Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Gerald Ash on August 23, 2015, 10:32:48 pm
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>:(Due to problems with my business partner which I'm not going in to I have nothing and have to start again.
. I have to get a vehicle then start getting customers.
It is the best option believe it or not. Things were stressful beyond belief.
. I've got my old backpack and pole but no filters or barrels. There is so much I'm doing differently this time. No charity rubbish, no cheaper prices for first clean, the customer is taken on monthly unless they want two or three months and no @@%*-;% business partners.
Things were so bad I've had at least three or four cardiac events every week. Came to a head this week by ending up in hospital again suspected heart attack. Luckily it was a severe angina attack.
From now on all I want is 5-7 jobs a day just to earn a living.
Stress free life, short hours and money to spare. That's why I love this game.
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Sorry to hear that Gerald.
Sounds like the start of a good plan,good luck fella.
Keep it simple but profitable for what you need.
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Sorry about the hard times you are having, but you sound resilient and if you tell us the area you cover maybe members on here can help you out. I wish you well my friend ;D
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Sorry to hear you've had these problems Gerald.
You have a great work ethic, and going by what you achieved before, you will do well.
Best wishes for the future,
John
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>:(Due to problems with my business partner which I'm not going in to I have nothing and have to start again.
. I have to get a vehicle then start getting customers.
It is the best option believe it or not. Things were stressful beyond belief.
. I've got my old backpack and pole but no filters or barrels. There is so much I'm doing differently this time. No charity rubbish, no cheaper prices for first clean, the customer is taken on monthly unless they want two or three months and no @@%*-;% business partners.
Things were so bad I've had at least three or four cardiac events every week. Came to a head this week by ending up in hospital again suspected heart attack. Luckily it was a severe angina attack.
From now on all I want is 5-7 jobs a day just to earn a living.
Stress free life, short hours and money to spare. That's why I love this game.
I feel for you mate.
I know all about the business partner type thing and the stress that you describe just by how you describe it but if you look back, I think you'll maybe come to realise that from day one it was never going to work in the long term.
Still, you've learnt from it and what to do, what not to do and to just simply do the job for yourself which is a big big plus. Think back to when you first started and posted on here, and to what you know now. You're starting all over again afresh knowing about what to do and how to do it.
I know you've not got much needed to get going but be determined and you'll get there. Good luck.
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When I started 39 years ago I worked with a good friend but we never got to the point of becoming business partners. After three weeks we had to split up and work on our own. We just could not work together. I see fellas now round my way working in twos and even threes and wonder how they do it.
I like the simplicity of working on my own I must admit.
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When I started 39 years ago I worked with a good friend but we never got to the point of becoming business partners. After three weeks we had to split up and work on our own. We just could not work together. I see fellas now round my way working in twos and even threes and wonder how they do it.
I like the simplicity of working on my own I must admit.
That's a good point. I have a friend who wanted to go into partnership with me a couple of years ago. I declined, because our circumstances and the way we work are so different that I knew it simply wouldn't work.
I have some days now when I need some help, so my eldest son and daughter take turns to do a day here and there with me. It works great because they are trained by me and do an excellent job.
John
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I've always preferred working alone, even before I started window cleaning.
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Things were so bad I've had at least three or four cardiac events every week. Came to a head this week by ending up in hospital again suspected heart attack. Luckily it was a severe angina attack.
From now on all I want is 5-7 jobs a day just to earn a living.
Stress free life, short hours and money to spare. That's why I love this game.
With kindness, mate, your priority should be your mental state and health, not your business.
And stress is a funny thing; we could have the best work in the world and still feel stressed.
I hope you get it shorted, otherwise from the sounds of it, you're going to die soon.
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Let us know if you do.
(Get it sorted) :)
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Gerald how did you manage to lose everything to your partner?
Surely you should have something out of it - half the customers at least.
Was the vehicle his?
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Gerald how did you manage to lose everything to your partner?
Surely you should have something out of it - half the customers at least.
Was the vehicle his?
Reading between the lines it sounds like he was bullied out >:(
I know how hard it must of been for Gerald getting himself sorted & building a business. DO NOT GIVE UP!
But as Tosh mentioned please look after your health first.
Is there any chance you can get some of the customers without any agro from the business partner?
All the best Gerald.
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Sorry mate but you seem to be on the right track so go for it.
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Thanks guys I appreciate all your kind words. To Tosh you are spot on but I've got to keep going or my health will decline.
When I started I was going to build up and employ people but now all I need is £50.00 a day and I can live like a king. That's my priority now to work to live not live to work.
Gloucester is quite full of windys but still lots of work going. I've had an offer of a job but because of my health I wouldn't be productive enough so work for myself is the only option.
The absolute problem is transport. I've no money to buy a car so it's a bit of a puzzle.
Can't get a loan and wouldn't borrow off of friends as to be blunt I could drop dead any minute and that's what the Cardiologist told me.
The biggest plus is I'm not stressed anymore infact life is blissful to be honest. All I got to do is figure out how to get started.
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hope things go well for you.its not easy startin again but perhaps a blessing in disguise.did you not get anything in writing.is his name tonto turpin ???
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He turned out to be a bit of a front bottom.
You live and learn. I will have a few customers when I get going again but shhhh, don't tell him.
I'm pricing well and cherry picking as soon as I can.
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What I would do
1 Batter the canvassing area within walking distance of your home - no need for transport to start with.
2 Forget wfp for now - water too heavy to lug around plus with your dodgy ticker ...........................
3 Learn trad
4 Trad the upstairs with a pole and wagtail - see waggas you tube videos to see how its done .... if you make a few mistakes so what just a means to an end.
5 Save pennies for a motor
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totally agree take what is yours.you can trad carnt you Gerald.youll soon get fifty squid in.trad the lot.your custies know you.your on to a winner already.
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Sorry to learn of the situation .
Just a thought, with such a small amount per day and your mobility/transport problems, offer to clean insides and downstairs outside only.
Create a round on a quarterly basis or even 6 monthly, you know the score.
Good luck with whatever you decide
Tony
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What I would do
1 Batter the canvassing area within walking distance of your home - no need for transport to start with.
2 Forget wfp for now - water too heavy to lug around plus with your dodgy ticker ...........................
3 Learn trad
4 Trad the upstairs with a pole and wagtail - see waggas you tube videos to see how its done .... if you make a few mistakes so what just a means to an end.
5 Save pennies for a motor
Gerald this advice is probably the best here.
I know it may seem like there's no real way to get started, but this advice from Ian can work.
£50 a day should be easily achievable within walking distance from your home.
As tosh says though, keep your health (mentally and physically) as top priority and the rest will follow.
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with no motor surely wfp is out of the question unless very local work and a large trolley.
Like ian said canvass very very local, comapct as much as poss, going back to those who are out and trad the lot, no ladders just a pole and a bucket
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What I would do
1 Batter the canvassing area within walking distance of your home - no need for transport to start with.
2 Forget wfp for now - water too heavy to lug around plus with your dodgy ticker ...........................
3 Learn trad
4 Trad the upstairs with a pole and wagtail - see waggas you tube videos to see how its done .... if you make a few mistakes so what just a means to an end.
5 Save pennies for a motor
Gerald this advice is probably the best here.
I know it may seem like there's no real way to get started, but this advice from Ian can work.
£50 a day should be easily achievable within walking distance from your home.
As tosh says though, keep your health (mentally and physically) as top priority and the rest will follow.
I agree 100% with both the above.
There's someone who cycles around Brighton with a small trailer and does downstairs trad and upstairs with a pole and he seems to have no problems getting the work.
There's also someone else who has adapted a shopping trolley (the type that old biddies push to the shops and back) which although it looks hysterical, it also very functional. He does it all trad, walks from job to job and does upstairs with a pole.
The good thing about working like that, no overheads worth speaking of and almost 100% profit.
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Thanks guys I appreciate all your kind words. To Tosh you are spot on but I've got to keep going or my health will decline.
When I started I was going to build up and employ people but now all I need is £50.00 a day and I can live like a king. That's my priority now to work to live not live to work.
Gloucester is quite full of windys but still lots of work going. I've had an offer of a job but because of my health I wouldn't be productive enough so work for myself is the only option.
The absolute problem is transport. I've no money to buy a car so it's a bit of a puzzle.
Can't get a loan and wouldn't borrow off of friends as to be blunt I could drop dead any minute and that's what the Cardiologist told me.
The biggest plus is I'm not stressed anymore infact life is blissful to be honest. All I got to do is figure out how to get started.
Could you not target shop fronts aswell and trad them with a telescopic pole. No ladder, no car or van needed as you could walk, use a bike or even take the bus.
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I'm thinking of the new precision glide wagtail. I can clean frames if needed with backpack and tap water then wagtail the glass.
another thought is getting small DI vessel and fill backpack from outside tap. Pricey I know but still plenty of profit and would give me a chance to save up.
Where there's a will there's a way.
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Precision glide is good but has no scrubbing power at all so you may need to mop first.
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I'm thinking of the new precision glide wagtail. I can clean frames if needed with backpack and tap water then wagtail the glass.
another thought is getting small DI vessel and fill backpack from outside tap. Pricey I know but still plenty of profit and would give me a chance to save up.
Where there's a will there's a way.
Gerald ......................................... di vessel ... customers tap ... back pack ... WTF ??? .... why mate - FFS just keep it simple and lo cost.
Bucket
Pole
Mop
Squeegee
Wagtail
Big blue microfibers
Fairy liquid
from what I understand your skint and only need / want a small amount per day and want to get things moving again ... charge low prices and do a low priced job @ £8 for example they don't get mint upstairs sills / frames ... when in Rome do as the Romans
etc etc
KISS .............. don't over complicate the job ..... good luck ;)
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Good point Ian101, I'm just weighing up options.
There's a big estate within walking distance and loads of building still going on.
Lots of three story properties so backpack and DI vessel for pure would be viable. Resin is about £3 per litre. The TDS in Gloucester means you would get about 60/70 litres of pure per litre which is roughly 5 pence per litre. Small DI and pack is easy to transport but the wagtail is easier.
We'll get there.
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Gerard, I've a mate in OA who lives in Usk. He's a top bloke - very helpful - and knows his stuff. I'm his A.A. sponsor (he has had some issues with addiction ;D). If you would like a chat with him - and it might be useful to your health and your survival, would you like me to connect you two up for a chat?
It's upto you; if you don't, just ignore this post.
Regards
Tosh
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That would be good Tosh.
geraldash1966@hotmail.com
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Gerard, I've a mate in OA who lives in Usk. He's a top bloke - very helpful - and knows his stuff. I'm his A.A. sponsor (he has had some issues with addiction ;D). If you would like a chat with him - and it might be useful to your health and your survival, would you like me to connect you two up for a chat?
It's upto you; if you don't, just ignore this post.
Regards
Tosh
top man Tosh :)
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That would be good Tosh.
geraldash1966@hotmail.com
I've e-mailed him your e-mail. I should be seeing him later this evening too. He's had his addiction issues, he's overcome them, and he's just a good bloke.
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Thankyou Tosh.
Had a bit of news today, I've got a condition called cardiomegly. Basically an enlarged heart. Means I'm at a very high risk of a heart attack. Makes no difference to me because that's my end. Keep going and just try to prolong my life as much as I can.
If any of you guys know or have kids with a weight issue get them to sort it early.
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Has Shaun been in touch?
And can I have your wagtail flipper thing when you kark it?
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Good advice .
Hope you get sorted Gerald .
If I lived closer , I would of employed you a day . Or helped in another way .
Amazing how easy going you are with it .
All the best
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Gerard, I've a mate in OA who lives in Usk. He's a top bloke - very helpful - and knows his stuff. I'm his A.A. sponsor (he has had some issues with addiction ;D). If you would like a chat with him - and it might be useful to your health and your survival, would you like me to connect you two up for a chat?
It's upto you; if you don't, just ignore this post.
Regards
Tosh
this guy in usk was ok until he got talking to tosh,thats where his problems started ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Good advice .
Hope you get sorted Gerald .
If I lived closer , I would of employed you a day . Or helped in another way .
Amazing how easy going you are with it .
All the best
I'm resigned to the fact that my heart is going to fail at some point.
It's my doing so I can't moan about it. I just want to earn enough to live comfortably and try to prolong my life as long as I can.
No contact as yet Tosh.
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Good advice .
Hope you get sorted Gerald .
If I lived closer , I would of employed you a day . Or helped in another way .
Amazing how easy going you are with it .
All the best
I'm resigned to the fact that my heart is going to fail at some point.
It's my doing so I can't moan about it. I just want to earn enough to live comfortably and try to prolong my life as long as I can.
No contact as yet Tosh.
All the best bud but there is more important things in life than trying to earn money so take it easy. ;)
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Absolutely. There's spending it.
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Absolutely. There's spending it.
The wife that is ;D