[H20cleaning]

Basically I am 21 and running a 1 man van WFP round each month, I enjoy my work and have no debt to my name.
However my dad and brother both work in the offshore industry and keep telling me to pay for a course and my offshore survival and they will get me straight off on between £40k+ a year.
My brother is 25 he has a 4bedroom house, just sold a Nissan GTR and lives the life of luxury and I want the same!

I left school wanting to go into the engineering industry but unfortunately it was the year the recession hit and my dad couldn't get me a apprentice.

I just want to know off a few of the older people on here who might have done a similar job, and what they thought about it.
also want to know what I would do with my current round etc, and rough price on what it would be worth?

2003 Nissan Primastar, 85thousand miles, £500 sign written, between £500-700 worth of DIY system/ poles.
my round is currently pulling in around £1500 a month but by the time I will be looking at going offshore I imagine it would be around the £2000 a month mark, plus extra summer jobs.

[bobplum]

well i am only 51 so i am not really that old you want ian 101 really

but i would go of shore you can always come back to window cleaning
The round should fetch between 5- 7 times the value
a couple of grand for all the van and bits

[H20cleaning]

well i am only 51 so i am not really that old you want ian 101 really

but i would go of shore you can always come back to window cleaning
The round should fetch between 5- 7 times the value
a couple of grand for all the van and bits

so a round that pulls in £2000 a month with average price £10.00 should fetch around the 10k ?
my average is £10.00 because im a northerner not like some of the southern money grabbers on here haha

[robertphil]

at your age id go offshore if dad can definitely line u up summat decent.   you will regret it if you dont. 

[colin purewater]

You've got to look at the bigger picture mate,

In years to come you may have a family to
Look after kids etc

Now the rigs may seem like good money and life style
Now, but I've got mates who are of shore with
Nice car and house etc, but they MIs half of the kids
Growing up and that my friend you can't get back!

They are stuck with there "good job" because they have
Done it for years and have no other skills
To change work now as the pay cut would kill them!

You can work smarter and add another grand
A month to your round and be home every night
With the wife and kids (I'm still talking in the future for you)


I no your only a pup and the world is your oyster at 21 mate
But for me window cleaning is a great long term cereer!

I wish I would of started when I was your age mate ( I'm 32)
I'd be a lot better of than I am now 👍


Or rent your work out and try it for a year!

Off shore can be a VERY lonely place...

[TheWindowManChris]

This may sound sad but I started work at 16 as Apprentice Valve Engineer and great job and great money but I went work for myself.

I say stick at doing Window Cleaning and build your business up.    I know a few lads I did by apprenticeship now work offshore and etc and I know least 2 of them quit and return back to land as it is a lonely place.

Best thing I did was doing my window cleaning as I am home and got nice wee girlfriend and get to fit my work around her.

[H20cleaning]

thanks for the coments.
firstly my brother said he wouldn't let me go offshore without some form of contract ( he has a 5 year one)

secondly his contract is salary so he gets paid even if he doesn't work, so he will try his hardest to get me something similar with the same company( he cant work longer than 3 weeks at a time, he has to have a minimum of a week off after that, and he only has to work 6 months a year. Anything more is paid at £600 a day)

thirdly I know there is a lot of money to be made from window cleaning but I see myself struggling with the finer things in life. For example housing market and nice cars. Its really difficult for someone my age to get on the market when self employed.

there is a hell of a lot for me to think about but im swaying towards the offshore side of things if possible, at least if I sold my round I would have some savings if it didn't work out.

[Richard iSparkle]

£40 000 a year as a wage is worth a lot more than £40 000 a year turnover.

for a start £2000 a month, will not be £2000 a month if you have any time off throughout the year, your customers will miss a clean here and there when they're away, and of course there's sick days when you're not earning and your expenses.

you've plenty of time to try the offshore work out and see if you like it.  you;ve tried Window cleaning, and can always come back to it easily.  and if you've earned a bit off shore you can use some money to buy some work in or canvassers.

[H20cleaning]

£40 000 a year as a wage is worth a lot more than £40 000 a year turnover.

for a start £2000 a month, will not be £2000 a month if you have any time off throughout the year, your customers will miss a clean here and there when they're away, and of course there's sick days when you're not earning and your expenses.

you've plenty of time to try the offshore work out and see if you like it.  you;ve tried Window cleaning, and can always come back to it easily.  and if you've earned a bit off shore you can use some money to buy some work in or canvassers.

this is my point, even if it was for 10 year to get me on the housing market and some money in the back, invest it wisely maybe into property and then I have a steady income if anything was to happy.
my dad lives in Kazakhstan for 9 months a year and its megabucks, he is only doing it because he is recently divorced and we are all grown up( this wouldn't be for me but obviously he knows contacts)

I know you miss part of your kids growing up etc. but I have been told many offshore workers spend maximum of 2 weeks on 2 weeks off which surely would mean you see your kids more than having a 9-5 job.

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

I reckon you'd get 3k for your round, tops.

[ben M]

at your age id go offshore if dad can definitely line u up summat decent.   you will regret it if you dont. 

+1

[H20cleaning]

I reckon you'd get 3k for your round, tops.

I hope your joking...less than  2x what is worth by the time I come to sell it! its a guaranteed income I have been doing it for years and very well priced for the north east!

[stuart mc]

thanks for the coments.
firstly my brother said he wouldn't let me go offshore without some form of contract ( he has a 5 year one)

secondly his contract is salary so he gets paid even if he doesn't work, so he will try his hardest to get me something similar with the same company( he cant work longer than 3 weeks at a time, he has to have a minimum of a week off after that, and he only has to work 6 months a year. Anything more is paid at £600 a day)

thirdly I know there is a lot of money to be made from window cleaning but I see myself struggling with the finer things in life. For example housing market and nice cars. Its really difficult for someone my age to get on the market when self employed.

there is a hell of a lot for me to think about but im swaying towards the offshore side of things if possible, at least if I sold my round I would have some savings if it didn't work out.

if you can get offshore go for it, no brainer for me, sod the round give it away if need be, I would, but then I love working away from home

[H20cleaning]

thanks for the coments.
firstly my brother said he wouldn't let me go offshore without some form of contract ( he has a 5 year one)

secondly his contract is salary so he gets paid even if he doesn't work, so he will try his hardest to get me something similar with the same company( he cant work longer than 3 weeks at a time, he has to have a minimum of a week off after that, and he only has to work 6 months a year. Anything more is paid at £600 a day)

thirdly I know there is a lot of money to be made from window cleaning but I see myself struggling with the finer things in life. For example housing market and nice cars. Its really difficult for someone my age to get on the market when self employed.

there is a hell of a lot for me to think about but im swaying towards the offshore side of things if possible, at least if I sold my round I would have some savings if it didn't work out.

my van is worth £4000 all day long is MINT condition and the equiptment is all good.
im sure a round worth £2000 a month has to fetch minimum of 5k!!!

if you can get offshore go for it, no brainer for me, sod the round give it away if need be, I would, but then I love working away from home

[stuart mc]

yep no doubt sell for what you can, but if you get the opportunity to go offshore take it

[Mitchellmoxo]

money isnt everything think of the freedom that comes with running a business. And if it doesnt give you freedom then change it so it can! thats the beauty

[PoleKing]

£40 000 a year as a wage is worth a lot more than £40 000 a year turnover.

for a start £2000 a month, will not be £2000 a month if you have any time off throughout the year, your customers will miss a clean here and there when they're away, and of course there's sick days when you're not earning and your expenses.

you've plenty of time to try the offshore work out and see if you like it.  you;ve tried Window cleaning, and can always come back to it easily.  and if you've earned a bit off shore you can use some money to buy some work in or canvassers.

I don't think there's that much in it in reality...

OP-im only a bit older that you but i'd stay on windows.
£40k is good money but not life changing and certainly not unachievable WCing

[G Griffin]

I know you miss part of your kids growing up etc. but I have been told many offshore workers spend maximum of 2 weeks on 2 weeks off which surely would mean you see your kids more than having a 9-5 job.

That's a very mature attitude, mate, and one I wouldn't have had at your age.
But 2 weeks is a long time in a childs life and you would miss out on a lot. It's also a fabulous opportunity and one that could provide a lot for your (future?) children.
Only you know what's best for yourself, though. If you want to try it, then maybe rent out your round with a view to a sale, if you decide it's what you want, long term.
That's often the downside with well paid jobs- long hours and/or pressure and responsibilty.
You can get yourself more money but you can't get yourself more time.

Good luck, anyway.

[DG Cleaning]

As I've got older I've realised money isn't everything.
I've always chased it in the past and when I have I haven't been happy.
If you like the idea of working away from home then it may suit but at 21 I was out with the lads enjoying myself and playing football on a Sunday.
I lived for the weekends.
When I lived in Oz I could have been on mega money working in the mines.
(I'm an engineer and an ex miner) but it really wasn't for me I wanted to surf a lot
Once I took a job with a 50% pay rise and it caused me loads of grief.
if I was you I'd think very carefully about what you want from life.
It's good to plan but you've a long time in front of you for work or mortgages.
I'd enjoy being young free and single.
If I was you I'd travel the world for a few years working as you go.
You'll come back with a whole new take on life.

[roundbuilder]

money isnt everything think of the freedom that comes with running a business. And if it doesnt give you freedom then change it so it can! thats the beauty

Agreed.