[Ant Hardman]

Hi guys, just joined up...
I won't bore you all with my life story but I know you like to know a bit of a back story
I'm 21, and cleaned windows with a bloke while I was studying my A-Levels, have done various jobs since and am currently a Teacher/LSA at an EBD school but the money is awful, despite enjoying the job. Job satisfaction for me is important, but money more so as I have a 2 year old son and another due in October.
I am always harping on about how window cleaning was the best job I have ever had, I had so much fun so I think now is the time to take the plunge and start up my own round...as I am still on summer holiday, I will spend the rest of it canvassing, looking to start trad full time in October.
I like to know that if I work harder, I will earn more money, something I can't do with any other job...anyway, rant over 

You guys all have a lot of knowledge and experience, and I'm looking forward to chatting to you all and sharing some good stories/exchanging advice

Ant

[steven ainger]

hi ant, and welcome to the forum.
 dont hesitate to ask any questions, how ever stupid you may think they are, we all had to start somewhere.

[Nigel Lee]

I went all the way through university before I realised the job I had been funding myself with was the one I actually wanted.  Got a nice degree to fall back on, but 16 years in the trade now, and I doubt I will ever use it.  The teachers at school always seemed to suggest that white collar was the only way to make real money.  I think they genuinely thought that.  They have no idea the guy cleaning their windows is probably making more than they are. 

[Richard Neal]

Welcome mate are you going trad? good way to start and cheaper start up, was you trad before?

[landy2]

i feel sorry for you new window cleaners rounds are very hard to get hold of and many of regualer window cleaners customers having to stop there cleaners due to lack of funds and themself loosing there jobs

[Jack Wallace]

Hey Ant,
Welcome to the forum, I see you are miles from me so feel free to ask any help 

[Ant Hardman]

Thanks for all the warm welcomes
Will be goin trad, it's what I'm used to and I'm comfortable with, although I'm always interested in learning new skills and improving my trade. Hopefully one day after I have built up a reputation and a bigger budget I can use trad and wfp methods
Am relying on doing friends and family at the moment, hopefully word of mouth will spread, and hours of canvassing will prove fruitful I'm not expecting to succeed overnight

Ant

[tacky]

once u got a half decent round u wont look back .welcome

[Dale Smith]

Ant,

My brother and I started in October, and with hindsight should have started in Spring, it's a better time to start a round up & the weather is better.
So if I was you I would go part time in Oct or do weekend's, and build up gradually, then hit it hard in Spring.

Anyway, good luck, as you will love it when you get going 

[Ian101]

Hi Ant .... I started out part time in Feb this year all I can remember is lots of rain ... went canvassing one Saturday morning and got the very first person I knocked on and got 4 more within the hour  unfortunately not every day is like that when you canvass I just touched lucky oh and thanks to this great forum I knew what to say ... along the lines of "Im expanding my window cleaning round and do you need a good reliable window cleaner" .... dont let them know ur just starting out ... now got about 110 customers 70% canvassed the rest bought off other windies.

As Landy 2 says its tought out there but if you have bills to pay it sort of works out so long as you put a massive consistent effort into it ....... Good Luck !!

btw where abouts u located ?

[gordonswindows]

Welcome Ant