[Smart Windows]

Hello,

I am thinking of starting up window cleaning in my local area High Wycombe, Amersham, Beaconsfield, Gerrards Cross.

Do you think it is worth it in the current economic climate?

I am currently not working following an operation, now fit and well again im thinking of taking this opportunity to change career direction, I have been a lorry driver for the past couple of years working outside in all weathers delivering diggers and plant. So i am used to being out in the cold etc.

I am thinking of going out canvassing in my signwritten car, in a uniform with my business cards knocking doors all day mon - sat, how many customers do you think i could pick up each day, obviously once it is dark i can still canvas and go back the next day in daylight to clean the windows.

I know it is abit of a guess as to how many customers i can pick up each day but could you guys give me an idea of what you have acheived using this method of business generation, I have got my head screwed on and am ready to make a real go at this.

How soon do you think it could be before i reach my current earnings of £1200 per month after the dreaded tax?

I look forward to your replys and I am pleased to be part of this busy window cleaning forum.

Peter

[karygate]

are you going to be wfp or traditional. i have been going now 12 months. only dropped 400 leaflets and have worked off reccomendation and am up to about 900 a month so if you can canvass that should be an easy goal. you need to offer something different to the rest. for example i ring my customers the night before so work off morelike appointments not just turn up as and when.

[Smart Windows]

Thanks for your reply, Thats a good idea phoning the night before to confirm, that would also save any wasted journeys. I am going Trad, very small budget is the reason, maybe one day look at wfp but for now it will be Trad. I wont be undercutting, that is a sure fact because i would not want it done to me.

So from your response it seems like i have found a viable business, im looking forward to reading more.

Peter

[Tosh]

for example i ring my customers the night before so work off morelike appointments not just turn up as and when.

I phone those customers who I need to open gates for me; but only if they're good accounts.  I'll also phone my best accounts and give them a 'tip of my hat' the day prior to cleaning, but I wouldn't reccommend this; it sounds like making a rod for your own back.

[Tosh]

I am thinking of going out canvassing ... knocking doors all day mon - sat... obviously once it is dark i can still canvas and go back the next day in daylight to clean the windows.

Peter

Peter,

I don't know if you've ever canvassed before, but it's tough work getting all that rejection time-after-time.

Personally, anymore than two-hours canvassing in one go would've drove me round the bend.

And I think Spring is a better time to start up; I know I always take on many more customers in Spring/Summer than at any other time of the year (but I've got to admit I've had a brilliant Autumn for new work).

I must admit though, I'm shocked that you only clear £1200 per month given the job you do (some of us window cleaners don't live in the real world; honest!).  You're responsible for thousands-upon-thousands of pounds worth of equipment; and that's all they pay you?  I reckon you could easily equal that window cleaning (after tax), but you won't be earning £100 a day, every day, for quite some time.

It does take a few years to even get a modestly decent round together; unless your a real marketting whizz; like so many members here claim to be. 

And if you've got a family, bills and stuff; I'd think carefully and start off small; go part time.  Window cleaning isn't for everyone.  I became a window cleaner straight after leaving the army; I thought I was fit-and-hard; and I remember comming home after my first day of cleaning windows absolutely shattered; I felt like I'd just had a good kicking.

Despite what you may read on this forum, it's not an easy job to master or to stick at.

And is it just me, but have we had a lot of 'new starter' posts recently?  Is the credit crunch biting?

[tonylee]

Hi Peter,
Window cleaning is only a job with wages after you have built the business, this takes time. Sure you can go out canvassing on day one and do the work then and there but this will not create much income at the start. It also depends on what other demands you have on your money.
An option could be to agency work for a couple or three days a week and to market and work on your business for the rest.
Agree with Tosh it is hard work and not easy.
But good luck if you go for it.
Tony

[Smart Windows]

Thanks Tosh and Tony,

Thats an idea that had crossed my mind to do agency two or three days a week whilst i build the business at least then the bills are defo paid n i can work hard cleaning windows and build the business from there, once i have enough custom on the window business give up the lorry driving altoghter, food for thought...

Peter

[tonylee]

your welcome
Just another thought read all the posts you can on here. Many of the same thoughts and questions have been explored.
Tony

[paulscotney]

One big problem is that after every Xmas there is very little work for HGV drivers for a few months.  It is very hard even to get any weekend work as the regular agency drivers grab it to make up their money,  as often they are only working 2 or 3 weekdays a week in January and February.

The agencies always look after their regular drivers before part-timers.  I know this,  as I have a class 1 and did six years or so agency driving.

[Smart Windows]

As a ex HGV Driver what would you suggest, just go for it now and keep on knocking doors or get a regular hgv job 4 now and start up in the new year window cleaning?

Peter

[Andrew McCann]

I know it is abit of a guess as to how many customers i can pick up each day but could you guys give me an idea of what you have acheived using this method of business generation, I have got my head screwed on and am ready to make a real go at this

Don't bother canvassing during the day. There are so many people out that it's almost a waste of time. The best times are evening say 5.30 till about 7.30. As Tosh says more than a couple of hours a day will drive you nuts. Canvassing for window cleaning business is dead easy. It's not a hard sell.. all you are basically doing is asking them if they need a window cleaner.

You seem to have a clear picture of portraying yourself as a professional so you are half way there already. I built my window cleaning business up very quickly by canvassing. It's by far the quickest way of doing it. Get some leaflets done and hand them to the person who answers the door. This looks professional and then go into your "pitch".  Post them at the addresses where you get no reply and then go back to them a few days later. This way you will make as compact a starter round as possible. Compact is good in window cleaning.

I have a suggestion for you to test the market. Try canvassing every evening for a week and see what response you get. That will give you an idea of the market potential in your area . This will help you to make the decision as to what way to go forward.

A few years ago I wanted £2000 per 4 weeks of new business. I did a few evenings between Xmas and New year and had reached the target by 19th or 20th of January as I remember. We have loads of cheapo window cleaners around here but the pro approach brought the right type of customer in.

Hope this helps and good luck whatever you do.

Andrew

[paulscotney]

I was just drawing to your attention that if you start part time now, you will have no HGV safety net in the new year and also when there is an economic downturn the demand for agency drivers plummets.

A lot depends on whether you are married with kids, have a mortgage etc etc.

Best of luck anyway.

[Smart Windows]

Thanks for your response Andrew, that is really promising what you say about aiming for £2000 for every 4 weeks worth of work and you completing that in as little as 1 month.

This is all very promising what im hearing from you guys, if you could just give me 1 tip what would that be?

Peter

[Smart Windows]

Thanks Paul,

I have a girlfriend, currently living at home with parents and need to take home £800 per month, £200 per week that should be acheivable from the off i think with dedication?

Peter

[Tosh]

A few years ago I wanted £2000 per 4 weeks of new business. I did a few evenings between Xmas and New year and had reached the target by 19th or 20th of January as I remember.

Andrew

I remember that post on another forum; it was a massive hit; but I remember thinking you must be mad.  That was a cold Winter too.

Call me lazy, but I couldn't clean windows all day, then go canvassing in the evening, in the dark-cold of Winter.

Anyway, hope your okay, mate.  (You know what I mean).

Regards,

Tosh.

[seandyer2003]

A few years ago I wanted £2000 per 4 weeks of new business. I did a few evenings between Xmas and New year and had reached the target by 19th or 20th of January as I remember.

Andrew

I remember that post on another forum; it was a massive hit; but I remember thinking you must be mad.  That was a cold Winter too.

Call me lazy, but I couldn't clean windows all day, then go canvassing in the evening, in the dark-cold of Winter.

Anyway, hope your okay, mate.  (You know what I mean).

Regards,

Tosh.

my goal is £50 a month new work every week so (£200) extra in every month, so far so good, more in fact, but that will make up for slack weeks, its out there !!!

[Andrew McCann]

A few years ago I wanted £2000 per 4 weeks of new business. I did a few evenings between Xmas and New year and had reached the target by 19th or 20th of January as I remember.

Andrew

I remember that post on another forum; it was a massive hit; but I remember thinking you must be mad.  That was a cold Winter too.

Call me lazy, but I couldn't clean windows all day, then go canvassing in the evening, in the dark-cold of Winter.

Anyway, hope your okay, mate.  (You know what I mean).

Regards,

Tosh.

Yeah I was mad in those days Tosh 

I am no better or worse really. Thanks for the wishes though.

When you look at it logically it was short term pain for long term gain. I reckon in all I actually did about 40 hours spread over the time it took so it was worth it. I finished window cleaning by around 3 to 3.30. Popped home and had a bit of a break and then popped out for a couple of hours so it wasn't that bad really.

I don't want to paint too rosy a picture though. That was 4 years ago I think and in the present climate perhaps it would have been a lot harder but I honestly believe the work is out there for anyone who really wants to put the footwork in to get it.

Oh and 1 tip I would give is ALWAYS ask new customers if they know of anyone who could do with a good window cleaner. For them to take you on means that they are impressed and they will be happy to give you names or addresses or in a lot of cases phone the ones they know for you. Honest it works!!

Andrew

[ftp]

What i did was phone a couple of local window cleaners first for advice. Really to find out if i was going to get lynched. One was ok but another invited me round for a cuppa, showed me his system and gave me a few pointers. He even hinted on the kind of money he earned. Once i was up and running the guy passed a few jobs my way - bit underpriced and awkward but work none the less. On some of his bigger jobs i subbied for him at £15.00 an hour again this came in handy. Always worth keeping in with the local cleaners if you can, the majority down my way are a pretty good bunch.
Be prepared for crap weather and the depressing days when you run out of work, no holiday pay etc But there are several benifits to be had 

[Feen]

Peter, I'd like to re-iterate two points that have been made. Be careful about phoning the night before. You might soon find yourself having an hour of phoning after a hard days graft Do you want that? Text maybe, but basically if they want a monthly clean or whatever that's what to give them. No need to ask permission so to speak. Second point, as the ex-army guy said: it's hard work. No disrespect to driving jobs, but clean for 8 hours and you will know it big style. That said as you are starting out it's unlikely you'll have that level of work, but bear it in mind. Good luck.

[Smart Windows]

Thanks for all the great advice and tips so far everyone, you are convincing me that my thoughts of going for this are the right ones.

I will phone a couple of local window cleaners tomorrow and see what response i get, how many of you guys have had phone calls from newbies in your area?

Peter