The first 5 years are hard because of all the equipment needed to run the business. I'm after that stage and could go all in and try and grow my customer base but I like doing other things so have got best of both worlds. I think ones age has alot to do with it. I'm near 60 now and just want to plod along and do 3 days a week window cleaning. In life, I never would have thought I would be a window cleaner its one of those trades that operates under the radar of life.
A lot of us started off with a jalopy, a ladder and a bucket. Nothing hard in that.
The hardest part for me was discipline, growing a round from bugger all and working with a ladder when the wind is coming in from the north and you’re squeeging.
I’m doing it all over again over here. But I have one thing on my side, self belief. I know I know what I’m talking about out here now, a good proportion of my work coming in now is from recommendations. Doesn’t take long if you’ve already done it once.
Yes its easier the second time because one has made all the mistakes.
I was going to buy my window cleaner's round more than 10 years ago for £8k. Relatives talked me out of it and the buyer dumped the domestic cleans. We couldn't get a cleaner so I did me and the neighbour's and then picked up the whole street. Still only had 20 customers and then someone mentioned the window cleaners forum.
Went on the forum and was advised to join Checkatrade and got cleans all over the place. If it wasn't for the forum I would still be using the ladder but I noticed most were wfp and my game changer was buying the vans tank system and the rest is history.
Had to stop advertising and now get walk ups from where I'm cleaning. Everyday can be different, like yesterday I heard a hammering on the side of the house I was cleaning. Looked around and it was a pair of rooks inside the eaves trying to break a board of build a nest because the triangle bit of plywood had fallen off. After the clean I got ladder out of van and screwed the plywood back on. Wrote on card that I post that I fitted the plywood back on at the side of house. I do this all the time and my customers appreciate helping them out. Win win scenario.