[chopsie]

I am just in the process of starting up w/c.I just thought i would go down the trad route,I been working on construction sites for around 10 years and farming before that.I took voluntary redundancy as i was planning on leaving at xmas anyway,so thought i would get some cash off them whilst it was still being offered.I see on here that you all think everyone is jumping on the window cleaning band wagon,I potentially could be one of those people.I have thought about it for a long time,and now i am in a better position to do it than ever as i got redundancy money/divorced so no mortage or other big ties,my partner is moving in with me and for the first time in my life i do not necessarily have to support someone as she earns more than i used to in construction and that was very good!My question is,is there really enough work out there if everyone is starting up,I am now considering some sort of wfp set up for part or all of work as i think it would give me a wider range of jobs i.e dangerous/awkwark to reach windows,con roofs etc.working of ladders does not worry me as i have been doing that for the past 10 years so third storey windows won't put me off it just over cons and porches etc that are not worth risking for the sake of a quid!!What is everyone thoughts on this,I don,t want to be some multi national company working every hour of the day,i have been working away for 10 years and now i am in a position to spend some quality time with my girlfriend and my children i want to take it,not work my life away as i have been doing.(perhaps i am having a mid life chrisis at 32)!!!

[Lee Pryor]

i think there is enough work for everyone, it really depends on the area you live and how dense the population is against how afluent it is.

the best thing about window cleaning imo is you get out what you put in, which isnt usualy the case for someone who is employed.

its a question of getting out there puting out flyers (which you could make on the home pc cheaply for now) and knocking on doors, these are proven to be the best ways of building up, and its all we do. dont bother with newspaper adds and so on.

a diy wfp system is very easy to put together and doesnt have to cost the earth, although i do think every wc should have a good set of ladders and traditional skills. the first step in wfp diy is deciding which kind you need, for this get a tds meter and find out what the tds of your home tap water is. if its say 70ppm or under then only a DI system is needed. if more then a full RO system is required.

i think alot of people starting up as wc think its an easy ride, but the truth is its the same as any business 1% inspiration 99% perspiration. it can take 2 years to build a really good round. there for the question to ask is not so much is there enough work out there, but are you very self motivated with a clear vision of what you want to achieve.,

[dazmond]

i would buy a round to start u off if i were u.thats what i did 15 yrs ago and i worked for a window cleaner for a year before that and canvassed and picked up work.if u have no experience of trad window cleaning i would find a local guy who will take u out for the day and show u how its done properly!it will take u 12 months to get up to a decent standard and fairly fast and competent IMO.then i few years to build a good solid round depending on ur drive and ambition.and another few years to hone and compact it into a good paying round with good prices.i do think there is a lot more competition about these days with the recession and WFP and the internet.i would start off TRAD and then move over when uv got a half decent round.window cleaning IS NOT EASY MONEY.it takes hard work,tenacity.then theres no holiday/sick pay.downtime because of weather.accountants,bookeeping,tax,NI to sort out etc.BUT its the best thing i ever did.i hated landscaping 6 days a wk starting at 730 and finishing at 6 for crap money!i earn more now doing less hours.but dont think youll earn a fortune as a sole trader.it can get a bit lonely at times as well if ur used to workmate banter.i prefer my own company quite a bit and i have a great rappore with most of custys.so im happy!
good luck!

[chopsie]

thanks for the replies guys,there is so much to consider,i never evn thought of wfp until i came on here,i initially thought of getting a back pack for those awkward windows on some properties so i could offer custy a full service plus con roofs etc.the only thing about wfp is the production of the water,from what i have read this seems to be an extremly slow/wasteful process which must cost a fortune in water bills considering the wastage.i am certanly no eco warrior,far from it,but even i think this wastage is crazy,

[dazmond]

no wastage if DI only.use straight from the tap through DI into ur tank!NO GOOD IF UV GOT 300 TDS THO!go trad first if i were u.learn the basics then maybe move on from there if u stick at it!!

[chopsie]

ok dazmond,i think your right,i should stick with my origional plan of trad only,i just was worried over losing potential customers whose windows i could not safely reach.suppose there are plenty of safer one out there!

[Murdie window cleaning]

Hi Chopsie

I've just started out and most of my friends and family were suportive, but there was one or two who were all doom and gloom saying there are loads of window cleaners out there. This didn't put me off(bit of a stuborn sod) so I'm now in the process of door knocking in the afternoon and cleaning any I get the next morning.

I would agree that you have to be disaplined and able to motivate yourself, but it is worth it as it's a great feeling when a customer agrees to let you clean there windows. Set targets for your self, I've set myself a target of 50 new customers in November, so far I've picked up 11 and I'm realy getting a buzz chasing this target. Some will say set yourself a finacial target, that's fair enough but get customers and money will follow.

Good luck

[chopsie]

have you gone trad? i am trying to make a flyer on comp now,i am not having much luck yet,computers are not really my thing(except for the odd porn site i accidently stumble on!!!).did you have any previuos experiance?

[Murdie window cleaning]

have you gone trad? i am trying to make a flyer on comp now,i am not having much luck yet,computers are not really my thing(except for the odd porn site i accidently stumble on!!!).did you have any previuos experiance?

Of porn sites 

I don't think I had cleaned a window before I bought my trad gear, then before even thinking of finding a customer I cleaned my windows over and over, then done my parents house and I even cleaned the ex's windows when I went to see the kids.

I'm fully trad at the moment, but like you I am looking at getting a backpack and pole for those akward windows and cony roofs ect.

[TonyD]

I think it's all been said there in one way or another.

It's not easy, but put the time in and the customers are there. 

I've been cleaning for around 3 months, after closing my valeting/detailing  (very high end cars, so BIG drop in business the past year due to economy)  and getting window cleaning custom is much easier than other businesses.  To get valeting custom I had to spend a fortune on advertising/web SEO, and regular repeat custom is harder,  but window cleaning customers, it's just like any other selling - a numbers game - the more houses you canvass, the closer you are to the yes's, and hitting that lucky estate/road with no cleaner.

There is plenty of competition, but there's always a road that's sacked off a rubbish cleaner, or where someone has retired and there's still a need to fill.  You'll get days canvassing with no or very few customers, but other days on the right road you can get one after another, and that's a great feeling when it happens.  Especially knowing it's solid regular custom/income month after month, unlike the unpredictable building/farm trade.

[Niall McAllister]

ok dazmond,i think your right,i should stick with my origional plan of trad only,i just was worried over losing potential customers whose windows i could not safely reach.suppose there are plenty of safer one out there!

if you are in a position to go wfp, then go for that. It is safer, which is reason enough, but also you are still allowed to use trad gear as well , it's not either or.

if you put the ground work in, you should be fine.
the thing with this is after you get started, you only have to work as hard as you need to

[dazmond]

chopsie i can clean nearly all awkward windows that u can reach with a WFP with a trad pole.takes a lot of practice.i use it on all awkward windows and i would NEVER use a ladder higher then the first floor.pole everytime.trad poles do an ok job.have a look at some of my backposts on tips on how to clean using extension poles.ladders i use the most but pole v.handy for slippy decking etc and above porch roofs.

[Milltown Cleaning]

just going through this kind of thought process myself at the minute, work is slow at the minute. Im still in my first year, just received 5000 leaflets and im delivering them at the mo. I wanted to try and knock as many doors as i can, but finding that there are very few people in. Im finding it very easy to think that no one is going to reply!!

[stevieg]

No!!!!!!!!

[Milltown Cleaning]

No!!!!!!!!

ahh the voice of optimism!

[bobby p]

if u live anywhere in the south theres bags of window work,but it wont come overnight i can promise u . it needs seeking out ,  but once u find one house and clean it good, the neighbours will see u at it ,and the jungle drums on the street  start beating . you will know ur accepted when  the local cafe folk  tell everyone that your the guy that does windows.

 buy ladder n squeegee and  get out on the street as soon as mate is my tip  and good luck   

[pingu]

We all have our 'own success' stories but as most have said...leaflet an area then go back to that same area say 2 days later and doorknock each house make a note of response for every house...if it's yes...good to go! if no mark it down in your book....then releaflet the area every 12 weeks...for the next year...

Keep a track on what you have done ...when you start getting yourself known you could think about loyalty schemes...when a customer gets me a couple of additional customers I give that customer a free clean...(don't be tempted to drop their price ).

Do what you say you are going to do when you have said you will do it...avoid doing large freebies...you are a business....inner confidence will help you sell your product.

All you need is 1 customer...when you have this nut cracked..just do the same again and then keep repeating your tried and tested process

We all feel we need the take all the work we can get when we start..and of course that is true...but at times I imagine loads of us when we first started (me = 3yrs old so not that long) were very timid and more than likely gave the impression that we were desperate for the work...no one needs to know that you have only been going 3 days...Run your business like you have be running years

There is plenty of work out there...all you have to do is go and get it..over to you...look forward to hearing from you in a year telling us how great you life is now.

If you do not have a thick skin yet...grow one overnight.

Cheers and good luck
Dave.

p.s after 3 years you'll be a arm-chair expert like me too

[Tosh]

I've had a really quiet Spring and Summer this year; I put that down to the credit crunch; but for the past month or so its been hectic with taking on good quality jobs, ranging from a big mansion, a factory unit, and a few jobs jobs priced around the £30 to £50 mark.

I think there's a big element of luck; being in the right place at the right time.  Especially if you're too lazy to go out and get work, like I am most of the time.

[JRDEasiReach]

just going through this kind of thought process myself at the minute, work is slow at the minute. Im still in my first year, just received 5000 leaflets and im delivering them at the mo. I wanted to try and knock as many doors as i can, but finding that there are very few people in. Im finding it very easy to think that no one is going to reply!!

M8 i knocked doors for the first time last week and ended up with 6 new monthly customers so far and thats with very little knocking, with my ad in the paper at start of december im hoping for an influx of new customers, its hard work but very very rewarding knowing you have done the hard work!!!

As for the guy in question, buy a cheap wfp if you can, thats what i done and dont even bother with trad, no point when you can get a better result with the wfp

[chopsie]

i have just got back from 2 hours sat on my arse at the job centre,signing on,never been before and nearly walked out,staff just standing around doing nothing!went for part time postie job thia am, 8.30 interview,got there for 8.10 and interviewers did not turn up till 9.10!!!!no wonder this country is going to the dogs!!then when i got back i met a neighbour(i am new to area)asked if a window cleaner came round and how much,she said yes fortnightly,house one time then house and con next(3 bed end terrace)charges 2.50 for house and 4.00 for house and con,i nearly died,He must be bloody mental!!! she says he got another job so probably dont need to charge much.think i better look further afield