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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: ts on September 22, 2010, 02:37:01 am

Title: Branching out to other things?
Post by: ts on September 22, 2010, 02:37:01 am
Has anyone branched out and offered other services? I only do some gutter cleaning. Any advice?

T
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: the bfg on September 22, 2010, 07:16:11 am
I usually do a bit of shop lifting at the weekends to keep my hand in so to speak  :D
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: Londoner on September 22, 2010, 07:53:47 am
This has been discussed recently. My view which is not universally shared on here is not to start getting involved in things that don't contribute to your main business ie window cleaning.

Branching out into carpet cleaning or jet washing (the two favourites) just takes up too much time to attract new business and most of them are one off jobs so why bother?
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: mark mann on September 22, 2010, 08:07:09 am
i like the idea of upvc restoration - but im not sure what to charge my guess is
10 quid for a double window 5 quid a single and 12 quid for a door - any one agree/disagree with thise prices ?
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: Klean07 on September 22, 2010, 08:11:51 am
Have a look and see what others charge for doing same work. Then go from there.
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: Nathanael Jones on September 22, 2010, 08:24:51 am
I do a lot of pressure washing & gutter cleaning work (great for wet days), web design on the really bad days, & I help my wife with her handmade soap company sometimes too. Whatever pays the bills!
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: mci services on September 22, 2010, 08:32:26 am
This has been discussed recently. My view which is not universally shared on here is not to start getting involved in things that don't contribute to your main business ie window cleaning.

Branching out into carpet cleaning or jet washing (the two favourites) just takes up too much time to attract new business and most of them are one off jobs so why bother?

I agree if you have time on your hands get more window cleaning customers
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: Nathanael Jones on September 22, 2010, 10:06:38 am
This has been discussed recently. My view which is not universally shared on here is not to start getting involved in things that don't contribute to your main business ie window cleaning.

Branching out into carpet cleaning or jet washing (the two favourites) just takes up too much time to attract new business and most of them are one off jobs so why bother?

I agree if you have time on your hands get more window cleaning customers

For me it isn't about time,... Irish customers have never been educated about WFP working just as good in the rain, and despite my best efforts many will still turn me away on a wet day, so I diversify in an effort to keep working no matter what the weather.
Its also nice to have a bit of variety,.. and pressure washing pays really well too! :)
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: erithwc on September 22, 2010, 11:15:40 am
I do a lot of pressure washing & gutter cleaning work (great for wet days), web design on the really bad days, & I help my wife with her handmade soap company sometimes too. Whatever pays the bills!

I have been thinking about setting up something ebay selling stuff i could do it on bad days and evenings but not sure how i would stand with the tax man would i have to set up another business or could i just declare it as additional income i am selfemployed anyone know ???
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: Wc Solutions on September 22, 2010, 02:48:57 pm
we started doing conservatory cleaning - named it conservatory valeting ...

so basically we do it on 3 different stages...

1 - just roof and roof pvc ...

2 - all the external glass and pvc including roof

3 - our main one - a complete conservatory valet - as above but including internal glass and pvc.


goes down a storm - every single one of our customers with a conservatory has had at least one valet done.

try and make them get it done every 4 - 6 months...

even picking up some conservatorys that are other wc customers - as seems some trad guys wont do it as roof can be a pain without wfp ...

really popular in the summer of course but also around xmas time ...
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: lee_dewing on September 22, 2010, 05:15:40 pm
wc solutions do you use a conservatory roof ladder?

Or just normal ladder and tfr in garden sprayer?

would you mind me asking what you charge fot these service?

One of my custies told me bobby dazzler sold at halfords is really good cleaning agent,used for cleaning caravans.

thanks lee
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: lee_dewing on September 22, 2010, 05:24:12 pm
Nathanael Jones


was thinking once of pressure washing, take it you use petrol jet washer?

how do you charge per square metre?

Thought about doing this but always worried about damaging custies paving i.e blowing out old cement between paving.

worried custie would try and charge me for re-pointing it :o

I take it wth the brick paved ones you have to use sharp sand to re-fill after clean.

Would like to gain experience at this but don't think anywhere offers advice or training.

Not confident enough to jump straight into this.

Do you just tell custies for pressure washing you do on wet days only?

thanks lee
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: gr cleaning solutions on September 22, 2010, 05:31:29 pm
my brother started this company off last year his web site . www.procleanconservatories.co.uk  and he been very busy.


i myself have set up a cleaning business so i do carpets and upholstery,, power washing gutter and fascia cleans i have even had my wife doing some work clean the walls and paint work down in care home before it opens.But my main income is the windows but the carpets side is getting busy as i have pushed it more this year and next year ill push the power washing more
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: richywilts on September 22, 2010, 05:44:44 pm
Nathanael Jones


was thinking once of pressure washing, take it you use petrol jet washer?

how do you charge per square metre?

Thought about doing this but always worried about damaging custies paving i.e blowing out old cement between paving.

worried custie would try and charge me for re-pointing it :o

I take it wth the brick paved ones you have to use sharp sand to re-fill after clean.

Would like to gain experience at this but don't think anywhere offers advice or training.

Not confident enough to jump straight into this.

Do you just tell custies for pressure washing you do on wet days only?

thanks lee

try a smartseal course there not brilliant there basically just trying to sell u all there products but its worth £60 of ya money to give ya a bit of background and knowledge try there website www.smartseal.co.uk
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: lee_dewing on September 22, 2010, 05:59:20 pm
richywilts, thanks for that link and their not too far away, will read through it later

Hav you been on their course?

Like your website by the way.

thanks lee.
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: A & J Owen Window Cleaning on September 22, 2010, 06:00:50 pm
Last 2 years we've done gardening as well and we are having to scale it back. Definitely best to stick to window cleaning/gutter cleaning!
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: Matthew JN on September 22, 2010, 07:17:41 pm
Nothing to do with cleaning but i also trade cars.
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: richywilts on September 22, 2010, 07:20:14 pm
richywilts, thanks for that link and their not too far away, will read through it later

Hav you been on their course?

Like your website by the way.

thanks lee.

cheers lee websites a bit old now n needs modernising iv paid the website designer in march but he still aint come up with a new design.

as for the course yeah i went along but i had already done driveway cleaning previously so didnt really learn a great deal its basically just a bit of a con to entice people in to buy there products but for 60quid its worth a crack at it and you also get discounts on products then and a certificate which can look good to customer
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: Wc Solutions on September 22, 2010, 07:35:45 pm
wc solutions do you use a conservatory roof ladder?

Or just normal ladder and tfr in garden sprayer?

would you mind me asking what you charge fot these service?

One of my custies told me bobby dazzler sold at halfords is really good cleaning agent,used for cleaning caravans.

thanks lee

yeah no probs mate.

of course its impossible to give an exact price as it depends on the sizes of the job and how dirty they are/time taken and of course the access - easy/hard ....

so for example:

just the roof clean with roof pvc - say from £30 upwards....

all external glass & pvc including roof - say from £80 upwards

and the main one we offer the complete valet - say from £100 upwards ...

as i said its hard to give exact prices without seeing the job for size and so on...

ive never used a roof ladder, always wfp with customers outside tap and then wfp with system to finish glass clear roofs and the ground floor glass - the internals just simple mop and blade with a few micro wipes to tidy frames ...

ive used turtle wax tfr or a caravan cleaner - cant remember which one.

if the roofs green with those annoying mould bits - i would use a trad pole with a wc mop dipped in a bucket of water and a chemical to help remove the worst before i used wfp ...

hope that helps a bit.
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: ts on September 24, 2010, 04:26:48 pm
Thanks guys very helpful. Just a bit of variety cant go wrong.
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: lovewindows on September 24, 2010, 09:26:54 pm
I think at the momment any revenue stream is worth pursuing. I do tiling & joinery for a local plumber and can earn decent money on top of my W/C business.
You never know when a sideline can turn into the main earner.     
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: lee_dewing on September 24, 2010, 11:04:49 pm
thanks,

Richywilts & W.c solutions

Lee,  have a good weekend everyone.
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: LWC on September 25, 2010, 07:26:10 am
I bought a pressue washer last year and started pushing for it, but to be honest, this is in my opinion, more hassle than its worth. Messy hard work, and i found out the hard way on a few jobs that pricing can be difficult.

Ive sold it now, and just concentrated on window cleaning. It works for some but not for me. Done a few inside concerv roof cleans lately, they're hard work but good money.

Stick to what ya know i say!
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: Jonathan Spencer on September 25, 2010, 07:36:39 am
Im just going to try and push the connny roofs and fascia a bit more.  You can do this when it is wet and even if you do not get your normal hourly rate it is better than nothing.  Especially if you are like me and cannot sit still.
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: A & J Owen Window Cleaning on September 25, 2010, 12:53:57 pm
We've tried to run gardens with windows for 2 years and it really doesn't work. Too much equipment to carry round and the two don't just fit together.

Best to stick to one main occupation and keep canvassing for more work. We do things like gutter cleans, fascia cleans and conservatory roof cleans though ;)
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: LWC on September 25, 2010, 03:03:01 pm
You'll never earn money like ya do on windows doing anything else.
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: ts on September 26, 2010, 08:20:52 am
Someone I know mentioned house and office clearance but dont want to get bogged down with inevitable removal jobs.
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: dazmond on September 26, 2010, 08:45:02 am
jonathan you should easily hit your hourly rate(and more!)if your cleaning fascias and conservatory roofs!these jobs take you away from your regular window cleaning and are "specialist" cleaning jobs so price them up higher.they are usually awkward and harder work than window cleaning as well.

im personally not interested in anything else than regular window cleaning and whatever else i can clean on a property with the water fed pole!

smaller van/less equipment/less hassle and at the end of the day IM A WINDOW CLEANER!!!!! ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D


the gardening made me laugh!what did you do?turn up with the lawn mower then nipped home/dropped it off then picked up your wfp/ladders and then cleaned their windows? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: Jonathan Spencer on September 26, 2010, 09:02:33 am
Where are you based Daz?
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: dazmond on September 26, 2010, 10:01:44 am
my work is mainly in leafy cheshire! ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Branching out to other things?
Post by: Jonathan Spencer on September 26, 2010, 10:04:44 am
my work is mainly in leafy cheshire! ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D

My old man lives in Chester and I thought you did around that area.