[MJH]

Discount window cleaning, this sounds like you sell cheap wc equipment etc its  a bit confusing and could portray a cheap service. I am not being rude in anyway but i am sure you want the best for your buisness. All of your customers might expect a cheap service

[dd]

What I really want to know is if I get more computers can I clean more windows?
I think a picture of your window cleaning gear would be more interesting than a desk with several computers.

[simon knight]

I also think that the name "Discount Window Cleaning" doesn't quite fit the bill. OK if you're selling goods cheaply then yes you can use the word "discount". But to my mind I can't see it applying to a service because there's no benchmark as to how much a particular service should cost.  Eg: Some hookers charge £25 for their services whereas others charge £100 (not that I'm an expert in such matters you understand ), and some window cleaners charge £10ph and others £50ph.

So really when providing a service it's how much the provider values his/her time that reflects the end price. In other words to provide a "discounted" service you'd have to be cheaper than the cheapest w/c in your area.

Anyway that aside I really think you're over-complicating a pretty straightforward business, you:

Arrive at customers house
Clean windows
Collect there and then or leave sae
Return after agreed interval
Clean windows
Collect there and then or leave sae
Return after agreed interval
etc
etc

This is not rocket science and you certainly don't need more hardware/software than mission control at NASA.



 

[dd]

But why does the guy need 3 computers? (also 2 calculators - 1 for each hand)

[simon knight]

No it’s not rocket science, but if you are trying to build a business and not remain a one man band, you do need to have in place a more complex infrastructure; otherwise you are going to hold yourself back.

The WC on this forum who wish to remain self employed, can’t seem to understand what others are trying to do and overlay there working practices on to some one else business.

I have been WC for 1 year and will be looking to take on a full time WC in the next 12 months. Advice from self employed WC’s will still be helpful but not in every area of my business as it grows. Fact is some of the advice will be totally useless, may work for them but not for me or others as it’s to simple.

Ewan 

My post was more referring to self employed w/c'ers. OK once it grows and you start to employ then of course you need to have some infrastructure in place eg:

PAYE
Employee Insurance
BUPA
Credit Control
etc

but seriously for the vast majority of w/c'ers it's a nice little earner that anybody with a personality and IQ above a goldfish should be able to make a living from

I do and I'm the laziest bugger on Earth!

[simon knight]

Bare also in mind Ewan that this profession/industry is pretty well unregulated, so there's no minimum training requirements or other government hoops to jump through....anybody can buy ladders, bucket, scrim and blade and call themselves a window cleaner.

[simon knight]

To a lot of WC it’s more than a little earner, It’s there living.

And the full time professional WC I know are smart, just because the work can be viewed as menial it’s no reflection on the people that do it.

I’m sure the ones you are referring to work just as hard, but unfortunately more than likely don’t maximise there earnings and the customer reaps the full benefit because they get more for there money.

Ewan 

It's my living as well and I'm not for one moment implying that w/c aren't smart. All I'm saying is that it's a lucrative trade that doesn't need a big investment and doesn't need training and doesn't need an over- in-depth business plan.

As I said:

Wash
Get paid

Wash
Get paid

...don't get simpler than that

[simon knight]

I'm not incompetent thank you very much. I earn good money and know my business and customers as much as I need to and will be in business as long as I need to be!

I find it stress free and actually very easy and I have no intention at the age of 50 of expanding and employing people because I frankly neither need the extra money nor hassle.

You seem to be very defensive about your business and I get the impression that deep down you're ashamed of it....don't be Ewan, it's a great business but it doesn't need to be over-complicated....that's all I'm saying!

[Ravensford]

I think with a name like 'Discount' people would automatically think of cheap & cheerful & therefore expect a low price. I would think it would be harder to command a higher price in the quality sector.

Also how is it possible to qualify or quantify that the customers are indeed getting a discount? Do you have a menu pricing system?

Not knocking your set up but it wouldn't work in some areas of the country.

[simon knight]

No need for apologies because no offence taken

Ambitions is what you have...old is what you get (sic)!

Don't ever be pessimistic....quite honestly unless you're a complete moronic imbecile (and reading your posts you're obviously not) you would be hard pressed not to make a living out window cleaning. It's possibly the most uncomplicated job going IMO, so treat it as such, solve problems as and when they arise and above all enjoy it.

I wish you well mate.

Simon

[MJH]

I'm not incompetent thank you very much. I earn good money and know my business and customers as much as I need to and will be in business as long as I need to be!

I find it stress free and actually very easy and I have no intention at the age of 50 of expanding and employing people because I frankly neither need the extra money nor hassle.

You seem to be very defensive about your business and I get the impression that deep down you're ashamed of it....don't be Ewan, it's a great business but it doesn't need to be over-complicated....that's all I'm saying!

Comment was not aimed at you personally, it is just a saying, but my post was a bit strong so I apologies Simon.

Just starting, so maybe I am a little ambitious and have a lot of work to do as well as maintaining my WC round but these are my choices. I am defensive about what I do it’s only because I know a lot of people are pessimistic, so I always try to keep my guard up.
And not be influenced by these types.

Ewan 

You can keep your guard up and listen to what people are saying, most points on here from the experienced guys are top notch but there is a a reasonable amount of small talk too. If you've been at it for one year only you still probably have plenty to learn, if you are thinking of employing you need to pass on your experience and skills to have a quality member of staff.!! Its not an overnight thing a good buisness can take a few years to build.

[MJH]

Thanks Simon & MJH, I do make a point to listen to yours and others, views and knowledge. Sometimes I like to thrash the comments out so I fully understand, and also it keeps my feet on the ground when I hear words of wisdom from some of you who have been at this game longer than me.

Cheers Ewan 

You sound ambitious like me, if you are dedicated and work hard you will suceed and do well!

[Wayne Thomas]

Discount windows is an eyecatching name for your customers as they will think "Oh goodie, cheap window cleaning" which will portray your services as cheap even though you may do a quality job and have an uphill struggle trying to quote higher prices.
I personally would ditch the 'discount' part of your name or you may find yourself becoming the 'busy fool'. No disrespect to you or your business name.

[frames to panes]

Is it just me or does "discount" sound a lot like our long lost friend "Mr Sol"

Not that I mind,.. I always enjoyed Mr Sol's posts.

  I think so too.

[Clive McDonald]

The idea is about being passionate with your business and doing it as well as you can by attention to detail. Some bits i've got sorted and others I know I haven't. I was hoping for a bit of inspiration to help me in the areas where I can improve, and in return I would share a bit of what i've got.

Ewan posted about nocheques and a card machine, and I can see that could be an improvement. I thought maybe someone would say they have a better payment slip. As I said my debt management is poor.

Some of the comments are a little disapointing from longer established window cleaners who seem to
lack fire in their bellies.There's not much point me giving them pointers if they know it all.

This is a big subject, with a lot of ground to cover and I simply took this as a starting point. It's supposed to be about others who share my passion and think they can do things better.My lifes not over and washed up at fifty- if yours is and you're happy thats great, but don't generalise. Churchill thought himself a failure for many years having been sidelined and passed over for his big lifetime ambition of being PM.Then quite unexpectedly at the age of sixty five guess what?

[d s windowcleaning]

are you really mr sol  you seem to be on the same wave lenght

[windowwashers]

are you really mr sol  you seem to be on the same wave lenght

I am thinking the same thing, I liked mr Sol he thinks out the box sometimes a little ott but he obvoiusly had/has a passion for what he does.

[Clive McDonald]

As promised, a dog leg clutch

[Moderator David@stives]

Course its MR sol , do you really have to ask !!!!!!!

[frames to panes]

Thats funny, didn't i suggest using a clutch on your electric reel?" Good idea DJW" Why thank you Mr Sol.