[windows_chepstow]

I drive about in a car, use a backpack; still trad the ground floor and have a mainly residential round; some with awkward access.

If you were me and had 5K to invest into your business, what would you do?

I'm thinking along the lines of getting a decent (second-hand) sign-written van, a 400 litre tank, going 100% WFP (no trad), a nice web-site and spending some more time on directly targetting larger commercial work.

What would you do?  Is there anything else I could do?

[Trevor Knight]

This question is best answered by yourself Tosh. You know what you want out of this business and for others to say would be inaccurate.

Look at where you are now, where you want to be, what you feel would make your life easier, how and what you could change to make that happen.

When you have decided what changes you would like to do write a list of what is stopping you doing them, then consider which, if financial restraints are the reason, you can acheive with this £5k to spend.

Look at how this money will earn you money. If your existing set up works for you why change it? Why not use this money to get another vehicle set up and employ someone, get them out earning you the money?

[jeff1]

How can anyone add more to  what Trevor has said, I totally agree with him.

[chris@c.m.s]

I'm pretty much in the same position as you Tosh I'll be investing after Christmas and proberly doing the same as you except maybe going for a larger tank and getting myself a much better Ro system, I'm thinking of a 700ltr plus tank as I'm not sure where I'm going with things at the moment but I may end up employing  so would rather go for a larger tank and only fill it as much as needed, will proberly also get some carbon fibre poles as well, I'm getting lazier as i'm getting older    

[spotless2000]

I'm thinking along the lines of getting a decent (second-hand) sign-written van

You're obviously considering your image / advertising - Have you considered a uniform for work (you may already have this)  e.g. embroidered polo shirts etc?

[Paul Coleman]

I drive about in a car, use a backpack; still trad the ground floor and have a mainly residential round; some with awkward access.

If you were me and had 5K to invest into your business, what would you do?

I'm thinking along the lines of getting a decent (second-hand) sign-written van, a 400 litre tank, going 100% WFP (no trad), a nice web-site and spending some more time on directly targetting larger commercial work.

What would you do?  Is there anything else I could do?

Tosh.
Are you in a soft water or hard water area as this could affect the answer.  What is the TDS of tap water in your area?

[windows_chepstow]

You're obviously considering your image / advertising - Have you considered a uniform for work (you may already have this)  e.g. embroidered polo shirts etc?

Spotless, we're the smartest window cleaners in Chepstow and I'm the best looking!  We wear proper work wear trousers, and sign-written polo and fleeces.  I shave every morning; so does Wor Lass.

Is this money cash, or is it a bank loan?

If it is the latter, I would stay as you are for now and build up the pot.

Dont forget at the end of Jan you will need to pay your Tax Bill.

It's cash and my tax bill is pretty much taken care of; but that's another thread.

I'm thinking of a 700ltr plus tank as I'm not sure where I'm going with things at the moment but I may end up employing 

Ian_Giles suggested I should by the biggest and best I could afford.  We'll see.

Are you in a soft water or hard water area as this could affect the answer. What is the TDS of tap water in your area?

I live in an 'ard water area; tap water around 170 TDS.  I know what you're thinking though; if it was soft water, go DI and a 400 litre tank would be easy and quick to refill (I think).

This question is best answered by yourself Tosh.   Etc...

Cheers, Trev; that's given me some food for thought.

Thanks guys; I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything.  5K is a lot of money to me.

[AuRavelling79]

Tosh, a couple of weeks ago my hand was forced when the Honda got clouted by an artic. I went for a new van "on the drip". I could have paid cash (but it would have cleaned me out) and it's all tax deductable.

I don't know how you feel about credit or lease but in business I think it makes sense to spend monthly on a new tool (wfp/van or both) that is going to bring in more business.

Generally (other than my mortgage) I never have loans or use my credit card beyond what I pay off at the end of the following month. But in business it's different.

In the past the only time I've bought a new vehicle (two in fact) was for two maintenance technicians I was employing at the time (office equipment repairs) while I drove an older Montego!

Now the family car is a 10 yr old diesel hathback and I've got a new van - not cuz I necessarily want a new van (tho' it's nice) but because I want to be able to work every day I wish without fear of breakdowns, additional costs (22mpg instead of 45mpg) and limited carrying capacity for water.

So - A van, 400L tank, microbore and varistream. Keep the backpack.

[Fast 1 *]

You're obviously considering your image / advertising - Have you considered a uniform for work (you may already have this)  e.g. embroidered polo shirts etc?

Spotless, we're the smartest window cleaners in Chepstow and I'm the best looking!  We wear proper work wear trousers, and sign-written polo and fleeces.  I shave every morning; so does Wor Lass.

Is this money cash, or is it a bank loan?

If it is the latter, I would stay as you are for now and build up the pot.

Dont forget at the end of Jan you will need to pay your Tax Bill.

It's cash and my tax bill is pretty much taken care of; but that's another thread.

I'm thinking of a 700ltr plus tank as I'm not sure where I'm going with things at the moment but I may end up employing 

Ian_Giles suggested I should by the biggest and best I could afford.  We'll see.

Are you in a soft water or hard water area as this could affect the answer. What is the TDS of tap water in your area?

I live in an 'ard water area; tap water around 170 TDS.  I know what you're thinking though; if it was soft water, go DI and a 400 litre tank would be easy and quick to refill (I think).

This question is best answered by yourself Tosh.   Etc...

Cheers, Trev; that's given me some food for thought.

Thanks guys; I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything.  5K is a lot of money to me.

Tosh,that shaving comment at the top cracked me up

[Paul Coleman]

You're obviously considering your image / advertising - Have you considered a uniform for work (you may already have this)  e.g. embroidered polo shirts etc?

Spotless, we're the smartest window cleaners in Chepstow and I'm the best looking!  We wear proper work wear trousers, and sign-written polo and fleeces.  I shave every morning; so does Wor Lass.

Is this money cash, or is it a bank loan?

If it is the latter, I would stay as you are for now and build up the pot.

Dont forget at the end of Jan you will need to pay your Tax Bill.

It's cash and my tax bill is pretty much taken care of; but that's another thread.

I'm thinking of a 700ltr plus tank as I'm not sure where I'm going with things at the moment but I may end up employing 

Ian_Giles suggested I should by the biggest and best I could afford.  We'll see.

Are you in a soft water or hard water area as this could affect the answer. What is the TDS of tap water in your area?

I live in an 'ard water area; tap water around 170 TDS.  I know what you're thinking though; if it was soft water, go DI and a 400 litre tank would be easy and quick to refill (I think).

This question is best answered by yourself Tosh.   Etc...

Cheers, Trev; that's given me some food for thought.

Thanks guys; I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything.  5K is a lot of money to me.

OK then.  If you have 5k to invest, if it is possible I think you should borrow that much again at least and get a larger van with a van mount (more than 400 litres if possible), DI unit (polish as you use) and have a static tank with RO unit with transfer pump and hose.  If it's not possible to set that up at your place maybe look around to rent somewhere.
I say use a bigger tank because once you start using a van mount for the tops and see how much faster it is than regularly filling a backpack, I have a hunch you will want to start using WFP on the ground floor too.  With two of you using WFP, the minimum van tank is probably 650 litres and if possible, go for more.
I was astonished at first when I discovered that people used WFP on the ground floor work.  Now I do it all the time.  I did revert back to trad on the ground floor for a while when there were water supply issues here in the southeast but, on the whole, I find WFP much faster.
If you get a good setup large enough for yours and Wor Lass's needs, you will kick yourself for not having done it sooner.  Once you have got on a roll, you will get through your work much more quickly and will have more time off or be able to take more work on.
However, without regularly stopping for backpack refills, you will get through a lot more water.  Also, I suspect that in using a backpack, you are having the waterflow on a much lower setting than you would with van mount.  This is why I suggest getting a much bigger tank.  You could find yourselves restricted if you are both drawing from a 400 litre van mount - especially once you start WFPing the ground floor too.

[windows_chepstow]

OK then.  If you have 5k to invest, if it is possible I think you should borrow that much again...

5K is my top whack and borrowing is out of the question; horns would honk and red-lights flash if I tried to apply for credit; we're also trying to get on the property ladder and that's our priority.

I reckon I should be able to buy a 2nd hand van though and get set up for around 5K.

get a larger van with a van mount (more than 400 litres if possible), DI unit (polish as you use) and have a static tank with RO unit with transfer pump and hose.  If it's not possible to set that up at your place maybe look around to rent somewhere.

Yes, I agree and I've space where I live for a van set up.

Cheers.