Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Craig downey on February 12, 2014, 06:22:42 pm
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Hi all,
I have never cleaned a window in my life, if I we to set up a wfp system what would it cost?
Also where do you buy your equipment ?
Thanks
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Hi Craig
really depends on a few things but i would say to get you up and going £1200 - £1500 if you diy things, people will say will cost no were near that but by the time youve got your r/o equipment, hose reel, hoses, water tank, fittings, poles you wont be far off those figures, plus what ever van you use.
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Got any customers ?
Darran
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Before you invest in all the equipment, why not try and offer to work for free for a local wc. It takes a lot of discipline, and persistence to build up a good business. You need to have an income while your round building, and you have to expect your work will be a bit scattered as compact work is like hens teeth these days ;D
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Thanks for reply, I am a gardener at the min, not got any customers, but have got. Good van.
Nothing wrong with my current business but I am fully booked with about 70-80 customers, I miss the challenges of getting new customers and building up the business, been reading through this forum and some of you guys seem to be doing well, and although weather is a problem, I have not worked since november and it drives me mad, save up all summer and then spend it in the winter, you never seem to build up your money
I'm always looking to my next venture, as thinking if space in the van allows could do both?
Very early days, and only just considering the option, was looking at getting into gutter vac, not sure how easy that is to build a customer base.
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How do you survive not working since November ?
👳👳👳🏃
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Dives me mad, I do have gritting contracts, but even that has been quite this year! I want a year round business!something I can get stuck into and not have to worry about the season coming to an end
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Dives me mad, I do have gritting contracts, but even that has been quite this year! I want a year round business!something I can get stuck into and not have to worry about the season coming to an end
You have got a big advantage of having existing customer base, and a few members on here mix the gardening, and window cleaning.
You could also offer gutter cleaning, and pressure washing too ;D
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That's what I was thinking, already started offering lawn treatments as well as gardening, if it all fits in the van what no do it all? Lol
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Any websites, or names of places you buy your equipment from? I live Widnes near Liverpool, so as local as possible
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Any websites, or names of places you buy your equipment from? I live Widnes near Liverpool, so as local as possible
the first thing you need to do is find out the tds reading of your water, and if i was you just keep a look out for some second hand equipment there's loads about, at least then if you don't like window cleaning or doesn't work out you haven't wasted much money. Or even to test the ground so to speak see if there is anywhere near you that sells pure water that way you only need a tank to carry the water a pump,hose reel & hose plus a pole. Could even go down the route of a second hand trolly system and 25lt containers.
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I agree with post above, to save space in the van a trolley would be good.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/35ltr-Water-Fed-Pole-Trolley-/130977359795?pt=UK_HomeGarden_CLV_Cleaning_CA&hash=item1e7edbe7b3
Buy a TDS meter
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/THE-BEST-TDS-METER-FOR-WATER-FED-POLE-WINDOW-CLEANING-/230740955693?pt=UK_HomeGarden_CLV_Cleaning_CA&hash=item35b93b922d
Best poles are sold www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk
If you need any advice just keep asking, they are a helpful bunch on here ;D
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That's great thanks very much
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Bloke across the road from me is a gardener and he does gardening work all year round.
In fact he was out today in the wind and rain.
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I have loads on the forum I use saying they work all year round, if they do tree work or Landscaping it's possible, but I do the grass cutting and hedges etc so not possible in the winter
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Hi Craig, I'm just down the road from you. I have a friend who has a local gardening business and was grass cutting until way into December with temperatures being so mild up here. Also he works all winter, mainly on garden clearances, a bit of pruning and some general ground maintenance. He doesn't do any landscaping. This type of work not an option for you?
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Do both to start with as you build up the window round but eventually just window cleaning as its more regular and more profitable. I used to do both but I'm 100% wfp now and glad I don't have to do any more garden work.
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Hi Craig, I'm just down the road from you. I have a friend who has a local gardening business and was grass cutting until way into December with temperatures being so mild up here. Also he works all winter, mainly on garden clearances, a bit of pruning and some general ground maintenance. He doesn't do any landscaping. This type of work not an option for you?
Give me a shout next December or January and your free to come out with me for a day and see how much work their is to do, by the the time I have done last cut, 1 more visit to give a final tidy up, trust me when I say there is no more work. There is only so many times you can prune a bush when it's not actually growing
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Do both to start with as you build up the window round but eventually just window cleaning as its more regular and more profitable. I used to do both but I'm 100% wfp now and glad I don't have to do any more garden work.
Might seriously look into this....
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Hi Craig, I'm just down the road from you. I have a friend who has a local gardening business and was grass cutting until way into December with temperatures being so mild up here. Also he works all winter, mainly on garden clearances, a bit of pruning and some general ground maintenance. He doesn't do any landscaping. This type of work not an option for you?
Give me a shout next December or January and your free to come out with me for a day and see how much work their is to do, by the the time I have done last cut, 1 more visit to give a final tidy up, trust me when I say there is no more work. There is only so many times you can prune a bush when it's not actually growing
Nah I'd rather not, January / February is a busy time of year for me. Good luck anyway.
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Craig, it's nice to have a few add ons to your work, but be careful not to become the obligatory "Jack of all trades, master of none"
You may start ignoring your better blue chip customers just to get this new work done, it's a fine balance.
Steve
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Hi Steve,
Apart from the cost, that's the main thing stopping me doing it, I'm actually not bad at keeping the garden tidy, I just want a business that I can make big, without going into details gardening is not that. But your right, I don't want to be the local jack doing painting and decorating as well haha