[pdale]

Hi all, i window cleaned for 4 years up until the winter and sold my round. In hindsight if i'm honest i'm beginning to regret it.

As i'm from a sales background, I have never found difficulty in getting work through concentrated canvassing and leaflet dropping but wondered what the market was like now? With the recession and credit crunch is it more difficult to get work? Or is it just the same as it always was and people are crying out for window cleaners. I would imagine due to people being out of work that there are more window cleaners?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I'm also thinking along the lines of wfp, beforehand i was tradtional. I've been told that the residential customers don't like this, is this correct?

Thanks in advance, Paul

[martinsadie]

if youve cleaned for 4 years you shouldnt need advice

[pdale]

The advice i'm really after is whether it's just as easy to set up a window cleaning round in today's financial climate as it was when i first started out 4/5 years ago.

[bobby p]

i started 2 years ago, it was tough to start with, like everything else in life !

pretty sure id have been doomed if i had tried  w.f.p. , just my opinion, a fair chunk of my round are old fashioned folk, with old wooden windows  and have tales of woe about w.f.p.

[david watts]

the place is crawling with new wc trying to undercut;
at mo must admit i try to get wfp work; but evry job coming in is trad
good job im great at both

[Joe Lauzon]

Its tougher out there right now, have no doubt.  Even in the lucrative villages I notice it.  The pensioners savings rates have been slashed, it goes down the line. 

You could set up now, it would be tougher though.  Window cleaners springing up due to redundancy, so plenty of canvassing going on.  Setting up WFP would be even tougher, personally if your going residential only I wouldn't go that route.  Keep your overheads to a minimum, and give the customers the option most prefer.

I don't know if its just me, but the past few weeks has seen a fairly substantial rise in residential enquiries.  Small commercial is in the gutter though, many are suffering.  Shops still need them doing, but huge competition.  My business is strongest in the villages where there is money, but even then not back to pre recession standard.

[prestigeclean]

take no notice of the doom and gloomers , just get out canvassing with your experience you will have no trouble building a round , i,ve picked up £350 of new work this week , and yes there are loads starting up i was one 4 years ago , and deffo throw that squeegee away the pole is the way forward and soooooooooo much better in every way , stop dithering and get on with it regards alan

[Smudger]

well said prestige !

yes there are few more about than last year but a lot will disapear again come the colder weather.

If you can start and build a business now in this climate - you will go on to be successful.

Darran

[Joe Lauzon]

Be aware a large majority of this site use wfp, me included.  Many are very biased towards it, don't believe all you read about its magical properties.

[dazmond]

just get out there and get on with it!if we all said" ooh i cant see building a good window cleaning round in this present climate" then we d all fail!!

depends on so many factors and what area your canvassing.but if you really want to make it happen then its entirely up to you to make it happen.

stop thinking and start doing!!

best wishes

dazmond

oh and wfp is great!sod the ladders!!

[Londoner]

The country is full of houses and they all have windows. Its a can't fail business. The only difference is the number of houses you may have to knock on to get a full round. But if you knock on enough doors you will there eventually even in the depths of recession.

Like I said, it can't fail

[pdale]

Well i've decided to go out for 3 hours tomorrow night and canvas. I'll be able to tell from that what sort of response i'll get. May well hand in my notice at work on Tuesday. I'll see if i can get some one off gutter and upvc cleans too. I also have a petrol generated power washer so may diversify into drives too. Will see how tomorrow night goes anyhow, watch this space.

I also think wfp has to be the way to go, i have a volvo estate so should fit well into there with a flat tank.

Paul

[Nathanael Jones]

My advice would be to diversify.

Offer pressure washing & gutter cleaning too,.. if you offer more services you will pick up work faster & also have something to keep you going when the weather is too bad for window cleaning.

[glen parva]

My advice would be to diversify.

Offer pressure washing & gutter cleaning too,.. if you offer more services you will pick up work faster & also have something to keep you going when the weather is too bad for window cleaning.

that right of more than one service

you will always earn money 

[patwoods]

The country is full of houses and they all have windows. Its a can't fail business. The only difference is the number of houses you may have to knock on to get a full round. But if you knock on enough doors you will there eventually even in the depths of recession.

Like I said, it can't fail

Totally agree BUT what about stepping on other lads toes by doing this are you not inviting trouble?.....or you must have a rule not to drop prices below other w/c

[Londoner]

The country is full of houses and they all have windows. Its a can't fail business. The only difference is the number of houses you may have to knock on to get a full round. But if you knock on enough doors you will there eventually even in the depths of recession.

Like I said, it can't fail

Totally agree BUT what about stepping on other lads toes by doing this are you not inviting trouble?.....or you must have a rule not to drop prices below other w/c

In all my years I have never had any problem with stepping on other window cleaners toes except when we were eighteen and got warned off by a couple of old hands. Any way ME? drop prices you have got to be kidding I'm in it for the money, I'm not a flipping charity.

[pdale]

The country is full of houses and they all have windows. Its a can't fail business. The only difference is the number of houses you may have to knock on to get a full round. But if you knock on enough doors you will there eventually even in the depths of recession.

Like I said, it can't fail

Totally agree BUT what about stepping on other lads toes by doing this are you not inviting trouble?.....or you must have a rule not to drop prices below other w/c

I've always believed that undercutting is bad business and i've never been cheap, on the other hand if somebody is unhappy with their window cleaner and i come along i have no issues with stepping on their toes.

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

hi mate
you should get a 350 ltr tank in that volvo if wfp wat wfp system are you thinking mate u ok and get the biggest pole you can find you know the sayin the bigger the better anyting over 30 ft xtel light and flexible give us a ring if u want will point you in the right direction

[pdale]

Yeah i might do that Al, i've been looking on ebay at a few items. Need to have a browse on the net as to what kits are available. I was up your way last week, are you driving a landrover discovery now?

[pdale]

I didn't canvas last night due to a working late, i'm planning on giving it a go tomorrow as i have the day off.

Paul