[rl]

Hi everyone, finally back online after broadband problems galore, been trying to look on my mobile when I can.

Anyway since it's been ages since my last post, I'd appreciate your advice now a few months have passed on my decision over if I should or should not start up. You might remember my initial post telling you all my info but if not a quick recap.

I'm 30, wife, daughter and probably another coming next year, work 50hrs a week including every other weekend, for about £20k a year before tax, driving job, nice house with a not so nice mortgage , would love to start my own business or train for a better career, came across window cleaning and found this great site, and have been umming and arring for months about what to do. Have bought a WFP and backpack but nothing else and already have a van.

So would you in my position try to start up as a window cleaner some time this year? I have a safe stable job but want to break free and be my own boss, I can drop to a 3 day week in my job but might struggle to go back full time if it doesn't work out. My main concern is if there is enough work out there, in the past few months I've seen so many window cleaners about that I've not seen before.

So opinions please, bearing in mind my position and the position of the economy etc, and also if there is anyone in the Kendal/Lancaster/Preston/Blackpool etc areas that can give me more specific info about how the local area is then please do or I'll post my email if you prefer.

Thanks again.

[StanA]

Hi everyone, finally back online after broadband problems galore, been trying to look on my mobile when I can.

Anyway since it's been ages since my last post, I'd appreciate your advice now a few months have passed on my decision over if I should or should not start up. You might remember my initial post telling you all my info but if not a quick recap.

I'm 30, wife, daughter and probably another coming next year, work 50hrs a week including every other weekend, for about £20k a year before tax, driving job, nice house with a not so nice mortgage , would love to start my own business or train for a better career, came across window cleaning and found this great site, and have been umming and arring for months about what to do. Have bought a WFP and backpack but nothing else and already have a van.

So would you in my position try to start up as a window cleaner some time this year? I have a safe stable job but want to break free and be my own boss, I can drop to a 3 day week in my job but might struggle to go back full time if it doesn't work out. My main concern is if there is enough work out there, in the past few months I've seen so many window cleaners about that I've not seen before.

So opinions please, bearing in mind my position and the position of the economy etc, and also if there is anyone in the Kendal/Lancaster/Preston/Blackpool etc areas that can give me more specific info about how the local area is then please do or I'll post my email if you prefer.

Thanks again.

I would suggest that if you have some money behind you, maybe do that 3 day week and build some window cleaning work around it.  See how it feels.  Sometimes things are different to how you think they will be.  If you don't have money behind you, maybe just start doing it at first weekends only (or on your normal days off).  Obviouslyt it depends on your exact circumstances but I would build up to get full weekends only at first, have a big canvassing blitz once you get to that point (maybe use up some paid holiday time) to get enough work and promises of work in to enable you to do the three day week and review it when you get there.  You may want to stick at that even because having some guaranteed income whatever the weather is not such a bad thing.  If you do stick at that point, if you can cope with the lower cashflow, do consider going on emergency tax on the PAYE job as this will effectively help with your tax bill from self employment.  You may even end up with small rebates eventually depending on your earnings.  This would mean regarding the window cleaning as your main work.  Bear in mind that once your profit from self-employment hits somewhere around the £5k mark, you will be liabe for NI of about £26 per quarter.  You may even be liable from the start but you have to register in order not to pay it until your income climbs.
Others may not agree with me but I would suggest in your situation NOT to give up your other job until you have done at least a full two winters window cleaning.

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

I would find out what wc's are earning where you are. There is a massive difference in earning at different parts of the coutry.  There is almost always more than enough work to go around, however once a round is established it earns more as the travel time decreases. Don't believe all the numbers you hear on this forum, some people are doing well others are telling porkies. To earn 20k a year for a newbie your still looking at a lot of work.

If your gonna do it start at the weekends first and go from there, take note of rainy days over the coming months to see how much work you would do if you can't brave the rain. You might be better off where you are.

Simon. 

[williamx]

As you already have the equipment, I would get out there and start knocking doors, forget about dropping leaflets, door knocking is an instance way to start a round.

Before you drop your hours from your main job, I would built a round of 1 day a week, then when you have being doing this for 6 weeks or so, you will get an idea if this is for you.

If you find it is, then build the next day workload, you kept on doing this untill your 4 days are full of regular work, I would then built a wedge of money in case of emergences, (about 3 months of your present earnings should be enough).

At this point of time, you either go for it, kept at as it is or sell the round.

[matt]

I'm 30, wife, daughter and probably another coming next year, work 50hrs a week including every other weekend, for about £20k a year before tax, driving job, nice house with a not so nice mortgage
Thanks again.

the alarm bell in my head went off with this

the family and "not so nice mortgage" , i guess that means its a fair sized 1

as tosh said, do not do anything rash

i would start off with building a small round, get out door knocking, you say you can work 3 days a week doing your job, well that leave you will another 2 or 3 days a week to work as a window cleaner, once you get your 3 days full, you can for a while let your work run over a little, for example, if you say you will be around every 6 weeks, stretch the freq of cleans to 7 weeks ( the customer will not notice and you can then gain the extra work, you will then be approaching 4 days window cleaning work a week, that in my opinion if done right it enough for you to leave your other job and just do WCing full time ( at 4 days a week at 100 - 150 quid you will be on your way to having the same money)

this is the way i would go, you can see if its all what its cracked up to be, even at 2 or 3 days a week you will realise if its for you or not, you will have to work hard for the next 2 years building up a round to work 3 / 4 days a week ( AND ) you will be doing your job that you do now , on the plus side you will have extra money coming in , which if i was you, i would put into a bank account and leave it for a "fall back fund" when you leave your old job ( you will have a little bit of a slush fund )

you could on the other hand, save like mad and pay a "door knocking company " or look to buy a round, then you can jump straight into a 3 day week, whilst still keeping your old job

i would be very wary of just packing your job in and starting up, its a long slog and you have other people to think about

[lee09]

Hi
I think your looking for reassurance that none of us can give.
Yes there are a lot of new starters, there always will be. There are also a lot of people that start up and hate the job and move on to something else.

I would see if someone local to you will take you out for a day or two to show you the ropes. If you need to take holiday from work for this do it. This will give you an insight into the business and if you think it is for you get the good lady to deliver some leaflets while you are at work and build a small round.
At this point it may be worth going to three days a week with your employer to then push your round in to a full time business.

I will not say don't do it, or even go for it. Everything we do has some risk,  it just depends on how badly we want to do it.
Good luck with your decision though
Lee

[formb]

Window cleaning is great but, not everyone has the drive to do it. It can get dull and having to force yourself out of bed on a cold dark January morning can be difficult to say the least.

Having said that if you can get enough work, 20k a year for 50hrs a week should be a doddle. 

[paul rulton]

20k has gotta b part time fella..... go 4 it, u wont look back

[rl]

Thanks for all the honest advice guys, just what i was wanting. As always your all giving great advice and I really want to thank you. Will continue to read your replies to help me decide what to do!

[AuRavelling79]

Thanks for all the honest advice guys, just what i was wanting. As always your all giving great advice and I really want to thank you. Will continue to read your replies to help me decide what to do!

What's your health like and what does your lady wife think about it?

[Ian Lancaster]

Thanks for all the honest advice guys, just what i was wanting. As always your all giving great advice and I really want to thank you. Will continue to read your replies to help me decide what to do!

What's your health like and what does your lady wife think about it?

Very good points.

You will need loads of stamina and determination to succeed.  Cleaning windows is the easy bit.  Knocking on door after door for hour after hour and presenting yourself as fresh and enthusiastic at every door takes a lot of doing. 

You also need the total support of your wife/family - they have to believe in what you're doing and your ability to do it and you will need their encouragement when things are not going well.

If you are absolutely sure on both points, that's at least half the battle.  After that it's just a numbers game - the more you knock, the more work you will get - it just takes time.

[Premier Cleaning]

Some good advice offered here.To play it safe part time is definitely the way forward.But do it ..you wont look back.
I started a new business WFP in july last year having come back from 2 years in Oz.
Set up completely from nothing(although had  run window cleaning/Carpet cleaning businesses previously),worked very very hard and did some smart marketing.

If you are prepared to work hard and unsociable hours initially(including weekends) you will easily be able to earn 20K part time...then kick the job in and blow the doors off it.

[stucooper]

hi all , if i had a job paying 20k then i would be incilned to keep it window clean at weekends at first £300 per weekend is easily managable adds 15k to 20k nice 35k pa it can be very hard work to maintain a high work rate as may people have already stated all work and no play etc remember the grass isnt allways greener plus being self employed means paperwork and accounts in the evenings
 i have been self employed or 20 years no holiday pay no sick pay, no dole money when you have no work six months tax to pay in adance gnerally treated like a lepur by the government hounded for tax returns ven when you sit down to relax in front of the telly

my advice !! keep your job window clean on the weekends cash inhand  enjoy your family and the rest of your life
sorry for the rant  bt its how i feel  cheers for reading  Stu