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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: dazmond on November 04, 2009, 02:12:18 pm

Title: average sole trader turnover
Post by: dazmond on November 04, 2009, 02:12:18 pm
according to ian giles the average sole trader window cleaner earns 17 to 18grand a year.i cant be doing too  bad as ive already hit over 18grand already with 2 months to go!should top over 22grand this year.i could do better though.ive a lot of compact underpriced work at 5 or 6quid a pop 3 bedders and im TRAD.I live in the north west which is not as expensive as down south but ive got a 5 year plan to reach 30grand a year.realistic i think for a domestic WC.WFP and van and pricing better for new work is all in the future.i stagnated a bit and ive made loads of mistakes in this game and in life in general but im determined to make a better future for


myself and family.onward and upward and keep improving!best wishes.

dazmond
Title: Re: average sole trader turnover
Post by: martinsadie on November 04, 2009, 02:19:40 pm
interesting reading for the tax man,you should do your yearly figures april to march for tax purposes
Title: Re: average sole trader turnover
Post by: Murdie window cleaning on November 04, 2009, 02:20:51 pm
Good luck on getting people to be honest with there answers  ;D
I'm targeting to build a round that will turnover at least 20k but if after a couple of years I'm not turning over 24k then I will be disapointed.

I'm in the Scottish Borders so I can't charge silly prices, but it's all about getting the correct work at the correct price.
Title: Re: average sole trader turnover
Post by: dazmond on November 04, 2009, 02:22:12 pm
i know stan i was just taking it from jan to dec as an example! ;D
Title: Re: average sole trader turnover
Post by: pingu on November 04, 2009, 02:26:22 pm
It's keeping the profit as high as possible that is the trick...too many toys and gadgets to buy when wfp ;D ;D
Title: Re: average sole trader turnover
Post by: ftp on November 04, 2009, 02:56:32 pm
Yes, costs can be quite astonishing with wfp if you want to go into it properly. Vehicles, tanks, ro units, resin, hoses, reels and of course carbon poles  :o
Title: Re: average sole trader turnover
Post by: dazmond on November 04, 2009, 03:21:19 pm
im not going to go for RO as water only 35 tds.surely u make more money AFTER the expense of WFP or whats the point of the hassle?im not going to the expense of investing in WFP unless im gonna make more money AFTER the expense!SURELY its safer and not as hard work as TRAD?and makes the extras that bit easier?conny roofs and fascias spring to mind and cleaning frames and doors as standard?so a more thorough clean{and more expensive! ;)}and 20 to 30 per cent quicker after the first cleans compared to trad only.or is this just a myth!! ;D ;D
Title: Re: average sole trader turnover
Post by: Gleaming windows on November 04, 2009, 03:25:22 pm
Yes you do make more money WFP AFTER the costs. My income has almost doubled, my costs are huge my comparison to trad, but still well worth using the pole, with all its extra costs.

Title: Re: average sole trader turnover
Post by: Niall McAllister on November 04, 2009, 03:31:15 pm
my tds is 44, Just use DI no probs.
quicker yes, just be sure to do it properly, there is not the same detailing and drying so you save time
some folk say 15 secs a window, don't see how you can do a proper job with that, but who knows
Title: Re: average sole trader turnover
Post by: dazmond on November 04, 2009, 03:35:08 pm
thanks matt im gonna go for it next year.how was egypt?i went to sharm el sheikh in 05 and loved it.only went snorkelling near tiran island and quad biking.loved every minute of it!!gonna learn scuba diving next.defo goin over there again soon!!best wishes.dazmond ;D ;D
Title: Re: average sole trader turnover
Post by: macmac on November 04, 2009, 07:26:27 pm
Good luck on getting people to be honest with there answers  ;D
I'm targeting to build a round that will turnover at least 20k but if after a couple of years I'm not turning over 24k then I will be disapointed.

I'm in the Scottish Borders so I can't charge silly prices, but it's all about getting the correct work at the correct price.
?

Where abouts in the borders are you murdie?
Title: Re: average sole trader turnover
Post by: steveo22 on November 04, 2009, 07:26:47 pm
thanks matt im gonna go for it next year.how was egypt?i went to sharm el sheikh in 05 and loved it.only went snorkelling near tiran island and quad biking.loved every minute of it!!gonna learn scuba diving next.defo goin over there again soon!!best wishes.dazmond ;D ;D
Alright Dazmond, Read a few of your posts and seen that your trad and do pretty well, i'm quite a newbie to the window cleaning game, trad the same as you and things running along quite nicely really. I've got about 50 regular customers and i'm getting a few more each week on average so i'm having to get quicker as i'm trying to fit blocks of work into a couple of days to leave full days for new customers. Is there any advice you can give me as to speeding up my work but still being thorough, i do a nice job but i seem to be cleaning a window twice as i squeegie off, leave water lines so then mop the trails and water marks then buff with a dry cloth, going ass about face. Any advice you could give would be great, also dont think my basic unger from homebase is helping situations ??? Waiting for some better goodies to come mail order. Also Unger or Ettore? Any difference?
Title: Re: average sole trader turnover
Post by: Murdie window cleaning on November 04, 2009, 07:29:25 pm
Good luck on getting people to be honest with there answers  ;D
I'm targeting to build a round that will turnover at least 20k but if after a couple of years I'm not turning over 24k then I will be disapointed.

I'm in the Scottish Borders so I can't charge silly prices, but it's all about getting the correct work at the correct price.
?

I'm in Hawick , do you know the Borders ?

Where abouts in the borders are you murdie?
Title: Re: average sole trader turnover
Post by: macmac on November 04, 2009, 07:34:05 pm
Good luck on getting people to be honest with there answers  ;D
I'm targeting to build a round that will turnover at least 20k but if after a couple of years I'm not turning over 24k then I will be disapointed.

I'm in the Scottish Borders so I can't charge silly prices, but it's all about getting the correct work at the correct price.
?

I'm in Hawick , do you know the Borders ?

Where abouts in the borders are you murdie?

I'm in duns mate, I know hawick a little, the home of the late, great, Steve Hislop! ;)
Title: Re: average sole trader turnover
Post by: Murdie window cleaning on November 04, 2009, 07:39:28 pm
Well technacly Hissy was from Denholm just a few miles outside Hawick, a lovely little vilage where I have a few customers.

I don't realy know Duns all that well, I used to work with a guy who lives in Duns. You'll probably have the same problem regards pricing then, you'll not be able to charge silly prices.

Title: Re: average sole trader turnover
Post by: Window Washers on November 04, 2009, 07:41:25 pm
Can you 2 get a room  ::)
Title: Re: average sole trader turnover
Post by: macmac on November 04, 2009, 07:48:19 pm
Can you 2 get a room  ::)

For three? ;D
Title: Re: average sole trader turnover
Post by: macmac on November 04, 2009, 07:53:15 pm
Well technacly Hissy was from Denholm just a few miles outside Hawick, a lovely little vilage where I have a few customers.

I don't realy know Duns all that well, I used to work with a guy who lives in Duns. You'll probably have the same problem regards pricing then, you'll not be able to charge silly prices.



Regarding pricing- you were correct with your first post, It's about getting the right work at the right price. I prefer the bigger houses in the sticks. ;) There is a lot of wealth in the borders, you just have to pick them out.
Title: Re: average sole trader turnover
Post by: Clive McDonald on November 04, 2009, 08:53:37 pm
That guadian article gave the figures as 20k trad with some work invovled, as against 25k freewheeling wfp, but substantially more if prepared to go above a 25hr wk.
Title: Re: average sole trader turnover
Post by: leapstallbuildings on November 04, 2009, 09:37:08 pm
About £500 a year turnover I reckon  :)
Title: Re: average sole trader turnover
Post by: Gleaming windows on November 04, 2009, 09:42:09 pm
That much?
Title: Re: average sole trader turnover
Post by: dave.e on November 04, 2009, 09:44:55 pm
About £500 a year turnover I reckon  :)

we know where to go for a sub now ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: average sole trader turnover
Post by: matt on November 04, 2009, 10:21:13 pm
That guadian article gave the figures as 20k trad with some work invovled, as against 25k freewheeling wfp, but substantially more if prepared to go above a 25hr wk.

you are not going to get me working more than 25 hours a month
Title: Re: average sole trader turnover
Post by: Sean Dyer on November 04, 2009, 10:37:38 pm
17 - 18 k is about right for most average trad windies

not bad for unskilled labourers if you take into consideration they prob arent paying tax !

however with a bit of forethought some good work and a decent work ethic

and not running home at sight of cloud or breeze you can do substantially more

even if still trad !!
Title: Re: average sole trader turnover
Post by: leapstallbuildings on November 04, 2009, 10:39:17 pm
About £500 a year turnover I reckon  :)

we know where to go for a sub now ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Trying to work out if you want a loan from me or to sub some work to me   ;D