just starting out

« **on:** January 04, 2006, 08:23:07 pm »

hi,im just starting out in window cleaning.im trying to juggle my normal job as a bricklayer,whilst canvessing for work.my friend is a window cleaner and he wants me to go into business with him.what i am wondering is ,is it good to work in pairs?how much realistically would we earn a week.any advice would be apreciated

« **Reply #1 on:** January 04, 2006, 09:13:43 pm »

I started exactly the same way as you are thinking.
I started w/cing alongside my normal job and decided to take a chance and pack in my employed job.
Now i work for myself and don't regret it one bit.
If you put the effort in you will make it work but it will be hard to start with.
If you are thinking of going in with someone else just make sure there is enough money been earn't to go between the both of you.
If the work is there then you can both earn good money from it.
Good luck and if you want it to happen it will.

Craig

« **Reply #2 on:** January 04, 2006, 10:18:54 pm »

nice one mate.this is a good and encouraging site.i hope to jack my job in soon.i cant handle working for greedy companies anymore.it will be nice to have freedom away from the rat race.

« **Reply #3 on:** January 04, 2006, 10:26:00 pm »

I felt exactly the same. Day in day out.

You'll find alot of useful info on here and everyone only to willing to help.

Whatever your question just ask it as everybody at some stage was asking the same.

« **Reply #4 on:** January 04, 2006, 11:02:43 pm »

how long have you been going?

« **Reply #5 on:** January 04, 2006, 11:33:43 pm »

Only been self employed 6 months.
I put alot of effort into it but it didn't take me long to make a living out of it.
I had my down days but the encouragment i got from this site was a great help.

I was working it for about 5 months before this as a 2nd job but realised i was getting more and more work and it was becoming difficult to do the 2.

That's when i had to make a decision.

Providing the work keeps coming in (and it is

) i never want to work for anyone again.

All my work i am getting now is from word of mouth, but i am putting an ad in the yellow pages and in this new 118 trader.

Only been back to work for 2 days after Xmas and i've come home to 4 messages on the answer phone for new work.

« **Reply #6 on:** January 05, 2006, 12:05:04 am »

how many flyers should i be getting out a week?is knocking on doors a better option?what is the best way to generate commercial work.thanks

« **Reply #7 on:** January 05, 2006, 05:12:40 pm »

I find door knocking much more successful that leaflets. I carry leaflets to push through the ones that are out. Once you pickup a few in the same street and they see you working you always get people coming out to you for a price.

« **Reply #8 on:** January 08, 2006, 03:22:12 pm »

i am,maybe stupidly,jacking my job in.im gonna go out knocking every day.we have secured a couple of nice jobs and i feel pretty positive.its gonna take time but for once i can see a future and a feeling of freedom and achievement.wish me luck

« **Reply #9 on:** January 08, 2006, 08:20:07 pm »

GOOD LUCK fast one. I'm sure 2006 will turn into your year - the year you broke the chains of employment & joined the self employed free!

« **Reply #10 on:** January 08, 2006, 08:43:22 pm »

I never door knock.
I bought my rounds 7 years ago and have at least doubled my turnover whilst halfing the workload.
Now i have only got quality work nice and compact.
I dont know how you could achieve this without the basis of a round instead of doorknocking and flyers.
It would of been difficult to get my round like it is if i would of just purely doorknocked.
I have got 5 or 6 estates where i do most of the houses and it would be hard to doorknock these areas and pick up 1 job never mind a few .all you would get is my dregs and castoffs and homemovers, and i guess most decent areas are already covered near me.
Without buying my round who knows where i would be know

« **Reply #11 on:** January 09, 2006, 12:04:59 am »

thankyou busydafodil. but i must say to the last message that youve got to start somewhere.im sure there are plenty of windows out there.surely its a case of determination?i hope so anyway

« **Reply #12 on:** January 09, 2006, 12:15:27 am »

You have already successfully built a business from nothing whilst still working. You have been that successful that you now have a decision to make.
Considering your impressive part time start, and the fact that you now have too much work coming in to be able to work both jobs, I think you just ought to go for it. Surely you realise you have the ability? You record so far indicates that.

Besides, you dont really want to be sat on the couch at 65 with your company retirement clock saying "If only"??

« **Reply #13 on:** January 09, 2006, 12:36:09 am »

fair play to ya.mind you,we havent got bucketloads of work,i just cant work for my boss no more.I packed my job in today as a brickie,the money was ok,but the boss was a ****,isnt it funny how working for someone can make you dislike a job you onced liked.anyway,ive gotta pull my finger out big time and get some work in.thanks for the support,this site is blinding

« **Reply #14 on:** January 09, 2006, 09:13:28 am »

We actually only go to work to earn the money to enjoy the rest of our life. I think that we should also enjoy work. Being unhappy at work ruins a third of each day - not good.

Get out there & prove how good you are!

« **Reply #15 on:** January 09, 2006, 05:58:02 pm »

your a star.Is it possible,in any way to get £2000 worth of work in 3 to 4 months by knocking,delivering flyers and ringing people constantly?I need to have realistic goals.any advice?cheers

« **Reply #16 on:** January 11, 2006, 12:04:10 am »

I cannot answer that question for you. I think it varies, area to area & person to person.

If you've already jacked job in, what have you got to lose? Get out there & canvas, leaflet, etc. Prove to yourself that you are capable!

Good luck!

« **Reply #17 on:** January 11, 2006, 12:41:36 am »

very true.have been doing well with the door knocking,works coming in quite nicely.I think just delivering flyers isnt as good as knocking.I think this games got potential if you make the effort.thankyou for your support.what a blinding site for information and encouragement

« **Reply #18 on:** January 11, 2006, 04:00:05 pm »

Being a brickie you can always get a few small jobs of yer own, or have add ons to your wc business.

« **Reply #19 on:** January 11, 2006, 06:40:28 pm »

I was thinking that.The thing with the building game is you have to lay out for materials,and just in general i find it hard going.i dont think im going to miss laying heavy concrete blocks in the british winter and getting covererd in crap.I actually dont mind cleaning windows.I might not be saying that after a few years though...

« **Reply #20 on:** January 12, 2006, 04:55:52 pm »

over the course of 8 days,me and my mate have pulled in £700 worth of work.Is this an average amount or should we be doing better?Knocking is definitely better than just delivering flyers.But definitely need more work to cover myself.Are there alot of problems collecting money from customers and,if so,are there any ways around collecting.is it worth getting the customers phone numbers to ring before collecting?cheers

« **Reply #21 on:** January 12, 2006, 05:38:41 pm »

If you are door knocking and you are picking up customers you have to ask yourself why they have not already got a window cleaner

« **Reply #22 on:** January 12, 2006, 06:34:28 pm »

Because no-one knocked on their door?

« **Reply #23 on:** January 12, 2006, 06:46:27 pm »

I like it

« **Reply #24 on:** January 12, 2006, 11:36:12 pm »

if you think like that you might as well give up.

« **Reply #25 on:** January 12, 2006, 11:43:18 pm »

Quote from: fast one on January 12, 2006, 11:36:12 pm

if you think like that you might as well give up.

David does have a point.

You might have been lucky enough to hit a spot where there is no w/c. But i find that hard to believe.

If you have picked work up because you are cheaper than the w/c they were using then they will get rid of you as soon as another one comes along cheaper again.

« **Reply #26 on:** January 12, 2006, 11:53:36 pm »

we havent been going cheap and definitely wouldnt undercut anyone.So basically,you are saying that it is pointless looking for work?if this is the case,what do you do?It appears all the windows are taken and the ones that are not taken,are not worth having.Do all window cleaners have this view?if so,im back on site

« **Reply #27 on:** January 13, 2006, 01:00:57 am »

Didn't mean you have been undercutting on purpose.
Like i said perhaps you have found an area with no w/c.
I have got customers who when i went canvassing said there is no w/c in the area only to find 2 or 3 working the same street.
I haven't found yet an area within a 35 mile radius of where i live which doesn't have a w/c service.
You will find alot of work will generate from the work you have picked up through recomendation so do a good job and you will pull in more.
Don't get put off by everything you read on here everyone has there different views and come across different experiences.

I only started doing this part-time and with the work i got through recomendation turned it into full-time.

Keep at it mate and don't get put off

Craig

« **Reply #28 on:** January 13, 2006, 02:14:38 am »

I can see what you're saying.I know its going to take a good few months yet.I suppose as time goes on the round will get better and more compact.Hopefully,we will get work word of mouth also.weve also got a couple of large shops to do in a large shopping centre for good prices.Do you do schools?they cant be bad to get..

« **Reply #29 on:** January 13, 2006, 11:31:14 am »

You will need 5 million pound liability cover i think to do schools where as domestic you will only need 1 million.
I haven't looked into doing schools just yet as i work on my own but you will probably have to go through the local council in most cases.

Are you using ladders or wfp?

Going back to work now only came home to make a new flask of coffee. Can't stop drinking today

Craig

« **Reply #30 on:** January 13, 2006, 04:32:49 pm »

not using wfp at the moment,but definitely looking into it.i have heard its hard to get a spotless finish with it.Is this true?Do the pros outdo the cons?I know on some occasions one might have to use it.I suppose when we get more established i will buy wfp.At the moment,just traditional.

« **Reply #31 on:** January 13, 2006, 04:53:16 pm »

The pros definitely outdo the amateurs!
When you start, you get spots, but they get less and less as you condition the frames and windows.
Get onto it asap

« **Reply #32 on:** January 13, 2006, 06:18:01 pm »

I will keep that in mind.Is it all pretty straight forward to set up?.Do you use wfp on all domestic jobs?

« **Reply #33 on:** January 13, 2006, 11:17:41 pm »

I use wfp on all my jobs now.

I find it much easier, quicker & safer.

When i got my wfp i just kept practicing on my own house till i got the hang of it.
It didn't take long.
I was using it on my customers within a couple of days of getting it.

If you are starting out using ladders etc when you do switch over to wfp you will have to explain to your customers the reasons why plus how it works and that the windows will be left wet.

Like Morph said get into it asap.

« **Reply #34 on:** January 15, 2006, 01:56:12 am »

have you ever had negative feedback off customers?Is it really suitable for a first wash,considering the windows need scraping?How much does it cost roughly?Do you need a large van to carry it?Once again,a million and one questions.I think i need to go to bed......