[jjames]

Hi All

I am thinking again about changing my business over from grounds maintenance to window cleaning. At present I am busy but stressed as when ever it is wet I just can't get on and cut grass. I can only get an hourly rate of approx £12.50 per hour and i am expensive in my area. It seems to me that if i bought a wfp system i could earn more money, still work in the wet, not have to get rid of tons of garden waste and i will spend less on equipment. Problem is I have read so many anti wfp posts on this site I am so confused. What are your thoughts and should I just go for it.

Justin

[seandyer2003]

WFP is fine, the anti wfp posts are just the Luddites who cant cope with change!:)

Learn to clean trad as well so you have the skill, but go for it mate, do a BWCA course they are supposed to be very good for people looking to get into Window Cleaning! Failing that, where are you, im sure some kind soul on here will help you learn!

Good Luck

[ftp]

Why not do both? Introduce the windowcleaning side gradually then see which is the more profitable or which suits you best. Yes you can work in the rain but not everyone does, depends if you can afford to loose customers. Hardest bit is building a decent round at the right prices. The actual process of cleaning is hardly complicated.

[Oakley Windows]

I used to be a landscape gardener before I became a window cleaner.

The guy who got me into window cleaning had to spend a considerable period of time persuading me that winodw clenaing would be beneficial to me, financially in particular but for other reasons too.

Anyway, in them days ladders and trad was what was happening and have to admit the figure you're talking that you earn now is less than what I was doing 10 years ago off a  ladder.

Im WFP now, have been for 8 months, I have NEVER looked back, ever. For me, and its just my opinion, based on my experience, is that WFP is superior generally to trad, if you wish to start window cleaning, learn trad, but gear up for WFP.

[jjames]

Thank you for your quick reply

I am in Devon, I will definatly do some training. At present I have two cleaning contracts ao I have some trad experiance although I not that fast. If anyone is willing to show me the ropes it would be great. I am thinking of doing both to start and I will buy a trolley system so I can still use the van for other tools.

Justin

[Oakley Windows]

For all those anti-WFP posts you mention there are just as many anti-Trad posts too.

[seandyer2003]

For all those anti-WFP posts you mention there are just as many anti-Trad posts too.

Very true, but its sensible to go wfp for health and safety reasons, especially if you are thinking of doing it on business as you mention you have got some contracts!

[S.A.J]

I am in Devon
Justin

What part of Devon Justin?

[jjames]

Hi SAJ

I am in exmouth.

Justin

[Paul Coleman]

Hi All

I am thinking again about changing my business over from grounds maintenance to window cleaning. At present I am busy but stressed as when ever it is wet I just can't get on and cut grass. I can only get an hourly rate of approx £12.50 per hour and i am expensive in my area. It seems to me that if i bought a wfp system i could earn more money, still work in the wet, not have to get rid of tons of garden waste and i will spend less on equipment. Problem is I have read so many anti wfp posts on this site I am so confused. What are your thoughts and should I just go for it.

Justin

No need to convince you as it sounds like you've already convinced yourself  
All of the points in your post are true, but the amount spent on equipment is debatable.  It depends how you manage your current business and how you would intend to manage your W/C business.  You can certainly spend a lot on WFP stuff but if you don't mind making things yourself, you can enter the business for under a grand (I assume you already have some kind of vehicle).

[S.A.J]

Bit far for me to offer you some help  

Good luck with the move into window cleaning best thing i ever done!  

Stuart

[DASERVICES]

Hi James,

You're pretty cheep, I have a min charge of £15 per garden and depending on weather can do one in 20 mins.

There is the new lawn mower which I will probably invest next year which does not collect the grass but mulches it and puts in back on the lawn.

I also combine wfp as well and the big problem is come summer time you are always trying to catch up.

Doug

[jjames]

I already have a nissan primastar. I have spent a lot on equipment for grounds maintenance and just last week spent £640 on a new mower. I have probably spent around 4K on tools and every couple of years it needs replacing. I think wfp gear will work out cheaper in the long run.

Justin

[jjames]

Hi Doug

I can earn well if I just go and cut the grass in one garden and charge a minimum of £15 but a lot of my work is blocks of flats and large houses who have between 4 and 8 hours per week. Unfortunatly I then have to charge by the hour and it will involve everything from weeding to hedge cutting. These customers also expect the rubbish to be removed which cause a big problem in itself. Don't get me wrong, the business is turning over a very good profit for very hard work, I put in 40 hours of labour per week and have 1 member of staff who works 16 hours per week, but today I should be doing a solid 8 hours grass cutiing for a housing association and can't because it is to wet to cut.

Justin

[matt]

Hi SAJ

I am in exmouth.

Justin

i know of 2 guys in exmouth who are WFP, i know as i supplied them both with systems

[pdale]

I have done grass cutting etc. in the past and much prefer window cleaning.

The main issue for me with grass cutting is that if we have a downpour of rain in the morning, it tends to stuff the afternoon up too, even if it's not raining. Whereas window cleaning is different, i find on a rainy day there is usually at least 3 hours break between the rain, when i can work.

Plus 12.50 hour is a minimum. I tend to average 14-20 an hour and have a few jobs that pay as much as 30. And those are domestics.

It was easy to start up as i did both for the first year, until i built up enough window cleaning.

Hope what i say helps. I would never go back to grass cutting.

Paul

[ftp]

Grass cultivation is where the money is, particularly weeds apparently.

[Moderator David@stives]

paul, there are machines which will cut when wet.

Have you read Jim's Mowing , maybe some one will send you the ebook

[jjames]

I have just bought an etasia which will cut grass when wet in theory. I took it out this morning and the 3 inch long grass will cut but oh what a mess. Most customers want the grass collected and then it goes in bulk bags in the back of the van. Half an hour later the back of the van is swimming in green water which has drained from the grass. I would say that running a full time gardening business is one of the hardest self employed jobs.

Justin

[seandyer2003]

I have just bought an etasia which will cut grass when wet in theory. I took it out this morning and the 3 inch long grass will cut but oh what a mess. Most customers want the grass collected and then it goes in bulk bags in the back of the van. Half an hour later the back of the van is swimming in green water which has drained from the grass. I would say that running a full time gardening business is one of the hardest self employed jobs.

Justin

A chap im friends started gardening, he had his own stationary and office supply business for years and sold it for ALOT of money and just wants to potter now, although his gardening business has took off well in a yr or so and he employs someone full time now(he is sickeningly good at any kind of business, just a very clever guy, and a very hard worker) Anyway point is no matter how much rain he is at work! So i havent asked, but he must be cutting grass too!? Will find out off him when i see him next...