[red star]

If you build a good solid window cleaning business then you will (should) be earning more than being a handy man, mowing lawns, putting up fences etc...

Look at it long term... If you are spending time on handy man type work then it's less time being able to build up a window cleaning business which will (should) earn you more money.

Also... If you are offering lots of different types of services then you need lots of other equipment which means you have to spread your money buying different tools for different jobs, whereas if you concentrate on window cleaning you have the money to buy good quality equipment specific to the job.

I only offer window cleaning and conservatory roof cleaning now... If someone asks me about gutter cleaning or pressure washing etc.. I pass the work on to someone else.

I would rather spend my time servicing my regular window cleaning round and picking up more regular window cleaning work as its REPEAT work.

Andy

totally agree

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

We've been offering gardening as well as window cleaning but have scaled it right back.
Too much kit in the van (more expense to maintain) and you don't make as much money out of it.
In my opinion, keep it simple and stick to window cleaning and jobs like gutter cleaning, conservatory roofs etc just as add ons for window cleaning customers. We don't do these as 'one off's any more because again it's taking the focus off getting to your regulars.

[GDwindowcleaning]

From what I know about handymen they use the tools that most of us own anyway, the majority of the jobs can be done with a basic tool kit.

Mick is not asking you to sell him the window cleaning business as he is growing that really well, he is asking if a handyman service would fit well along side his current business. My thoughts are yes it would fit very well and www.dialahandyman.com looks like a really well put together opportunity.

He has ambition to do more than build a one man lifestyle business....

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

The website does look good and the kind of services they are offering probably would fit well with window cleaning if your round isn't full and as the business grows could be marketed separately perhaps if need be.  My only problem with 'handy men' is that are they really good at all the things they promote? If they are great, if not could be storing up lots of trouble with botched jobs.
This firm doesn't seem to offer gardening which is probably wise,  not sure what others experiences are but we've found it's not a good fit with window cleaning and to do a decent job kit can get expensive.

[GDwindowcleaning]

I think you have to take a long hard look at your skill set before you go into this business but from what I can see most of the work is basic diy so should be ok. I think mick wants to do some himself but take on a part timer too from reading his posts, I think it would work really well. Its a tempting offer and I dont agree with the fella who said you dont need to do this. I am sure the branding would really help you grow a top notch business...

[Dave.]

I had a home & garden maintenance / handyman business and started doing windows as an additional service.

I started trad - then decided to build a wfp trailer set up.  Bit the bullet and canvassed for window work - quickly realised I could earn more concentrating on just windows, with the odd handyman job here & there

[GDwindowcleaning]

What do you do an hour on the glass dave? If you dont mind me asking...

[Dave.]

I never discuss what I actually earn now, however when I was looking at a handyman jobs I used to charge £15 p/h - many people thought that was expensive. 

Needless to say I can earn considerably more per hour 'on the glass'

[GDwindowcleaning]

Well they charge 25 and have a good few agents working already....

I wouldnt run a business for 15 quid an hour...

[andyM]

The trouble with offering a "handy man service" is that you really do need to have experience of doing this type of work.
Some jobs you might get asked to do may look straight forward on the surface but would you know how to sort out problems if things go wrong?
For example if you took on a small wallpapering job and when you removed the paper the plaster had blown and started coming away from the wall would you know how to resolve it?
With experience its likely you would of detected this problem at the beginning.
Or someone might ask you to do an "easy job" removing old tiles in the kitchen or bathroom and replace with new ones. But while removing the old tiles the plasterboard from the stud wall starts coming away in lumps and destroys the partition. Would you know how to restore it?
I get asked to do a lot of different jobs for customers but I turn them down even though I have the experience to do it because I prefer just sticking to doing windows. Its less hassle! 
 

[GDwindowcleaning]

I agree but thats why I would consider the dialahandyman option, there is always support on the end of the phone from a network of very experienced handymen....

[andyM]

I agree but thats why I would consider the dialahandyman option, there is always support on the end of the phone from a network of very experienced handymen....

Meanwhile you're sweating like a glassblowers arse wondering how the hell you can get yourself out of this mess without ending up out of pocket and the custie walks into the room asking you "How's it all going?"(for the tenth time!)
 

[GDwindowcleaning]

Yes I agree you may get into one or two situations but I think they will have been through all the problems and issues before so can hopefully protect you as much as possible. I have downloaded the prospectus and I would rather have the support of the network than not.... I think the start up costs and the monthly fee are reasonable too....

[mickwc]

Hi All!!

GD window cleaning is right, i would be doing some of this myself at first, but if it did work and i did get plenty of work i would take on a part timer, then make full time when needed. i like the sound of dialahandyman because you have back up and advice when needed but don't have to pay out a big franchise fee at first.

[GDwindowcleaning]

I think being part of a network and using their branding is worth fortunes and you can hit the ground running...

[Window Washers]

The trouble with offering a "handy man service" is that you really do need to have experience of doing this type of work.
Some jobs you might get asked to do may look straight forward on the surface but would you know how to sort out problems if things go wrong?
For example if you took on a small wallpapering job and when you removed the paper the plaster had blown and started coming away from the wall would you know how to resolve it?
With experience its likely you would of detected this problem at the beginning.
Or someone might ask you to do an "easy job" removing old tiles in the kitchen or bathroom and replace with new ones. But while removing the old tiles the plasterboard from the stud wall starts coming away in lumps and destroys the partition. Would you know how to restore it?
I get asked to do a lot of different jobs for customers but I turn them down even though I have the experience to do it because I prefer just sticking to doing windows. Its less hassle!  
  

to be honest if you was a handy man, these are very easy things to fix imo, I would be totally confident to do this as have done up a couple of houses where this has happened, patching plaster is easy, as is fixing plaster board, if plaster board was damaged it would not destroy a partition any way as they has 2 sides, so you would only need to fix one.

I agree with people not knowing what they are doing should not do this kind of work, but anyone wanting to do it, and had some experience it would be good.

With paper on walls you cannot detect it before removing the paper (a lot of the time ) steamers can and do damage plaster thats not sound. but anyone that know this already would per warn a customer. I asked someone a few weeks back to quote to do my hallways as I dont have the time, and they said this very thing, if the wall paper comes off and the wall needs to be filled it will cost this much extra, we will not know this till the paper is of, more so that the paper could have been there years to cover the damaged plaster. this is a normal thing to happen.

[GDwindowcleaning]

Very good points, I am sure you will get training and support and you will very quickly learn... I am sure there are people who this wouldnt be suitable for but I am certain it would be a good addition for some people...

[Londoner]

I think being part of a network and using their branding is worth fortunes and you can hit the ground running...

Thats always assuming that it is what it says it is and not just "we take your money and do FA in return" which a lot of these schemes seem to be. Not just handyman businesses. This has been done to many different things. Window cleaning, oven cleaning, the domestic cleaning world is full of them.

Far too many people are all too willing to be the middle man, taking the money and maybe running a few big ads in yellow pages. Then you do the work and they sit back.

Don't automatically assume it is as good as they say it is. 

[Paul Coleman]

I did a few other bits and pieces until my round got fuller but after that, it really was a nuisance that interfered with my window cleaning income - so I stopped.
These days I just put them in contact with someone I know.  Occasionally one of the guys might reciprocate with a new window cleaning job.  Another alternative is to get them to put a tenner or a score on top for you but I prefer not to go down that route.  You could even get someone to price it and add some profit on for yourself - though you do become responsible to the customer for the work if you do that.

[bobby p]

 somewhere i saw you can buy bad workmanship insurance ,

 youd need it to cover all sorts of claims such as banging down a floorboard nail that then pierces a waterpipe running below it .