Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Dave Anderson on April 20, 2010, 04:22:31 pm

Title: Plodding on
Post by: Dave Anderson on April 20, 2010, 04:22:31 pm
For those who have a 'good' round...

So for those who have a nice round that makes a nice few quid...what do you do now....

Have been through mine and got rid of a raft of 'dont wants' and got rid of some 'too low priced' now have a nice round that combines a reasonable income with generous amount of time not working.

So what do you think you will do now?

Having spent the past 3,5 years living, eating and breathing window cleaning I am a little bored of it...the 'rush' of building it has gone and it feels very much a job now.

Now before I get hammered here..I am aware that I am lucky to be working at all, no I do not want to build an empire as of yet.

Your thoughts would be appreciated...

Title: Re: Plodding on
Post by: Smudger on April 20, 2010, 04:28:54 pm
TBH -  if you have got to where you want to be - make the most of it and be contented.

Personally i would keep the business moving forward and employ so in the future you sit in the office and the staff do the work for you

Darran
Title: Re: Plodding on
Post by: lee09 on April 20, 2010, 04:31:50 pm
Hi Dave
I am where you are, great round but bored and do not know what to do to get enthused again.
You are not lucky to be working, it has taken 3.5 years of hard work to create. That is not luck.
Lee
Title: Re: Plodding on
Post by: matt on April 20, 2010, 04:55:07 pm
For those who have a 'good' round...

So for those who have a nice round that makes a nice few quid...what do you do now....

Have been through mine and got rid of a raft of 'dont wants' and got rid of some 'too low priced' now have a nice round that combines a reasonable income with generous amount of time not working.

So what do you think you will do now?

Having spent the past 3,5 years living, eating and breathing window cleaning I am a little bored of it...the 'rush' of building it has gone and it feels very much a job now.

Now before I get hammered here..I am aware that I am lucky to be working at all, no I do not want to build an empire as of yet.

Your thoughts would be appreciated...



you are where i have been for a few years now, i add a little more commercial stuff when i get the chance ( and i charge very well for it ) but thats about it

you have 2 options:

you either embrace the fact that you are where you aimed for, pat yourself on the back and remmber your goals of why you wanted to start out, you mention "generous amount of time not working" thats the same for me, i get to see my 2 young girls grow up, if your life hasnt changed and you still like that generous amount of time not working, then happy days

or

you expand some more and employ, this will come with its advantages ( more money you would hope and in time you might be able to sit around and let the lads earn your living ) and the disadvantages ( at the start you will have to work more hours, deal with the stress of employing )

the first choice wins for me at this moment of my life, a like the easy lifestyle i have

in the futrue ? ? ? ? who knows ? ? ? ?

Title: Re: Plodding on
Post by: Darranvps on April 20, 2010, 04:55:15 pm
Sell up!
You have transformed from mere window cleaner into a businessman ;D
Thats what business is about, make a few quid, invest into something else.
Otherwise you may get too bored, become complacent etc and end up losing it.
You can always come back to Window Cleaning in a few years if things end up going pear shaped.
Title: Re: Plodding on
Post by: Dave Willis on April 20, 2010, 05:41:52 pm
Yeah, sell up and make yourself redundant. Brilliant idea that.

I'm at the same point but I don't want to employ. What keeps me going are the add ons that I do. I'm gradually pushing the prices up of the conservatory/gutter/sofffit cleaning becuase I can afford to lose them now. Commercial jobs can be priced at silly high prices if I don't fancy them..
At the end of the day though it will always be 'a job'.

I think you know when the novelty has worn off when so many posts on here become ridiculous.  ;)
Title: Re: Plodding on
Post by: paul rulton on April 20, 2010, 06:30:56 pm
he aint gotta b redundant  ::) he could sell it 2me 4next 2nothin, then i will give him a job at £45 aday
cleaning them  ;D  ;)



sorry  :( i will go now  :'(
Title: Re: Plodding on
Post by: williamx on April 20, 2010, 06:56:58 pm
 I reached that point 6 months ago and after a lot of thought about what to do, I had 4 options

1 Stay the as I am.

This is the easiest option, but I do want to go into semi-retirement in 6 years and the business will not be able to provide me with the money I would need to achieve this.

2 Employ

This I did look at this in depth, but I do feel I could get a employee would would treat the customers and the work like I do, unless I was there all the time, which makes employing pointless, the other factors are the extra expenses the goverment have implemented and what they have in the pipeline.

3 Sell

At the moment it would not generate enough for me to just walk away, I would still need to earn a living, so this is not an option.

4 Franchise

This seems to tick all the boxes, the franchisee while investing a lot of their own cash would have a vested interest to make the business grow, the quality of workmanship would be better than an employee and in a couple of years, I could employ a general manager to kept an eye on the day to day things while I am on the beach somewhere, and still earning.

I can still kept an eye on the business, via the internet and  I am only a plane ride away if needed.
Title: Re: Plodding on
Post by: johnny_h on April 20, 2010, 07:56:04 pm
diversify find something else retrain if you have to thats what ive done
Title: Re: Plodding on
Post by: Darranvps on April 20, 2010, 08:04:31 pm
Yeah, sell up and make yourself redundant. Brilliant idea that.

I'm at the same point but I don't want to employ. What keeps me going are the add ons that I do. I'm gradually pushing the prices up of the conservatory/gutter/sofffit cleaning becuase I can afford to lose them now. Commercial jobs can be priced at silly high prices if I don't fancy them..
At the end of the day though it will always be 'a job'.

I think you know when the novelty has worn off when so many posts on here become ridiculous.  ;)

There is nothing wrong with selling up, IF you can sell it for enough money and re-invest.
Not sure if window cleaners or businessmen are reading and writing posts on this site.
Or is it just window cleaners just pretending.
I don't mean to insult anybody :o
Title: Re: Plodding on
Post by: Dave Willis on April 20, 2010, 08:13:43 pm
What i mean is, when you start up you are like a sponge soaking up all the info on here and getting excited over brushes and new poles, sign writing and just about everything to do with cleaning windows. You suddenly reach the plateau in your business when so many things that were exciting no longer hold your interest.
Title: Re: Plodding on
Post by: Darranvps on April 20, 2010, 08:17:04 pm
What i mean is, when you start up you are like a sponge soaking up all the info on here and getting excited over brushes and new poles, sign writing and just about everything to do with cleaning windows. You suddenly reach the plateau in your business when so many things that were exciting no longer hold your interest.
Business men grow their businesses FACT
All businesses need to grow. If you can't expand - maybe your just doing window cleaning as a job ???
Most people get bored with their jobs!
Title: Re: Plodding on
Post by: Dave Willis on April 20, 2010, 08:21:20 pm
Does it matter? Business or job? who cares, it's an income at the end of the day. Expand if you want, stay the same if you want, choice is yours. Nobody has to employ and expand.
Title: Re: Plodding on
Post by: ♠Winp®oClean♠ on April 20, 2010, 08:34:29 pm
Has Ewan changed his name? ;D ;D
Title: Re: Plodding on
Post by: Dave Willis on April 20, 2010, 08:38:59 pm
  ;D
Title: Re: Plodding on
Post by: Darranvps on April 20, 2010, 08:42:49 pm
I agree, its up to the individual, but I thought this guy was bored?
Just saying my bit 8)
Title: Re: Plodding on
Post by: cozy on April 21, 2010, 07:42:10 am
Has Ewan changed his name? ;D ;D

No, not enough spelling mistakes  ;D Really miss Ewan, he was making alot of sense before he was kidnapped  :)
Title: Re: Plodding on
Post by: richard jagger on April 21, 2010, 07:48:17 am
To all who are bored with your business: time to set some new goals to work for . I am not joking. We always need a chalange.Its only human.


You can pay for my holidays Mate!! tong in cheek. 8) ::)
Title: Re: Plodding on
Post by: richard jagger on April 21, 2010, 09:08:57 am
This thread is of great value and should be run permanent.It would stop bad products supplied to us.Well down would the mods pay head and keep it at the top of the page with summerys of oyur finding at useing a product.
E G whats the ruling on flkat rooves
 Here one just bought a velve from gardeners.The snap ( John Guest type) they leak something cronic.I am going to try thread tape
Come Guys lets get this up permenently.
Title: Re: Plodding on
Post by: richard jagger on April 21, 2010, 09:11:31 am
How do I get my last posting removed its in the wrong thread.Can any one help to delete this.
Title: Re: Plodding on
Post by: weetot on April 21, 2010, 01:54:22 pm
( QUOTE) I think you know when the novelty has worn off when so many posts on here become ridiculous.   


What do you mean BECOME RIDICULOUS, they've been ridiculous for years  :o ;D
Title: Re: Plodding on
Post by: paul rulton on April 21, 2010, 02:18:05 pm
helpfull but in a fun way  ;D