[D woods]

What a great thread. I cant think of any semi skilled work that comes close to offering the potential that window cleaning can offer.

[Rob_Mac]

Another part of it is about seeing oportunity.

This isn't about great revelations or even astounding insights.

Opportunities come along and you will do a couple of things with them, you may miss the opportnity by not seing it for what it is, you may see the opportunity but not do anything about it - financial restraints, being over committed, other reasons and then you may see the opportunity and take action on it.

Here's what I have done today - bear in mind I also have got to price up 15 nursing homes and then a further 49.

Been researching the statistics on line about facts on chewing gum removal for our new website.

Now it turns out back in 2003 a organisation using taxpayers money - that is local to me had spent £3500.00 on a chewing gum removal system. I have lived in this area for over 10 years and I have never seen any evidence of this investment. I came across this nugget purely by accident - or was it!!!!!!

So I get onto them and ask where the machine is and what it has been doing for the last 4 years. I am told that it comes out once per year for a spring clean but they found it to be hard work, expensive and little reward for the investment, with the problem being compounded by resoiling virtually straight away and that the machine has parts that has been broken off it.

I have to present a portfolio to them and it seems that this would be a service they would be very interested in. The rest is up to me

Rob

[Blackbushe Windows]

Not much more to say - just make sure you price right.

Peter

[squeejay]

from some of the posts i have read and some of earnings claimed, am wondering where i am going wrong

i have been a window cleaner 12 years working for others thinking i cant be bothered with all the collecting and other hassles that go with it, but 10 months ago i took the plunge and it was tough walking all day canvassing and leafleting, but now i can honestly say i am loving it with 230 domestic 4 weekly averageing £10 per house,im not looking back , just invested in a wfp system and i now have to go canvassing again.so in my opinion you can make a very good living.

SOME BUILD A BUSINESS OTHERS BUILD EMPIRES.

[Rob_Mac]

I like that - we say that all the time.

There's another phrase in the film - Field of Dreams - about the baseball diamond that they build in the corn field, he's having doubts about whether it will be succesful.

'If you build it they will come'

Rob

[xxmattyxx]

I make a decent living from window-cleaning.

My standard of living is decent, my work conditions are decent, my disposable income is decent, I have at least 2 foreign scuba diving holidays a year (thats decent), I love doing the job I do (thats decent), Im my own boss (also decent), we have 2 cars on the drive (decent enough?), I pay my taxes (I think thats pretty decent of me  ) and I work by comparison to many others few hours.

So, my answer to the question is, yes !!

[Mr T]

Some great posts, just want to say that i think u guys on this forum are great and that your posts and advice have helped me a great deal.  Before i started window cleaning i was in and out of dead end jobs on the road to nowere.

[rhys11]

You need to take things on a forum you see with a pinch of salt.

Not all window cleaners do well as in a post last week a guy packed in.

Some really struggle , some do ok and then do really well.

You get out what you put in.

Paul

You get out what you put in.

that is so true

[D woods]

What do you guys call a decent income?

[matt]

Very good posts from everybody, not just Midas. An excellent thread that restores faith in the forum. When I read the topic i thought, here we go.....

thats because i missed this post 

[Davo]

Very good posts from everybody, not just Midas. An excellent thread that restores faith in the forum. When I read the topic i thought, here we go.....

thats because i missed this post 

Many a true word spoken in jest!!


Mark

[Rob_Mac]

D Woods

I will tell you what I consider a good income but you will have to give me a call and it will be in confidence, not for the eyes or ears of others

Rob

[D woods]

Hi Midas (Rob)

I can understand why you would not want to post it on a forum. It will only cause arguments.

[Rob_Mac]

We are working more and more on day rates now and moving into the other areas they all have higher rates with the top line on shot blasting.

I am reducing the costs on the day rate and looking at proper profit margins.

Why not give us a little insight ito your story because there are some pretty impressive clients on your website and they weren't gained through a sloppy attitude to the trade

Rob

[Village Gleam]

I think 80k plus is good if you want a straight answer.Plenty of people such as doctors earn more. Life's upside down, i'm out in all weathers, and I work very hard. I do -by chance- my gp's house, now my house is okay, albeit on an estate, but his backs onto the golf course and has a two tennis courts in the back garden.

Where's the justice?

[Feen]

As others have said, what an excellent thread. Much useful and interesting input. I am probably slightly different from most on here in that I am a wc for approx 75% of my time. The rest is gardening and odd jobs on a farm. These don't pay nearly as well as the windows, but it helps me keep fresh and not get bored. I wouldn't advocate this for you, it's just that it suits me. I don't want a big business, employees etc and all the associated hassles. Again this is me. The one problem I have is the inability to say "no" I take on jobs that are not really worth the bother. Help me be more selective

[Ian Rochester]

Of course it's possible to make a decent living, however the word "decent" can mean a lot of different things to different people.

Is it possible for one person to make £80 - 100K pa (profit) from window cleaning working for themselves, probably not, though I'm sure some will claim that it is!

You should however, be able to earn yourselves a mid range salary for your geographic area doing window cleaning........if you put in the effort, and that's what it boils down to, putting in the effort, building up your business and then managing your accounts effectively on a monthly basis.

I think I/we make a decent living from what I/we do.

[scud]

  I believe that the people making a decent living from window cleaning are the people who would/have made a decent living and worked thier way to a decent position in someone else's company.
  It is all about the people who will and leaving the ones who won't by the wayside.
  I myself have built a pretty good paying round in 3 years, I have too much work and am about to push for more to allow me to take an employee on without losing any from my level of personal income.

[frames to panes]

I think 80k is more than good Mr Sol, i'd say it was pretty fantastic for one bloke on his own jigging a brush on a stick! Do you honestly think you will be in that bracket anytime now?

[Village Gleam]

That seems to be where most of us falter Scud.