[Stoots]

Just been pondering lately about long term goals and what the aim should be with the business. Now when i started out not too long ago, i didnt really think too far ahead, i just wanted to earn more than minimum wage, 500 a week was my initial aim, that felt like a huge amount at the time (considering my take home was under £1200 per month at the time). 

Now as we know, to earn more money we have to work harder, put more hours in (if you are solo)

Earn more, pay more tax, earn more hit the higher tax rate, possibly go ltd, then if you get that far hit VAT

Now considering how hard it is to build a reliable round and all the messers you have to deal with etc i have to ask myself is it worth it? i mean to go BIG or are we better off keeping the round a controlable size, working 9-3 maybe 4 days a week and being somewhat stress free. It strikes me that all the hurdles and things to overcome to build a sizeable window cleaning business are just huge.

just interested to see what others thoughts and goals are and why ?

sometimes i think i want to build big, other times i think 3-4 good days a week would do me and enjoy life a bit more rather than everything be about the business.

[Lee Pryor]

I think you have come to the wrong place to talk about this. If you try to talk about developing a bigger business here you will be treated like dirt or talked to like there is something wrong with having ambition and drive.

In short there are pros and cons to both bigger and smaller. I think the most important thing to understand and consider if what is it that you want from your business? Different things make different people happy don't they. Really I just wanted to not be the person that generated the money in case I got sick or injured. Right from the start I wanted to grow and run a bigger business. However when I was just on my own, money was good and things were very easy and stress free. There's nothing wrong with that.

[Miko67]

Great topic. It's where I've been pondering for a while.
I don't go for material things but like nice holidays and having car working and stuff but think we are programmed to want bigger n better but with all taxes n hassles I ask myself is it worth it?

[nathankaye]

This is one thread where i think many will even tho may not admit it, would actually agree with Lee response.
Ultimately it depends on your own individual goals and what you want out of it. Peoples goals are not always motivated by financial rewards. For some it may be, for some others it might be for higher financial gains and as such their fights or plights are rewarded with the financial gain it brings.

For me, i need money to live my life not live my life for money. In another thread, i mentioned i have a large family and so yes i need to earn some good pay. But then my family is my life. For me, my hard work is rewarded with the financial gain i require. I have built up my little empire of work and get to have long wknds most weeks with my family and just to have stress due to family and not work related stress.

[dazmond]

window cleaning is a lifestyle business to me.low stress,low hassle and time off when you want.i do work hard though when im actually working and try and earn as much as possible without giving myself a hernia.

i like working on my own as i can control everything.i hated having lads work with me.most of them were idiots.i must of had 80 lads come and go over the years.i had a much bigger round years ago too.i didnt like it and the hassle that came with it.

keeping my work life as simple as possible makes me a happier person in general day to day life.

with the arrival of wfp no one needs to employ people to earn a good living out of this game if you stick at it and work hard.

[Smurf]

Everyone will reach a point when as one man band you can only work so many hours. It's also down to the individual if they want to try to earn a residual income from the backs of others or not. Be it going down the employment or franchise route. Some will not want to grow a business at all and just be happy chipping away to make the most profit for less hours to fit around their personal circumstances. Not everyone wants to build and empire and the people that do should not look down their noses and think any less of them.

[Soupy]

I think you have come to the wrong place to talk about this. If you try to talk about developing a bigger business here you will be treated like dirt or talked to like there is something wrong with having ambition and drive.

In short there are pros and cons to both bigger and smaller. I think the most important thing to understand and consider if what is it that you want from your business? Different things make different people happy don't they. Really I just wanted to not be the person that generated the money in case I got sick or injured. Right from the start I wanted to grow and run a bigger business. However when I was just on my own, money was good and things were very easy and stress free. There's nothing wrong with that.

All true. However, you really need to stop letting people get to you, sometimes it's fish in a barrel stuff.

[Tony dunmall]

I'm at that point again, as so often i get there and decide against it with different ones letting you down.

but i have decided i no longer want to be the main person responsible for earning the money, i want to take a holiday still earn money and if I'm ill not feel the need to force myself on,so I've taken people on again and just about to start heavily investing into developing in the areas i work.not as much as some have,

i feel older and more capable or more measured in managing people and there insufficiencies of being unreliable at times  , so I've got a little left to hit before I'm at the point of the dreaded VAT, then i will  reevaluated, if  wish to go again with another person and register

I've a second block management company which deals with all one offs high level, solar panel and any other extra that comes which is handled by all our subbies, which is a standalone company, I've kept this entirely separate for various reasons even websites and advertising

but now its time to really invest in just window cleaning so I'm canvassing,buying rounds advertising will see what happens

[Dave Willis]

I don't do stress, so employing is unlikely for me. I'm not made for office work, I have no goals, no desire to rule the world so as long as I stay healthy it's one man band for me.

[Evan]

I think that window cleaning Earnings are definetley capped because of VAT!...unless you have huge amount of commercial work...but if your mainly domestic your capped..let's face it...why would any of your customers pay a extra 20%(VAT) when nearly every other window cleaner isn't VAT registered hence can get it cleaned at a cheaper price. Shame really that you can only take it so far! Doesn't seem right.

[swanson]

THE FIRST WEALTH IS HEALTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Marc Stock]

I think that window cleaning Earnings are definetley capped because of VAT!...unless you have huge amount of commercial work...but if your mainly domestic your capped..let's face it...why would any of your customers pay a extra 20%(VAT) when nearly every other window cleaner isn't VAT registered hence can get it cleaned at a cheaper price. Shame really that you can only take it so far! Doesn't seem right.

Just have to take the 20% hit, and include it in the price. However if you time it right you can buy a van, and get the vat back almost instantly.

[Tony dunmall]

If it's domestic only swallowing the loss I think it's about  £900 a month on turning 85K

It kinda means you have to push forward to take on a few people, you don't want to just nudge  through bracket

It's a hard loss to take as you've got to be sure it's what you want

[David Morris wc]

More growth = More stress