Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: colley614 on May 02, 2012, 08:32:53 pm
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Handed my notice in today. Now it's back to working for myself, I'm really looking for ward to it all.
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Is right Colley lad! Good luck mate
You goin in the richy?
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What's your plan Colley,i didn't realise you was working for someone else.
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I'm going to finish my job next Tuesday then have the rest of the week to just relax and unwind for a few days then kick off. I'm going to go down and see Richy next week and have a good talk to him, see if we see eye to eye on running a business. Hopefully it goes well with Richy and then I'll take it from there, but the way I'm seeing it is that it's his baby that he's built from scratch and I think the balls in his court on that one. If it doesn't work out with Richy I'll go it alone and start from scratch myself.
I've got some really good ideas in mind. Obviously the window cleaning as it's my specialty. I'm also a qualified kitchen extract and canopy cleaner so after I've got my round together I want to look into that and I'm probably going to get into the oven cleaning side of things there. I'm also thinking about carpet and hard floor cleaning as I've done quite a bit of that but I'm going to do the course first just to learn the tricks of the trade. I'm planning to run them as separate businesses and not as 'rainy day' add on services.
But all that's for the future for the next 12 months - 2 years I'm just thinking about windows, windows, windows. Then see where I'll go from there.
Never getting back on the hamster wheel ever again!
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Good luck to you ,your have been helpful to me ,I'm sure you would be an asset to anyone's business .......enjoy your few days off when they arrive.
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Thanks magic. I remember the first time I started up I was petrified but now I just feel a hunger knowing it's up to me go earn my wage. I love a life where there is no lid on the box and you can earn as much as you like as long as your willing to work hard.
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Go for it Colley ... keep a spreadsheet for your customers .... monthly & yearly totals, that way you can track your progress ... thats what i do each year.
You are no officially in the ranks of 'unemployable' .... i'd never go back to working for someone now ... have even been offered a marketing job because of my shorts but thats another story ;D
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I now feel like I belong on this forum again because I'm going to be a self employed window cleaner instead of someones monkey.
Whats funny though when I was self employed last time I got some of the best job offers I'll ever get. Most notably, a training firm near me offered me a job going round doing N.V.Q. Level 2 in cleaning support services (windows) with a good salary company car, phone and laptop. I said " Great, Ill be visiting my competition on site. So I'll be able to pop back once they've finished and undercut them!" which I said as a joke with no meaning and then the woman said " We'll be in touch!" ;D
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Good luck fella
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well I just thought I can't officially be classed as part of the forum again until I've purchased an slx and dumped one, gained two more! ;D
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im looking forward to hopefully working out a partnership with colley as i know what he brings to the table, not too fussed about my baby id rather see it flourish with two motivated individuals pushing it then me being down and ticking over, i think colley would bring out the best in me and kick my arse!!!
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im looking forward to hopefully working out a partnership with colley as i know what he brings to the table, not too fussed about my baby id rather see it flourish with two motivated individuals pushing it then me being down and ticking over, i think colley would bring out the best in me and kick my arse!!!
It might be what you both need. Personally, I prefer to work alone, but that's not right for everybody. I've seen more partnerships end badly that I've seen succeed (not just window cleaning), but it can work if the goals and how to attain them are set out clearly and ground rules are established early on (these can be tweaked later of course)..
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im looking forward to hopefully working out a partnership with colley as i know what he brings to the table, not too fussed about my baby id rather see it flourish with two motivated individuals pushing it then me being down and ticking over, i think colley would bring out the best in me and kick my arse!!!
It might be what you both need. Personally, I prefer to work alone, but that's not right for everybody. I've seen more partnerships end badly that I've seen succeed (not just window cleaning), but it can work if the goals and how to attain them are set out clearly and ground rules are established early on (these can be tweaked later of course)..
I totally agree with everything you say Paul. Two people can Presume they want the same thing because they both want to set up a successful company but in reality they could gauge success in completely different ways.
So I think setting down things like salaries early on is going to be most important and marketing strategies. For me the first year is not going to be about money, more about putting money into the company to generate growth.
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im looking forward to hopefully working out a partnership with colley as i know what he brings to the table, not too fussed about my baby id rather see it flourish with two motivated individuals pushing it then me being down and ticking over, i think colley would bring out the best in me and kick my arse!!!
It might be what you both need. Personally, I prefer to work alone, but that's not right for everybody. I've seen more partnerships end badly that I've seen succeed (not just window cleaning), but it can work if the goals and how to attain them are set out clearly and ground rules are established early on (these can be tweaked later of course)..
:-X
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i can see it all ending in tears!!
hopefully you guys will prove me wrong!! ;D ;D ;D ;D
best wishes
dazmond
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Handed my notice in today. Now it's back to working for myself, I'm really looking for ward to it all.
No more skiving now, Colley. Now you've gotta work for your money!
;D
(Just joking; I hope all goes well, mate.)
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well I just thought I can't officially be classed as part of the forum again until I've purchased an slx and dumped one, gained two more! ;D
And done a 3 bedroom semi in under 10 minutes.
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cant wait to watch this story unfold ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D :o :o :o :o
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cant wait to watch this story unfold ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D :o :o :o :o
Yeah, why's that?
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Jealousy,I certainly would love to work with someone else you could become very successful or fail if you don't try you never know!
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Personally I don't mind starting again from scratch but Richy has a fantastic set up. Two vans on the road, a good unit. In my opinion that's a brilliant base to start from but it's only worth getting on board with Richy if we're going to work hard at it. I want to set targets to hit and expand.
For me it's not a game it's real life. I wont be messing about I'll be putting my all into it and if it doesn't work out then I have no qualms about setting up on my own. I see this as a genuine opportunity to set up one of the biggest window cleaning companies in our area. Between us we have 3 vans, 3 water fed pole systems and to static systems. If that's not a good start I don't know what is!
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you could be the new dweight york and andy cole !! :-)
in all seriousness though fair play to you lads
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can see it working out myself
kieth seems to know what he wants
and it will shake our richy up
best of luck to you s ;)
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Gav,
Nice one pal. Funny how the guys who've never spoke to me or met me aren't so sure about the idea. But anyone who has spoke to me in the past seems to think I'll do well. I know from the first time I met Richy he has spoken highly of me so there must be something about me that comes across.
All I know is I'm hell bent on getting stuck in and I know that having the fear of failure will drive me on. Obviously I can't speak for Richy but I know he wants to get stuck in too.
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I will confirm as someone who has spoke to keith that he will do well and hopefully sort richie out and guide him in the right direction. Its whether richie takes well to having a partner....
Hope it works out for you mate....
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Thanks George.
You up for a chat some time next week if that's okay?
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keith richys a gr8 lad
iv loadsa time 4 him and have helped
him loads in the past we talked a bit
about the same as yr doing now
but i was just to busy to fully
commit i know richy as his doubters
but im sure with you on board
youl both get to where you s wanna be
n if all else fails richy as me on speed dial
to help you both lol ;) ;) ;)
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I think Richy is a top guy. I think people on here misunderstand him
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ive just lost my way in the last year and tried to look after people too much instead of thinking number one had too much going on in my life we'll turn it round i just need to get my focus back
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Anytime Keith....
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GD, are you taking work on?
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Not at the moment sorry paul, I have a list as long as my arm at moment. Working my way through it and will be taking more staff on asap to give me more coverage. Would always be the same deal even if sent a team out so will make it work asap....
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This is better than Eastenders, wonder who's gonna get the dum dum dum dum dum !!!
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This is better than Eastenders, wonder who's gonna get the dum dum dum dum dum !!!
Oh, what makes you say that?
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This is better than Eastenders, wonder who's gonna get the dum dum dum dum dum !!!
Oh, what makes you say that?
Probably me being stupid but just little things like Richy has put his staff first all last year, everyone has left. This year he's gonna think of number one! ;D Can't go on anymore you must sureley read here the same as me? And you're bringing a van and a WFP system to the table? Good luck . Don't get me wrong it could be great , i couldn;t care less i'm just passing general comment based on what i read. I don't know either of you. But if i had a business plan right now it would be to target Ellsmere Port, no one seems to know what they're doing !! Actually, hold that thought !!!
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mike what i meant was by putting staff first was keeping them all paid and working whilst i had to deal with the break ins etc when i shouldve layed them off for couple of weeks till things were straightened out but it wasnt there fault and being kind hearted guy found things for them to do, yet when i asked them to pull fingers out and go canvassing couple of nights a week to rebuild up to the numbers we required two of them scarpered on me
so yeah i will be putting me first before staff from now on if its work i can do myself staff will be taking day off etc
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my brother works in a partnership and i reckon he ll be a millionare in the next few years.he s got his head screwed on right though!not sure about richys!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
his business isnt window cleaning though!!! ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D
best wishes and i hope it works out well for you both.
regards
dazmond
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Colley,
What made you stop working for yourself and get a fulltime job last time?
Andy
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When I set up last time a lot about 80% of the work I was doing was subbed in from two different cleaning firms and when the recession kicked in one shut up shop and went back to selling second hand motors the other stopped subbing work out which put about 4 cleaning firms in trouble. 2 went bust within days. I had to either push on with 2 lads and myself or wrap it up. I tried to keep it going but when I started missing mortgage payments I decided I wanted to clear all my debts and then start again
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Plus my Wife was pregnant with my daughter and it was starting to cause her a lot of stress.
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When I set up last time a lot about 80% of the work I was doing was subbed in from two different cleaning firms and when the recession kicked in one shut up shop and went back to selling second hand motors the other stopped subbing work out which put about 4 cleaning firms in trouble. 2 went bust within days. I had to either push on with 2 lads and myself or wrap it up. I tried to keep it going but when I started missing mortgage payments I decided I wanted to clear all my debts and then start again
Plus my Wife was pregnant with my daughter and it was starting to cause her a lot of stress.
Fair play colley.
My advice would be to go it alone, build YOUR own business... In the long run YOU will reap the benefits.
However if you decide on the partnership with Ritchy then all the best to both of you :-)
Andy
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Don't get me wrong it's only been agreed in principle. Me and Richy still have a lot to sort out and talk through. This has not been set in stone and I would respect richies wishes if he said that I don't bring enough to the table or my ideas differ to much from his but I'm sure he has a lot of confidence in my ability.
To be honest after conversations with quite a few members from this forum a lot have said that they would love me to work for them. After I've thanked them for the offer a few have come back to me and said things along the lines of well let's do something together. This has really got me thinking and I decided to give richy a call and start talking about it.
Don't get me wrong this decission wasn't something that was made over night we have spent quite a lot of time talking over the phone and in person. I know that it can be a bad idea going partners but I intent for both of us to come out of this with a lot more than we put in