[wizard]

The thing with window cleaning is it’s cheap to get into very low input cost to start off. Most people think and see guys going out and cleaning window, it’s easy. They also see the out doors in the summer its great. We persistently hear guys on here bragging of there income and the public under estimate the business acumen needed to run a business. I often make observation and remarks of a business nature on this forum (and I have been in business for 40 years ) and people hardly respond, that is the judgement the guys on the out side see and draw conclusion of us. All presenting an easy income life style .A do as you like image in business. It’s this that attracts them to window cleaning.
The truth is a little different trade is great but one needs more equipment than what you think. Then you need to grow bigger so we need W F P and a lot of guys stay out. Why, because it costs money to grow and save time.
 Then there is the biggest the stops all business, in a few word .Discipline, cash flow, persistence, determination, self motivation and the biggy MARKETING and this is the big one because we need work all the time and fear of rejection is our enemy to success. Because customer leaves, we get fed up of them and they move on. All of this for a start must be in one Person, NOT EASY! And this is why so many come in to this industry and leave again. And this friends is classic misguided focus and miss upstanding of our business. In dream world is always EASY.What do you think.

[Blue Frog Systems]

I think you hit the nail on the head there wizard !

I started out in April and had always worked for someone. My wife is business minded and the rest is history... I'm business minded too.

It does take a hell of a lot of disipline !
On another note.... Can you email me please wizard. Need to talk to you about something and haven't been able to get hold of you. My email is in my profile.

[Window Washers]

The thing with window cleaning is it’s cheap to get into very low input cost to start off. Most people think and see guys going out and cleaning window, it’s easy. They also see the out doors in the summer its great. We persistently hear guys on here bragging of there income and the public under estimate the business acumen needed to run a business. I often make observation and remarks of a business nature on this forum (and I have been in business for 40 years ) and people hardly respond, that is the judgement the guys on the out side see and draw conclusion of us. All presenting an easy income life style .A do as you like image in business. It’s this that attracts them to window cleaning.
The truth is a little different trade is great but one needs more equipment than what you think. Then you need to grow bigger so we need W F P and a lot of guys stay out. Why, because it costs money to grow and save time.
 Then there is the biggest the stops all business, in a few word .Discipline, cash flow, persistence, determination, self motivation and the biggy MARKETING and this is the big one because we need work all the time and fear of rejection is our enemy to success. Because customer leaves, we get fed up of them and they move on. All of this for a start must be in one Person, NOT EASY! And this is why so many come in to this industry and leave again. And this friends is classic misguided focus and miss upstanding of our business. In dream world is always EASY.What do you think.

Think that is very well put.

[Londoner]

Yes but at the bottom end any idiot can knock on doors and make a few bob to top up his benefits. Mind you, you won't see many around this week.

[dazmond]

just like u say vince any idiot can knock on doors and make a few quid.but build a viable business to make a half decent wage?it takes alot more than that!to get the custys in the first place at good prices takes time.also trust with custys takes years as does ur reputation for bein reliable,honest.doin a good job at  steady fast pace takes months/years to get up to speed.then there ur ni and tax to sort out,book keeping.no holiday/sick pay etc.bad weather/winter!and its HARD WORK!whether u are trad/WFP!also i find i pick up work off the dole brigade as they are unreliable/crap or both!

[cleewindows]

im just starting out as a window cleaner and look forward to it,i have a full time job that pays a good wage and really want to get a good business going AGAIN,i used to run a business 5 years ago but when my daughter was born went for easy option of selling up,and got steady job!
Im not scared of work or working outside having been a landscape gardner with nvq's,done block paving,and various other jobs outside!
 i really don't think you can say everyone is a doler,do you?
 I have a 05 van,wfp,all the kit needed for window cleaning,petrol washer honda and mossmatic.
Pay my taxes and national insurance!
 Maybe i just want to run a business to be a boss instead of being a manager for  big companys making them money!

[Mist A Bit]

when i started window cleaning i worked for some1 for the first three years. i didn`t want to do this job but needed work and it came along at the right time. i never knew the business potential that this trade offered and after 3 years i set up on my own. i brought a round offering £600 per month and doubled it in the first year.
Im now very pleased i got into this trade and love going to work. its now ten years on and i dont regret it for a moment.

[cozy]

Even here in Germany, there is a guy working his round part time in a couple of the areas I work. No people skills, aggresive and not very good standard of cleaning. Misses windows to save time and is abit of a plonker. I reckon he clears about 1500 a month from the round he has built over the last 18 months.He has a full time job as an armed watchman for the Army too. Good income if you think about it.

Guys like that will always be around, and as long as they are, people will sometimes think that we are all like him. Most custies just want clean windows and don't give a toss about NVQ's and if you pay tax etc. That's why this will carry on going along as it does.

I used to worry about it, now I just crack on and concentrate on my biz. I reckon if you are good at running your business and keep high standards, it doesn't really matter about the dolies and beer money boys.

[Murdie window cleaning]

Re the dole guys.

I live in the Scottish Borders and we are the only part of Scotland that doesn't need to be licensed(I believe). But in other areas where cleaners need a license has this helped stop the benefit cheats from going out ?

I was cleaning a house a couple of weeks back when the lad that lives there with his girlfriend pops out the back and starts chatting, he tells me he's a window cleaner and he works an area about 20 miles away, obviously I'm wondering why I'm cleaning there windows then while he's sat in the house doing nothing, so ibasked him if he worked for himself or someone else and it turns out he does a bit cash in hand work for some other cleaner when the guy falls behind.

So that is why some folk look upon window cleaners as some sort of sub human untill you've been doing it for a few years.

On the business side of things I chose window cleaning mainly for the low start up cost ahead of a couple of other ideas I was mulling over, but so far I am enjoying watching my business grow week on week, I have short term, medium term and long term targets and these keep me motivated(as well as the money )

[JSMC]

do a good job, be friendly and trustworthy. Enjoy yer work and take it as it comes.

there is always tomorrow i say to myself when things go wrong.
i luv my job and enjoy building my little business

[brianmc]

Re the dole guys.

[i]I live in the Scottish Borders and we are the only part of Scotland that doesn't need to be licensed(I believe). [/i] But in other areas where cleaners need a license has this helped stop the benefit cheats from going out ?

I was cleaning a house a couple of weeks back when the lad that lives there with his girlfriend pops out the back and starts chatting, he tells me he's a window cleaner and he works an area about 20 miles away, obviously I'm wondering why I'm cleaning there windows then while he's sat in the house doing nothing, so ibasked him if he worked for himself or someone else and it turns out he does a bit cash in hand work for some other cleaner when the guy falls behind.

So that is why some folk look upon window cleaners as some sort of sub human untill you've been doing it for a few years.

On the business side of things I chose window cleaning mainly for the low start up cost ahead of a couple of other ideas I was mulling over, but so far I am enjoying watching my business grow week on week, I have short term, medium term and long term targets and these keep me motivated(as well as the money )

south ayrshire is unlicensed aswell UNFORTUNATELY

[JandS]

What about guys like me.
I run a carpet cleaning business but have a round worth £750
a month.
I use that to fill in on the quiet days of which up till November
this year have been frequent.
Most years I.
Yet last year I struggled to do them in a month.

John

[Murdie window cleaning]

Re the dole guys.

[i]I live in the Scottish Borders and we are the only part of Scotland that doesn't need to be licensed(I believe). [/i] But in other areas where cleaners need a license has this helped stop the benefit cheats from going out ?

I was cleaning a house a couple of weeks back when the lad that lives there with his girlfriend pops out the back and starts chatting, he tells me he's a window cleaner and he works an area about 20 miles away, obviously I'm wondering why I'm cleaning there windows then while he's sat in the house doing nothing, so ibasked him if he worked for himself or someone else and it turns out he does a bit cash in hand work for some other cleaner when the guy falls behind.

So that is why some folk look upon window cleaners as some sort of sub human untill you've been doing it for a few years.

On the business side of things I chose window cleaning mainly for the low start up cost ahead of a couple of other ideas I was mulling over, but so far I am enjoying watching my business grow week on week, I have short term, medium term and long term targets and these keep me motivated(as well as the money )

south ayrshire is unlicensed aswell UNFORTUNATELY

[daz1977]

i think a lot of people view it as easy money, low start up costs etc,

a lot do it part time for the extra cash, say they only have 20 custys and get £10 a house  200 a month extra for working a few weekends, all in there back pocket, 

becasue of this, it can be fitted around nearly every other job, a wc near me who only does it 8 days a months as he is an engineer there rest of the time he fixs washing machines and stuff like that,  of the 3 other wc i know in my village i think one 1 does it full time the other have other jobs and use wc to make up there money

[wizard]

I am pleased that so many have responded to my post. I have read all of your responses and what I can conclude that all you guys are of professional stock and will do well. The proof is you have taken time to answer this posting .I would wonder how many will read and see that it’s not easy to clean windows and that is only a small part of what we doing our business. If they knew this they would see they do not really belong in this industry.
We as professionally minded guys need to move on and leave them behind. Learn as much as we can and be better not thinking we are better.
Marketing is not only finding customers by knocking on doors .But the way we conduct our selves Good marketing is based on selling our industry, then selling our business with in that industry, then selling our business as the top of our game and what it can do better within that industry and finally our services we offer and how different we apply them to there home or premises. This might be a little long winded all I ask is to think about it. Does this make any sense? Or am I just dreaming

[wizard]

Window wipes you have got mail.mate.

[JRDEasiReach]

wizard you are 100% right, i also believe that true window cleaners will try and brave any weather to try and get the work done if they can, cowboys wont thats for sure and wont stick at it in the long run.

[martinsadie]

wizard you are 100% right, i also believe that true window cleaners will try and brave any weather to try and get the work done if they can, cowboys wont thats for sure and wont stick at it in the long run.

only a fool would work in any weather

[david watts]

it makes you think today with snow a foot deep how most on here spout on about
  h and s then go out and slap water all over the place even though its freezing on the
   windows they carry on or use ladders on ice and snow;
  even to drive any where is hazordus esp round north yorks.

[daniel worgan]

Loads on here go on about they go out in all weather...rain,snow,high winds,etc etc....yet they are all posting on here at times when they should be at work.....no customer really wants a wc when the snow is a foot deep or the rain is lashing down,i would have thought that was common sense.