Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Boxerclean on May 20, 2014, 05:07:03 pm

Title: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Boxerclean on May 20, 2014, 05:07:03 pm
How long would it roughly take to build a window cleaning round up so you earn £4,000 PROFIT every 4x weeks?


Thank you

Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: J.D on May 20, 2014, 05:08:59 pm
Thats a million dollar question! So many factors, where you live, how many other window cleaners are in your area, whats your budget, how hard working you are, how many hours you work etc etc etc.......
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: H20cleaning on May 20, 2014, 05:17:06 pm
People will be more willing to help you if You introduced yourself and explained what you currently do, and a little bit about yourself.
How much money you have to spend etc.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: bobplum on May 20, 2014, 05:21:38 pm
People will be more willing to help you if You introduced yourself and explained what you currently do, and a little bit about yourself.
How much money you have to spend etc.


+1
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Jonny 87 on May 20, 2014, 05:23:21 pm
How long is a piece of string?
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Jonny 87 on May 20, 2014, 05:25:11 pm
Never.

Don't go into window cleaning.

It's all work, no play. You struggle on and work 6/7 day weeks just to get by.

Better to get into employment and get holiday pay and sick pay.

Ask soupy, he will tell you the same.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Paul Coleman on May 20, 2014, 05:53:20 pm
Is that before or after dole money?
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: PoleKing on May 20, 2014, 05:55:38 pm
How long would it roughly take to build a window cleaning round up so you earn £4,000 PROFIT every 4x weeks?


Thank you



Can't be done.
Don't believe the hype of the willy wavers.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Mick Kent on May 20, 2014, 05:57:43 pm
£4000 every 4 weeks is only 400 fronts at £10 each or 300 full houses at £15 each.
Easily done if you put your mind to it and not take on poor paying work and messers which sadly is the hard part about building up which is getting rid of work thats easy but bad payers and messers.
6-12 months of good old canvassing in decent areas and you wont be too far away from your target, you may end up smashing it and gain nearer £6000 every 4 weeks.
Only hard work and focus will make it happen.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: C o z y on May 20, 2014, 05:59:13 pm
Varies. Depends on what I manage to rob from customers gardens, or in the worst case, what I get for the cans and bottles I collect from the gardens. The best way to get the most from window cleaning, is to get customers with expensive bikes or such things. Also, garden sheds usually have something worth robbing in them.

Hope that helps.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: stuart mc on May 20, 2014, 06:03:21 pm
I never managed it and tried for 6 years or so
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Don Kee on May 20, 2014, 06:04:24 pm
Varies. Depends on what I manage to rob from customers gardens, or in the worst case, what I get for the cans and bottles I collect from the gardens. The best way to get the most from window cleaning, is to get customers with expensive bikes or such things. Also, garden sheds usually have something worth robbing in them.

Hope that helps.

 +1  although you missed out taking advantage of slightly ajar windows....
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Tom White on May 20, 2014, 06:07:17 pm
How long would it roughly take to build a window cleaning round up so you earn £4,000 PROFIT every 4x weeks?


Thank you



Three months.

hth
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: alfie11 on May 20, 2014, 06:07:39 pm
Do it easy 5-6 weeks  advertise on http://www.groupon.co.uk/ (http://www.groupon.co.uk/)


Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: C o z y on May 20, 2014, 06:34:01 pm
Do it easy 5-6 weeks  advertise on http://www.groupon.co.uk/ (http://www.groupon.co.uk/)




 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: ♠Winp®oClean♠ on May 20, 2014, 06:49:39 pm
Get Richy in, you can't fail!! 8)
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Dave Willis on May 20, 2014, 06:57:13 pm
Daz earns 4k a month but he only works one week out of four.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: 8weekly on May 20, 2014, 07:11:41 pm
I'd have thought £45 a year would be achievable in Middlesbrough.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: ben M on May 20, 2014, 07:31:34 pm
Varies. Depends on what I manage to rob from customers gardens, or in the worst case, what I get for the cans and bottles I collect from the gardens. The best way to get the most from window cleaning, is to get customers with expensive bikes or such things. Also, garden sheds usually have something worth robbing in them.

Hope that helps.
;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: H20cleaning on May 20, 2014, 07:32:10 pm
My name is Richard but you can all call me Rich, I have been window cleaning since March. I use a reach and wash system and would like to earn £1,000 a week profit. I want to work monday to friday only, 5 full days of work would be ideal for me. If anybody has work to give me in Middlesbrough then please give me a shout.

Thank u

Rich
Impossible to make £1000 a week profit.
Its hard enough turning over £1000 a week on your own up north, then not to forget weather and other little hiccups.
Im from stockton on tees and have been water fed poling for 4 years and still far from £1000 a week.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: ben M on May 20, 2014, 07:33:34 pm
Daz earns 4k a month but he only works one week out of four.
;D easy with an xtreme 25 and xtreme  47  ;D
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: ben M on May 20, 2014, 07:34:58 pm
My name is Richard but you can all call me Rich, I have been window cleaning since March. I use a reach and wash system and would like to earn £1,000 a week profit. I want to work monday to friday only, 5 full days of work would be ideal for me. If anybody has work to give me in Middlesbrough then please give me a shout.

Thank u

Rich
Can we call you Richie? ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Spruce on May 20, 2014, 07:39:39 pm
£4000 every 4 weeks is only 400 fronts at £10 each or 300 full houses at £15 each.
Easily done if you put your mind to it and not take on poor paying work and messers which sadly is the hard part about building up which is getting rid of work thats easy but bad payers and messers.
6-12 months of good old canvassing in decent areas and you wont be too far away from your target, you may end up smashing it and gain nearer £6000 every 4 weeks.
Only hard work and focus will make it happen.


You won't get those prices in Middlesbrough unfortunately. I wish we could.

Remember, Richie is asking about profit which is different to turnover. In our case running costs equate to around 40% of our turnover, so to earn £1000 a week profit we would need to turn over £1675 per week and we haven't taken wages/earnings into consideration.

You need to look for a job on the rigs.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Jack Harris on May 20, 2014, 07:42:52 pm
give me work lol get off your ass and find it!
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: H20cleaning on May 20, 2014, 07:47:02 pm
I dont even do "just fronts" i just have a minimum charge of £8.00 and thats only if i have already stopped the van to do other jobs, i price everything at over £10.00+

This makes picking up work slower but better in the long run
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: J.D on May 20, 2014, 07:51:26 pm
Im the same H2O. It makes for a better & more profitable business in the long run...
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: supernova77 on May 20, 2014, 07:55:13 pm
Quote
Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks

 :o

Surely you mean £4000 every 4 months not weeks  ???
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: J.D on May 20, 2014, 07:56:27 pm
£1000 per week is absolutely achievable , no question.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: robbo333 on May 20, 2014, 08:13:26 pm
My name is Richard but you can all call me Rich, I have been window cleaning since March. I use a reach and wash system and would like to earn £1,000 a week profit. I want to work monday to friday only, 5 full days of work would be ideal for me. If anybody has work to give me in Middlesbrough then please give me a shout.

Thank u

Rich


How much work have you got since March? That'll give you an idea of how long it will take.  ;D
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Ashley Brothwood on May 20, 2014, 08:18:47 pm
£1000 a week would be £52,000 a year profit, by the time you've added in expences you'll be over the vat threshold and be charging vat. If you wanted to grow it fast you couldn't be much more expensive that the competition so you'll have to swallow the vat in the average charge round your area.

You'll probably have to turn over £100k - £20k vat, £30k expenses / wages, £50k profit.
Say your average area is £10-£15 per household that would be

£8,000 4weekly turnover / £10 ave would be 800 customers cleaning every 4weeks

Or

£8000 4weekly turnover / £15 ave would be 533 customers cleaning every 4weeks


It could be possible just need hard work and determination.

(Don't hold me to any figures just quickly worked out)
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Dave Willis on May 20, 2014, 08:28:57 pm
£30,000 expenses  :o
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Ashley Brothwood on May 20, 2014, 08:33:46 pm
I thought doing doing possibly 40 houses a day he'll probably want someone to help him. Even paying someone £50 a day would be £13000 a year. Add in van, water, equipment, accountant, advertising and anything else would be be far off £30k
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: H20cleaning on May 20, 2014, 08:35:50 pm
I know £1000 a week is achievable but like i said with weather and often little problems with vans and batterys its never going to be £1000 every week
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Ashley Brothwood on May 20, 2014, 08:40:15 pm
Ye it's same with everything on paper 100 customers at £10 is £1000 but reality is one or two try to "leave it till next week" a few bad payers / on stop if bill is getting high, general brake downs, bad weather any other problems
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: rosskesava on May 20, 2014, 08:45:12 pm
I thought doing doing possibly 40 houses a day he'll probably want someone to help him. Even paying someone £50 a day would be £13000 a year. Add in van, water, equipment, accountant, advertising and anything else would be be far off £30k

Here we go again.

A house every 12 minutes including travelling time to the job, setting up, doing the job and putting the stuff away?

Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Susan Dean (1stclean) on May 20, 2014, 08:48:18 pm
£4000 every 4 weeks is only 400 fronts at £10 each or 300 full houses at £15 each.
Easily done if you put your mind to it and not take on poor paying work and messers which sadly is the hard part about building up which is getting rid of work thats easy but bad payers and messers.
6-12 months of good old canvassing in decent areas and you wont be too far away from your target, you may end up smashing it and gain nearer £6000 every 4 weeks.
Only hard work and focus will make it happen.


not where hes from mick there doing fronts for 1.50, and full houses 3.50  :o
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: PoleKing on May 20, 2014, 08:53:42 pm
I thought doing doing possibly 40 houses a day he'll probably want someone to help him. Even paying someone £50 a day would be £13000 a year. Add in van, water, equipment, accountant, advertising and anything else would be be far off £30k

Here we go again.

A house every 12 minutes including travelling time to the job, setting up, doing the job and putting the stuff away?



Its just cause you're slow Ross.
If i've not done 40 houses before lunch i give myself a good flagellating and crack on for the afternoon.
Don't come home until the 100 houses have been cleaned. Its tough in winter but in summer, when I can easily do 200 or 300 houses a day it balances out. I work 7 days a week and have a minimum charge of £1. (no-one's gonna mug me off for 50p houses)
That said, i don't do fronts only. 'cause you can't use the ha'penny anymore
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: one eyed window cleaning on May 20, 2014, 08:59:37 pm
£1000 a week every week one man ? Can i look at your books LOL?
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Don Kee on May 20, 2014, 08:59:44 pm
I thought doing doing possibly 40 houses a day he'll probably want someone to help him. Even paying someone £50 a day would be £13000 a year. Add in van, water, equipment, accountant, advertising and anything else would be be far off £30k

Here we go again.

A house every 12 minutes including travelling time to the job, setting up, doing the job and putting the stuff away?



He might be using an extreme though mate?
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Ashley Brothwood on May 20, 2014, 09:13:44 pm
Ye that's what I was saying, 40 houses a day would be hard going on your own. So to be able to get up to that he'll probably want help costing more money
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Frankybadboy on May 20, 2014, 09:32:33 pm
if you cant do a grand a week then something wrong  :o
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: robbo333 on May 20, 2014, 09:39:15 pm
How long would it roughly take to build a window cleaning round up so you earn £4,000 PROFIT every 4x weeks?


Thank you




42 weeks.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: ben M on May 20, 2014, 09:45:15 pm
Why do you need £4000 every 4 weeks anyway? ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: SherwoodCleaningSe on May 20, 2014, 10:11:14 pm
Are you prepared to work in heavy rain and also do 40+ hours a week canvassing? If the answer is yes then it might be possible if you keep running costs to a minimum, however if no then you don't really stand a chance.

As for time to build the round, it depends how well you market yourself and how good you are. If your not good with people or good at cleaning windows then you might be loosing customers as fast as you pick them up. There's too many variables to give an answer.

Simon.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: capn sparkle on May 20, 2014, 10:18:47 pm
£1000 a week would be £52,000 a year profit, by the time you've added in expences you'll be over the vat threshold and be charging vat. If you wanted to grow it fast you couldn't be much more expensive that the competition so you'll have to swallow the vat in the average charge round your area.

You'll probably have to turn over £100k - £20k vat, £30k expenses / wages, £50k profit.
Say your average area is £10-£15 per household that would be

£8,000 4weekly turnover / £10 ave would be 800 customers cleaning every 4weeks

Or

£8000 4weekly turnover / £15 ave would be 533 customers cleaning every 4weeks


It could be possible just need hard work and determination.

(Don't hold me to any figures just quickly worked out)

Seems possible if you miss out the frames n sills on each window - Oh!! and the glass.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: KS Cleaning on May 20, 2014, 10:45:06 pm
Ye that's what I was saying, 40 houses a day would be hard going on your own. So to be able to get up to that he'll probably want help costing more money
Yep that's how I read it ;). Some folk on here just think they are clever and like to try n take the pee all the time.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Sean Dyer on May 20, 2014, 10:51:20 pm
To profit a grand a week
On your own probably impossible .
Although turnover 1k a week alone is do able but again is not the norm

You will need staff for what you want and will definitely have to go vat registered as you will push the limit


I don't know what point your business is at now ? Whether you have a strong customer base to build on or if you are a new starter

In each situation the amount of work you will need to put In will be vastly different

But either way it will take a lot of determination hard work and professionalism
I imagine the average for window cleaners is £500 a week some more some less

Mathematically you can earn a lot and most of us will have hours or days where your earnings are way higher than your average . It's making these days the norm and not just the exception that helps get close to maximising your earnings.

Most just get complacent and keep doing the work they have as it's easier than finding or buying more .
I have recently dropped all the stuff that holds me back and I'm canvassing to replace it with better now .

I don't know if you particularly have to have 1k a week for personal reasons or it just popped In your head but if you do the sums you can reasonably turnover a fair amount under vat limit with a helper full time and after tax and expenses not be a million miles off your target .

Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: simon w on May 20, 2014, 11:14:33 pm
My name is Richard but you can all call me Rich, I have been window cleaning since March. I use a reach and wash system and would like to earn £1,000 a week profit. I want to work monday to friday only, 5 full days of work would be ideal for me. If anybody has work to give me in Middlesbrough then please give me a shout.

Thank u

Rich
Impossible to make £1000 a week profit.
Its hard enough turning over £1000 a week on your own up north, then not to forget weather and other little hiccups.
Im from stockton on tees and have been water fed poling for 4 years and still far from £1000 a week.

Are Stream still trading in Stockton On Tee's, Fishburn?can't remember  the business owners name, but his daughter in law was a real hottie and a dead ringer for Billie Piper, used to drive a Mini Cooper and wear very short mini Skirts   :P
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: H20cleaning on May 20, 2014, 11:49:51 pm
My name is Richard but you can all call me Rich, I have been window cleaning since March. I use a reach and wash system and would like to earn £1,000 a week profit. I want to work monday to friday only, 5 full days of work would be ideal for me. If anybody has work to give me in Middlesbrough then please give me a shout.

Thank u

Rich
Impossible to make £1000 a week profit.
Its hard enough turning over £1000 a week on your own up north, then not to forget weather and other little hiccups.
Im from stockton on tees and have been water fed poling for 4 years and still far from £1000 a week.

Are Stream still trading in Stockton On Tee's, Fishburn?can't remember  the business owners name, but his daughter in law was a real hottie and a dead ringer for Billie Piper, used to drive a Mini Cooper and wear very short mini Skirts   :P

Is this a serious question or a joke i dont understand  ???
If its serious im not sure i live about 15minutes from fishburn but never go there
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Window Lickers on May 21, 2014, 06:22:56 am
£30,000 expenses  :o

Lol

And £10 average.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: koopmaster on May 21, 2014, 08:09:26 am
4K a month is achievable but it will take you between 2 and 5 years.  You cant do it alone, (unless you work flat out and charge loads, and then its hard to keep regulars if you charge to much)

you would need to have either several vans and\or employees.

A more realistic goal would be to aim for £800 a week before tax which can take between a year and 2 and go from there. 

Set realistic goals in steps and sooner than you know your hitting your targets and setting all new ones. 

The first year is the hardest and that's for every business not just ours. 

Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: ascjim on May 21, 2014, 05:19:27 pm
1-25 years
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: harunh on May 21, 2014, 05:46:18 pm
Whats your business name Rich? What areas do u cover? Am local to you and may have a few jobs in areas that i dont cover

A grand a week profit is a lot of money :P but u can achievee that within 2 years....but thats only if u work hard at it and are very determined. U gotta go out ther and look for work cos work will not come to u

Also i cant see u doing a grand profit per week by yaself, u will need 2 go with a 2 man setup if u want to earn that much.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: PoleKing on May 21, 2014, 09:42:31 pm
Thanks for all the input guys. I have been on window cleaning coach website and i have learnt a lot from that 1 website.

At the moment i have picked up 18 customers since march I have enjoyed myself dropping leaflets and am doing door knocking tomorrow in stokesley

On those figures, £10 average house:
You're looking at about five and a half years.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Frankybadboy on May 21, 2014, 09:50:53 pm
or you could sell up your whole round,and run a  corner shop and have a few people over  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: colin bird on May 22, 2014, 05:52:45 am
Varies. Depends on what I manage to rob from customers gardens, or in the worst case, what I get for the cans and bottles I collect from the gardens. The best way to get the most from window cleaning, is to get customers with expensive bikes or such things. Also, garden sheds usually have something worth robbing in them.

Hope that helps.
.   Made me laugh
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: colin bird on May 22, 2014, 06:09:25 am
Thanks for all the input guys. I have been on window cleaning coach website and i have learnt a lot from that 1 website.

At the moment i have picked up 18 customers since march :-( I have enjoyed myself dropping leaflets and will be doing some door knocking tomorrow.


.   18 since march ,that's not good mate,you need to be more committed and motivated to your business. I think you may be setting your sights a bit high wanting a grand a week.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: colley614 on May 22, 2014, 02:38:26 pm
18 customers since March, is this all through leaflets?

I would suggest ordering 20,000 from ebay. You can get these for about £250 I think and set yourself the task of delivering 1000 a day for a month. At an educated guess, I'd say you would get about 80 customers out of this. At approximately £10 a house. There's £800 a month give or take.

This is only a guess going from the 0.4-.5% success rate I got from my leaflets. But if you did manage to do that 4-5 times then you'd hit your target. However! That's just a theory, in practise. You have to find a way of delivering 100,000 leaflets whilst doing all the first cleans, rainy days, flat tyres, locked gates, dog muck, washing lines......the 'one off brigade'......
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: dave0123 on May 22, 2014, 07:57:57 pm
Quote
18 customers since March, is this all through leaflets?

I would suggest ordering 20,000 from ebay. You can get these for about £250 I think and set yourself the task of delivering 1000 a day for a month. At an educated guess, I'd say you would get about 80 customers out of this. At approximately £10 a house. There's £800 a month give or take.

This is only a guess going from the 0.4-.5% success rate I got from my leaflets. But if you did manage to do that 4-5 times then you'd hit your target. However! That's just a theory, in practise. You have to find a way of delivering 100,000 leaflets whilst doing all the first cleans, rainy days, flat tyres, locked gates, dog muck, washing lines......the 'one off brigade'.....

You back cleaning windows keith? thought you had given it up
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: 8weekly on May 22, 2014, 08:12:54 pm
18 customers since March, is this all through leaflets?

I would suggest ordering 20,000 from ebay. You can get these for about £250 I think and set yourself the task of delivering 1000 a day for a month. At an educated guess, I'd say you would get about 80 customers out of this. At approximately £10 a house. There's £800 a month give or take.

This is only a guess going from the 0.4-.5% success rate I got from my leaflets. But if you did manage to do that 4-5 times then you'd hit your target. However! That's just a theory, in practise. You have to find a way of delivering 100,000 leaflets whilst doing all the first cleans, rainy days, flat tyres, locked gates, dog muck, washing lines......the 'one off brigade'......
He would have to deliver 7-10 hours a day. No one could do that. It's hopeless. Best to give up now.  ;D
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: colley614 on May 22, 2014, 08:15:59 pm
No I'm not mate, I gave up last spring. My head gasket went on my van and when I come to get it done the was an electrical fault on the van. Was gonna cost a fortune to get the van back on the road. I've still got my system in bits round the house/shed. I just felt it was the wrong time to get going with all the new windies out trying to build rounds. So I decided to go to uni.

How's business bud?
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Jonny 87 on May 22, 2014, 08:20:06 pm
No I'm not mate, I gave up last spring. My head gasket went on my van and when I come to get it done the was an electrical fault on the van. Was gonna cost a fortune to get the van back on the road. I've still got my system in bits round the house/shed. I just felt it was the wrong time to get going with all the new windies out trying to build rounds. So I decided to go to uni.

How's business bud?

That's dedication.

Not even a window cleaner, and your still on the forums. :)
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: dazmond on May 22, 2014, 08:27:19 pm
No I'm not mate, I gave up last spring. My head gasket went on my van and when I come to get it done the was an electrical fault on the van. Was gonna cost a fortune to get the van back on the road. I've still got my system in bits round the house/shed. I just felt it was the wrong time to get going with all the new windies out trying to build rounds. So I decided to go to uni.

How's business bud?

there is never a wrong time to build a window cleaning business.when i started back in 1993 there was a recession  and i got my first 3 customers while out canvassing (who i still clean for today!)in early january AND IT WAS SNOWING!!i was well happy and now clean 90+ on this estate! ;)

depends how driven you are and how much you want it.loads of friends and family said i was making a big mistake trying to build a business in a recession.i never listened to any of em!!

bad luck about the van mate. ::)roll

best wishes


dazmond
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: colley614 on May 22, 2014, 08:27:56 pm
No I'm not mate, I gave up last spring. My head gasket went on my van and when I come to get it done the was an electrical fault on the van. Was gonna cost a fortune to get the van back on the road. I've still got my system in bits round the house/shed. I just felt it was the wrong time to get going with all the new windies out trying to build rounds. So I decided to go to uni.

How's business bud?

That's dedication.

Not even a window cleaner, and your still on the forums. :)

I know mate, to be honest I've finished uni for summer so I thought I'd come on here and see how the local lads were doing. Obviously Richy wilts isn't having much fun atm
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: colley614 on May 22, 2014, 08:41:46 pm
No I'm not mate, I gave up last spring. My head gasket went on my van and when I come to get it done the was an electrical fault on the van. Was gonna cost a fortune to get the van back on the road. I've still got my system in bits round the house/shed. I just felt it was the wrong time to get going with all the new windies out trying to build rounds. So I decided to go to uni.

How's business bud?

there is never a wrong time to build a window cleaning business.when i started back in 1993 there was a recession  and i got my first 3 customers while out canvassing (who i still clean for today!)in early january AND IT WAS SNOWING!!i was well happy and now clean 90+ on this estate! ;)

depends how driven you are and how much you want it.loads of friends and family said i was making a big mistake trying to build a business in a recession.i never listened to any of em!!

bad luck about the van mate. ::)roll

best wishes


dazmond

Good shout Daz. To be honest I wasn't that motivated as I'd left a demanding job and felt burnt out.

Don't get me wrong either. I believe we make our own luck and I could have easily have built enough work up to pay for the van. However I never and so, when machanical faults set in I just didn't have the spare cash to get the van back on the road. I've always believed its about mindset, those who say they can do and those who say they can't don't. I constantly felt I could have pushed it a lot more and didn't so it's my own fault but I constantly felt that I wanted some time away from windows as self employment is hard work and working for commercial cleaning firms has been constant stress for me so I decided to do something else.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: dazmond on May 22, 2014, 09:07:43 pm
fair play mate.the hardest part is getting good solid customers in the first place.

good luck whatever you decide to do colley. :)
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: colley614 on May 22, 2014, 10:00:35 pm
Thanks buddy
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: dave0123 on May 22, 2014, 10:38:09 pm
business is ok mate but i don't do as much these days i can't be bothered with it, i don't really enjoy it anymore fed up of cleaning windows to be honest.

but you are right there's loads new window cleaners round here now see loads and loads every day!!
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: colley614 on May 22, 2014, 10:57:54 pm
Do you work alone Dave?
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: johnny bravo on May 22, 2014, 10:58:56 pm
go get all this work, when the weather turns in sept.     we will all be queing up to buy it off you.
you will be well behind.
great in the summer months,    autumn and winter , not so good.your £1000 will end up being £300 a week,   and lads wanting wage to keep with you, and vans to run.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: dave0123 on May 22, 2014, 11:00:01 pm
Quote
Do you work alone Dave?

I do yes, i have had lads working with me in the past though.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: colley614 on May 22, 2014, 11:15:55 pm
Quote
Do you work alone Dave?

I do yes, i have had lads working with me in the past though.

I've always hated working alone for weeks on end. I've found myself being most productive when young lads have worked for me. However, I've had my fair share of idiots and lazy b@stardos. I lost the best worker I had when a commercial contractor went in house on me.

I was going to suggest trying to take a young lad on but you already have.

I
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Joey Eastwood on May 23, 2014, 09:22:26 pm
£1000 a week alone is alot. I do 2 £150 days 9 till 4 and two £100 days 10 till 3 and have a day off, 5days a week window cleaning is knackering I worked for a company a few years ago doing £200 a day for £90 5 days a week basically 8 till 5 and I slept all weekend, never again
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Joey Eastwood on May 23, 2014, 09:24:12 pm
Plus add a few hours collecting here and there.. Lol
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Spruce on May 23, 2014, 09:49:09 pm
Joey - your last 2 comments make a lot of sense.

To earn the amount of money the OP wants, he will have to spend big, think big and be big.

Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: colley614 on May 23, 2014, 11:07:15 pm
I think that's the problem. People read 'Duncan Bannatyne' style, started off with an e reg ice cream van and built an empire. What isn't mentioned is that type of person is obsessed with their business and goes through many a Divorce and breakdowns and stuff working every waking hour of everyday.

I think a better starting point to aim for is aiming for what could be earned working full time in the first twelve months. Then in the second twelve months setting a target like. I want another £20 at the end of everyday. 
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: SeanK on May 23, 2014, 11:24:34 pm
There's no reason why you couldn't earn £10000 a week or more cleaning windows.
Just get enough work and employ enough people to do it for you, window cleaning is no
different to any other business the more you put in the more you will get back.
If your asking is it a handy way to make lots of cash for little effort then I would say no.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: windiewasher on May 25, 2014, 08:01:04 am
Whats your business name Rich? What areas do u cover? Am local to you and may have a few jobs in areas that i dont cover

A grand a week profit is a lot of money :P but u can achievee that within 2 years....but thats only if u work hard at it and are very determined. U gotta go out ther and look for work cos work will not come to u

Also i cant see u doing a grand profit per week by yaself, u will need 2 go with a 2 man setup if u want to earn that much.
thought you sold up and bought a off licence? ;D ;D
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: dave0123 on May 25, 2014, 01:23:33 pm
I think your 1k a week is realistically not achievable week in week out, specially as your a newbie even if you did all the canvassing in the world as a newbie you will have no chance for hitting that for a good couple of years.

With wfp or not its hard going and you have to learn the job you have to learn how to price which you will mess up at first, and lots of other stuff to take into account
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Rayleigh Window Cleaning Services on May 25, 2014, 01:50:26 pm
£1000 a week alone is alot. I do 2 £150 days 9 till 4 and two £100 days 10 till 3 and have a day off, 5days a week window cleaning is knackering I worked for a company a few years ago doing £200 a day for £90 5 days a week basically 8 till 5 and I slept all weekend, never again


Honest valuation. Good on ya
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: supernova77 on May 27, 2014, 06:21:55 pm
Quote
£1000 a week alone is alot. I do 2 £150 days 9 till 4 and two £100 days 10 till 3 and have a day off, 5days a week window cleaning is knackering I worked for a company a few years ago doing £200 a day for £90 5 days a week basically 8 till 5 and I slept all weekend, never again

Fair enough - But maybe you should up your prices?

9am - 4pm (7 hours) for £150 minus expenses could be improved upon...

Andy
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Don Kee on May 27, 2014, 06:29:24 pm
Thank you for all the input guys, i have now gained 24 customers in total, i am also interested in buying work so i could expand.

Are you knocking on doors or just leafletting?
Try them both mate, knock on doors ''hello, my names..... I'm a local window cleaner! Just wondered if you may be looking for a regular window cleaner?' ,and leaflet the ones that are out....
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: jamie bennett on May 28, 2014, 10:42:19 am
It took me 3 1/2 years to build up to £1000 per week now its more like £1500 per week and i work by myself but I built the round up slowly so I could still be reliable and nit let people down, now its just done by word of mouth and advertising on my van I did buy a few small rounds as and when they came up in my area, but be weary of that as I got my fingwrs burnt by another local company who changed his name more than I have had hot dinners, just plug away you will get there as i found tgose years went by fast
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: 8weekly on May 28, 2014, 06:13:29 pm
I have been working in the rain today and got 2 complaints.

I recently watched a video on youtube not long ago telling me that rain does not dirty the windows.

I am now a bit frightened to work in the rain but i think i will have to get across it if i really want to earn £1000 per week.



My advice would be to not bother working in the rain at the moment as you don't need to. Use the time to leaflet & canvass. In time you will have to work in the rain and you will be over your fear by then as your fear is because you don't have enough customers.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: deeege on May 28, 2014, 06:30:12 pm
I have been working in the rain today and got 2 complaints.

I recently watched a video on youtube not long ago telling me that rain does not dirty the windows.

I am now a bit frightened to work in the rain but i think i will have to get across it if i really want to earn £1000 per week.


You need to explain to your customers that to earn £1000 per week profit you have no choice but to work in the rain, they will understand.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: 8weekly on May 28, 2014, 06:36:14 pm
I have been working in the rain today and got 2 complaints.

I recently watched a video on youtube not long ago telling me that rain does not dirty the windows.

I am now a bit frightened to work in the rain but i think i will have to get across it if i really want to earn £1000 per week.


You need to explain to your customers that to earn £1000 per week profit you have no choice but to work in the rain, they will understand.
LOL
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: dazmond on May 28, 2014, 07:02:45 pm
I have been working in the rain today and got 2 complaints.

I recently watched a video on youtube not long ago telling me that rain does not dirty the windows.

I am now a bit frightened to work in the rain but i think i will have to get across it if i really want to earn £1000 per week.


You need to explain to your customers that to earn £1000 per week profit you have no choice but to work in the rain, they will understand.

 ;D ;D ;D ;Dcracked me up that danny!!
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: David Kent @ KentKleen on May 28, 2014, 08:12:45 pm
I have been working in the rain today and got 2 complaints.

I recently watched a video on youtube not long ago telling me that rain does not dirty the windows.

I am now a bit frightened to work in the rain but i think i will have to get across it if i really want to earn £1000 per week.




You really DO NOT need to work in the rain at such an early stage of business building. As you build your business with proper planning you never have to clean windows in the rain AND still earn from your customers. (thats if you dont mind getting wet  :)) Good luck, price higher than you feel you should, do a top job and you will not go wrong!
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: rosskesava on May 28, 2014, 11:08:05 pm


You need to explain to your customers that to earn £1000 per week profit you have no choice but to work in the rain, they will understand.

Brilliant.  ;D
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Ian101 on May 28, 2014, 11:24:11 pm


You need to explain to your customers that to earn £1000 per week profit you have no choice but to work in the rain, they will understand.

Brilliant.  ;D

in customer speak ................ to ensure we don't let customers down by being late we have to work in all weathers  :)
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: SeanK on May 29, 2014, 03:44:26 pm
You do have to love the willy waving on this forum.
O.K. its up to £1500 a week for a sole trader I'm sure somebody can improve on that. ::)roll
I hear Walter Mitty window cleaning is taking in over £5000 a week and he's a sole trader.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: 8weekly on May 29, 2014, 04:03:53 pm
You do have to love the willy waving on this forum.
O.K. its up to £1500 a week for a sole trader I'm sure somebody can improve on that. ::)roll
I hear Walter Mitty window cleaning is taking in over £5000 a week and he's a sole trader.
£300 a day for one man is hard work every day, but not by any means impossible. Turnover that is.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: deeege on May 29, 2014, 06:09:08 pm
You do have to love the willy waving on this forum.
O.K. its up to £1500 a week for a sole trader I'm sure somebody can improve on that. ::)roll
I hear Walter Mitty window cleaning is taking in over £5000 a week and he's a sole trader.
£300 a day for one man is hard work every day, but not by any means impossible. Turnover that is.

I'll say it. To AVERAGE £300 per day (turnover) for a full year as a sole trader is impossible.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: C o z y on May 29, 2014, 06:59:07 pm
£1000 a week alone is alot. I do 2 £150 days 9 till 4 and two £100 days 10 till 3 and have a day off, 5days a week window cleaning is knackering I worked for a company a few years ago doing £200 a day for £90 5 days a week basically 8 till 5 and I slept all weekend, never again


Honest valuation. Good on ya

+1 Good post.
 I'm lucky, as I can get good prices here, so a bit higher turnover. He's right though. Even when I was only in my early 30's, I was knackered after 5 days on the glass. Week in week out, anyone would burn out on 5 days at 8 hours a day.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: tlwcs on May 29, 2014, 07:21:22 pm
I have been working in the rain today and got 2 complaints.

I recently watched a video on youtube not long ago telling me that rain does not dirty the windows.

I am now a bit frightened to work in the rain but i think i will have to get across it if i really want to earn £1000 per week.






I'm with Ian, you have to educate your customer from the outset that you work in most weather conditions.
What you are getting with so few customers is everybody else's crap. The people who have possibly burnt or been burnt by several other cleaners.
Just another challenge on the way to your 1k weekly profit, there will be plenty of crap to sort along the way.
I would go as far to say only 4 out of 10 will be the right sort of custard.
Tony
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: 8weekly on May 29, 2014, 07:26:49 pm
You do have to love the willy waving on this forum.
O.K. its up to £1500 a week for a sole trader I'm sure somebody can improve on that. ::)roll
I hear Walter Mitty window cleaning is taking in over £5000 a week and he's a sole trader.
£300 a day for one man is hard work every day, but not by any means impossible. Turnover that is.

I'll say it. To AVERAGE £300 per day (turnover) for a full year as a sole trader is impossible.

Probably. It is tiring to maintain and the weather will be a factor plus holidays have to be taken, but I don't think it is impossible. Without doing the maths, £330 on a working day might do it if you assume 46 weeks worked out of 52. It is not impossible. It would be for me, but a fit 30 year old could do it. I don't have that much work incidentally just yet so it isn't something I'd have to worry about.  ;)
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Mick Kent on May 29, 2014, 09:14:27 pm
Without sounding big headed or a willy waver!!!
I got fed up with my rubbish round i started with so i sold it and got into canvassing for others and it wasnt long before irealised how to go about getting realy good work and to concentrate on compacting more and more instead of venturing out further and further, i learnt that 5x£10 fronts from 1 spot that took 15 mins max to clean was better than a £50 house that took an hour etc etc...
I moulded my business so i could do a min of 30 compact £10 fronts a day and only be on the glass 5 hours as i take and pick my daughter from school and i achieved it and more! most of my stop off's i do a min of 3 fronts which between 3 and 5 is average but sometimes i have 15/20 all from the same spot with the best being 24 which get done in under an hour! And yes i am splash and dash but i know what i have to do to get the job done to the customers satisfaction.  So with proper planning and dedication you can do realy well in this game, if you put your all into it and believe instead of being negative and doubting then you are onto a winner.
5/6 years ago i had a rubbish round of £8 houses scattered everywhere which i hated getting up for work and doing, it took me 3 years to turn everything around after selling up and canvassing for others to get 2 full rounds built based on mainly front only cleans.

Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: deeege on May 29, 2014, 09:18:51 pm
Without sounding big headed or a willy waver!!!
I got fed up with my rubbish round i started with so i sold it and got into canvassing for others and it wasnt long before irealised how to go about getting realy good work and to concentrate on compacting more and more instead of venturing out further and further, i learnt that 5x£10 fronts from 1 spot that took 15 mins max to clean was better than a £50 house that took an hour etc etc...
I moulded my business so i could do a min of 30 compact £10 fronts a day and only be on the glass 5 hours as i take and pick my daughter from school and i achieved it and more! most of my stop off's i do a min of 3 fronts which between 3 and 5 is average but sometimes i have 15/20 all from the same spot with the best being 24 which get done in under an hour! And yes i am splash and dash but i know what i have to do to get the job done to the customers satisfaction.  So with proper planning and dedication you can do realy well in this game, if you put your all into it and believe instead of being negative and doubting then you are onto a winner.
5/6 years ago i had a rubbish round of £8 houses scattered everywhere which i hated getting up for work and doing, it took me 3 years to turn everything around after selling up and canvassing for others to get 2 full rounds built based on mainly front only cleans.



Good on you mick.

You averaging £300 turnover per day as a sole trader though?

I'd be willing to bet that's it's impossible. A tax return would be needed as proof. Any takers?
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: dazmond on May 29, 2014, 09:50:21 pm
24 fronts in under an hour at a tenner a pop?so thats £240 for under an hours work mick?

ive heard some rubbish spouted on this forum over the years but.........c,mon mick!!get real!! ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: 8weekly on May 29, 2014, 09:53:36 pm
Without sounding big headed or a willy waver!!!
I got fed up with my rubbish round i started with so i sold it and got into canvassing for others and it wasnt long before irealised how to go about getting realy good work and to concentrate on compacting more and more instead of venturing out further and further, i learnt that 5x£10 fronts from 1 spot that took 15 mins max to clean was better than a £50 house that took an hour etc etc...
I moulded my business so i could do a min of 30 compact £10 fronts a day and only be on the glass 5 hours as i take and pick my daughter from school and i achieved it and more! most of my stop off's i do a min of 3 fronts which between 3 and 5 is average but sometimes i have 15/20 all from the same spot with the best being 24 which get done in under an hour! And yes i am splash and dash but i know what i have to do to get the job done to the customers satisfaction.  So with proper planning and dedication you can do realy well in this game, if you put your all into it and believe instead of being negative and doubting then you are onto a winner.
5/6 years ago i had a rubbish round of £8 houses scattered everywhere which i hated getting up for work and doing, it took me 3 years to turn everything around after selling up and canvassing for others to get 2 full rounds built based on mainly front only cleans.



Good on you mick.

You averaging £300 turnover per day as a sole trader though?

I'd be willing to bet that's it's impossible. A tax return would be needed as proof. Any takers?
A tax return wouldn't prove that. Unless you are talking £300 declared profit per day and that I reckon would be pretty much impossible.

Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: DG Cleaning on May 29, 2014, 09:55:06 pm
Mick, Where you live you can charge £10 for fronts this lad lives in Middlesbrough.
His competition are doing semis at £4 a pop ;D
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: deeege on May 29, 2014, 10:19:06 pm
Without sounding big headed or a willy waver!!!
I got fed up with my rubbish round i started with so i sold it and got into canvassing for others and it wasnt long before irealised how to go about getting realy good work and to concentrate on compacting more and more instead of venturing out further and further, i learnt that 5x£10 fronts from 1 spot that took 15 mins max to clean was better than a £50 house that took an hour etc etc...
I moulded my business so i could do a min of 30 compact £10 fronts a day and only be on the glass 5 hours as i take and pick my daughter from school and i achieved it and more! most of my stop off's i do a min of 3 fronts which between 3 and 5 is average but sometimes i have 15/20 all from the same spot with the best being 24 which get done in under an hour! And yes i am splash and dash but i know what i have to do to get the job done to the customers satisfaction.  So with proper planning and dedication you can do realy well in this game, if you put your all into it and believe instead of being negative and doubting then you are onto a winner.
5/6 years ago i had a rubbish round of £8 houses scattered everywhere which i hated getting up for work and doing, it took me 3 years to turn everything around after selling up and canvassing for others to get 2 full rounds built based on mainly front only cleans.



Good on you mick.

You averaging £300 turnover per day as a sole trader though?

I'd be willing to bet that's it's impossible. A tax return would be needed as proof. Any takers?
A tax return wouldn't prove that. Unless you are talking £300 declared profit per day and that I reckon would be pretty much impossible.

True.

Basically I think it impossible and would be willing to bet against it, terms negotiable.

I also think that these "how much can I earn" topics are really pointless and damaging to all of us.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: PoleKing on May 29, 2014, 10:53:24 pm
Without sounding big headed or a willy waver!!!
I got fed up with my rubbish round i started with so i sold it and got into canvassing for others and it wasnt long before irealised how to go about getting realy good work and to concentrate on compacting more and more instead of venturing out further and further, i learnt that 5x£10 fronts from 1 spot that took 15 mins max to clean was better than a £50 house that took an hour etc etc...
I moulded my business so i could do a min of 30 compact £10 fronts a day and only be on the glass 5 hours as i take and pick my daughter from school and i achieved it and more! most of my stop off's i do a min of 3 fronts which between 3 and 5 is average but sometimes i have 15/20 all from the same spot with the best being 24 which get done in under an hour! And yes i am splash and dash but i know what i have to do to get the job done to the customers satisfaction.  So with proper planning and dedication you can do realy well in this game, if you put your all into it and believe instead of being negative and doubting then you are onto a winner.
5/6 years ago i had a rubbish round of £8 houses scattered everywhere which i hated getting up for work and doing, it took me 3 years to turn everything around after selling up and canvassing for others to get 2 full rounds built based on mainly front only cleans.



Good on you mick.

You averaging £300 turnover per day as a sole trader though?

I'd be willing to bet that's it's impossible. A tax return would be needed as proof. Any takers?
A tax return wouldn't prove that. Unless you are talking £300 declared profit per day and that I reckon would be pretty much impossible.

True.

Basically I think it impossible and would be willing to bet against it, terms negotiable.

I also think that these "how much can I earn" topics are really pointless and damaging to all of us.

£70k is achievable but silly to be done on sole trader.
You'd be better off going limited.
I know 2 people who work on their own (mostly) that are earning well over that figure DeeGee. Both are limited.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Mick Kent on May 29, 2014, 11:44:47 pm
24 fronts in under an hour at a tenner a pop?so thats £240 for under an hours work mick?

ive heard some rubbish spouted on this forum over the years but.........c,mon mick!!get real!! ;D ;D ;D
????
I have rows upon rows of terrace, well priced terrace fronts is key to my business model, yes under an hour that run takes, thats my best run to date but hoping to beat it soon with some more compacting being done soon. i dont care if you believe me or not, im saying if you work hard and plan it all out properly and dont give up then you can achieve good things from the glass.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: SeanK on May 29, 2014, 11:45:48 pm
Without sounding big headed or a willy waver!!!
I got fed up with my rubbish round i started with so i sold it and got into canvassing for others and it wasnt long before irealised how to go about getting realy good work and to concentrate on compacting more and more instead of venturing out further and further, i learnt that 5x£10 fronts from 1 spot that took 15 mins max to clean was better than a £50 house that took an hour etc etc...
I moulded my business so i could do a min of 30 compact £10 fronts a day and only be on the glass 5 hours as i take and pick my daughter from school and i achieved it and more! most of my stop off's i do a min of 3 fronts which between 3 and 5 is average but sometimes i have 15/20 all from the same spot with the best being 24 which get done in under an hour! And yes i am splash and dash but i know what i have to do to get the job done to the customers satisfaction.  So with proper planning and dedication you can do realy well in this game, if you put your all into it and believe instead of being negative and doubting then you are onto a winner.
5/6 years ago i had a rubbish round of £8 houses scattered everywhere which i hated getting up for work and doing, it took me 3 years to turn everything around after selling up and canvassing for others to get 2 full rounds built based on mainly front only cleans.



Good on you mick.

You averaging £300 turnover per day as a sole trader though?

I'd be willing to bet that's it's impossible. A tax return would be needed as proof. Any takers?
A tax return wouldn't prove that. Unless you are talking £300 declared profit per day and that I reckon would be pretty much impossible.

True.

Basically I think it impossible and would be willing to bet against it, terms negotiable.

I also think that these "how much can I earn" topics are really pointless and damaging to all of us.


I also think they are pointless, just guys who are ashamed of how they make their living trying to feel
better by boasting about their earnings.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Window Lickers on May 30, 2014, 12:32:06 am
What's to be ashamed of?
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: 8weekly on May 30, 2014, 07:38:07 am
There's some confusion. Poleking is using the correct definition of sole trader. A sole trader could employ, it is just the type of business. I.e, not limited or a partnership. But Deege is referring to a man working on his own. He could be limited, but still work on his own. I think that is essentially what Poleking does. From Poleking's previous posts I am pretty sure he is VAT registered. If so he is probably exceeding Deege's figure.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: SeanK on May 30, 2014, 08:03:40 am
What's to be ashamed of?

For me absolutely nothing I'm more than proud of what Iv achieved.
But at the end of the day we are just cleaners.
What I'm saying is some on here are ashamed of that fact and feel the need to boast
about their wage to feel better about themselves.
Hay look at me I might only be a cleaner but I earn more than a Doctor.

Dig back through the archives on this forum and there's a post about a child in the playground making
fun or another child because his dad is a window cleaner.
You want to read the childish willy waving replies to it about earnings.
Any other profession would have just laughed it off as a my dads better than your dad remark that
kids make.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Joey Eastwood on May 30, 2014, 08:29:40 am
You don't earn £240 in an hour... Here's why, you do 24 fronts in an hour, less than 2 and a half minutes a front, by the time you start and finish the world record holder for purse-finding and paying customer wouldn't even see the back of your head going up the street as they open the door to pay you lol. But seriously £240 an hour charging terrace fronts £10 questions morals doesn't it
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Jonny 87 on May 30, 2014, 08:38:26 am
You don't earn £240 in an hour... Here's why, you do 24 fronts in an hour, less than 2 and a half minutes a front, by the time you start and finish the world record holder for purse-finding and paying customer wouldn't even see the back of your head going up the street as they open the door to pay you lol. But seriously £240 an hour charging terrace fronts £10 questions morals doesn't it

I'm honestly thinking to myself ......how on earth.lol

Do the customers just happily have filthy back windows?

Do they never get canvassed by anyone else and realise they are paying 3x the amount they could be paying?

How do you get compact work like that?

Fair play to mick if he has, but even if I could do that.......I don't think I would.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: andyM on May 30, 2014, 08:51:48 am
You don't earn £240 in an hour... Here's why, you do 24 fronts in an hour, less than 2 and a half minutes a front, by the time you start and finish the world record holder for purse-finding and paying customer wouldn't even see the back of your head going up the street as they open the door to pay you lol. But seriously £240 an hour charging terrace fronts £10 questions morals doesn't it

I'm honestly thinking to myself ......how on earth.lol

Do the customers just happily have filthy back windows?

Do they never get canvassed by anyone else and realise they are paying 3x the amount they could be paying?

How do you get compact work like that?

Fair play to mick if he has, but even if I could do that.......I don't think I would.

Bizarre isn't it?
Similar to the occasional phone call I get asking me for a quote for cleaning the upstairs windows only.
I wonder if these customers take their vehicle to the local car wash and ask for a price for cleaning the top half of the car only?  ;D
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Jonny 87 on May 30, 2014, 08:53:25 am
You don't earn £240 in an hour... Here's why, you do 24 fronts in an hour, less than 2 and a half minutes a front, by the time you start and finish the world record holder for purse-finding and paying customer wouldn't even see the back of your head going up the street as they open the door to pay you lol. But seriously £240 an hour charging terrace fronts £10 questions morals doesn't it

I'm honestly thinking to myself ......how on earth.lol

Do the customers just happily have filthy back windows?

Do they never get canvassed by anyone else and realise they are paying 3x the amount they could be paying?

How do you get compact work like that?

Fair play to mick if he has, but even if I could do that.......I don't think I would.

Bizarre isn't it?
Similar to the occasional phone call I get asking me for a quote for cleaning the upstairs windows only.
I wonder if these customers take their vehicle to the local car wash and ask for a price for cleaning the top half of the car only?  ;D

 ;D
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Joey Eastwood on May 30, 2014, 09:47:06 am
Exactly AndyM! Unless the definition of a terrace differs from here to there lol. The average terrace here is one up one down and a tiny door glass
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: HampshireWindowCleaning on May 30, 2014, 09:58:45 am
24 fronts in under  an hour, that's a bit far fetched even for you Mick  :D
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Window Lickers on May 30, 2014, 11:34:06 am
I'd be more ashamed of trying to make out I cleaned 24 fronts an hour than being a just a cleaner.


I'm proud of what I've achieved, all things considered. I'm also chuffed as nuts I've finished the week after 3 days work, clearing what many people in any job might dream about earning.

Work wise, I'm blessed.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Mick Kent on May 30, 2014, 01:21:29 pm
24 fronts in under  an hour, that's a bit far fetched even for you Mick  :D
Thats my best run from 1 spot without movement 2 up and 1 down fronts.
Thats the beauty of where i work, only downside is everyone is always at work so pay on day is poor but helps me get more done.
I have no reason to lie! Work it out taking just over a min to do each front 20/30 secs moving to next if not next. Some are 4 next to eachother meaning all tops then all bottoms all at once taking less than 5 mins to do! I admit being a splash and dasher but im it it for the money and nothing else.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: HampshireWindowCleaning on May 30, 2014, 02:16:00 pm
It takes you 1 minute to do a front?
Fair play if your being honest mate, you must being doing a 5hit job to do them that quick though so god knows how your getting tenners for them.
For a tenner for the front  I would think people would expect the best.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: SeanK on May 30, 2014, 04:12:04 pm
It takes you 1 minute to do a front?
Fair play if your being honest mate, you must being doing a 5hit job to do them that quick though so god knows how your getting tenners for them.
For a tenner for the front  I would think people would expect the best.


I think that's where the story falls apart.
24 people all in row willing to pay somebody £10 for a minutes work I don't think so.
You might get one or two customers with more money than sense but not a whole row.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Window Lickers on May 30, 2014, 04:52:26 pm
Terrace houses? They'll be full of old nappies, broken plastics toys, dog crap and sand pits.

Your hose dont get caught then?
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Joey Eastwood on May 30, 2014, 05:40:18 pm
And do the customers not ever say I'm paying u a £10er a minute, my uncle garry round the corner has got a shiner that does the whole house for £7....?
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: dazmond on May 30, 2014, 05:42:16 pm
i think he uses a backpack so i reckon its more like 8 fronts an hour.thats still £80 an hour.more than my best hours earnings.

i worked 8am-330pm today and earned £235 and i thought that was good going for a days work!! ::)rollnevermind an hour!!
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: gary999 on May 30, 2014, 06:07:20 pm
After a post by mick around a year ago, i started targeting areas
with victorian type town houses with difficult access or only
access through the house.

Ive got one nice run of fronts where i can do around 10 over a hour
5-6 mins on each one at £7 and nearly all are out at work.

1min though mick...it takes me longer than that to bend down
and turn the pack on ;D
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Mick Kent on May 30, 2014, 06:32:28 pm
Lol its not every hour we clean 24 fronts from 1 spot is it otherwise id me a millionaire by now! I said its my best run!!! Im sure everyone on here has a day where they earn great money for little work,
My norm is 6/8 fronts an hour over my 5 hour day which was what i wanted.
Why would i lie over doing simple fronts??? Its the easiest work there is to do.
All these fronts i do are decent houses and professionals, defo not trampy people!! Just check house prices in sw1, se3, se7, se10 postcodes. Hence why i decided to hit those areas and surrounds to get my fronts as there is no access to backs unless going through houses which for me is magic.
I still clean full houses if i have too and if worth doing but i try my best to not as can earn a much better day rate with simple easy fronts.
For those that think im conning my customers, they live in £250-500k houses so they can afford to pay me £10 a month to be reliable and regular to keep there windows clean which is what they all do. I must be doing something right to have the customer base i have.
Anyway i was only aggreeing with 8 weekly and disagreing with deegie that a sole trader can clean £300 a day if worked hard to get there being positive.. Too many negatives on this forum.


Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: KS Cleaning on May 30, 2014, 06:44:40 pm
24 fronts in under  an hour, that's a bit far fetched even for you Mick  :D
Thats my best run from 1 spot without movement 2 up and 1 down fronts.
Thats the beauty of where i work, only downside is everyone is always at work so pay on day is poor but helps me get more done.
I have no reason to lie! Work it out taking just over a min to do each front 20/30 secs moving to next if not next. Some are 4 next to eachother meaning all tops then all bottoms all at once taking less than 5 mins to do! I admit being a splash and dasher but im it it for the money and nothing else.
The last bit.... Hope you don't tell the potential customers that when your canvassing ;D
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: 8weekly on May 30, 2014, 06:51:59 pm
And do the customers not ever say I'm paying u a £10er a minute, my uncle garry round the corner has got a shiner that does the whole house for £7....?
Your mistake is to think that everybody has the same inferiority complex and lack of confidence that you have. The only thing preventing you earning your potential is you.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: deeege on May 30, 2014, 08:08:42 pm
Lol its not every hour we clean 24 fronts from 1 spot is it otherwise id me a millionaire by now! I said its my best run!!! Im sure everyone on here has a day where they earn great money for little work,
My norm is 6/8 fronts an hour over my 5 hour day which was what i wanted.
Why would i lie over doing simple fronts??? Its the easiest work there is to do.
All these fronts i do are decent houses and professionals, defo not trampy people!! Just check house prices in sw1, se3, se7, se10 postcodes. Hence why i decided to hit those areas and surrounds to get my fronts as there is no access to backs unless going through houses which for me is magic.
I still clean full houses if i have too and if worth doing but i try my best to not as can earn a much better day rate with simple easy fronts.
For those that think im conning my customers, they live in £250-500k houses so they can afford to pay me £10 a month to be reliable and regular to keep there windows clean which is what they all do. I must be doing something right to have the customer base i have.
Anyway i was only aggreeing with 8 weekly and disagreing with deegie that a sole trader can clean £300 a day if worked hard to get there being positive.. Too many negatives on this forum.

I didn't say it's impossible to earn £300 a day did I? I said its impossible to AVERAGE £300 a day over the duration of a year.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: PoleKing on May 30, 2014, 10:51:40 pm
There's some confusion. Poleking is using the correct definition of sole trader. A sole trader could employ, it is just the type of business. I.e, not limited or a partnership. But Deege is referring to a man working on his own. He could be limited, but still work on his own. I think that is essentially what Poleking does. From Poleking's previous posts I am pretty sure he is VAT registered. If so he is probably exceeding Deege's figure.

Very astute  8W.
I'm not VAT registered though.
I stay below on purpose to keep me grounded and the work/life balance right.
You'd be surprised how difficult it is though, staying under.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Joey Eastwood on May 30, 2014, 11:05:01 pm
And do the customers not ever say I'm paying u a £10er a minute, my uncle garry round the corner has got a shiner that does the whole house for £7....?
Your mistake is to think that everybody has the same inferiority complex and lack of confidence that you have. The only thing preventing you earning your potential is you.

Everything you just said is irrelevant to what I posted, what's your misguided random interpretation of me got to to with the question I asked which was do the customers never find anyone cheaper basically... And as for inferiority I don't think so I earn £20 an hour after expenses nobody I went to school with earns half of that, I run my own business, and pretty well to be honest... As for lack of confidence I have 2k a month on my books that I canvassed myself, every house, must of left my inferiority complex and lack of confidence at home when I knocked all them doors talking to strangers day in day out.. Whilst we are randomly judging people in ways that have nothing to do with their posts I think you are lacking intelligence and you smell funny... Lol
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: supernova77 on May 31, 2014, 11:56:20 pm
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Wake me up when this thread is locked!

 ::)roll
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: 8weekly on June 01, 2014, 05:37:55 am
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Wake me up when this thread is locked!

 ::)roll

There hadn't been a post for 12 hours until yours.  ;)
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: H20cleaning on June 01, 2014, 08:01:43 am
Wow this is still going....
Not going to lie i can do the fronts of a house in 35seconds and read 2 chapters of 50 shades of grey within 60seconds, why else would i be a window cleaner  ;D
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Johnny B on June 01, 2014, 01:02:12 pm
These threads always amuse me. We are all different, with different circumstances, abilities and needs. If we need to earn a grand a week, that's fine. Go out and do it.

If we can do 24 fronts in an hour, great.

If we need to make a living on £1 a week or a million, what does it matter to anyone but ourselves?

If I took to heart every comment saying we should make x amount per hour I would have considered myself to be worthless.

Instead I make a fraction of what you big boys make on here. I won't tell you what I earn (you would die laughing), but I am happy and content, and sincerely hope that you all really are too.

Best wishes,
John
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: C o z y on June 01, 2014, 02:47:38 pm
These threads always amuse me. We are all different, with different circumstances, abilities and needs. If we need to earn a grand a week, that's fine. Go out and do it.

If we can do 24 fronts in an hour, great.

If we need to make a living on £1 a week or a million, what does it matter to anyone but ourselves?

If I took to heart every comment saying we should make x amount per hour I would have considered myself to be worthless.

Instead I make a fraction of what you big boys make on here. I won't tell you what I earn (you would die laughing), but I am happy and content, and sincerely hope that you all really are too.

Best wishes,
John

This guy moved to Ireland a couple of years ago. They don't have so much "monthly" or regular cleans over there, like they do in UK. He's put his biz together from scratch, in a strange country, with different views to window cleaners as UK. That takes bottle.
There are some people on here, that, when they post, it 's a good idea to read what they post and learn from it. People like Johnny, and a few others, don't willy wave.
These earnings threads are good for a giggle, but cause small operators to develop an inferiority complex, and that damages their self respect and eventually, their business.  Earnings are like sex. The more you talk about it, the less you're getting.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: SeanK on June 01, 2014, 03:04:54 pm
These threads always amuse me. We are all different, with different circumstances, abilities and needs. If we need to earn a grand a week, that's fine. Go out and do it.

If we can do 24 fronts in an hour, great.

If we need to make a living on £1 a week or a million, what does it matter to anyone but ourselves?

If I took to heart every comment saying we should make x amount per hour I would have considered myself to be worthless.

Instead I make a fraction of what you big boys make on here. I won't tell you what I earn (you would die laughing), but I am happy and content, and sincerely hope that you all really are too.

Best wishes,
John



Johnny I think its you who would be laughing if you had a look at the books and records of these so called big boys.
Cosy has hit the nail on the head.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: SeanK on June 01, 2014, 03:07:47 pm
Its strange how its always the big earners who do the most crying when they have to replace a battery
pump or pole.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Johnny B on June 01, 2014, 03:13:26 pm
To Cozy and SeanK ... thanks guys.  :)

John
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: steve hamblett on June 01, 2014, 08:08:10 pm
I've always been wary when other window cleaners have told me they make mega bucks. However, last year I met one who actually showed me his diary for the previous week. He'd earned just under 1k, there was some time off for rain and it was Feb,so he couldn't work beyond say 5 ish. He earned £40 plus an hour. it took him 7 mins to do a 4 bed detached - we timed it - He must be doing something right cus he'd been doing it for 17 years and had a massive customer base.  I've got one run where I earn that amount but it's one hour every 8 weeks ! But, it shows the potential. It may take a long time to get near that situation but it's within the realms of possibility. Some on here may be bragging but so what? I think most are doing it to encourage others on here. It's worth taking heart from their example
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: tlwcs on June 01, 2014, 09:03:31 pm
I've always been wary when other window cleaners have told me they make mega bucks. However, last year I met one who actually showed me his diary for the previous week. He'd earned just under 1k, there was some time off for rain and it was Feb,so he couldn't work beyond say 5 ish. He earned £40 plus an hour. it took him 7 mins to do a 4 bed detached - we timed it - He must be doing something right cus he'd been doing it for 17 years and had a massive customer base.  I've got one run where I earn that amount but it's one hour every 8 weeks ! But, it shows the potential. It may take a long time to get near that situation but it's within the realms of possibility. Some on here may be bragging but so what? I think most are doing it to encourage others on here. It's worth taking heart from their example

What area of the west Mids mate?
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: windowswashed on June 03, 2014, 02:39:16 am
No chance of earning £4000 every 4 weeks as I'm a part timer on average 3 day week :) That takes care of my bills and there's more to life than killing yourself trying to earn a living. Like a happy balance between work, rest and play just like a mars bar ;D
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: dazmond on June 03, 2014, 08:36:18 am
i wasnt far off £4,000 for last months work but thats turnover NOT profit.ive got 6 days off now until this months onslaught! ;)

i have been window cleaning 21 years though! :)
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: jimiwindows on June 03, 2014, 07:10:40 pm
Come to london get comercial work job done.
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: trippyboy on June 03, 2014, 07:39:12 pm
I done over 4k in a four weekly period in May.
Mostly all houses with a few shops and quite a few fgs/conny roofs/gutter vaccing
Mind you that was my record breaking month.
With tax, running costs, and general expenses, holidays ,bad weather and sickness, I believe you  shoud be looking roughly at a turnover of 40k gross to run this business
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: steve hamblett on June 03, 2014, 08:53:46 pm
Come to london get comercial work job done.

So jimi, is there loads of work in London?
Title: Re: Earning £4,000 every 4 weeks
Post by: Susan Dean (1stclean) on June 03, 2014, 09:04:04 pm
I know I guy that's on here that hasn't commented on this thread doing 1k a week profit and more , funny the ones that really are making top dollor say northing at all