[Chris G]

Hello,
I am new on here and wanting to start up in window cleaning.
I might have some stupid questions to ask, so apologise in advance.
From what I have seen on here you look a helpful lot and I look forward to any advice you can give me.

Thanks,
Chris.

[Paul Coleman]

Hello,
I am new on here and wanting to start up in window cleaning.
I might have some stupid questions to ask, so apologise in advance.
From what I have seen on here you look a helpful lot and I look forward to any advice you can give me.

Thanks,
Chris.

Welcome to the forum.
Ask away as I'm sure there will be help here.
Although a lot can be learnt from a forum, the best way with such a job is hands on experience.  Maybe check the back posts as well.

[Sir Squeaky]

Well I'll answer you if the rest of the lazy sods won't. :

Hi Chris, and welcome to the best cleaning forum around.
You'll find you'll get answers to nearly everything on here, and it doesn't even have to be about boring work if you head over to "non cleaning issues"

Anything you want, just ask.
There's usually someone around.

Good luck and have fun.

Rog.

[Sir Squeaky]

You awkward sod Shiner.
I was typing the first reply as you posted your's.

Now I don't look like the quick-as-a-flash helpful dude I was trying to be.

[windowwashers]

Hello,
I am new on here and wanting to start up in window cleaning.
I might have some stupid questions to ask, so apologise in advance.
From what I have seen on here you look a helpful lot and I look forward to any advice you can give me.

Thanks,
Chris.

Welcome to the forum Chris,

any help with any design work just ask, you will learn loads here, as most are willing to help 

[Paul Coleman]

You awkward sod Shiner.
I was typing the first reply as you posted your's.

Now I don't look like the quick-as-a-flash helpful dude I was trying to be.

 

There.  I always knew I was quicker than you really.

[Chris G]

Thanks eveyone for the rapid replies!

[windowwashers]

your welcome Chris

[M & C Window Cleaning]

I might have some stupid questions to ask, so apologise in advance.

Hi Chris,

As you may have noticed from reading any of my posts, I've been cleaning windows for thirty years. I joned the forum earlier this year and by asking questions, many of which seemed dumb to me after all that time in the trade, have learned a lot from fellow members. So don't apologise, just ask away.

All the best in your venture into the world of window cleaning.

Mark

[Majestic]

How about a few more details in your profile, if people know where you are they could invite you out with them for a day to see what its like hands on

[Chris G]

Thanks all of you for replying.
John, I will update my profile when I find my way round the site, don't think it should be too difficult for me.
Is there anyone from South Yorkshire area on here?

*** Profile updated***

Cheers,
Chris.

[brett walker]

Hi Chris welcome to the forum.

I had someone last week stop me in a big truck, they was making a delivery in mansfield and asked me about wfp, i told them about this forum, they also was from South Yorkshire, was it you by any chance or your dad.

Anyway good look you'll get all the help you'll need on here.

Regards

Brett

[Majestic]

Bret
Chris joined in March

[windowwashers]

Bret
Chris joined in March

I think i have membership to about 70 forums, i only use about 6 of them at the moment, three i use most of all this now being one of them  .

[Chris G]

Hi everyone,
Once again thanks for your help.
Yes I did register in March this year, but it is only now that I have got round to using it properly.
Bret, no it wasn't me who was asking about it and certainly not my dad, he's a a contract cleaning the pearly gates for the last sixteen years!, Sorry, that's just my sense of humor as you will all find out.
So to get to the point, I am wanting to start window cleaning and want to know the best way to go about it. I will obviously be working on my own to start with and as regards any previous experience, well...erm.. let's say me and a couple of mates tried it out briefly when we were younger just as a bit of work for beer money, that was back in 1981 so I think I might need just a tiny amount of updating on the current practices you use.
What I really would like is to obtain work on single storey shop/business premisses, but I would think these are hard to come by aren't they?
I have seen adverts in the local free papers for rounds for sale, but I am a bit wary in case you buy a round and find the seller has made most of the names and addresses up or just taken them from the phone book.
Would it probably be best to get a canvasser to get customers?
OK, well that's the first few of my questions, I am quite sure I will become a pain in a**e asking more!

Thanks yet again, it's been great  to get a good reception from you all.

Cheers,
Chris.

[colley614]

Chris,

I would say its just a case of getting out there and getting some work. I only started out in December last year and my cash flow is well off the charts at what I had in mind. Its hard going at first and I wouldn't like to do it again and I'm certainly not out of the woods yet but its all a case of getting you head down and getting on with it and before you know it you will have 99% of things in place. I have worked this weekend Fri 0800-2210 Sat 0800-2000 Today 0800-1800 all on a new business park that has just been bought and if anyone says " I wouldn't work them hours."  I don't care because I've earned as much in a weekend as I used to earn in a month when I was an employee. So just get out there chris and get the ball rolling because before you know it that rolling ball will start snow balling.     

[Majestic]

What you need to do is practice on your own house first. Then doorknocking is the quickest way of getting new work

[Chris G]

Thanks colley614 and John for that advice.
I know it's probably a bit difficult, but can you give any advice regarding pricing on different properties and commercial buildings please?

[davidpitts]

When I first started up I bought a round advertised in the local paper, before I paid, he took me round all the customers and introduced me to them, then did some of the work with me for my first clean, we became very good mates and he sold me the rest of his work when he moved to Spain, where he is now running a successfully window cleaning business, my point being is that not all rounds advertised are sold by dodgy people.

[colley614]

Thanks colley614 and John for that advice.
I know it's probably a bit difficult, but can you give any advice regarding pricing on different properties and commercial buildings please?

Tell you the truth mate its all up to how much you want at the end of the day. As long as your not charging over the top. If you price 5 and they all say yes your not charging enough. If you price 5 and they are funny with you but agree to it your getting there