[wizard]

I have spent the last year on the forum and studied the subject from all sides and come to the conclusion what works..
This is a list of what you need to succeed.

Call you Company International window cleaning  designers.
You need to buy a large van if possible a 4x4 for snow and ice.
A system fro Bridex or Ionic with a1000 litre tank with double pumps even if you are a one man show.
No ladders
Al least 5 poles all carbon with a chose of as many brushes as you can find ( no Diy will be good enough)spend as much as you can on Poles. If you don’t have a 85 foot or more you have not arrived.
Have the van  rape in lots of water droplet images with big window cleaner and phone number a must.
The tank must be fitted with as much stainless steel frame ( no straps) heaven forbid do not fit it your self.
Glossy leaflets so your canvassing  company  so they can do a good job in finding custys.
Join as many Associations as possible they give you creditability.
Send your staff on safety courses but don’t go yourself it to demeaning.( because you know it all.)
Undercut every body but be friends with all windiest so that they love you.
Must have big money gutter vac from our friend Glinn with all the extra poles to reach as high as possible.
Join all the forums so you  have access to as many friends so you can tell them about your kit.
 When on the forum tell every one how you are doing and report on all new custys that do not exist at all.

And the most important one to survive grow a big ego. To pull though you the difficult days. Times will always be good as in your mind you are great.

P S  get leather and space age gloves and ski boots from Alaska. They should only last a year so buy 3 pairs.
Go to Windex for every day. Rent a Mercy to use while you are there.

 Just having a laugh at our industry time are to serous.
 Feel free to add your ideas.

[Ian Lancaster]

The most important thing is you must spend each and every day here on CIU and not worry about marketing, cleaning or any of the other boring bits about having a window cleaning business.

(I'm exempt from that one - I have all day just to sit here )

[simon knight]

I think to be a successful window cleaner you must have north of 1000 posts on CIU :

[wizard]

To add to my least 20 million Public liability insurance

[daz1977]

dont forget that you need to employ a few lads, all part time,  dont want any one full time, too much hassle, say 5  one for each day of the week  and they with 5 employes you have got to be a successful company because why would you employ 5 lads other wise

dont forget the sign written vans that u have bought and sit on your drive, u can never have enough of these, remember best way to advertise   

[daz1977]

also dont for get to get ur pricing right,  so that you under cut all the other wc who work in your area,  so u get all there work,  for example why charge £15 when u can charge £6, think of all the extra custys you will pick up, 

you are a a success as you are busy

[daz1977]

but what is a successful wc,  loads of money  or loads of lads and vans

we could all go down the root of employing lads and earning just enough to pay for them, or stay on our own and earn good money, i done both when i was a plumber and to be honest i would rather work on my own and make good money than employ someone

my misses mates hubby is a successful house sales type guy on new builds, he earns 1400 a month with petrol allowance and does 160 a day mile round trip and they all think he is a success as hes got a good job and wears a suit

[ftp]

You need a unit to work from.
You must say 'we' cleaned this today and never 'I'.
You must be in the 'office' whilst you are on ciu and not your front room.
Always buy the dearest parts you can find - buy cheap pay twice.
Never diy anything it's so unprofessional.
You must have a website that you have paid over £100 for.
You must have a 4040 ro otherwise you are not professional.
Never use Vistaprint - so cheap and unprofessional.
Wc-pro and not George.
Carbon, not aluminium poles and never glass fibre.
Must have a uniform with sign written baseball cap, signwritten fleece, signwritten polo shirts and embroidered logo on your hanky.

[Ian Mason]

I guess it`s similar to being rich!

Is being rich, who has the most, or who needs the least?

[sparklebright]

Good topic. 

Always have the most expensive van and equipment never make do.

Your appearance is far more important than your profits.

After all no-one can SEE your profits or the money you pay yourself, but everyone can see your shiny van on the drive.

[wizard]

Odd values, we sometime have dont we, funny reading, the stereo tipes it is the bottom line that counts.We are like fir tree and just takes a lot of decoration to make it Chrismas,