[supernova77]

Is it me or has anyone else noticed more and more window cleaners selling up recently?

There are more and more WFP vans for sale on eBay, and more rounds for sale.

Seems to be people who setup 18 months to 2 years ago mostly.

Cold weather? The realisation that it takes a while to build a solid business? Or other reasons?

Andy

[rosskesava]

It happens every year  - well it does around here.

Some bloke a few weeks backs approached me as I was working asking if I wanted to buy all his gear. He had a van fitted with Ionics Zero stuff. He couldn't get enough work and the work he did get kept cancelling on him after a few cleans.

The stuff looked really good especially when compared to my home made equipment that does exactly what I want but he wanted £4 000 excluding the 14 month old van which to be honest was a good price considering what was included.

I politely told him......... bye bye.

[8weekly]

It happens every year  - well it does around here.

Some bloke a few weeks backs approached me as I was working asking if I wanted to buy all his gear. He had a van fitted with Ionics Zero stuff. He couldn't get enough work and the work he did get kept cancelling on him after a few cleans.

The stuff looked really good especially when compared to my home made equipment that does exactly what I want but he wanted £4 000 excluding the 14 month old van which to be honest was a good price considering what was included.

I politely told him......... bye bye.

It obviously doesn't work if his customers cancel after a few cleans. 

[Dave Willis]

They've probably moved on to residual income and don't need the van anymore.

[Ian101]

They've probably moved on to residual income and don't need the van anymore.

pmsl 

[Clever Forum Name]

Is it me or has anyone else noticed more and more window cleaners selling up recently?

There are more and more WFP vans for sale on eBay, and more rounds for sale.

Seems to be people who setup 18 months to 2 years ago mostly.

Cold weather? The realisation that it takes a while to build a solid business? Or other reasons?

Andy

In my area its quite hard to build up work. Gone are the days of people walking up and saying "oooooooooooh a window cleaner"

A couple of people have started up round my way.

I feel for them as its gonna be a long road.

Couple of people who i have met in the last 3 years as well gave it all the "im gonna be big, im gonna have two three vans on the road"

One person was only complaining last week hes just about got 190 customers in three years! And nothing compact. Yet 2 years ago he told me how to run my business and he will over take me 

IF you put in the hard work and do a good job its not rocket science. We are luckily and get alot of recomendations, and we are JUST starting to take other window cleaners work now. IE not happy with service! They come to us, we dont poach

One chap who posts on here did my friends house, it was shockingly bad (wfp) Then moans to me he loses work. Wonder why lol

[robertphil]

lot of  folk who took it up who were previously in the building trade have gone back to building now its picked up bigtime.
  i am now forever hearing of new housing in Suffolk/essex  thats kicking off ,the govt  has encouraged it  and   itl be the booming thing in 2014

[H2GoKent]

I love a nice cold winter, cuts back the competition.

[Knocker]

They may have made so much money they dont need to work any more......

[WGB]

lot of  folk who took it up who were previously in the building trade have gone back to building now its picked up bigtime.
  i am now forever hearing of new housing in Suffolk/essex  thats kicking off ,the govt  has encouraged it  and   itl be the booming thing in 2014

Not me though, would never go back to building.

[koopmaster]

They've probably moved on to residual income and don't need the van anymore.

LOL - made me laugh -

you need to have read other threads to know what this comment is all about....

[koopmaster]

I worked my butt off to get 300 customers in a year and a half.  I have given up my senior IT engineering career, (which I was loosing interest in anyway)  to do this. 

It needs a lot of hard work and marketing for the first 5 years to get somewhere but once you have it, its starts getting easier.

[SKWSimon]

I think a lot of people start up not realising how hard a job it actually is and not everyone is cut out dealing with people/customers. That and the weather puts a lot of people off.

[harunh]

I worked my butt off to get 300 customers in a year and a half.  I have given up my senior IT engineering career, (which I was loosing interest in anyway)  to do this.  

It needs a lot of hard work and marketing for the first 5 years to get somewhere but once you have it, its starts getting easier.

well done mate its not easy building a round up, you gotta be very determined.

[AuRavelling79]

I wouldn't start afresh now.

[redstarwindowcleaners]

I wouldn't start afresh now.

It hard starting up in any game especially in what is a recession
Although lads may be migrating back to work in the building trade rates are still not that great they are less than what people earnt 5 years ago and with the cost of living always on the up I think youll see a influx of part time windies  and gardeners topping up the wages over the weekend undercutting / doing them on the cheap
The recession is still hurting people
Iwas talking to a cafe owner yesterday his been hit hard where lads used to come in everyday now a lot only come in on friday the money just aint out there

 For thoes who who do start a fresh it takes time to build up

As that great man del boy says
Who who dares wins

[Jonny 87]

Who who dares wins

Famous quote their from the owl SaS. 

[SeanK]

I don't think anything has changed the difference now is with wfp you end up
with equipment that is more likely to be put up for sale.
The majority of new window cleaners don't last and it has always been this way.
Why do you think customers are reluctant to dump a window cleaner they have had for years
even though they do a rubbish job.
Answer. Because they see that many window cleaners come and go, its better to have a crappy
cleaner than to take a chance and end up with none.

[AuRavelling79]

I don't think anything has changed the difference now is with wfp you end up
with equipment that is more likely to be put up for sale.
The majority of new window cleaners don't last and it has always been this way.
Why do you think customers are reluctant to dump a window cleaner they have had for years
even though they do a rubbish job.
Answer. Because they see that many window cleaners come and go, its better to have a crappy
cleaner than to take a chance and end up with none.

Frame this post!

Mind you the "owl SAS" was funny...

[James Bulton]

         Not so easy starting nowadays. The trade is also over supplied with widow cleaners. The winter makes this a very tough industry to be in as customers cancel and water freezes up.Tough to stay motivated working on your own.
Windows clean themselves in winter as the customers think, as well as rain will clean glass.
            So often on here all you hear how easy cleaning is. And it is, find the business not easy, Dealing with cash flow. Customer not paying or paying late.Glass scratched. Staff a pain, van costing to fix. etc.These are the mountains in this industry. Anyone can clean glass.
           This forum will teach you how to clean glass but will fail hopelessly at the business side of it. And I am not trying to be rude but when a question arises on window cleaning you will get a clear reply with 10% B.S. ANSWERS.
But ask a business question and you will get a mixed bag at 360 degree opinions with no foundation of fact, which will leave you no better off than going with your own thoughts because we all do a great job at guessing. I don`t mean to offend, but just the truth, as I see it.