Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: iain R Jones on April 27, 2017, 12:52:03 am
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When you started window cleaning did you start traditional or WFP?
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I started so long ago that houses didn't even have windows. Life was easy then.
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I officially started 15yrs back but did window cleaning on n off throughout college.
Started traditional and carried on that way for many years.
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2 years ago.
Wfp
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I started with nothing and still have most of it left !
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i started trad lurnt ladder skills ect then went wfp bin going about 15 years
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Started trad before I knew about/could afford wfp!
I would start both now if doing it again, wouldnt want to build a round on ladders then have to convert it all at some point.
Start as you mean to go on, would definatly recommend trad skills though. Dont "skip the squeegee"
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Started 20 years ago trad. Used a 1986 Volvo 240 Estate.
In 2005/6 I gradually switched my customers over to wfp with a trolley system.
Late 2006 Bought a Fiat Doblo van with a 400L tank in the back.
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I also started two years ago WFP with trolley. Upgraded to 350L DIY van mount about six months after starting.
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Newspaper and Vinegar.
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Started trad back in 2002 was working with a mate. I was 22.
Set up on my own 2003 invested in a brodex water fed system in 2004 in two years i made enough money to buy a 3 bed house. Had employees at one stage ( self employed workers).and was raking it in.
2008 divorced, tax investigation, suffered nervous breakdown, sold house and went on year and half partying bender.
2009 met new missus, had to start from scratch pretty much again, tried to build up business and pay off tax debt. (Impossible)
2011 business going well, tax debt spiralling.
2014 made myself bankrupt.
2015-2016 recovering...And simplified my work a bit by selling off some.work
2017 gone ltd, learn from past and move on.
Bring on 2018.
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Started trad back in 2002 was working with a mate. I was 22.
Set up on my own 2003 invested in a brodex water fed system in 2004 in two years i made enough money to buy a 3 bed house. Had employees at one stage ( self employed workers).and was raking it in.
2008 divorced, tax investigation, suffered nervous breakdown, sold house and went on year and half partying bender.
2009 met new missus, had to start from scratch pretty much again, tried to build up business and pay off tax debt. (Impossible)
2011 business going well, tax debt spiralling.
2014 made myself bankrupt.
2015-2016 recovering...And simplified my work a bit by selling off some.work
2017 gone ltd, learn from past and move on.
Bring on 2018.
Could you not have used the equity in your house to pay off the tax bill?
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Uh yeah the nervous breakdown took care of that.
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Started window cleaning, working for a friend in February 1997. Branched out on my own in May of the same year.
Sold up and moved to Ireland July 2011 and started up again from scratch.
Traditional from day one and still traditional today.
John.
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Started in 76 with a bucket, a leather and half of a wooden 14 foot industrial ladder I shared with a mate. It weighed a ton. It was a year or so before I made the switch to using a squeegee. Worked trad for 30 years and switched to wfp 10 years ago. Started wfp with a PF trolley and am still using one. Love it. (for my work anyways)
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Wow
From leather to squeegee and then onto wfp. Ace 8)
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Quite surprised at the length of time some of you have been on the go. I thought the concept of a job for life was over.
I've been doing this all my working life, pretty much.
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Started 1985, so a few cleans under my belt now.
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9 years wfp only
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Started trad back in 2002 was working with a mate. I was 22.
Set up on my own 2003 invested in a brodex water fed system in 2004 in two years i made enough money to buy a 3 bed house. Had employees at one stage ( self employed workers).and was raking it in.
2008 divorced, tax investigation, suffered nervous breakdown, sold house and went on year and half partying bender.
2009 met new missus, had to start from scratch pretty much again, tried to build up business and pay off tax debt. (Impossible)
2011 business going well, tax debt spiralling.
2014 made myself bankrupt.
2015-2016 recovering...And simplified my work a bit by selling off some.work
2017 gone ltd, learn from past and move on.
Bring on 2018.
How did you end up owing the tax man son much?
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Started trad back in 2002 was working with a mate. I was 22.
Set up on my own 2003 invested in a brodex water fed system in 2004 in two years i made enough money to buy a 3 bed house. Had employees at one stage ( self employed workers).and was raking it in.
2008 divorced, tax investigation, suffered nervous breakdown, sold house and went on year and half partying bender.
2009 met new missus, had to start from scratch pretty much again, tried to build up business and pay off tax debt. (Impossible)
2011 business going well, tax debt spiralling.
2014 made myself bankrupt.
2015-2016 recovering...And simplified my work a bit by selling off some.work
2017 gone ltd, learn from past and move on.
Bring on 2018.
How did you end up owing the tax man son much?
A combination of bad accounting practices, thinking that i knew everything, and an attitude that quite frankly stunk.
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I'm glad I use a chartered accountant to sort out my window cleaning and rental income because quite frankly I can't be arsed . Cost £250 for both and just let them get on with it
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Yes i use a chartered accounting firm. Don't ever want to fall into that trap again
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Started window cleaning trad with Dads ladder when I was a kid wanting some cash in the summer hols..... Then binned it when I joined the army..... Many moons laters moved to my now home here in The Netherlands.... Bought one of the original 'Freedom' trolleys and a fiberglass pole, those small filter systems normally used for fish (I think) and about 5 barrels..... did that for a while.... Then 250, 400 and finally 650 litre tank.... I do not have a commercial 'system'.... just tend to buy and fit as I need.... I just now see the whole thing as a way to make money and so be it if it all looks a bit 'franken-clean' the less it costs me now the better.
Just been out into the garage and been fettling a few of the many bits of poles I have destroyed along the way and made myself a nice little 'stubby' slx (3 sections each about 70cm long). Still got a fully usable 'Facelift' dinosaur as well.
Also made a decent reel out of the 2 I had from years ago..... so todays has been a trip down memory lane to say the least..... The Freedom Trolley would be usable if I put a new battery/pump/controller :-).
Looking at the Vikan, assorted brush heads thinking...how did I wave those bricks about ?
Cheers Dave.