clean]

NWH I dread to think what would have happened to you if you didn't live and work in an area where window cleaning is money
for old rope, I don't employ but I rent a number of properties where you can have similar problems ( a bad tenant would be similar to a bad employee ) don't do it, they will mess you about, you wont be able to get them out, will wreck your house and so on, yes this can happen but with a bit of common sense you can weed out the trash before any problems start.
If you have been constantly taking on bad employees then its your judgement and recruitment skills that you need to looking at and not the measure of the available workforce.

[NWH]

Alan this is my point they wouldn’t have the cheek to do it with most other jobs but window cleaning is looked at differently,it is still in a lot of people’s minda that uh it’s only helping a bloke window cleaning I ain’t gonna be doing that long. They won’t tell you that but most of em think that way,I’ve even had a bloke that seemed decent when I started to show him and ask him questions he just said how hard can it be it’s only cleaning windows,we finished that job and I dropped him off home and that was that.

[NWH]

The most annoying thing about employing is when you spend 30 - 45 mins planning next day’s work, sorting equipment, filling water etc,etc then you get the dreaded phone call in the morning from employee to say he won’t be out.........30 - 45 mins wasted

Been there so many times I know where your coming from,the most annoying thing is when they say I’m on my way give me half an hour and then they text and say I won’t be coming. That’s almost an hour gone out of the day without the planning the day before,you’ve planned jobs that take 2 people so you then have to rearrange that too which is more time,then they wonder why there’s an atmosphere the next time there into work

And there is the problem - in a nutshell

As you say your a father/ son business so have you any real experience of the wider world other than what daddy told you ? - small, medium, large, international companies all employ some do it well some don’t
Many, many people probably the majority are employed and a case can be made for every one of them to have their own business - they just don’t want it !

I expected an employee to last 18 months to 2 years ( from week one we say window cleaning is boring ) yet I have staff who have been with the company 5 years and 4 years I have a chap who left after 3 for “more job satisfaction” 6 months later he asked to come back even though he was earning more - just hated the stress and pressure


I don’t employ to be mega rich, but I did employ so I had a built in safety net for my family, this business provides a wage for myself and wife - we pretty much plan our day to suit us and the kids, recently I spent 8 days in hospital and soon to be facing an op that may put me out of action for 3 months - but I didn’t lose a penny and all the bills got paid because the work kept on turning over - as a single operator where would I have been ? - we’ll short of income at the very least.
I see the business as a retirement fund - seeing as my company pensions are worth jack sh!t€

Darran

And there’s my problem having the arse cos I’ve been messed about,what am I supposed to say are you ok my darling do you need to pick the kiddy’s up again today that’s ok we can do that kinda thing whenever you like I’m only paying you money for working for me. I think not if someone comes to work they are on your time so yeah I do get the arse if I walk round the corner and they are texting or picking there arse,I think so many people get so deep with work they end up having to bow down to there employees coz they know if they offski they are in the poop.

[NWH]

I bet there’s a few out there with 5-6 tails wagging the dogs 😂 I’d rather let the dog wag the tail thanks

[Marc Stock]

The most annoying thing about employing is when you spend 30 - 45 mins planning next day’s work, sorting equipment, filling water etc,etc then you get the dreaded phone call in the morning from employee to say he won’t be out.........30 - 45 mins wasted

Been there so many times I know where your coming from,the most annoying thing is when they say I’m on my way give me half an hour and then they text and say I won’t be coming. That’s almost an hour gone out of the day without the planning the day before,you’ve planned jobs that take 2 people so you then have to rearrange that too which is more time,then they wonder why there’s an atmosphere the next time there into work

And there is the problem - in a nutshell

As you say your a father/ son business so have you any real experience of the wider world other than what daddy told you ? - small, medium, large, international companies all employ some do it well some don’t
Many, many people probably the majority are employed and a case can be made for every one of them to have their own business - they just don’t want it !

I expected an employee to last 18 months to 2 years ( from week one we say window cleaning is boring ) yet I have staff who have been with the company 5 years and 4 years I have a chap who left after 3 for “more job satisfaction” 6 months later he asked to come back even though he was earning more - just hated the stress and pressure


I don’t employ to be mega rich, but I did employ so I had a built in safety net for my family, this business provides a wage for myself and wife - we pretty much plan our day to suit us and the kids, recently I spent 8 days in hospital and soon to be facing an op that may put me out of action for 3 months - but I didn’t lose a penny and all the bills got paid because the work kept on turning over - as a single operator where would I have been ? - we’ll short of income at the very least.
I see the business as a retirement fund - seeing as my company pensions are worth jack sh!t€

Darran

And there’s my problem having the arse cos I’ve been messed about,what am I supposed to say are you ok my darling do you need to pick the kiddy’s up again today that’s ok we can do that kinda thing whenever you like I’m only paying you money for working for me. I think not if someone comes to work they are on your time so yeah I do get the arse if I walk round the corner and they are texting or picking there arse,I think so many people get so deep with work they end up having to bow down to there employees coz they know if they offski they are in the poop.

Ahhh it makes sense now. You have just had a bad experience in employing.

Fair enough. NWH your experiences are noted.

[NWH]

Lol yes that’s all it just makes me laugh when I hear people on here say get 4/5/6 blokes and make lots of dollar it won’t happen unless you are very lucky,my advise to anyone employing would be have a trial period for as long as you can and I mean as long as you can. Make sure they have a winter with you anyone will love this job from March through till end of October.

[Stoots]

It's pretty easy to dismiss an employee with less than 2 years service so essentially that's a long trial period.

[dazmond]

i think when you look at the guys that have made it work it comes down to being professional in every aspect of their business.

1.terms and conditions for the employee
2.logod uniform/sign written vans etc
3.flexible working hours etc

most window cleaners havent got the best track record for being "business minded".the ones that do are more likely to make a success of employing IMO.....treating window cleaning like any other business is the first step......

[Dane]

i think when you look at the guys that have made it work it comes down to being professional in every aspect of their business.

1.terms and conditions for the employee
2.logod uniform/sign written vans etc
3.flexible working hours etc

most window cleaners havent got the best track record for being "business minded".the ones that do are more likely to make a success of employing IMO.....treating window cleaning like any other business is the first step......

True that. If you tell yourself and everyone else you are a “just a window cleaner” then that is probably “just” what you are and will remain.....

I like to think we’re business owners which offers the service of window cleaning - anyone need any windows cleaning while I’m on topic?  😬

[Stoots]

Its not an easy business to have on a big scale, mainly due to the flaky nature of customers and messers etc.
Couple that with all the mentioned employee problems and the hassle involved in round management i can see how it could be one big nightmare.

Something that im starting to think is essential is Go Cardless, as already i can see my cashflow could be a problem down the line.