[colin bird]

I'm 52 been window cleaning for six years all wfd,I've put £15 grand of work per annun on my round since last Xmas 13 ,I'm getting to the point where my days are full,and due to age and the aches as we all get from wfd I'm struggling to do more.
I'm currently picking up work daily eg £1000 added per annum to my round in one day. (I don't mean this from a big headed point of view but need to give you all the info).
In my area the potential of work is virtually unlimited within reason,I'm not saying I'm the best window cleaner in the world,but the work is there to be had,for I'm pro active with my business,but other local guys appear not to be.

I know the younger guys would say crack on and work harder,but the older guys will know where I'm coming from.
I don't want to turn the work away and due to the type of person I am I can't refuse the extra work.
The advice and help I need is do I take someone on ? How do you find a reliable parson ? Do I start them on a couple of days a week to start ? Do I employ them or should they be self employed ? How much do I pay them ? How do you find working with another person after spending so long working on your own ? If taking someone on is the way to go do I take on a young person or a mature person ?
Thanks for reading my post,all help appreciated especially from other old cronies that may have been in the same situation.

[robbo333]

Colin, I'm in a very similar situation (50 years old, getting busy, aches and pains) so would be interested in this one too.

[Clever Forum Name]

For a start are you using the best window cleaning setup?

I am currently making one for my father he is 63 and can give me a real run for my money!

[colley614]

Hi buddy,

Glad to hear business is going well. When I first started I built up my own work and then employed. I employed a little too early as a company I was subbing from demanded I didn't work alone.

On the employment side, I first tried the job centre who recommended somebody from new deal to which I flippantly replied "Aren't they the people who don't want work?" My reply "Well there is be perks to taking them on." I informed them I was not going to proceed after the effort I'd put into getting going.

I then visited a local careers connections who help young people into work. I offered to pay £100 a week for 30 hours work plus driving lessons. I think their minimum wage was £3 an hour back then. I offered £6 an hour for anything over 30 hours. The first guy I took on was a bit of an idiot but the second was a switched on lad, worked hard and did me proud. I found he was keen to learn and it made me work more professionally.

[colin bird]

Colin, I'm in a very similar situation (50 years old, getting busy, aches and pains) so would be interested in this one too.

hi mate nice to know I'm not alone

[colin bird]

For a start are you using the best window cleaning setup?

I am currently making one for my father he is 63 and can give me a real run for my money!

that's comforting to know if he's 63 I've hopefully got another 11 years crack on

[bobplum]

im in exactly the same boat as you
Yes take someone on, i would say 25 + years of age and probably with a work record
start two days a week
say £60.00 a day then maybe bonus payment on top after a qualifying period
I organised my work as 4 weekly within a months cycle, so i am now off till Monday, should have finished Friday but with the weather finished Tuesday but it didn't matter as i had the slack in the system due to the fact that with two of you its completed a lot faster, some times we do a weeks work in three days, i think i worked out i work two weeks out of the 4

so do it it will be better for you

[colin bird]

im in exactly the same boat as you
Yes take someone on, i would say 25 + years of age and probably with a work record
start two days a week
say £60.00 a day then maybe bonus payment on top after a qualifying period
I organised my work as 4 weekly within a months cycle, so i am now off till Monday, should have finished Friday but with the weather finished Tuesday but it didn't matter as i had the slack in the system due to the fact that with two of you its completed a lot faster, some times we do a weeks work in three days, i think i worked out i work two weeks out of the 4

so do it it will be better for you

. Thanks for that bob,do you now feel that you've completed you work you could take on more work ? Or are you happy being in control of your business and earning a good living ? And not working your socks off?
I wish my brain would let me take my foot off the gas,and enjoy life but I feel I'm programmed to work five days a week,but having said that I think your right and good luck to you

[david mark]

You will have to do it sooner or later  no real pension in our game employing people is the only way as you get order they will help provide you a income.

[Paul Coleman]

I work part of your area Colin.  I'm not after employment but if you are considering passing work on, maybe we could come to some arrangement?  Obviously, if you have your heart set on expansion, this won't be appropriate, but just thought I would put another possible option out there.  I'm possibly about 50-80 customers light about now but filling the gaps gradually.

[Mr.G]

as your work is so easy to get, could you drop all the difficult jobs as time goes on, and replace them with easy stuff.
anything more than 2 floors high, and houses with windows above conservatorys, large commercials, they could be replaced with easier jobs.

[colin bird]

You will have to do it sooner or later  no real pension in our game employing people is the only way as you get order they will help provide you a income.

Yes I agree,I'm just concerned about finding the right person

[colin bird]

I work part of your area Colin.  I'm not after employment but if you are considering passing work on, maybe we could come to some arrangement?  Obviously, if you have your heart set on expansion, this won't be appropriate, but just thought I would put another possible option out there.  I'm possibly about 50-80 customers light about now but filling the gaps gradually.

 Hi thanks for that,not sure what to do at the moment,I'm keen to expand but not to employ (due to the grief) also I have son that I would like to give my business to,only problem is he's only nine,and thinks he's going to play for chelsea

[colin bird]

as your work is so easy to get, could you drop all the difficult jobs as time goes on, and replace them with easy stuff.
anything more than 2 floors high, and houses with windows above conservatorys, large commercials, they could be replaced with easier jobs.

Yes I agree with you,and I am already thinking along those lines,I just declined a house with dormers and velux in the roof,also sacked £50 commercial job due to being messed about.
I also now cherry pick what houses to knock when canvassing,having said that I'm finding a lot of new houses have loft rooms and velux in the roof at the rear of the house that you can't see before knocking,I've been caught out a couple of times

[SeanK]

You will have to do it sooner or later  no real pension in our game employing people is the only way as you get order they will help provide you a income.

Your wrong there David there's a pension in every game you just put a percentage of your wage away
for retirement.
There's not much point having employees keep you in retirement if your not fit to manage them.
Many a person has lost everything because of that situation.
There's pros and cons to every decision.
 

[J.D]

Don't slow down or retire Colin! You'll be dead in 6 months if you do!

[Klean07]

Hi Colin,
I'm in the same situation as you I'm 55 though! I still have the drive and desire to keep on top of things but like you I would like to start toning down the amount of hours that I work. In recent weeks I've been dumping some of my awkward customers eg access problems, bad payers etc! But I would really like to take someone on part-time but finding someone that I can trust maybe difficult!

[dazmond]

i know 2 guys who are pushing 70 and they still put a good shift in most days!(both on ladders too!).

what poles do you use?and hose?

you want extreme poles and brushes and 6mm microbore to make your working day easier.

do you drink too much and smoke?

overweight?eat a lot of junk food?

all these things can make a massive difference to the way you feel.

if you have plenty of work id employ someone part time and go down to a 4 day week.work less hours a day(say 9am-3pm)if your feeling the strain.

if you havent already got extreme poles and brushes.this is the way to go mate.you should be easily able to afford an extreme 25 and a few brushes.buy a carbon gooseneck or two and you ll be laughing.these poles are so light and easy to use.


best wishes


dazmond

[Paul Coleman]

I work part of your area Colin.  I'm not after employment but if you are considering passing work on, maybe we could come to some arrangement?  Obviously, if you have your heart set on expansion, this won't be appropriate, but just thought I would put another possible option out there.  I'm possibly about 50-80 customers light about now but filling the gaps gradually.

 Hi thanks for that,not sure what to do at the moment,I'm keen to expand but not to employ (due to the grief) also I have son that I would like to give my business to,only problem is he's only nine,and thinks he's going to play for chelsea

I hear we are a bit short of players at Crawley Town

[colin bird]

Hi Colin,
I'm in the same situation as you I'm 55 though! I still have the drive and desire to keep on top of things but like you I would like to start toning down the amount of hours that I work. In recent weeks I've been dumping some of my awkward customers eg access problems, bad payers etc! But I would really like to take someone on part-time but finding someone that I can trust maybe difficult!

I agree 100% with you, I went out today early evening picked up another two next door to each other one 20 and one 22 six weekly also only knocked on five doors,I know some won't believe me but it's true,also dumped three bad ones