[dazmond]

ive spent a fair bit on wfp equipment the last few years and now i need another van soon.im toying with limiting myself to a £3,000 van rather than 5 or 6 grand which i was originally going to spend on one due to very low mileage plus the van will just be used for work.nothing else.

i want to go on more holidays the next few years with australia,new zealand,tenerife and barbados on my list of places to visit!

im gonna look after my extreme poles and take some handy tips off fellow windys on ere.i have loads of spares.brushes,connectors,poles,reels,hose,trad gear etc.

im earning  more money than trad but still want to keep costs down in future to spend my money on other things!

so what do you guys do to keep costs to a minimum?


very best wishes to you all


dazmond

[ascjim]

Not using gas 

Lol sorry mate 

[Dave Willis]

I peel the stamps off my mail and use them again. I got two first class stamps last month.

[Clever Forum Name]

Not using gas 

Lol sorry mate 

HAHA lol!!!!!!!!!

Look at where you can save money on high costs. I am experimenting now with rain water for when i have to go on a water meter. So far the boxes i have made are sooooo bad lol. But if i can save money on water by using pressure boxes and rain water then yay!!!

Look at bank charges? Could you save on that?

Fuel? Keep ya tyres pumped up, least amount of weight and dont carry ladders when not needed.

I loooooooooove saving money, so i can spend it on new gear lol

[simon w]

Well if your not employing then your already at an advantage   for myself professional costs seems to increase with little benefit to show for it. Buying quality kit like your poles are only going to make you good profit and as for a new van if only used for work and being a sole trader a nearly new van should almost see you into retirement   with the holidays you've mentioned it seems your not doing too much wrong

[LBWCS]

unless your van is dead, keep it.

[H20cleaning]

if i managed to afford kavos for 10days costing overall £1500 including spending money and clothes etc... then any of use can afford luxary holidays!! i only have a small round
having said that i do only pay £30.00 a week to live at home 
my insurance on the van is my biggest killer £109.00 a month!! it was £160 last year, due to drop to around the £60.00 a month in march
 

[Jonny 87]

if i managed to afford kavos for 10days costing overall £1500 including spending money and clothes etc... then any of use can afford luxary holidays!! i only have a small round
having said that i do only pay £30.00 a week to live at home 
my insurance on the van is my biggest killer £109.00 a month!! it was £160 last year, due to drop to around the £60.00 a month in march
 

Ah good old days of living at home. Lol

[gary999]

stop spendng

apart from the odd brush,resin,virosol,odds and ends connectors etc
i spend very little,i happy the way i work

I dont understand this constant need to make suppliers even
richer but then again im a tight fisted bugger

[H20cleaning]

Because it makes working easier! I went from a heavy EXTEL pole that made me miserable and ache like a biatch, to a clx 27 wich reaches all my jobs and isnt to heavy

[bobplum]

rain water
make your own brushes, i have made three for the price of one
change the work routine, ie rinse less, become quicker
get rid of the dross on your round, that takes time and money
diversify, i thing window cleaning , for the majority of us, is a numbers game to make the money, patio cleaning?

[Pro-Smart]

rain water
make your own brushes, i have made three for the price of one
change the work routine, ie rinse less, become quicker
get rid of the dross on your round, that takes time and money
diversify, i thing window cleaning , for the majority of us, is a numbers game to make the money, patio cleaning?

Diversify is definitely the way to go, IMO. There's more money to be made pressure washing and sealing on an hourly/daily basis compared to window cleaning. I've found that I earn at least twice as much per day and if it weren't for the fact that it's a seasonal thing, I would do it full time. Having said that, it is nice to break up your working week with different types of job...

[H20cleaning]

rain water
make your own brushes, i have made three for the price of one
change the work routine, ie rinse less, become quicker
get rid of the dross on your round, that takes time and money
diversify, i thing window cleaning , for the majority of us, is a numbers game to make the money, patio cleaning?

Diversify is definitely the way to go, IMO. There's more money to be made pressure washing and sealing on an hourly/daily basis compared to window cleaning. I've found that I earn at least twice as much per day and if it weren't for the fact that it's a seasonal thing, I would do it full time. Having said that, it is nice to break up your working week with different types of job...

I was the same i bought a simple petrol Honda pressure washer started doing drives and patios. All my customers were chuffed to bits and it felt great receiving £300 cash all at once instead of in bits and bobs.

However!! The pressure washing forum section most of the lads on their dont offer help, they are quick to knock you down, and dont really make anyone feel accepted. So that was my first problem i found.

Second problem is buying sealers is expensive and i like the WFP as there is little outlay.

Im 100% windows only now and i much prefer it 

[Pro-Smart]

rain water
make your own brushes, i have made three for the price of one
change the work routine, ie rinse less, become quicker
get rid of the dross on your round, that takes time and money
diversify, i thing window cleaning , for the majority of us, is a numbers game to make the money, patio cleaning?

Diversify is definitely the way to go, IMO. There's more money to be made pressure washing and sealing on an hourly/daily basis compared to window cleaning. I've found that I earn at least twice as much per day and if it weren't for the fact that it's a seasonal thing, I would do it full time. Having said that, it is nice to break up your working week with different types of job...

I was the same i bought a simple petrol Honda pressure washer started doing drives and patios. All my customers were chuffed to bits and it felt great receiving £300 cash all at once instead of in bits and bobs.

However!! The pressure washing forum section most of the lads on their dont offer help, they are quick to knock you down, and dont really make anyone feel accepted. So that was my first problem i found.

Second problem is buying sealers is expensive and i like the WFP as there is little outlay.

Im 100% windows only now and i much prefer it 

Each to their own H20, but it does sound like you were doing okay with the p/washing. I wouldn't worry about the p/washing forum (it's really slow anyway) - I started doing drives and patios in March and did great without even a glimpse at the forum. You're right about the sealers - I think there's a bit of a cartel going on with the suppliers. That said, I only do about 1 in 6 jobs with sealer and of course the custies pay for it anyway...

[H20cleaning]

Dont get me wrong i used to love it! But i dont know anything about engines or pumps so when i had problems noone was willing to help!
But the money is better i have to agree

[kempy]

I've done a few with my £600 honda , it does a good job .
Sealant , is that a case of just brushing it on !

[Klean07]

I quit smoking 3 years ago saving myself approx. £8,000!

[kempy]

Nice one , probably gaining you 10 years of LIFE as well

[PoleKing]

Nice one , probably gaining you 10 years of LIFE as well

But being alive is gonna cost you more than being dead.

[Pro-Smart]

I've done a few with my £600 honda , it does a good job .
Sealant , is that a case of just brushing it on !

Depends on the type of sealer and the type of surface. I've used floor squeegees, 12" rollers, cocoa brooms and sprayers on different jobs....