[keith b]

Hi all,

I hope some of you can give me some sound advice, Im in my 50`s and not good on ladders and CRB checked.

I want to build up a legit part-time window cleaning business using WFP in my people carrier (nissan serena) working 5 or 6 hours a day over 2 or 3 days a week cleaning household windows and not commercial properties on a 8 week cycle.

I want to charge £10 per front of house (3 bed terrace) but charge double for a first clean and/or a one off clean. I want to eventually earn at least £15 to £20 per hour once up & running.

Im thinking of fitting a 250ltr flat plastic tank (strapped down) so I can use my vehicle for other things.

Questions;-

1, If I create RO water in my garden (say using a 1000 ltr tank), can this water be pumped to my vehicles resin tank without any leaks in my vehicle? = in other words would I need to drill a hole in my vehicle to dissapate the excess water coming from my 250 tank for any reason (don`t want to do this if possible)? or does it not work like this?

2, How do you guys get paid? is it best to post a leaflet with a pre addressed envelope to ask for payment when I ve finished the clean? or is there a better way or more reliable way? = standing order? website?

3, Im based in Romford Essex, Im not after under cutting anyone or have any intentions of poaching anyone exisiting business, but I would like to spend a day or so with a established window cleaner who has a WFP system to see if its for me?= In return I will buy lunch & few beers.

I can do this on mondays & tuesdays.

Thanks

[Smudger]

yes you certainly can do what you have in mind - I'm there would be some1 local to you that would help out.

personally i'd set the hourly rate higher - but in your situation you may not need to earn more or rattle through the
work quicker.

you can get sub pumps that will empty the IBC and fill the tank in the car

BE WARNED - with WFP you will get water inside the vehicle - whether that comes from a leaking joint - water sloshing
out of the tank vent or general drips off the brush head

try putting a tarp  down first - this may help keep the water off the carpets and seats

Darran

[Total shine cleaning services]

If your getting £10 just for fronts your hourly rate on wfp will be higher than 15-£20,
as said above no matter what you will get leaks so spend the time and money coating the rear floor with something, also once you buy a transfer pump best to get an end tap of some sort as any movement of the hose once u have stopped the pump usually results in water spewing out of the end.

Graham

[keith b]

Thanks Graham,

Do you think £10 for a front of 3 bed house is reasonable or realistic or too cheap? or do you think I could achieve £30 per hour with WPF doing residential properties?

[Rogue Trader]

your best bet is to get a cheap van with system already installed you could prob get one for a couple of grand or less , or get a trolley system and 25ltr barrel although this is a pain having to fill the trolley up every few houses , once established you can easily earn the figures stated.

You should go for a £10 minimum charge

Leave a slip telling custys to send you the money or pay by bacs , dont leave a sae there is no point it is more expense to you and if the custy wants the service it is their responsibility to pay.

[SB Cleaning]

Thanks Graham,

Do you think £10 for a front of 3 bed house is reasonable or realistic or too cheap? or do you think I could achieve £30 per hour with WPF doing residential properties?

I think if you can get a tenner per front ya on to a winner!

I could do 6 fronts in an hour if not more

[Ian Lancaster]

Thanks Graham,

Do you think £10 for a front of 3 bed house is reasonable or realistic or too cheap? or do you think I could achieve £30 per hour with WPF doing residential properties?

I think if you can get a tenner per front ya on to a winner!

I could do 6 fronts in an hour if not more

Agreed.  Once you're proficient you will be able to do at least 3 3-bed semis an hour (all round).   £10-£12 for a standard (small) 3 bed semi and you will easily exceed £30 per hour.  On the other hand, if you can get £10 for a front only, go for it!!

[tompoole]

yep sound like a plan, this is what i did but ive ended up working 5 days a week and im always behind on work.

[keith b]

Thanks for your responses guys,

Question to Rogue Trader or anyone else, What does a customer have to do/or put in place to pay me via the BACS?

[Gav Camm lammy 283]

a tenner for fronts la
sound id like see you get one !!!!!!!!!!!
not wanting to put the mockers on ya
but yr not exactly asda 

[Total shine cleaning services]

All a customer needs to pay by bacs is your bank account sort code and account number,they can just do a bill payment online to you, ask them to leave the first part of their address as a reference, it will also help if you bank online as you can log on every night after work and cross off the people who have paid from your debt list, if your going this route best to open a business account for yourself, if I'm teaching you to suck eggs please tell me to shut up in a nice way lol

Graham

[keith b]

All a customer needs to pay by bacs is your bank account sort code and account number,they can just do a bill payment online to you, ask them to leave the first part of their address as a reference, it will also help if you bank online as you can log on every night after work and cross off the people who have paid from your debt list, if your going this route best to open a business account for yourself, if I'm teaching you to suck eggs please tell me to shut up in a nice way lol

Graham

Thanks for your reply Graham = much appreciated.

Im going to have to start banking online with a business account.

Question;- When a customer wants to pay me online, how will I know which customer has paid me if they don`t enter the first line of there address as a reference?

[Smudger]

hi
when you recieve payment you will usually see a name - so hopefully you will be able to work out from your work list who it is that pays fairly easily, some wil pay on completion if they are home, but if you ask then to use house number and road name as a reference when they pay that will help too.

also we use window cleaner pro - others like george, both are simple computer based programs so you can input customers addys and details when the cleans are due and each day you just print off what needs doing, it also has a debt list, so you can see who owes what - WCP is very easy to use, and others say the same about George too.

WCP also allows you to input all your expense etc, so your books are almost "ready" at the flick of a button hope this helps

Also you may not need to open a business account - check out what fees are there, you may do just as well with a basic bank account with no charges, all will do what you need the coop do a good basic account - fully internet based, so people can make payments online, you can log in and see whats arrived and you can bank cheques or pay in cash at any post office with that account too.