[Jonathan s]

I've made a bit of a rod for myself when I started 7 years ago and could do with some advice on how to get out of it and move forward.     Serious advice please and if people would like to contact me direct then that is fine

Anyway,  some background.    I started window cleaning 7 years Ago.     I was at the time a heavy drinking alkie.    It was easy money and obviously cash in hand.   I could drink to my heart content.     I priced a lot of the work up on the low side just to get the work.    My marriage broke down and I carried on with the windows and have built a reasonable round up.     I know need to move on with the whole business as I'm not getting any younger

1.  Im still trad.    Wiping all frames and sills down
2.  I still work out of a car.   Was wiped out during a relationship a couple of years ago.   
3.    I'm currently in a small flAt

I know I need to get a van and stick with the trad for the time being, being in a small flat

So I could do with some General advice on how to move forward.    I need to rise the prices of my rubbish work and if I lose any so be it     Get leaflettibg for new work

I will add to this as and when I think of something

[Jonathan s]

Oh forgot to mention. When I started I had no driving license so took work on close by.  It's very low priced

[nathankaye]

Sounds like a rough bad patch you went through, gald to see youve probably come out stronger at the other end and perhaps more focused now.

The flat  your in, is it ground floor and would you have space for a couple of water butts in garden//drive?? First purchase a tds stick and see if you need a reverse osmosis and then can fill water buts which dont take up too much space perhaps.
This may be worth a watch for a cheap start into wfp, if the above is viable.
https://youtu.be/bKb-sjFf5mc

If youve had your customers steady for 7 years they will expect a price increase at some point and hopefully they will have seen a change in you also. So adjust those prices accordingly and like you said go canvass more work up at a sensible price. Then as better work comes in, drop some of the lower ones.

Im a big believer in first impressions count, so business image when canvassing as the first image which the householder sees, sadly we get judged on.

Hope it works out ok for you

[Shrek]

Ok , because your sticking with trad for the time being- I would concentrate on your image , smarten up , get a cheap uniform and look professional.
Once you look the part , up your prices a couple of quid. Price newer jobs better than your old jobs and start saving a bit for a rainy day or saving for a trolley water fed pole system if you haven't got a van as you can fit a trolley and water butts in your car .
Good luck

[slap bash]

The very first thing I would do is get a uniform and have a good haircut always look like you are starting to look up for you. So that everyone who knows you sees and change in you. A general smarten up will make you feel and act differently
The next thing O would do is make a list of all your customer and rate them. Worth keeping might improve and hopeless. I would immediately increase the hopeless group by 50% so if they stay you have something that's worth having. The other groups I would deal with at a later date in a similar fashion.
I would then plan to buy a backpack and pole etc. which I would introduce as my money gets better. Go door knocking when you look and feel changed.
I think this will be a good start for a more sound future and a better life. Do it all one step a time. And speak to Daz as he has walked this path and is a helpfull fella. I am not trying to knock you but you need to turn a new leafand start with a few good habbits.Good luck, Matie.

[slap bash]

Ok , because your sticking with trad for the time being- I would concentrate on your image , smarten up , get a cheap uniform and look professional.
Once you look the part , up your prices a couple of quid. Price newer jobs better than your old jobs and start saving a bit for a rainy day or saving for a trolley water fed pole system if you haven't got a van as you can fit a trolley and water butts in your car .
Good luck

I did not read this before  wrote my advice and we have come to the same conclusion,

[paul alan]

I started at the bottom and worked my way up, the advice above has proven true.

People judge you by your apearance, we all do it. Uniform a must.

You have to change yourself, think what kind of person do i have to become to get the results i want.
Look around at people you see as succesful and copy them, fake it till you make it!

I had nothing but a ladder, bucket and squeegee. But i did have a determination that has seen me right through.
I see myself now as a proper "window cleaner" and have all the euipment, van, signage and even a website.

You can do it if you want to enough, enough to see you through when things get tough-cos they will.

When you resolve to do something and put in your all, luck will shine down upon you, as it has me.
Today i picked up some realy good work at a realy good price without even trying. Having said that i have been all out lately but now i got the ball rolling it just keeps going.

Change starts within yourself, then the outside results will change for you automaticaly.

[dazmond]

Are you sober these days?this is what you need to sort out first.lots of us with former drink problems went to AA meetings for years and found it a real help to lead a sober life.

As for your business slowly start raising prices,logo d uniform and even car magnets for now to give yourself a more professional image.it's amazing how much work you ll pick up just by having signs on your car.

There's no easy,quick way of getting(and keeping!)a good profitable round.

Patience,perseverance and hard work over  many years will get you to places you only ever dreamed about.

Good luck.

[robbo333]

Are there any window cleaners local where you could buy water on a daily basis?
Then it wouldn't matter so much that you live in a flat, as you wouldn't have the hassle of  making or transferring it.
Then all you would need is a Gardiners backpack, a CLX 22 and some barrels. You could just charge the backpack up every night.

[Marc Stock]

I would do the following.

Stick with trad for 1 year. And invest in a new set up next year in march. Your likely to get a better deal in march as it's the last month of the financial year.

Next, do what all these have already said. Smarten up, don't necessarily need to go down the route of logo and uniform. But buy a pack of plain polo shirts and if you can afford it buy some traders trousers and get work smart.

Next, I'm. Assuming your overheads are low. Increase your prices and start working on the 3rd rule.

3rd for living 3rd for taxes etc and 3rd for savings.

Don't be tempted to borrow money to expand. In a year you should be able to get together a couple of grand to start with a van and wfp setup. Build one yourself don't buy a fancy pantsy one with logos and cool graphics.

And your focus from here onwards is making sure your customers are happy with your work. Ask them to be honest, it will do wonders for your business.

[Jonathan s]

Thanks everyone for your help.    It's much appreciated

Yes I am still sober.   Over 6 year,   Best thing I ever did was quitting the booze.     Great relationship with my kids

I have not got a bad round at the moment.    I earn more than the average wage and have worked hard for it.     I realise I need to make the extra step up now

Next week I will get some polo shirts, sweaters And jacket embroidered.     Look more professional.    After that the next step will be getting some leaflets delivered and start to get some better work while i get some money together for a small van.  It needs to have three seats due to my daughters?    Any recommendations?

At the moment I have literally no space for anything as I'm in a studio flat.   

[dazmond]

What sort of flat do you live in?mines a first floor flat and I simply run extension hose from sink tap,down the stairs into the van.I'm lucky as I use DI only (tap tds 029)and I can park my van right outside my front door.it takes me around an hour to purify my water for my next days work.

[dazmond]

I lease my van.it cost's me just over £200 a month (with VAT).brand new connect L2 limited,3 seats in the front and enough room for 500l tank and all my other gear in the back.heated drivers seat,air con etc.no VAT upfront just 3 months rental.100% tax deductible.no MOT'S for 3 years.lovely.☺

Sign writing and logo (including bonnet) £160 cash.

WFP is more expensive mate but worth it still.I earn over £20,000 more a year than I
was earning  when I started WFP (7yrs ago)but spend around 3k more in expenses than trad a year so I'm still quids in,a lot safer and work shorter hours actually window cleaning

[Jonathan s]

Thanks for the advice.    Can I get a van on lease with a poor credit rating ?   

I've got a "full" round.   Unfortunately when I started up I took on all the work who had binned the WFP work.     

[nathankaye]

Thanks for the advice.    Can I get a van on lease with a poor credit rating ?   

I've got a "full" round.   Unfortunately when I started up I took on all the work who had binned the WFP work.     

Weve all got work on wfp, customers who hated it etc.
I simply explained that if i left a bad job when using trad equipment, who would they blame? Me or the equipment?  Theybwould say me.......so i tell them the same, not to blame the wfp but the person operating the equipment.

[dazmond]

Thanks for the advice.    Can I get a van on lease with a poor credit rating ?   

I've got a "full" round.   Unfortunately when I started up I took on all the work who had binned the WFP work.     

Probably not.my credit ratings really good now but it wasn't for a long time.I had CCJS!best way of building it up is get a credit card and pay it off in full every month for a few years.pay all your other bills on time too and it'll get better and better.

You'll just have to save up and buy a second hand van (which I've always done until recently).

Most customers like wfp.it's a myth that they all hate it.I'm quite sure you could change over with minimal problems.you will lose one or two but gain more in the long run.

[G Griffin]

So I could do with some General advice on how to move forward.    I need to rise the prices of my rubbish work and if I lose any so be it     Get leaflettibg for new work

Those are the best things you could have said.
Raise prices to what YOU want to charge. Customers don't have to like it and you don't owe them anything. Any loyalty they have shown you- if they did- should be repaid by good service not a cheap one.
New work in a different area is good, too, because you're starting afresh pricewise.
Saying that I've a load of under priced work that I've had too long but I'm not very professional.

Do as I say, not as I do.

[k.diver]

just up the prices by 2 quid  now  and everything else will  follow on.   

dont bother with a uniform [ is my opinion] 

[Johnny B]

Seems to me that you already have the basis of a decent run, but just need to refine it.

If you were to to start by reviewing your prices, and raise them gradually over a period of time, maybe starting with the areas most in need or you least want to keep, that could be the next step to take. You may lose a few, but the chances are that if you are doing a decent job, are reliable and as you have said you have turned your life around and are coming across to your customers in a more professional manner, most will stay with you and you will earn more by doing less. This will free up space in your schedule to take on fresh, better paying work.

I wouldn't necessarily suggest having a uniform. Just be presentable.

Best wishes and look forward to reading about your progress.

John.

[Jonathan s]

Thanks everyone for their help so far.     Hopefully within the year will have a van sorted.   Stay Trad for a couple of years while i build some money up for a better flat etc . 

Is their anyone in West Midlands who can show me the ropes for wfp?