Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: tom2009 on December 01, 2009, 07:23:43 pm
-
i've had enough of battling for days off and not seeing my kids. I've gathered a few (7) regular customers gathered from door knocking and 2 neighbours and done 2 large one off jobs. Going for 4 weeks fitting in the cleans on day off. I'm nervous about making the change, leaving my rut which pays the mortgage etc. Just wondered if anyone had done the above.
-
7 jobs or 7 kids ??? ???
;) ;)
-
3 kids. Missus would like another 4 though :P
-
I left my job working in a parts department but I had no kids at the time,
Keep it up fella and good luck.
Dean
-
i did it ;D ;D ;D
-
how long before you replaced your parts dept. money Dean.I understand it depends on work rate and the likes but just interested.
-
It wasnt hard to replace tom,
I was only taking home £170 a week :o :o :o
Thats why I ran off.
Dean
-
i did it ;D ;D ;D
sounds interesting Stan. Any more info?
-
i did it ;D ;D ;D
sounds interesting Stan. Any more info?
only way to start around here is to buy work,so bought a small round ,cleaned it saturdays,bought a bit more got my mate to help cleaned after work friday, 1 till 5 and saturdays all day sometimes then bought a big chunk and finished work,cleaner i bought off was finishing and wouldnt split round up,so i had to sell some off,best thing i ever did never ever door knock but round keeps growing and every year i sell some off and still have more work than 6 years since
-
I made that change not volentary. Made redundant with no cash to leave with only my wife’s income. A big battle mate, one year later sill battling but am on the winning side every month with the odd bad one. But if you want something bad enough you have to keep going. I did not even have money for a squeegee. Its not easy so decide what you want and retreat on go forward. It takes guts. Good luck
-
I left a decent job and did things similar to Stan. Started part time (1 day a week) with a small round I bought. Then decided to go full time and bought another chunk of work. This brought me up to the same amount of money I was on before. Haven't canvassed much, but round still grows each month. Oh, got three kids too.
-
i've had enough of battling for days off and not seeing my kids. I've gathered a few (7) regular customers gathered from door knocking and 2 neighbours and done 2 large one off jobs. Going for 4 weeks fitting in the cleans on day off. I'm nervous about making the change, leaving my rut which pays the mortgage etc. Just wondered if anyone had done the above.
I did it at the end of October this year, Have now got nearly 70 regular monthly customers and the number is going up daily. Have never spent so much time with the kids. If you can manage a couple of months without any pay then my advice would be DO IT, just makesure you do LOTS n LOTS of door knocking! Good luck with your decision!
Tony
-
buying a bit of a round seems the way to get a head start. Its got to be good though long term, doing a good job, gradually increasing speed and building a solid round = a much more enjoyable life all round. My work just take the michael and I've just had a gutfull.
-
I did it at the end of October this year, Have now got nearly 70 regular monthly customers and the number is going up daily. Have never spent so much time with the kids. If you can manage a couple of months without any pay then my advice would be DO IT, just makesure you do LOTS n LOTS of door knocking! Good luck with your decision!
Tony
fantastic! its a case of working out the daily number I need to do and then cracking on. I actually enjoy knocking doors so no prob. there. Ultimate goal for me is to have regular Sundays off as in retail the days all roll into one long one. thanks Tony ;D
-
buying a bit of a round seems the way to get a head start. Its got to be good though long term, doing a good job, gradually increasing speed and building a solid round = a much more enjoyable life all round. My work just take the michael and I've just had a gutfull.
All sounds very familiar, my plan was to start by cleaning 1 or 2 days per week on my days off from my full time job. I was hating my job and I had been looking at various ideas to start up on my own and this was the one that suited me best, I cleaned my first customers windows 9 weeks ago, I've been door knocking at least 3 times per week for the last month and I've now got 48 customers.
Oh yea, I lost my job in the middle of October so the matter of when to jump was taking from me, so my savings are going down quickly, but it spurs me on to keep canvassing.
I also have 3 kids ;)
-
i also bought a small round when i started 15 yrs ago when i was 23.i worked for a local WC for a year before i started though.then canvassed every weekend for 6 months until i had a fair round!it was hard work!got a lot of knock backs!bad payers,messers etc but so glad ive stuck at it!remember though WINDOW CLEANING IS NOT EASY MONEY!!its hard work!no sick/holiday pay then downtime because of weather etc.its took years to get a decent round together.there is a lot of competition about these days BUT i love the freedom and flexibility and the money aint bad once uv got the custys!theres the problem!getting good well paying compact custys!! :-\ :-\ ;D ;D
best wishes and good luck
dazmond
-
Tom I see you work in retail, that's what I was desperate to get out off, what company you working for ?
-
I did it too....
No work, turned down for a interview at maccys and owing my mother in law £1000 tried for a month to get a job but couldnt get anything
Im just going into my 9th month with 280 regular customers and i get plenty of one off jobs. I work a 4 day week, earn more than any other job i have done, pick my days off, take my kids to school every day.
It can be done, i covered the bills money from day one, though it was tight in the begining
Knock, knock, leaflet, leaflet, knock, knock - keep at it and do a good job
-
Tom I see you work in retail, that's what I was desperate to get out off, what company you working for ?
a national furniture retailer that advertises a lot on telly. nuff said. Retail does my nut in. All the replies on here are really encouraging. I really don't look at it with the easy money glasses on, its just the freedom to be independent, physical work, being outside, not working for tossers, and the chance long term to build something to be proud of. How about you Murdie? ps. if i'm sick now I don't get paid.
-
Tom I see you work in retail, that's what I was desperate to get out off, what company you working for ?
a national furniture retailer that advertises a lot on telly. nuff said. Retail does my nut in. All the replies on here are really encouraging. I really don't look at it with the easy money glasses on, its just the freedom to be independent, physical work, being outside, not working for tossers, and the chance long term to build something to be proud of. How about you Murdie? ps. if i'm sick now I don't get paid.
I worked as a store manager for Sports Direct, I loved it at first but since the start of this year I was realy pee'd off with what they were expecting from me for no extra money also no company sick pay scheme, unpayed over time
-
Tom I see you work in retail, that's what I was desperate to get out off, what company you working for ?
I worked as a store manager for Sports Direct, I loved it at first but since the start of this year I was realy pee'd off with what they were expecting from me for no extra money also no company sick pay scheme, unpayed over time
We've got sports direct next to us. Sounds just like our regime. One day off a week if you are lucky, no holidays getting signed off, unpaid overtime, all day shifts ( 9 til 8) general modern day corporate life! I bet you feel good though now! how you getting on with round building and speed of cleans etc
-
i got made redundent in april this year and decided to set up my own business selling jacket potatoes in town centre and markets, which im happy that iv at least tried it out but it still doesnt make enough money after 6 months to live off so a month ago iv been trying set a window cleaning round up while still doing the potatoes but im now thinking of phasing it out and going do windows full time, only got a few regulars at the moment and had a couple of fasia/gutter cleans that helped pay the bills for now,actually like doing that as works out to be good money, just brought 5000 leaflets to send out try generate more work,would hate to think id have to go and get a job now :'(
-
Tom I see you work in retail, that's what I was desperate to get out off, what company you working for ?
I worked as a store manager for Sports Direct, I loved it at first but since the start of this year I was realy pee'd off with what they were expecting from me for no extra money also no company sick pay scheme, unpayed over time
We've got sports direct next to us. Sounds just like our regime. One day off a week if you are lucky, no holidays getting signed off, unpaid overtime, all day shifts ( 9 til 8) general modern day corporate life! I bet you feel good though now! how you getting on with round building and speed of cleans etc
My speeds getting better and roundbuilding is coming on 48 customers and growing mostly from door knockin, out cleaning in the morning and canvassing later on in the day
-
'murdie window' have you tried posting leaflets or just canversing im just leaflets at the moment,if so you had much work off the leaflets i dont feel like knocking on doors really but would if the odds are a lot better than leaflets
-
I did it too....
No work, turned down for a interview at maccys and owing my mother in law £1000 tried for a month to get a job but couldnt get anything
Im just going into my 9th month with 280 regular customers and i get plenty of one off jobs. I work a 4 day week, earn more than any other job i have done, pick my days off, take my kids to school every day.
It can be done, i covered the bills money from day one, though it was tight in the begining
Knock, knock, leaflet, leaflet, knock, knock - keep at it and do a good job
Tom, do yourself a favour and watch what Window Wipers posts about getting custies, also, there are a few new guys on here like yourself, sort of in the same boat. Chopsie, Murdie and JRDesayreach for example, have had to bite the bullet and sort of go for broke. Just because someone has a few hundred posts or more, doesn't mean they have been in the same situation.
Stay on here when you have time, and read what works and what doesn't.
Another good point to help you as you go on is a website made by a window cleaner that has put a decent round together. If you have questions, just open a new topic and ask. Here's a site for you to look at, hope you stick with it mate, good luck.
http://www.windowcleaningcoach.com/KeepingtrackofRound.html
-
jackal - I've knocked doors in a close over the way from me and got a large house clean which will become a 4 week job and also a lady who wanted her house done 4 weekly she also said could I price for her restaurant in the village. all in a close where someone said "there are already 2 window cleaners round here"
-
thanks cozy ;D ;D
-
I did it too....
No work, turned down for a interview at maccys and owing my mother in law £1000 tried for a month to get a job but couldnt get anything
Im just going into my 9th month with 280 regular customers and i get plenty of one off jobs. I work a 4 day week, earn more than any other job i have done, pick my days off, take my kids to school every day.
It can be done, i covered the bills money from day one, though it was tight in the begining
Knock, knock, leaflet, leaflet, knock, knock - keep at it and do a good job
Have seen you mention this before!
280 customers is achievable in that time as you have proved. But having the motivation and drive to keep at it to get there is pretty amazing.
Fair play to ya mate!
-
Cozy, my head is swelling now !!
Tom, email me (its in my profile) and ill knock together as much info as I can remember to help you get a good start on your new venture.
Krave, that doesn't include the ones I've dumped or lost due to been made redundant. I reckon there would be another 30 - 40 ontop of that figure
-
'murdie window' have you tried posting leaflets or just canversing im just leaflets at the moment,if so you had much work off the leaflets i dont feel like knocking on doors really but would if the odds are a lot better than leaflets
I've had little success with leaflets on there own, when I'm out door knocking I always have a bundle to put through the doors of the not at homes and any one who I think may use it at a later date or pass it on. It's all about getting your name out there.
I'll 2nd what Cozy said about the windowcleaningcoach.com, I used that site and this for almost all my information, I search back posts on here to find out things as well. Also if there are any local cleaners you can talk to(if there friendly)
-
well i sent out 1000 leaflets and got 4 customers with them got few other jobs like gutters and facias but thought that was really low number especially when i noticed houses i posted looked like there windows needed a good clean i would of been happy with 10 customers out of a 1000 leaflets aswell,do you think its a bad time post leaflets with xmas that close,people got more important things on there mind
-
Jackal.... just because you dont get responces straight away isnt a bad thing. People mean to get round, but it can take a while. I had someone ring me 6 months after posting a leaflet through there door.
Try working on a saturday when more people are home to see you. I nearly ran a woman over today because she came running from round the corner cos she had seen me out of her bedroom window. Turns out shes one of the women who has just joined my wifes networking group and we were only talking about her the other day (my wife asked if she was a customer of mine as i clean in her street)
-
what window wipers didnt tell ya is that his wife did most of his canvassing for him!! ;) ;D
-
leaflet drops seem to be pants to me,I have had nothing back off any i dropped,maybe get odd ones in the future,but door knocking and dropping leaflets off when people are not in has a much greater impact from what i have found,although I have only just started out,probably been going a month now,I am up to 33 customers so far,am aiming for 50 by end of week!!!
-
Dazmond, yes I did tell him - it was in the email I sent. Was in a rush when I did my first post so just did the basics ;)
I'm sure tom will verify this
-
im just joking with ya window wipers!! ;D ;D ;D
-
Everyone jealous of WW wife :)
-
First of all, I still get phone calls from leaflets I delivered years ago, The thing with leaflets is you just keep delivering and you can't fail. People have been on here and said they delivered a few hundred and gave up. You have to deliver squillions. And three months later deliver again to the same roads.
Most leaflets delivered now won't result in a phone call till the weather picks up but people do keep them.
-
you have to deliver squillions and keep doing same areas to get the odd phone call months later!!! what a complete waste of time,effort and money :o
-
you have to deliver squillions and keep doing same areas to get the odd phone call months later!!! what a complete waste of time,effort and money :o
Chopsie I would totaly disagree about it being a waste of time. I know as new guys we want customers to come flooding in from the second that flyer hits there mat, but it's about getting our names out there to the areas we want to work in and by going round areas every few months just strengthens your business name.
I've got a number of cleaners in my area, all well established and 3 of them have guys working with them, so I've got to put in the leg work to get custies for now, but also get my name known so in the future people will be aware I'm actualy working in there area.
-
Murdie thats what im trying to do now too, theres quite a few w/c's in my town already and trying to 'get in' was hard at the start, still is in many ways but im getting there, and its growing on my balance sheet month by month so im happy with that, not as much as i would like but im getting there, im finding though that you have to go out regardless of the weather to 'keep your name up' as other w/c's round here where i live dont come regular enough and when you do it makes you look good :) ive only put 1 day off so far since i started in mid september, i need a wife like window washers :) I have to do the canvassing myself and it takes alot of time!!
-
It would certanly help having an other half that was willing to help drum up business. I've never managed to get out today as I've had to many other things to sort out, so it sure would help. On the being regular and going out when you would rather stay in is spot on, had one yesterday say she didn't want me because she had been let down over the years with guys doing it for a few cleans then not coming back, I had to give her the chat and reasure her I was going to be regular. Just have to stick to my word now.
-
i've had enough of battling for days off and not seeing my kids. I've gathered a few (7) regular customers gathered from door knocking and 2 neighbours and done 2 large one off jobs. Going for 4 weeks fitting in the cleans on day off. I'm nervous about making the change, leaving my rut which pays the mortgage etc. Just wondered if anyone had done the above.
good luck tom you done the right thing :) you will make more wonger than the other job.and have time to see the kids.
-
i've had enough of battling for days off and not seeing my kids. I've gathered a few (7) regular customers gathered from door knocking and 2 neighbours and done 2 large one off jobs. Going for 4 weeks fitting in the cleans on day off. I'm nervous about making the change, leaving my rut which pays the mortgage etc. Just wondered if anyone had done the above.
Make that change my friend or you will regret it the rest of your life. I started weekends whilst working, had a big bust up with my old fat greedy boss, walked out & left him in the lurch... lol...and have never looked back. All i done is drop loads of leaflets off and bobs your mum. Wouldn't bother buying work. Now have over 300 punters. Nice!! ;D ;D ;D ;D
-
i've had enough of battling for days off and not seeing my kids. I've gathered a few (7) regular customers gathered from door knocking and 2 neighbours and done 2 large one off jobs. Going for 4 weeks fitting in the cleans on day off. I'm nervous about making the change, leaving my rut which pays the mortgage etc. Just wondered if anyone had done the above.
Make that change my friend or you will regret it the rest of your life. I started weekends whilst working, had a big bust up with my old fat greedy boss, walked out & left him in the lurch... lol...and have never looked back. All i done is drop loads of leaflets off and bobs your mum. Wouldn't bother buying work. Now have over 300 punters. Nice!! ;D ;D ;D ;D
Tom if you do quit your job to go full time you are going to need to get work quickly and unless you are lucky enough to be able to buy work you will need to canvass, dropping leaflets alone doesn't normaly bring in enough work unless you drop maybe 30'000.
If anyone has managed to build up a round from leafleting alone then they are very fortunate.
-
Tom if you do quit your job to go full time you are going to need to get work quickly and unless you are lucky enough to be able to buy work you will need to canvass, dropping leaflets alone doesn't normaly bring in enough work unless you drop maybe 30'000.
If anyone has managed to build up a round from leafleting alone then they are very fortunate.
I must be fortunate then. I admit it isn't easy, but if you are willing to make a success out of it for little outlay, then leaflets is the way. People don't like cold callers anymore ( i blame the god squad ). If people want there windows cleaned then they will call you.
-
Tom if you do quit your job to go full time you are going to need to get work quickly and unless you are lucky enough to be able to buy work you will need to canvass, dropping leaflets alone doesn't normaly bring in enough work unless you drop maybe 30'000.
If anyone has managed to build up a round from leafleting alone then they are very fortunate.
I must be fortunate then. I admit it isn't easy, but if you are willing to make a success out of it for little outlay, then leaflets is the way. People don't like cold callers anymore ( i blame the god squad ). If people want there windows cleaned then they will call you.
I'm picking up work just fine by canvassing, never had a bad experiance from any one, it's either a yes I would, no I do them myself or the more common I've allready got a cleaner. You get some doors with a sticker saying "No door knockers"ect, but there few and far between round my way
-
I left my job 5 years ago with just 6 customers to service!
The job I left was a paying a salary that attracted 40% tax, company car and other perks (lovely sexy secretary for 1), but the stress would of killed me sooner rather than later.
I was lucky I had some savings (not enough though), I worked hard and 5 years on I am making the same sort of money but with alot less stress.
-
NO STRESS ;D
-
If any one thinks there is stress involved in this job obviously hasn't worked for a big company in a senior position then. Obviously there is certain stresses in this, but only the ones you put upon yourself, nothing like what being an employee for some one else can put upon you
-
i didint jump from a job to window cleaning, i couldnt get a job, as when i moved to cornwall i could only get a child minder 3 days a week, so ended up wc, really enjoy it, got about 80 custys at mo, but have lost about 10 -15, crap payers, canceled etc, but havent been knocking for about 4 months, found some one who will print of 10000 leaflets for £65 quid, so going to get a load dont in feb and then get delivered, then try and leaflet and knock most weekends till full
-
i left my job as a transport manager for a very big local frim,at the time i went though divorce and didnt want the stress that came with it.i was on 28k+
so i left after 8year servive,best thing i every done.
i took 3mth off where i just enjoyed life and sorted me head out from the divorce,and that when i decided to take up w/c.never looked back,trust me.the hard work is starting to pay off now. ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)
-
i left my job as a transport manager for a very big local frim,at the time i went though divorce and didnt want the stress that came with it.i was on 28k+
so i left after 8year servive,best thing i every done.
i took 3mth off where i just enjoyed life and sorted me head out from the divorce,and that when i decided to take up w/c.never looked back,trust me.the hard work is starting to pay off now. ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)
Nice one matey. All you have to do is grow some balls. I earn more now than ive ever done before. The rewards are great for me, can come & go as i please, no one to answer to, no worrys of getting the old tin tack, can have time of whenever i want. God, it's GRRRRRRRRRRREAT to be in control. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
-
grow some balls :o :o :o :oi had them last time i checked.
my out look on life as changed since the divorce,to the fact i dont worry about what i earn as long as iam happy and all me bills are paid.more you earn the more you spend or want.
i now after 4years have a very full round with good custys.
iam at the stage where iam now turning work away if it not worth it or never to what i do.
and yes i love the freedom
-
isnt being happy the point of life, people think that we are just wc, but we are all a lot happier than most people
we got job security, work for a great boss, get tans, basically we got every thing from a job that we ever wanted, there is only two jobs better than a wc, premiership footballer and porn star, i dont know about u but i am crap at football
next time you are out look at how miserable your custy are, with the great job that they always wanted and how hard they work, just to earn the same money as a lot of use do
-
I actually enjoy being my own boss too, although when starting out you have to keep you nose clean but i enjoy it no end, dont want to ever work for anyone else again and having been a stay at home dad full time for the past 4 and half years im chomping at the bit to get out, and with me only working around his schooling during the term anyway(i know i am going to have to take him out some time when hes off) its saving us a fortune on childcare costs, i know a local man who i clean for has a 9 yr old, gets looked after for 1hr 30 mins a day during week for £60 and has been paying that since child was 5 months old, total so far 27,000!!!! Mental money!!! Cheapest you can get starting now is £100 a week, im not working extra to pay for that, not a chance. What would be the point?
-
i left a job as a employed window cleaner to start up on my own. i brought a round which provided £600 every 4 weeks and built it from their. 7 years on and i never regretted it.
-
I actually enjoy being my own boss too, although when starting out you have to keep you nose clean but i enjoy it no end, dont want to ever work for anyone else again and having been a stay at home dad full time for the past 4 and half years im chomping at the bit to get out, and with me only working around his schooling during the term anyway(i know i am going to have to take him out some time when hes off) its saving us a fortune on childcare costs, i know a local man who i clean for has a 9 yr old, gets looked after for 1hr 30 mins a day during week for £60 and has been paying that since child was 5 months old, total so far 27,000!!!! Mental money!!! Cheapest you can get starting now is £100 a week, im not working extra to pay for that, not a chance. What would be the point?
There is an element in the family credit that coveres childcare. Having said that I feel it is best for children to be cared for by family rather than strangers. (Where possible)
-
yeah i know theres that, but id prefer to do it myself and still bring in what i need to get by on, if i cant do that being self employed then whats the point in doing so?
-
Personally myself, started at 17/18 now 41 been at it all the time, now selling
the rounds been as mad as Three point five large a month but lost some big earners due to shop cutbacks, ie KFC, Mcdonalds, Waitrose..
best way to start in this business and to make it pay is SIMPLY just to stick at it WHATEVER nature and your personal circumstances throw at you.....
i had some really awfull winters ie 1988 sticks in my mind, God it was freezing that year for about 4 months, and i was still out in it...bills to pay ::)
also dont be disheartened by customers 'coming and going', i could tell you stories of clients that have fased in and out for the last 20 years through housemoves and God knows what other circumstances....
if you are good, and i mean GOOD, you'll get work, that simple.
Keep your face in public, don't rip no-one off, be polite, listen to your customers monthly winging with a smile on your face and you'll be fine, trust me.
-
i packed my job after 15 years, i only had 7 years left to get a full pension but i had enough. i started in june 2007 window cleaning and by september i was making enough to survive just. i mainly leafleted but i was lucky in that i had a payout of 9k from the previous job to keep me going. also my brother is a commercial window cleaner and he passed all enquirys for domestic to me and gave me a few houses he was struggling to keep up with. i also took free listings wherever i could ie yell etc
by the xmas 2007 i had about 500 quid more than my survival budget
-
i did exactly that, and i love it.... i know lots on here who have left the regular job and gone window cleaning, not been able to build a round quick enough... not had any clue how to run a round, and people who thought it was easy money...
they found out the hard way, and packed it in.....
you have to be dedicated from the word go, put the hours in , the leg work... and be prepared to live on nothing for weeks and weeks.
Its fine people saying you wont fail, but the reality is.. its a business..your business and lots of people fail, mainly because they make the mistake of reading misleading earning topics,..and think the customers and the money will come to them automatically..
its hard work to achieve a reliable monthly income from scratch
Dont let anyone tell you otherwise,
sorry to be so blunt and not what you want to hear, but it needs to be said.
-
Personally myself, started at 17/18 now 41 been at it all the time, now selling
the rounds been as mad as Three point five large a month but lost some big earners due to shop cutbacks, ie KFC, Mcdonalds, Waitrose..
best way to start in this business and to make it pay is SIMPLY just to stick at it WHATEVER nature and your personal circumstances throw at you.....
i had some really awfull winters ie 1988 sticks in my mind, God it was freezing that year for about 4 months, and i was still out in it...bills to pay ::)
also dont be disheartened by customers 'coming and going', i could tell you stories of clients that have fased in and out for the last 20 years through housemoves and God knows what other circumstances....
if you are good, and i mean GOOD, you'll get work, that simple.
Keep your face in public, don't rip no-one off, be polite, listen to your customers monthly winging with a smile on your face and you'll be fine, trust me.
Good post. By the way,had a few winters like that here too.