[Sean Dyer]

My current job is driving. I work about 45 hrs a week (am there about 50 a week) and get about £19k before tax. Take home about £280 a week. I don't want more money. The same or even a bit less would do me, but I want better hours. I work every other weekend and one day might work 6-4 then 11-9 then 2 - midnight and so on. I would becable to go on a 3 day week once I got enough work before leaving in full.

People get upset on here when you talk about earnings, but if you get reasonably quick with a wfp/squeegee and price right you will earn your old wage in 2 days a week MAX... it isnt easy and you wont earn 200 quid a day everyday all year, but if you are enthusiastic and hard working its very possible, and there is work out there it just takes the right person to go and get it

I have been full time now for 2 years and part time for about 1-2 and haven't really canvassed as hard as i should, in fact very little till recently and my business has doubled each year so you can grow a wc business with hard work despite the economic downturn

[Sunshine/Cleaning]

Ive been wanting to jack it all in and take up W/C as want to be my own boss but like you worried about money .... I need £2100 a month to cover all bills and a little fun money.

Is that £2100 after tax? If so you're going to be needing £750 per week every week?

It's "doable" - But it takes a while to get there!

Andy

I think thats a bit conservative. I would work on the basis that your 'wage' ie takehome £'s to spend will be 50% of turnover. so I would aim for about £900 per week.

I went on an Ionics training course and according to their book about becoming a window cleaner I can easily get 15 customers a week ... not sure if I need an Ionics to make the customers fall at my feet though. ?? 

Not knocking Ionics just having a larf ... actually very enjoyable day and no hard sell of their systems neither ... one day may even buy one !!

Only pay taxman once or twice a year I think so will worry about him next year

Thats a common mistake for people new to self-employment. My advice would be to work as if you are employing yourself and put away your tax weekly plus put to one side holiday and sick time money as well. Along with expenses including replacing most of your equipment every 2-3 years I would recommend putting aside 50% of your earnings and live off the other 50%.

There are a few on here who have found themselves in hot water due to needing to pay the tax man or their van going pop.

[Sean Dyer]

Ive been wanting to jack it all in and take up W/C as want to be my own boss but like you worried about money .... I need £2100 a month to cover all bills and a little fun money.

Is that £2100 after tax? If so you're going to be needing £750 per week every week?

It's "doable" - But it takes a while to get there!

Andy

I think thats a bit conservative. I would work on the basis that your 'wage' ie takehome £'s to spend will be 50% of turnover. so I would aim for about £900 per week.

wheres 1500 a month going?? Tax on 2100 (2100*12) would be 2850 takin into account personal allowance and expenses of 5k a year , so its why does he need an extra 1500 .00 ??

Hes gone from needing 525 a week to 750 to 900 in about 3 posts lol

[Ian101]

  I clean them, but I tell them their may be a delay of two months (or whatever it'll be) before I'm back again, so I can just slot them into my cleaning cycle for that area that they live in.  I always give a business card and reassure them that I'll be back

Hi Tosh .... you never have any problems with doing this    

[Sunshine/Cleaning]

Ive been wanting to jack it all in and take up W/C as want to be my own boss but like you worried about money .... I need £2100 a month to cover all bills and a little fun money.

Is that £2100 after tax? If so you're going to be needing £750 per week every week?

It's "doable" - But it takes a while to get there!

Andy

I think thats a bit conservative. I would work on the basis that your 'wage' ie takehome £'s to spend will be 50% of turnover. so I would aim for about £900 per week.

wheres 1500 a month going?? Tax on 2100 (2100*12) would be 2850 takin into account personal allowance and expenses of 5k a year , so its why does he need an extra 1500 .00 ??

Hes gone from needing 525 a week to 750 to 900 in about 3 posts lol

Well first of all he needs £2100 per month AFTER tax so that is £484 take home.
Allow for 4 weeks holiday he needs to TAKE HOME £525  per week AFTER tax.
To get £525 AFTER tax he needs to Turn over at least £34000 per year. Thats £708 per week
Add to that £6000 in expenses and turnover will need to be £40,000
Bearing in mind he needs to do this in 48 weeks = £833 TURNOVER per week, plus the business needs to make a profit and I thought £65 per week profit was reasonably low.

That gives me £900 per week. I was the only one to add ALL the sums together.

The mistake many make is between TURNOVER and TAKEHOME.
If you have a full time job look at the Gross and Net differences plus holiday pay.

[Ian101]

Inadvertantly hijacked this post .. sorry RL ... yes there is a differnence between turnover and profit and tax etc etc etc ... I could sit all day trying to work out the possible outcomes ref turnover v profit etc etc .... what I was trying to say was if you think about it too much you would never do it. ..... but the taxman can still wait IMHO 

[rl]

Haha no probs for hijacking the post! Have been keeping an eye on the thread on my phone whilst at work. Good to hear from someone in same position as me. Keep us posted on how you progress won't you. Will put a better reply on tomorrow when have 5 mins on computer.

Also thanks again to Daniel for the emails will reply again tomorrow.

Cheers guys.

[Sunshine/Cleaning]

Inadvertantly hijacked this post .. sorry RL ... yes there is a differnence between turnover and profit and tax etc etc etc ... I could sit all day trying to work out the possible outcomes ref turnover v profit etc etc .... what I was trying to say was if you think about it too much you would never do it. ..... but the taxman can still wait IMHO 

I'm not affected in any way whether you succed or not, however your family is. If you feel you can get to £2100 per month TAKEHOME in 3-4 months then go for it. I just wanted to point out the reality of what you are expecting. You will have to pay tax and expenses even if its not immediate.

I wish you well in your next few months. 

[lee09]

It takes time to build your business to the value of £2100 after tax per month if thats whats needed.
I have replied to some of your previous posts and will say again that if you really want to do this then you will succeed. Do you want to do this?
Lee

[Ian101]

Hi Lee and Sunshine Stuart and Andy ... I agree with you and in all seriousness now (a lot of my posts are lighthearted ) .... Yes its a big target and still having doubts ... I really appreciate all of yours and other help Ive had on this forum not meant to come across as dismissive or owt like that (not that anyone said I was  ) as I know I still have loads to learn.

In more detail .....

My plan is to do 2 part time jobs ... morning cleaning ... bar work at night and if required 3 day week in a job somewhere  then cleaning windows for 2 days a week  ... this way my "kitty" should last me for enough time to build my round to approx 400 ish customers throw some commercial work in along the way and fingers crossed will be there a lot quicker

As my round builds I can drop the part time work on a as and when possible basis .... going to be knackered after 6 months but will be worth it in the end !!!

As Lee said If you want it then its possible 

[Ian101]

Haha no probs for hijacking the post! Have been keeping an eye on the thread on my phone whilst at work. Good to hear from someone in same position as me. Keep us posted on how you progress won't you.

Will do RL .... keen to compare notes / progress .... went to a Rotary meeting last night ... large building near to me ... must be 300 windows easy .... the ones I looked at were filthy ... massive job but just shows if you keep your eyes open its amazing what you can find.

[Tom White]

  I clean them, but I tell them their may be a delay of two months (or whatever it'll be) before I'm back again, so I can just slot them into my cleaning cycle for that area that they live in.  I always give a business card and reassure them that I'll be back

Hi Tosh .... you never have any problems with doing this    

Never.  In fact I've got a new clean lined up today, but the area isn't due till next month and it's every-other-month.  So I'll clean the new clean and give them the option of having them done next month - when I'm in the area - or I will be back in THREE months; I'll explain why; leave them my card.

I've charged a good initial cleaning fee for this job, since it's out of my way and they want it done quickly, and I've explained why that is also.

I find if I'm honest and explain why I do things - even if it's to make MY life easier - my customers seem to be happy with that.  I'm pretty sure most of us can detect 'waffle' when we hear it, so I try not to do that.

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

RL

You mention wife & child.

Don't know if your wife works or your child is under 18 years old but are you aware of child & working tax credits?

I would think on your current wage you already claim these?

If you do go full time w/c'ing these credits should increase, at least for the first 12 months.  Might be worth you while finding out a bit more about this.

Also, it wouldn't take very long IMO to match your current earnings but by working much less hours. As has been said, you could do that trad in two days once you've got the work & providing it's priced fairly.

[rl]

Hi everyone again, sorry taken so long to post a reply on my own thread.

Think I am going to buy all the bits I need to get going, I already have a backpack and Pole, do need a DI vessel (low ppm) and trad stuff. Then will get some practice in on my own house (our windows are in desperate need of a clean) and then will start with family's windows etc and hopefully get the odd person here and there and start slowly. Also going to try asap to reduce my hours at work to 39 instead of 45-50, might take some doing but will try.

I can't thank you all enough, from when I joined this site last year everyone has given good advice and when I have been going off the idea I have always received encouragement to not give up on the idea.

Am still a bit concerned that I keep seeing more and more different window cleaners in the area, but I'm not going to let this put me off.

Thanks again guys.

[Ian101]

Am still a bit concerned that I keep seeing more and more different window cleaners in the area, but I'm not going to let this put me off.

They have always been there you just never noticed them before same think happened to me ... its like when you buy a differnt car you suddenly realise how many of them there are 

[Gav Camm lammy 283]

Haha no probs for hijacking the post! Have been keeping an eye on the thread on my phone whilst at work. Good to hear from someone in same position as me. Keep us posted on how you progress won't you.

Will do RL .... keen to compare notes / progress .... went to a Rotary meeting last night ... large building near to me ... must be 300 windows easy .... the ones I looked at were filthy ... massive job but just shows if you keep your eyes open its amazing what you can find.

wheres that rotary building ian lol

[rl]

They have always been there you just never noticed them before same think happened to me ... its like when you buy a differnt car you suddenly realise how many of them there are 

Very true! Cheers. Hope all is going well with you.