Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Paddy Woods on June 07, 2011, 10:27:08 pm
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was working today & got these voices in my head saying this isnt worth it :(
ok you make say £130 (£60-70 if lucky u pick up on day,then the collecting 'the chase' i call it!) do we with honesty with all taken away,make a decent living??
your van/car/liability tax insurance,wet/very cold days,materials,petrol etc etc
somedays i love it but @ times if someone offerd me a job for £500 take home id jump @ it.
is there anyone else had these days? & what do you tell yourself ?? or am i the only one ???
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every one feels like that, but try and get a job that will pay you 500 a week take , as i know where i live there isnt that many
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How much profit do you think you all make year?
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Pod to be honest I agree with you and it takes time to get to an income of even 1oo quid a day so many flocking to w/cleaning just to find out its not for them as they have big dreams.IF THERE WAS MORE WORK MOST GUYS WOULD NOT CHOOSE TO CLEAN WINDOWS. SOME GUYS JUST DO IT BECAUSE ITS WORK AND REALATIVELY CHEAP TO START.
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what u got to remember is it is like being a taxi driver, there is no money in this job, but people do it for 30 years
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£130 a day?
Honestly mate either you are not charging enough or not working hard enough.
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til something better comes along....this is it
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til something better comes along....this is it
what's wrong whith that
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£130 a day?
Honestly mate either you are not charging enough or not working hard enough.
what's wrong whith that
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£130 a day?
Honestly mate either you are not charging enough or not working hard enough.
;) i hope this is a wind up??
£130 a day is good if I got it EACH day in the hand b brill!that's my point
Don't get me wrong many positives job security ,own boss,time off,time goes fast,also u meet different people
I want to b happy doing this work but ...
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im lovin it.ive just got a tank after a year with a trolley system and ive shaved an hour off the work i completed today.i picked up 10 new jobs the other week through recommendation alone and im gettin a steady stream of conny roofs,fascia cleans.my missus is very ill and its a trying time for all her friends and family as well as herself.it certainly puts life into sharp perspective.
the flexibilty and time off to care for her plus a good wedge of money to keep ticking over even during this trying time makes me realise how blessed i am.
i have a well established round and its improving all the time.the help and support from you lads on here and the advice and little tips ive picked up have been invaluable in transforming my business and the way i work.
its not fell in my lap ive had to work hard to get where i am today and i will continue to work at it and my pricing for new work is much better.for me i wouldnt of been able to do any of this if i hadnt got sober.ive been over 5 years free of drink and drugs and ill be forever indebted to the guys and gals who pulled me through and made me realise i didnt need to keep self destructing.
if your not happy with the money your making work harder and price better! its working for me! ;D ;D
best wishes to all of you
regards
dazmond
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Don't get discouraged mate. Many people get into window cleaning because they are fed stories that it is quick easy money. It isn't. It's hard graft and takes self discipline and motivation to make a success out of it.
When I use the word success, I mean it in a very broad sense. Some will say that £130 a day is not worth getting out of bed for, for others it is a decent wage. It depends on our personal expectations, hopes or goals. Ask yourself what yours are, but when you do, try to be realistic and set small, achievable targets, then when you have reached them, set some more.
Finally, don't let some of the cow poo you may read on here put you off. We are not all high earners, but some of us are actually happy with what we achieve without being an empire builder.
Best wishes,
John
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was working today & got these voices in my head saying this isnt worth it :(
ok you make say £130 (£60-70 if lucky u pick up on day,then the collecting 'the chase' i call it!) do we with honesty with all taken away,make a decent living??
your van/car/liability tax insurance,wet/very cold days,materials,petrol etc etc
somedays i love it but @ times if someone offerd me a job for £500 take home id jump @ it.
is there anyone else had these days? & what do you tell yourself ?? or am i the only one ???
It`s unlikely someone is going to come up to you offer you such a job, though.
Unless you are applying for such jobs or are considering a career change. If you are, good luck and go for it; but it`s not going to fall into your lap.
When I have those days, I try and tell myself I`m not going to do anything about it, so best just get on with cleaning windows :-\.
If you are prepared to change things, I wish you well with it.
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Even if you could find a job it would be a living hell. Employers want the impossible these days. How many on here have quit good jobs to go window cleaning in order to save their sanity?
Window cleaning is FREEDOM, I could never go back. I doubt that many could
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after 10 years window cleaning im just about fed up with it to be honist that last winter killed me ive upgraded to hot but in such sevear weather that wont help much. around here we have new windys starting up everywere ive had 7 canvas my house in the last month custys not paying and having to chase them o leave it this time after driving out to them £112 to fill my tank the hose rapping around EVERYTHING taking my hgv in a couple weeks might be time for a change :o
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as said above,in the long run its as much about your sanity, as its about the money.
many higher paid jobs end up breaking the worker mentally . who wants to be rich AND gaggar at 60?
i havent heard of a window cleaner being broken emotionally by the stress of it, DOUBT I EVER WILL !!
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is it that bad boldy, u wanting out
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To average £700 a week gross (£500 net after costs and tax) you need to do £200 a day on the days you do work.
You have to be really organised, not waste time collecting, work in showery conditions and get out of bed every workday prepared to work.
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It's all about quality of life... I spent 22 years in the military as a firefighter, always had part-time window rounds and when I left 1.5 years ago I went full-time window cleaning. Now got 330 customers and yes it's hard work at times and yes the collecting is a pain and the winters are crap but I wouldn't want to do anything else ! I please myself when I start work and when I finish, I have the satisfaction of seeing my hard work rewarded and I've got no idiot telling me what to do. All of that is priceless in my opinion so I may not earn what I used to but I'm happy. Just about to start a new chapter in my life too, just had a little stroke so set-up with wfp (650ltr, double pump) to make life easy. Ist day will be next Monday so can't wait......
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I am only 20 months in and the novelty has worn off. You have to get your mindset right because it can be a v boring, cold frustrating business. I know how bad the job market is and the employers are treating their staff like crap. Speak to some of your mates who work for someone else, the threat is always there that if you don't do xyz for £ then we will find someone who will.
My advice would be to think about the positives rather than the negatives. You can choose what you want the business to be and work toward that goal. In my case, I am just finding the actual work, mind numbingly boring and have decided to do a degree/college course of some kind to get some mental stimulation elsewhere. so wc for paying the bills and something else for my brain.
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I am just finding the actual work, mind numbingly boring and have decided to do a degree/college course of some kind to get some mental stimulation elsewhere. so wc for paying the bills and something else for my brain.
I do similar Tom. I'm doing a two-year foundation course in Buddhism, Gelug, which is extremely scholastic. I'm currently working my way through the four different Tibetan schools versions of The Two Truths (the nature of reality), and it's mind-bending stuff. Academically, I'm not stupid, but I'm finding this course really challenging. But it's easy to plan my study around work.
I also find an MP3 player loaded with the right kind of stuff that interests me is great; I love turning up at a big job where it's safe to use an MP3 player and customers aren't going to hassle me with stuff like trying to pay me, and I can listen to something course related, or anything that takes my fancy. There's loads of good podcasts on BBC4 or talking books and the like.
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motivation is hard in this job, i got 2 full days left this week, plus a day of new hotels and i cant be bothered to get up and go out, one minute the suns shining nexts its lashing down, might go back bed and try and wake up in a better mood
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To average £700 a week gross (£500 net after costs and tax) you need to do £200 a day on the days you do work.
You have to be really organised, not waste time collecting, work in showery conditions and get out of bed every workday prepared to work.
That's the best advice I've seen on the forum in ages. ;)
I'm sure all of us at times lack motivation, find the work boring, have problem customers etc... But you just have to work through it - If you don't then your cash flow will suffer which gives you more problems!
Andy
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To average £700 a week gross (£500 net after costs and tax) you need to do £200 a day on the days you do work.
You have to be really organised, not waste time collecting, work in showery conditions and get out of bed every workday prepared to work.
Thats this week blown then!
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To average £700 a week gross (£500 net after costs and tax) you need to do £200 a day on the days you do work.
You have to be really organised, not waste time collecting, work in showery conditions and get out of bed every workday prepared to work.
Thats this week blown then!
;D ;D
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I think you must do what ever suits you but for me I have tried other things and personally nothing compares to "the windows", time off, freedom, money etc.....
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is it that bad boldy, u wanting out
sort of yeah ive just sold my pressure washing set up and the guy is interested in my wfp set up if i decide to sell. my problem is i rent alot of work as i moved away after i split with the wife got rid of all i owned and then i moved back 3 year ago i rent alot of my old stuff back motervation is 0 at the mo i find it hard to work past 1pm slightest bit of rain and i pack up working on my own is so boring i need to kick my own arse ???
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keep at it mate,domestic window cleaning is about to be revolutionised due to mobile phone wallets,they reckon by 2015 almost everyone will be paying for small purchases via thir phones and this will be the end of chasing up customers imo all you need to do is have all your customers mobile numbers and txt them when their cleaned and they can send your payment via txt i for one cant frikkin wait.
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This is a very honest thread. Its good to discuss all side to this job.This should be sticky as it will send a more truthful view of this industry.Maybe more guys will think twice before they join up and falter after a few months or years. Its not always a bed of roses.It is bloody hard work that can be boring at time with lots of frustrations.
Some times the golden lining is flashed to much.
It amazes me how some are just egotistical and need recognition for what they do and a very slanted view is created of this industry and we still have not got to the bull poo yet.
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That sounds like a pretty tough subject Tosh. Is it where you get your Zen like serenity?
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I'm so laid back when I am working I have to set myself targets to try and keep motovated.
Thats how I do it
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I think being self employed in any job is hard at times; being strict with yourself when it comes to time keeping is my biggest problem. Every night I think, " Right matey, up at 4am for a 5am start; £200 by just after lunch time and plenty of time left to get to the gym."
At 7am the next morning I'm promising myself that TOMORROW I'll be up at 4am................... ::)
It sounds easy in theory but when you don't have a boss - apart from the one laying next to me when I wake up - to kick you up the arse now and again you just have to give yourself a good kicking to keep yourself going.
BUT, in all honesty, when I was employed I could never have afforded the holidays we take as a family now. I work seriously hard and we have money to spend; it's taken 20 years to reach that level but we have a nice, comfortable lifestyle and I can still take a day off when needed without ringing in sick ;D
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Keep up the doom and gloom lads!!! This should put off all those newbies we have been foolishly encouraging to take up window cleaning ever since the forum started!!! :-\
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was working today & got these voices in my head saying this isnt worth it :(
ok you make say £130 (£60-70 if lucky u pick up on day,then the collecting 'the chase' i call it!) do we with honesty with all taken away,make a decent living??
your van/car/liability tax insurance,wet/very cold days,materials,petrol etc etc
somedays i love it but @ times if someone offerd me a job for £500 take home id jump @ it.
is there anyone else had these days? & what do you tell yourself ?? or am i the only one ???
Maybe you just need a good holiday matey and take some chill time ;)
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to add to what I said, if its £130 a day after tax and costs then actually thats pretty good - but if its before tax and costs then you need to sit down and look at what is holding you back.
When you have a van to run, equipment to pay for and no paid holidays etc then you need to be making more.
For example
139 a day = £650 a week
44 working weeks = £28600
not too shabby? it all depends on your outgoings.
Don't be afraid to charge more - we always have and have found that the customers that will pay more are the same customers who give very little hassle.
Either way, don't get downhearted - its a great job if you want to keep it as a job but its also a great business if you want to have it as a business.
If it helps, we go hell for leather 1st two weeks of each month, and the last 2 weeks are leisurely - very often take the last week off entirely (on top of holidays) - maybe you could try the same.
Keep going
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My motivational tip is when I get a new job, i take one months value of the job, and I spend it at the weekend. So if i get a job worth a tenner a month, i allow myself to blow that on whatever i like on the weekend. if i dont get any new work, then i have to be sensible. I find that really motivates me to keep goin and doin a good job, hoping for recommendations or new jobs
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The grass is always greener on the other side? You only get out of it what you put into it. I took 3 weeks off this
Last working month due to lack of motivation with the exception of commercial work. All the bills and money running out soon got me motivated to get out of the rut I was in and stop feeling sorry for myself as my customers rely on me and I depend on them to pay for my bills and social life. Self motivation is paramount to running a good self employed job.
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BILLS! yes thats pretty good motivation.
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being stuck in the house with Mrs. Boss - I don't need any motivation to get out there!!
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ITS A MATTER OF GETTING OUT THERE AND DOIN A GOOD JOB FOR THESE CUSTOMERS. AS MOTIVATION GOES YOU ARE YOUR OWN BOSS AT THE END OF THE DAY. POD HOW MANY CUSTOMERS DO YOU HAVE AND WAT IS IT YOU CHARGE THEM.