[Gerald Ash]

Well guys I've managed to find a car.
Now I need to work smart. My ideas so far is to start at eight am and allow one hour thirty minutes per job. This is because I can take it easy and also have time to canvass in each area of the jobs or more importantly time to recover if I have any heart pain.
As I've said I only need £50 per day to live like a king so there's plenty of time in the day.
Now all I need is your collective  wisdom. Ideas on pricing as I'm not very good at that. Domestic Window Cleaning Service is the name I'm toying with or fat knacker windows😃.
Come on guys all the information will be gratefully received.

[Ben Marriott]

Wear a fez whilst working and call your self "Just like that"
I'd love our window cleaner to do that

Sorry to be unhelpful but I could just imagine a van with a tommy cooperesque chap waggling his fingers at some shiny windows

[slap bash]

Just choose a average window and go on a pound per window then if its larger make it one fifty and even  large two quid. Small windows 50 p eg a toilet window.  So you need to do 5/6 houses a day to make 50 to 75 pound at your rate of 1.5 houses a day. After a few weeks revise you pricing strategy and increase if you must. Go round the house and work out in a small book the price of each house by adding up the price of each window they have and recording each houses price you quote. Do`t go under 10/12 quid as you need to have a minimum charge as it cost money to arrive on there door step.
If you window price come to 7.50 them its going to be 10 quid if its 13.50 then make it 14.00 so round off up a quid.

[Walter Mitty]

Just choose a average window and go on a pound per window then if its larger make it one fifty and even  large two quid. Small windows 50 p eg a toilet window.  So you need to do 5/6 houses a day to make 50 to 75 pound at your rate of 1.5 houses a day. After a few weeks revise you pricing strategy and increase if you must. Go round the house and work out in a small book the price of each house by adding up the price of each window they have and recording each houses price you quote. Do`t go under 10/12 quid as you need to have a minimum charge as it cost money to arrive on there door step.
If you window price come to 7.50 them its going to be 10 quid if its 13.50 then make it 14.00 so round off up a quid.

^^^^^^
Pretty solid advice there.  Underpricing is the scourge of the new window cleaner.  You've got more reason than most to price properly - doing as little as possible for your money due to your health.
All I would add is don't hang on to stress-inducing customers too long.  Stress = heart problem.

[sunshine windows]

If you have a hairy back, how about'Big Hairy G.ASH Window Cleaning'

Your strap line could be 'Happy to clean internals of all your nooks and crannies'

  HTH

[Cookie]

If you Google 'window cleaning price list' there are usually plenty of window cleaning companies that are happy to reveal their prices - I based my pricing on these when I started.

For me Domestic Window Cleaning Service sounds a bit too corporate and bland. I would  go for something like Gerald the Window Cleaner or Gerald's Window Cleaning - sounds a bit more personal.  However this is only my opinion - you essentially need to go for something you will be happy with.

[capn sparkle]

I remember seeing a piccy of you Gerald and to be honest you're a big lad...... So how about a company name that shouts that out, something that gets you remembered and recognised.

I'm not suggesting 'Big Fella Window Cleaning' but you get the gist.

I wear a Brazilian cattle ranchers hat when working (looks like an Aussie hat without the corks) stands out and easy for recommendations to spot me when working - "look for the bloke in the cowboy hat he's brilliant" apparently!

Anyway, good luck - If you want some help with the pricing side of things I'd be happy to chat with you - pop an email address on here and I'll send you my phone No.

Glenn

[DeLuce]

Pricing : £1 normal /average size window

                    £2 patio doors

                  £2 bay window  or £3 if quite large

                  £1.50 for  above average size window

                  Conservatory  : Mmmm, depends how awkward, say 50p per pane, £2 for patio doors and add 10%
Never underprice yourself. Then you maximise your earnings on time spent working.
Good luck fella

[robbo333]

Hi Gerald
I think I saw a pic of you once and you're 3 of me. I'm so slim mate, I have to run around in the shower just to get wet 
If I were you I would consider:
Bungalows are good to wfp, they are quick with far less strain on your body not having to extend a pole.
Smaller houses -  2 or 3 bed semis rather than mansions. I think the profit margins on smaller houses are better and you can have a break between each one. Also you won't get stressed if one mucks you about.
Do a cheap leaflet and be proud to be a 'one man band'.  I advertise myself as the small, friendly, caring window cleaner and I pick loads of work off the bigger companies that 'splash and dash'.
Pick an hourly rate that you would like to earn, say £25 per hour. Think about how long the job will take, if you think it's half an hour then round it up to £13 maybe £14.
Never go in cheap...do the opposite.
Tell the custy that you do a top job, clean all the frames and sills, front door, back door. Hand wipe all the downstairs sills. Wipe over the front door so it's not dripping wet when they open it. Be confident and polite. People buy from people and if they like you, you're in.
You're a big guy so have some banter and make them smile. I'm as skinny as a rake and I tell them 'i'm built for speed'.
As for marketing yourself I quite like the idea of 'opposites' eg 'The Tiny Window Cleaning Company' or 'Slim's Window Cleaning'
Health wise (without being rude) how about 'Slimming World'? My missus started a while back (yes she's considerably bigger than me) but it's great. She can eat as much she wants. And it works. There is a guy at her club who started in February and he's just lost 5 stone. Big celebrations. Just a thought but you might want to check it out.
Good luck to you anyway.
Hope it goes ok.
Cheers
Robbo

[Gerald Ash]

Change of plan. Been advised not to drive because of the chance of popping off all of a sudden.
Now that's stuffed it. Or has it?
I'm going to get a cargo bike called a Donky. http://donkybike.com/
I'm not going to give up as I'm a bloody minded sod.
Doctor's comment was if I'd been more active and just not eaten so much. It's that simple isn't it. He was left in no doubt of my distain.
Anyway I'm going to go down the green route and push that. Will have to start up in the spring but I'll prove that moronic doctor what I can do.
I'm looking forward to getting down to 23 stone which is my fighting weight.
All donations, advice or money gratefully received.
 

[Dave Willis]

So, is your moronic doctor wrong then?
There's a trad guy in my town who walks his whole round, so it can be done. I think I'd be more inclined to use a bike with trailer.

Anything here take your fancy?  http://www.electricpoweredsolutions.co.uk/electricplatform.html?gclid=CLWU0KCh1ccCFU-NGwodeJQAXA

[richard groves]

Change of plan. Been advised not to drive because of the chance of popping off all of a sudden.
Now that's stuffed it. Or has it?
I'm going to get a cargo bike called a Donky. http://donkybike.com/
I'm not going to give up as I'm a bloody minded sod.
Doctor's comment was if I'd been more active and just not eaten so much. It's that simple isn't it. He was left in no doubt of my distain.
Anyway I'm going to go down the green route and push that. Will have to start up in the spring but I'll prove that moronic doctor what I can do.
I'm looking forward to getting down to 23 stone which is my fighting weight.
All donations, advice or money gratefully received.

With that in mind Gerald and going on capn sparkles advice for a name that stands out, how about " jolly green giant window cleaning " ?

[Don Kee]

Been advised not to Drive?
Surely then, they would be revoking your drivers license?


At 5 jobs a day, do what Dave willis has just mentioned. Trad a round within walking distance...

Learn to use a wagtail on an extention and you'll have upstairs covered

[Gerald Ash]

So, is your moronic doctor wrong then?
There's a trad guy in my town who walks his whole round, so it can be done. I think I'd be more inclined to use a bike with trailer.

Anything here take your fancy?  http://www.electricpoweredsolutions.co.uk/electricplatform.html?gclid=CLWU0KCh1ccCFU-NGwodeJQAXA

He's not wrong but he said it as if I didn't have a clue.
Condescension I don't tolerate. As to walking that's a problem for me because of a rapidly deteriorating hip and knee joint.
The platforms are too slow and that's before I find out how much they cost.
I could sit back on ESA and live comfortably but I'm not going to do that.
I'm going to lose 10st and hope it's not too late.
I am getting a bike to negate the wear and tear on my joints after all my left knee has been dislocated twice.
Once the weight is off things will be so much easier.
The doctor stated he can't say the heart will fail for definite but until my weight drastically reduced I should refrain from driving as a precaution. I don't think he's informing DVLA but lets face it a car won't help weight loss.

[kempy]

Good luck pal .
Hopefully your succeed

[Tom White]

I'm looking forward to getting down to 23 stone which is my fighting weight.

Did my mate get in touch with you?  Last I heard he said he sent an e-mail, but never heard back.  Has he sent it to the wrong place? 

[Stoots]

How about porky pig cleaning services?

[CleanClear]

Condescension I don't tolerate. As to walking that's a problem for me because of a rapidly deteriorating hip and knee joint.

Thats handy to know and i'm going to watch this thread with interest. You can't drive, and can't walk. And you are going to clean windows. If you pull it off i'm gonna follow suit. I'm lazy by nature