Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: cleaning4usussex on September 13, 2011, 08:35:12 pm

Title: starting up?????
Post by: cleaning4usussex on September 13, 2011, 08:35:12 pm
hi everyone
thinking of starting up wfp window cleaning how much would it cost for a half decent set up with poles,tank and purifacation system 
Title: Re: starting up?????
Post by: Pope vader on September 13, 2011, 08:38:12 pm
what part of the country r u in
Title: Re: starting up?????
Post by: cleaning4usussex on September 13, 2011, 08:57:31 pm
east sussex
Title: Re: starting up?????
Post by: colin purewater on September 13, 2011, 09:20:00 pm
try the window cleaning warehouse mate, google it
even the diy kit looks good and im told it is, for starters think its about £650 ish 250L tank
and you need a small van ofcourse and a 27 ft pole (clx 27 from gardiners with bush about £250 but worth payin out for) will do almost evry thing domestic

good look mate keep us posted

many thanks


colin


Title: Re: starting up?????
Post by: cleaning4usussex on September 13, 2011, 10:09:28 pm
Thanks Colin I will have a look
Title: Re: starting up?????
Post by: g newton on September 15, 2011, 08:25:43 pm
stick a few wants on the used equipment section itll save you about half of what you would pay new also try fleabay loads on there all the time
dont rush in to buying poope
Title: Re: starting up?????
Post by: james51174 on September 15, 2011, 09:42:21 pm
do you already have a traditional round?

if not...id buy a round before forking out on a wfp set up

there are so many who do, and then sell up as there isnt enough work to sustain a living...esp in sussex....over the years ive seen ten times the window cleaners there used to be....and even then there were a boat load :)
Title: Re: starting up?????
Post by: KS Cleaning on September 15, 2011, 10:06:58 pm
Is it really any wonder there is a big increase in the amount of window cleaners, when there is so much bragging goes on about hourly rates,lots of people thinking mmm I will have a piece of that.
Title: Re: starting up?????
Post by: CLEANCARE WC on September 15, 2011, 10:50:08 pm
Is it really any wonder there is a big increase in the amount of window cleaners, when there is so much bragging goes on about hourly rates,lots of people thinking mmm I will have a piece of that.

I have been saying that for ages too mate.
Title: Re: starting up?????
Post by: Kwackers on September 16, 2011, 12:26:19 am
This is a window cleaning forum though, no need to blast his post just cause he wants to start up. Everyone has their reasons for starting and they are probably no better than yours were.
Title: Re: starting up?????
Post by: KS Cleaning on September 16, 2011, 02:09:12 pm
Maybe I should have qouted James 51174s post, as this is the one I was replying to,he mentions there are "ten times the amount of window cleaners there used to be"in his area.
Title: Re: starting up?????
Post by: Andy Prittchard on September 16, 2011, 02:22:36 pm
hi everyone
thinking of starting up wfp window cleaning how much would it cost for a half decent set up with poles,tank and purifacation system 


Try Brodex mate - you won't go far wrong there.

£10 please...
Title: Re: starting up?????
Post by: james51174 on September 16, 2011, 07:23:03 pm
Is it really any wonder there is a big increase in the amount of window cleaners, when there is so much bragging goes on about hourly rates,lots of people thinking mmm I will have a piece of that.

i make a ppoint of keeping my prices to myself

had a guy tell me he has 3 wfp vans go out and each..yes EACH van aparently averages £4-500 per day!!!!!

yest i see his prices on flyers and it doesnt add up lol
Title: Re: starting up?????
Post by: cozy on September 16, 2011, 07:43:13 pm
Is it really any wonder there is a big increase in the amount of window cleaners, when there is so much bragging goes on about hourly rates,lots of people thinking mmm I will have a piece of that.

i make a ppoint of keeping my prices to myself

had a guy tell me he has 3 wfp vans go out and each..yes EACH van aparently averages £4-500 per day!!!!!

yest i see his prices on flyers and it doesnt add up lol

Yeah, wouldn't get out the bath for a wee for that!! 1250 quid a day per van mate. Easy money.

This forum is full of tax inspectors and guys looking for a better way to earn money. One or two window cleaners use CIU too.  ;D

cleaning4usussex Good luck mate. Loads of room for new people in this malarky  ;)
Title: Re: starting up?????
Post by: cleaning4usussex on September 16, 2011, 08:47:46 pm
thanks for the comments :)
Title: Re: starting up?????
Post by: g newton on September 17, 2011, 10:27:21 am
Don't bother buying a purification system right away buy water from someone local to you until you start building up your round and have cash coming in trad all the bottoms it'll save on the amount of pure water needed
Title: Re: starting up?????
Post by: Dave Mills on September 17, 2011, 09:46:56 pm
hi everyone
thinking of starting up wfp window cleaning how much would it cost for a half decent set up with poles,tank and purifacation system 


Buy secondhand kit; it'll save you a bundle.

As regards the posts about too many window cleaners - utter tripe.  Our phone never stops ringing with people telling us they have been let down by their old windy.  Lots of dunderheads out there losing customers for you to pick up.  Don't go too cheap.  When they call they will be looking for quality of service, not low price.
Title: Re: starting up?????
Post by: james51174 on September 17, 2011, 09:53:28 pm
thats a bit rude dave...if you dissgree with me, there are far more polite ways to comment

i was giving my honest opinion

especially as when we were established in 1973...there were no more than a douzen window cleaners around

we have seen the work diluted ten fold....maybe even double that over the years

i have seen countless guys buying van set ups, only to suffer and pack it all in due to lack of work

all we have is a dissagreements buddy...i am not missleading, or speaking tripe as you so graciously put it...i have been in this business far too long to not know how things work where i live...i was trying to give constructive and helpful advise :)
Title: Re: starting up?????
Post by: CLEANCARE WC on September 17, 2011, 09:54:35 pm
hi everyone
thinking of starting up wfp window cleaning how much would it cost for a half decent set up with poles,tank and purifacation system 


Buy secondhand kit; it'll save you a bundle.

As regards the posts about too many window cleaners - utter tripe.  Our phone never stops ringing with people telling us they have been let down by their old windy.  Lots of dunderheads out there losing customers for you to pick up.  Don't go too cheap.  When they call they will be looking for  quality of service, not low price.

well i was one of the posters about people talking too much about money and i stand by it, but thats very true what youve said there.
Title: Re: starting up?????
Post by: james51174 on September 18, 2011, 03:06:42 pm
firstly my friend, i would never say something like that to you...wether you were upset by it or not...i try to not say such things to anyone...i like to be friendly...secondly, im not getting hissy...i was respectfully saying that you were rude to me, and can get over the same point in a far more diplomatic way, which helps healthy debate...and not slinging deratory remarks

....the OP is starting up in sussex......not leeds....so i can advise quite a bit about the work situation round here...i dont know what its like in leeds...so i wouldnt ever comment.


as far as i can see....and from what both new, and existing customers confirm....there is a high demand for low price work around the particular area of sussex that we cover

the problem is three fold

either the contractor has to work fast and sloppy to make it pay.....or he/she packs in, as they cant earn enough to cover the bills

the third problem is one that grates on me...there are guys working for £4= a house round my way....i cant compete with this purely because i pay tax, VAT, public liability & personal accident/life insurance...add that to the cost of running several vans and it wont add up....now i can get a job in macdonalds and earn more than that, with 4 weeks holiday and sick pay included!!!!

these window cleaners are most probably signing on and dont pay any of the above...either that or they have another job...so window cleaning is cah, non taxed pocket money

yes there is a demand for these services....but the customer soon realises that its money wasted!!!

the problem is...once they get used to paying that...they wont pay much more

ever heard prospective customers in 5 bed houses saying "oh...that much? my last window cleaner charged me£10="?

we are losing work to these types every week...the work rarely comes back and it sickens me

Title: Re: starting up?????
Post by: Dave Mills on September 18, 2011, 07:22:21 pm
firstly my friend, i would never say something like that to you...wether you were upset by it or not...i try to not say such things to anyone...i like to be friendly...secondly, im not getting hissy...i was respectfully saying that you were rude to me, and can get over the same point in a far more diplomatic way, which helps healthy debate...and not slinging deratory remarks

....the OP is starting up in sussex......not leeds....so i can advise quite a bit about the work situation round here...i dont know what its like in leeds...so i wouldnt ever comment.


as far as i can see....and from what both new, and existing customers confirm....there is a high demand for low price work around the particular area of sussex that we cover

the problem is three fold

either the contractor has to work fast and sloppy to make it pay.....or he/she packs in, as they cant earn enough to cover the bills

the third problem is one that grates on me...there are guys working for £4= a house round my way....i cant compete with this purely because i pay tax, VAT, public liability & personal accident/life insurance...add that to the cost of running several vans and it wont add up....now i can get a job in macdonalds and earn more than that, with 4 weeks holiday and sick pay included!!!!

these window cleaners are most probably signing on and dont pay any of the above...either that or they have another job...so window cleaning is cah, non taxed pocket money

yes there is a demand for these services....but the customer soon realises that its money wasted!!!

the problem is...once they get used to paying that...they wont pay much more

ever heard prospective customers in 5 bed houses saying "oh...that much? my last window cleaner charged me£10="?

we are losing work to these types every week...the work rarely comes back and it sickens me



Oh Gawd, another cleaner complaining about losing customers because their competition is too cheap.  My heart bleeds.  I compete against people charging £3 for a terrace.  I charge a minimum £12 for the same and I have work coming out of my ears and a phone ringing itself off the hook.  I have lost half a dozen customers in the past year.  Whether you like me or not is irrelevant.  Those are facts.

So, we have a situation where Im charging 4x my competition and Im not losing customers.  Thats why I consider the number of competitors as irrelevant and why I accused you of talking tripe.

If you cant react to competition sell up and get another job.  

And stop whining about my calling it "tripe".  Its just a word.
Title: Re: starting up?????
Post by: james51174 on September 18, 2011, 07:35:19 pm
ok...ill sell up :)

nice one

glad you earn £12= minimum by the way

again...nice one (thumbs up :) )
Title: Re: starting up?????
Post by: cleaning4usussex on September 19, 2011, 08:13:19 am
Have I started a big argument!!!