[cleaning4usussex]

Hi I'm getting my first system and have 6k to invest which system is better grippatank or xline??
Jamie

[NWH]

Grippa imo just make sure you get a hot one,if not build it yourself for under a £1000

[Tony dunmall]

Grippa

[Smurf]

Spending that sort of dosh to be able to wave a stick and splash water about seems crazy to me 

First of all you need to find out the tds reading of the tap water you are going to use to find out if you need a ro/di or di only to make pure. Then depending what your tds tap water reading is if you want to produce pure using a static ro/di or mounted in a van.

If you can produce pure at home then all you would need is  a very basic setup in a van as follows:
Tank
Pump box or separate pump & controller
Leisure battery, Charger, Split relay.
Hose reel
Whatever gardiner poles you require etc

[Scrimble]

I would invest 1-1.5k into a wfp set up and the rest into gaining customers

if this is your first and you are just starting out its far more important to get customers otherwise your new van and wfp system is going to sit on your driveway

[cleaning4usussex]

I have my flyers done, website is being updated to include window cleaning and my van sign written I all ready have omnipole guttervac, 21 ltr pressure washer etc just want to invest in commercial grade equipment that will hopefully last a long time if looked after, Jamie

[NWH]

I don't care what anyone says it does take. time to use WFP it ain't just splashing water around if you want constant good results,I would go out and learn a lot of the pitfalls first or you'll lose what work you do get. Sometimes they look lovely from the ground you have to develop a instinct for it to know you've got em good.

[Smurf]

Sounds like you are not going to have much space left in the back of the van to fit a decent size wfp system in 
What size system are you looking to fit in your van? What van do you have and what is the max payload?

[jk999]

£4500 grand trying to get customers  what you doing bribery wow 

[jk999]

I certainly wouldn't spend six grand on a set up especially if your not cleaning windows yet I would go out on job with someone 1st try n learn the ropes then get your set up but depends on how many would be cleaning in think 2to3 grand would get you something decent .get a custom made tank fitted then buy the other gear yourself. I have just ordered a tank 700 ltr and got it made to my specs cost is 700 for tank but this includes him fitting it in the van and fitting all my gear in like pumps batteries hose reals ect

[duncan h]

DIY mate . Save thousands

[cleaning4usussex]

       To smurf                   650 grippatank full ro, up against bulk head in a swb transit filters moved to side loading door side, I will put a floor above so guttervac leads, flat surface cleaner can go on top then on back end pressure washer,or generator as when nreded. That's the plan hopefully , Jamie

[jk999]

What's it costing for that

[cleaning4usussex]

I already have the gutter vac and pressure washing stuff so it's £6000 for system, alterations of filters, booster pump, charger, fitting, vat and xtreme 35 pole plus pole rack

[jk999]

Wow 6000

[C & S]

Don't spunk 6k that's for the pro outfits not a starter.
It's slow to start will take you a while to build up doesn't come as fast as you hope.

Many windiest start and sell up 6 months down the line.

1.  A RO system (in shed or garage etc) cost about 500)
2. Custom van system ( tank £300, hosereel and hose £100, pump and controller with battery £150, pole get a 30ft to start a decent ish one £400.
3. Practice,  trad and wfp on your own house, family and friends until your hands bleed.
4. Get some leaflets done, don't order 10,000 to Start!!!!!! As a month in you will want to change the design.
5. Get your shoes on and door knock and leaflet drop. You should be coming home knackered everyday 10 hour days, don't skip on it. Hard work.
6. Get a website and buzz page on FB. (Don't waste money on paying for a website use wix or similar.
7. Get a polo with logo etc on it.
8.  It will start slow. And I mean slow. You will give out leaflets some mornings and nobody will get back to you.
9. Go for 8 weekly, slow to build however more customers, charge more, crusty happy to see you every other month.
10. At the start you will price too low, whatever price you think add a few pound onto it. You shouldn't get every job you quote for..means your too cheap.
11. Customers are vultures, they will mess you about, not pay you, treat you like scum. Find the good ones and don't even bother with the scum. Don't let them grind you down.
12. Don't bother with adwords, big paid for leaflet drops at the start.
13. Don't think in a month trading you will be making 200 pound a day, trust me you will not.
14. Don't believe what everybody says on this forum, people saying they make that sort of money everyday, you don't and won't. 
15. Don't even think about commercial, get a good residential round first.
16. You add ons will come from your windy customers,

Steep learning curve it is bud, best of look to you. Don't be a fool and waste a big load of cash before have even cleaned a window. Window cleaning suppliers make a fortune out of new startups. You can do it ALL the same  for a lot less.
And remember the customer is NEVER RIGHT!!!!!!!

[Jays Window Cleaning]

Very well put don't run before you can walk . I would hate to see 6 months down the line you needing to sell it all and loose out loads. Don't take it to heart we are here to guide you and help you. I've been WFP  since 2010 and I still come on here and ask questions . This is a very helpful site and you will learn loads from here . Listen to the pros that have been at it for years . Good luck with your business in whichever way you choose run it.

Jay

[Smurf]

Some great bargains also come up from time to time on the likes of fleebay etc where newbies have bought flash kit and after a very sort time given up.

Also might be worth finding out the options of a custom  built lay flat tank that you can put a floor over the top of it as both those brands are not really suitable for your needs as are way too high.

[jk999]

Spudly why would you start a round at eight weekly that would take forever to get a good round established. I hate customers that go to eight weekly

[C & S]

To JK99

I started out monthly, eventually switched onto 8 weekly, all new cuties on 8 weekly.

Reasons:
You charge more,  hourly rate goes up.
People end up begrudging paying every 4 weeks end up losing them.
You have more customers, sell add ons easier, not worried losing a few.
People are actually happy to see you, don't get those skip until next month tossers.

It does take longer to build a decent round.
I do a handful of bigger houses 25pounds on 4 weekly, they can afford it and want it doing.
95 percent 8 weekly though.

[Jays Window Cleaning]

I agree most people these days in my area want 8 weekly ... Charge more and do less work . But when I started I want to get out there and be noticed so I started off monthly put up with loads of Crap work because when you start you usually pick up all the customers no one wants been there done that .  (Custy)' New company ah now we can have our windows cleaned again as we have been through all the window cleaners in our town". It's a rough ride starting out . But if I could turn back time I would have much rather started as Spudlys said . Yes it's will take longer but you will get better money for the job 8 weekly. Say you charge £10 4 weekly you charge £20 8 weekly . So in 8 weeks you clean it once not twice . And I agree you hardly ever I think once have an 8 weekly say not today thank you . Or has that really been 8 weeks thought it was only a couple a weeks ago you were here last.

[Stoots]

To JK99

I started out monthly, eventually switched onto 8 weekly, all new cuties on 8 weekly.

Reasons:
You charge more,  hourly rate goes up.
People end up begrudging paying every 4 weeks end up losing them.
You have more customers, sell add ons easier, not worried losing a few.
People are actually happy to see you, don't get those skip until next month tossers.

It does take longer to build a decent round.
I do a handful of bigger houses 25pounds on 4 weekly, they can afford it and want it doing.
95 percent 8 weekly though.

Spot on. 8 weekly more customers so less hit when you lose one, twice as many custies to sell add ons plus more profit from better prices.

I offer 4 and 8 weekly but once full will only offer 8 weekly. Makes total sense

[NWH]

An established WC will tell you it doesn't take a few years to build a reliable profitable business more like 15 years for premium domestic work,very few places where I go would give a door knocker a go where they live you can't even see the front door lol. Most of us started out the same cleaning glass on any property from little bungalows to the single flat. It's justncleaning Windows some people say,you try going out there these days and building enough of a business to pay the bills,not very easy to do imo.

[jk999]

I have been in this game thirty two years half of those wfp I have a well established round which has taken years to to build up and I bet it's not even half a percent that wants every second clean my work is three to four weeks and most of my customers ask me why I'm late if I go a couple of days over . I don't entertain 6 to 8 weekly as I can't be doing with the extra work of getting muck of what's been on for weeks I can't see point of having your windows done 8 weekly you could do them one day and two days later if weather is crappy they are mucky again what's point

[Jays Window Cleaning]

It also depends on where you do your round . If it's on a busy high street or right on the sea front then yes I understand why people would want their windows cleaned more regular . My round I have a a few big houses £30 4 weekly because where they are they get more dirty then most my 8 weeklys . I'm not saying 8 weekly is the only way to go. For me it works 80% of my round 8 weekly 20% 4 weekly . Due to where the properties are . But I now price up 8 weekly , more money .  Good thing about this forum is everyone runs there business the way that works for them. So you get an idea of different ways of doing things knowledge is the key . Cleaning the windows is the easy bit.  If you haven't yet brought you system have a good think about it ask more questions invest in what you need don't go over bord at the start . I want a new top of the range system but I can't justify the price  it's the same thing does the same job . Main things that I pay top money for now because i have had an injury is the pole and hose reel .

[jk999]

A friend of mine going back about fifteen years ago first couple of years into wfp asked me if he could look at my set up every thing I had my van water purification set up and trollies  all come in for less 4500 grand my van being the dearest asset out of it all he couldn't believe how cheap my set up was . Everything he had was an ionic s set up twenty  five grand .his resin change had to be done every month four resin vessels 80 quid a piece 320 a month it was costing me less than a couple of quid a month to filter water at the time some folk chuck money away for the sake of it

[CleanClear]

Lots of very complex answers here, but its simple really............... you pay for what you get. Pay peanuts and get monkeys. I built me own for next to nowt..................

[dazmond]

once you ve got someone to fix your tank in securely in the back of the van then the rest is easy,pumpbox,reel(heater if your using one)

i paid £80 to my local garage yesterday to have my tank and frame bolted into my new van.today ill plumb in my pumpbox,heater and reel(if it arrives!) and ill be good to go.

[AuRavelling79]

Most of my round is 8 weekly. It suits for several reasons.

When I went wfp I would tell people that their windows remained cleaner for longer due to less soapy residue (I now generally doubt this in practical i.e. visual terms) and would use it to sell wfp when customers were more doubting ten/fifteen years ago. I also used it as a reason to charge say £15 rather than £10 per clean (never as much as double).

It reduced their annual bill so they got something back as it were.

But some of my round is 4 weekly/monthly

Commercial work in Avonmouth which is dusty from traffic/coal imports and cement manufacture. This is usually calendar monthly to suit their invoicing/payment structure or 4 weekly for the petty cash jobs.

A long stretch of house fronts on the A4 which gets mucky from traffic. They have their backs done every other time or on request.

Some small areas left over from my trad days which are still 4 weekly.

Usually I now offer both and the custy usually goes 8 week rather than 4.

[Stoots]

My van mount cost less than £500.

One day I would like to own something like a grippa system because they look nice. But it's a want rather than need and I wouldn't buy one unless I really could afford it. I'd rather spend the money on more important things until then.

Also I would agree to buold s premium round where things like a grippa system would be viable I would say it's going to take a good few years not happen overnight. I've been going full time a year and part time a year before that and only have about 50% of round and even then I still get messers weekly constantly dumping people and picking up new ones then being messed about. If you go in cheap and tolerate all  kinds of nonsense you could have a full round fairly quickly. But to get a full round of reliable good paying customers and good prices (for uk your area) I would say 5 years plus.

[Sean chambers]

Hi where in Sussex are you based

[cleaning4usussex]

East Sussex, nr uckfield