[brightnclean]

Like any other business you get out of it what you are prepared to put in. There is always a demand for professional window cleaning. It does vary from area to area but it is there nonetheless.

Start out as you mean to go on. There will be a lot of properties you will have to miss out or even worse do dangerous things from a ladder to clean the windows especially if you work alone. I use both WFP and trad but WFP is the preffered method for a lot of reasons not the least of which is safety. Ladders aren't unsafe. It's the incorrect use of them that is and wfp prevents this.

I invested in my business and it has paid off handsomely. Things can always be done in a cheaper way but it isn't usually the best way to do it.

Also if you start out totally trad you will then face the switchover to WFP which is totally unneeded if you are WFP from the start.

Be loud and proud and stand out from the competition

[Alex Wingrove]

Its got nothing to do with not starting out how you want to finish, ultimately you clean windows to earn a living, ad too start off with ladders will make you a living, all the work he picks maybe just perfect for ladders and will never need a wfp,

you have to agree its a tool like any other, just because you and i have one doest mean that he needs it,

7,5k will earn interest but a several 1000 pound machine will ot earn you interest.....yet but later it will if you have the correct work

[windowwashers]

Like any other business you get out of it what you are prepared to put in. There is always a demand for professional window cleaning. It does vary from area to area but it is there nonetheless.

Start out as you mean to go on. There will be a lot of properties you will have to miss out or even worse do dangerous things from a ladder to clean the windows especially if you work alone. I use both WFP and trad but WFP is the preffered method for a lot of reasons not the least of which is safety. Ladders aren't unsafe. It's the incorrect use of them that is and wfp prevents this.

I invested in my business and it has paid off handsomely. Things can always be done in a cheaper way but it isn't usually the best way to do it.

Also if you start out totally trad you will then face the switchover to WFP which is totally unneeded if you are WFP from the start.

Be loud and proud and stand out from the competition

Have to say that makes total sence.



Alex W, you are right it is a tool but to start trad when there is no need is the wrong option IMO, I do understand where you are coming from on the money side, but if you are building a business for wfp what is the point starting trad, that would be like building as house with foundations made of jelly.
get the foundations right first time, as under pinning is expensive. that is an odd way to look at it I know but it is true.

Ian

[Alex Wingrove]

ww you cant build a house on jelly but im sure as you know that you can build a business from working with ladders, theres alot more pressure if you spend all that money but are not getting any returns yet.

you can clean windows without wfp

[windowwashers]

ww you cant build a house on jelly but im sure as you know that you can build a business from working with ladders, theres alot more pressure if you spend all that money but are not getting any returns yet.

you can clean windows without wfp

I started trad years ago Alex and as I said I know where you are coming from, but why start this way if you dont need to. I know you say about the outlay, but this is very small if you think about the earning you get back. I know a guy that left his job quite a well paid one for a 9-5 he got an ionics system and a new van why because he started as he means to go on.
Why risk all that ladder work if you dont have to, this is my point.

[Alex Wingrove]

its got nothing to do with starting how you mean how to go on, why dont you go and buy 10 vans and hire ten people because thats the way you mean to move on

you live within your means, and im afraid that by spending all that money on a system before you even have work is a waste of money,

am i right in thinking he has never cleaned a window, and might hate it

[L.J.Thorpe]

ifthis guy is just starting out i am inclined to agree with alex .all very well having top notch gear but if you have no work whats the point??? also he has no experience yet . put the money in the bank and find a local window cleaner who needs some help preferably one who uses both trad and wfp and see if you are still as keen after jan. feb. and the first half of march have been and gone then good on ya but even then i would not lay out all that dosh with no work even if i had it . as for all the comments about the hassle of diy well everyones different but i enjoyed building my system and am still enjoying uprating and improving as i go along

[L.J.Thorpe]

just got to add that you REALLY DO NEED TO LEARN TRAD evenif you dont use it much

[Captain Scarlet]

Alex

you live within your means, and im afraid that by spending all that money on a system before you even have work is a waste of money,

I think I have to agree with you, I started trad nearly a year back then 4 months ago went wfp. Although now I wished I had been wfp from the start, going wfp from the beginning might not have been the right thing to do. Build up a round and save the money and then go wfp. But try not to leave it too long before you make the switch, just make sure you enjoy wc'ing first and can deal with it before spending quite a bit of money, Luke

[jaykie]

Thanks for all your info its been brill, i see everyones point, where i live theres a lot of 3 storey houses so i wont beable to reach 3rd floor without WFP so would have to turn a lot of work away, Ive got 7.5k and thought that i may as well get the full system so that in 6 months time i haven't got to start trying to get the money together, the money i got will pay for everything i need, van, tools, ladders, wfp, clothing etc etc, this isnt something i thought over night ive been thinking about it for the last year, and im deffinetly not one to give up easily as ive always made a success at everything ive done, but nows the time to make money for myself and not others.

[L.J.Thorpe]

you dont have to spend all that money to get a perfectly effective wfp set up.Diy is not difficult to do and can save you hundreds if not thousands of pounds.You talk about turning work away but (no offence intended here) you dont have any yet.You can make wfp as cheap or as dear as you want but thats up to you .Imo you should find a window cleaner who needs some help and offer your services you are in a good position with your job to build this up as a business without blowing all that cash in one go.With 7.5k you could go diy route get some trad gear and still have enough left to buy the system you describe in six months time meanwhile start canvassing and make some contacts also let us all know where you are maybe someone on here is nearby and can help out .Good Luck whatever way you decide to go there is always a lot of useful info on here mind you there is also a fair amount of old  (swearings banned by the way)

[Alex Wingrove]

jaykie

if you believe the work is there go and get it first, if you can get a few days work from town houses tell them when you can do it and then go and get the kit, people wont mind waiting a bit for their windows to be done if you are going to do them, and also go and get some work

[jaykie]

ive got all my squeegees, t bars, buckets, cloths etc, ive decided going to start canvesing and get some work, getting van with money as need a new vehicle any way but putting rest cash in another account to get WFP system when im ready and got good trade, as for essentially pure yes there about 40 mins up the road but they wanted £3200 plus vat and £500 to fit so not worth it.
If there are any window cleaners in EASTBOURNE needing help for a couple of days a week please contact me at jaykie@hotmail.com or add me if you wish.
Cheers all
Chris

[Mo]

Try brodex
Mo

[jaykie]

Whose brodex

[jaykie]

Forget the last message as just google searched it cheers

[L.J.Thorpe]

ive got all my squeegees, t bars, buckets, cloths etc, ive decided going to start canvesing and get some work, getting van with money as need a new vehicle any way but putting rest cash in another account to get WFP system when im ready and got good trade, as for essentially pure yes there about 40 mins up the road but they wanted £3200 plus vat and £500 to fit so not worth it.
If there are any window cleaners in EASTBOURNE needing help for a couple of days a week please contact me at jaykie@hotmail.com or add me if you wish.
Cheers all
Chris

nice to read that imo you will find this is a good way of getting started and wfp aint as complicated as you might think anyone with a modicum of common sense and some technical ability can build a system and some bits can be re used as you up rate.Hope it all goes well mate good luck

[mark dew]

good points by alex and lj thorpe is right that you should learn traditional cleaning but you are better off by squeezing every possible quid out of every job you go to and with the amount of conservatories with windows above, you can only do this by using wfp.
A backpack is the price of a good trade ladder, so you ain't gotta spend 1000's to start with wfp.
I'd recommend buying a nice clean looking van though as it gives a good 1st impression and that is worth an extra quid or 2 on the average quote compared to turning up in a car with ladders on top.
Best of luck.