[martinj]

Hi all

I must have done something really bad in a previous life because at the moment Im working as a part qualified accountant. Now you know why I want to be a window cleaner!! You think cleaning windows is boring!! I'll have to ease myself into cleaning gently else my heart wont be able to stand the excitement!

Anyway loads of people have given me lots of help on here so if anyone has a general question about their accounts ie can you claim something as an expense, whens my tax return due etc or any questions re Excel I will do my best to answer them or point you in the right direction if I cant.

Thanks again everyone Im sure Ill keep coming back to this forum again and again as I build my business.

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

I did 22 years in Financial Services - equally as boring!

[martinj]

Hi AJ

You know where Im coming from then! Glad to know someone else made the change from a "proper" career. So many people tell me Im mad but lifes too short, youve got to do what makes you happy

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

Couldn't agree more. My job paid a nice big salary and had 'status' but it was also stressful and totally and utterly dull. Working for yourself isn't always easy but I wouldn't go back to working for someone else in a million years! Sure people think I'm really strange because I'm a female window cleaner/gardener - whose joined the other half, not many of us about!

[martinj]

Can I ask how you made the switch and how long youve been going? Did you just quit or ease into cleaning full time?

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

Husband already had the window cleaning business and to be honest I'd thought about joining him for about 7 years. I just reached the point about 3 years ago that I knew I couldn't carry on in my old job and stay sane. I am a keen gardener and decided we'd do a combined business - windows and gardening. Started doing qualifications in gardening in 07 in preparation. Quit job in 2008 but continued to do some freelance work in the Financial Services sector until this year whilst developing the business. I gradually wound this down though over that 2 year period though. It is a HUGE step, and there were days early on when I did think what the hell I'd done but I don't regret it for one second now.

[martinj]

That gives me hope, Ive got half way through qualifying as an accountant and for the last couple of years a feeling that Im trying to stuff a square peg in a round hole has got worse to the point where like you its a question of money or sanity. Funnily enough my wife is a keen gardener also, shes done RHS qualifications, dont ask me what, when it comes to gardening I appear in a labouring capacity only and she supervises! She used to work in a plant nursery but was made redundant, shes a postie but would love to get back into gardening. Youre not in the sheffield area are you I dont want to go and start a window cleaning gardening business on your door step? Do customers go for a combined service then? Do the two compliment each other?

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

We're in the Midlands! Two definitely combine, and if you're wifes a keen gardener then I'd definitely consider looking into it. Some customers like the idea of someone who look after their windows and their gardens and we get quite a few cross referrals. It only works though if you both do windows and you both do gardens. We tried it last year with Alan doing windows on his own and to be honest it didn't work. We've got our website set up for gardens and the windows as an add on page and that's helped too. Its www.wegarden4u.co.uk if you're interested in having a look?

[robbo333]

I've been a graphic designer for over 25 years and have just started window cleaning. Everyone thinks i'm bonkers but that just makes me more determined to make it work. Best of luck martinj.

Cheers

Pete

[gewindows]

Martin, can you put the cost of your sarnies you buy at the local garage when you are at work against your tax bill?

[DavidWright76]

Been in a minimum wage factory job for the past 16 years, been doing part-time carpet cleaning and want to do a bit of window cleaning aswell. Can't wait to go self employed in the new year...

[martinj]

Hi Rise and Shine

Unfortunately not, you can claim a reasonable subsistance allowance if you need to go somewhere work related which falls outside your "normal duties", so when on your round no, sorry!