[Cleaning Buddy]

Hi everyone. first time on this forum

I am 44 years young and I am looking at a career change - I have been in financial services for most of my working life.

I have been offered redundancy and to be honest I am going to take it - I have hated my job for a few years now - so looking at alternative employment.

I quite like the idea of running my own business and window cleaning whilst I would imagine is quite a physically demanding job, I really think its something up my street (excuse the pun)

I dont like climbing ladders - so its WFP for me!, and I have seen some set up for sale on ebay for between £5000 and £6000 - even though I think I can set everything up myself for a lower price.

But in your opinion have I left this a bit late?

[LWC]

Yep...

Haha, never too late mate. My dad re started after being on ladders for years when he was 56 and still at it now coule of years on

You coud do with getting your self a TDS meter to start to see what your waters reading at then you can see what route you need to take for purifying the water. Off ebay for about £15

You can easily setup for under a grand but we dont tell anyone this shhhhh

[Jeff Brimble]

Good Luck Buddy, never too old, I am an almost  ancient 61 and proud of it and and to keep going  :
as long as you realise you may have the tail end of any new wfp work.

[john stracey]

depends on your health, fitness ,and motivation

[cozy]

If you are going WFP, basic fitness would be enough. Ladders is a different story mate. I'm on ladders and it keeps you fit!!! There are loads of blokes on here that are WFP so you'll get all the help you need.

Just rmember, selfemployed people need a certain amount of self-motivation.

here's a website that will really help and save you spending days on here waiting for answers.

http://www.windowcleaningcoach.com/default.html

 

[R W C™]

Are you thinking of getting the van that's on eBay with the same name as you forum name on it, if so I would say not to pay anymore then 4.5k for it....

[Cleaning Buddy]

Thanks Cozy - very good info. RWC I was thinking about it and yes I borrowed the name because I dont have one of my own yet. Just really doing my research.

I need to see if there is a big enough market out there first.

To start with I was going to try this business part time - two weeks per month. Not sure if I was being to simplistic, but my thoughts was to choose 10 locations then go and canvass each area until i got 10 - 15 customers in each location.

Never knocked on peoples doors before so that wil be an experience!. Its chicken and egg though, do I buy all the equipment I need first?, or get the customers and then get my equipment?

[Perfect Windows]

I started at 46 last year.  Aches and pains, but nothing that's likely to kill me.

Vin

[perfectpanesplymouth]

go for it! i started 2 years ago at the old age of 39 , wish i had done it years ago, the only thing i dont like is builders cleans and have just done my last one today (well still got the sparkle clean to do but it was last bit of scraping off paint, cement and render)

[Mike_G]

For what its worth I wouldn't spend thousands on a system until you know window cleaning is for you. There are plenty of systems that do the very same job for a whole lot less money

[AuRavelling79]

Waaaaay too old. Seven years younger than me but still ... 

[TomCrowther]

It's all in the mind, you can do anything you want. I'm 45 and started just over 18 months ago. {Never cleaned a window that wasn't mine before} I thought it's pointless getting the customers if I haven't got the system so bought everything before I had a single customer.
In hindsight it was a bit mad but luckily things have gone ok {apart from the two hellish winters}. I would go and do some "market research" and see what levels of demand are in the areas you plan to target. This is simply soft canvassing to give you more of an idea.

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

I worked in Financial Services - no wonder you want to get out 
I'm a 41 year old female and I find working with the other half doing wfp and trad absolutely no probs at all as long as you are reasonably fit!
Good luck

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

you will be fine mate try www.windowcleaningresourses.co.uk for help and tips. personally i would go wfp as soon as you can mate. try adders vids on you tube under wfpole

[jonboywalton75]

I took redundancy at 42, went trad for 10 years, that was hard. Wfp for last 18 months, can't beat it.
If u need any tips email me on jjwcleaning@yahoo.co.uk.
Jonboy

[Ian101]

go for it ... I started last year after 25 years selling cars and Im 41

[Neil Gornall]

I see your no where near me so i would say......... yeh go for it 

[the bfg]

your never to old to re-invent yourself mate.    I had nearly 19 years working for Sony until I was made redundant in 2006 but to be honest I was there 5 years to long and I wasn't down at being made redundant.

stared window cleaning in 2007 at 44  and now into my 5th year and I'm happy although 1st 2 years were tough as I started up just as we were going into recession,   but I gave myself a 5 year plan and early into year 5 I'm now earning more than in my previous job.

I never said it would be easy but if your prepared to pull yourself out of bed on a freezing cold day and clean windows as well as just when the sun shines then you have a great chance to make it

[Ian101]

I never said it would be easy but if your prepared to pull yourself out of bed on a freezing cold day and clean windows as well as just when the sun shines then you have a great chance to make it

too true

[luther1]

I started at 46 last year.  Aches and pains, but nothing that's likely to kill me.

Vin

Famous last words