[dazmond]

starting out is not easy and you will NOT  get as many custys as you think to start off!most custys youll find will already have a window cleaner.they will be scattered all over the place,youll prob undercharge to start with then youll cry off when the weather gets bad etc

i worked with another windy for a year before i started up on my own.bought a small round and went canvassing nearly every sat for 6 months while i worked a few days with the other windy on his round.i had a lot of messers in my early days!

that was 16 years ago and i have a very established business now,but its took years to get a good round that pays half decent money!!im glad im not starting up now!a lot of competition about these days!thankfully quite a few are dodgy/unreliable and crap!so im still picking up new work and refining my round!

whatever anybody else says on ere its bloody hard work,gets boring sometimes,the weather can be a pain!
you have to sort all your taxes/expenses out.no hol/sick pay etc

its not all glamour you know!!

[Ian101]

Im sorry but if the only reason you want to be a wc is that you have seen someone cleaning with a pole and thought 'piece of cake i can do that no bother' then you have a problem as it aint so easy. If your not good at cleaning then you will lose customers and then how are you going to pay for all your shiny new equipment?


[/quot

He can put it on fleabay then I can buy it for half price 

[Harry Boldwick]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the great advice, ands thankyou to those you have giving me some good supportive advice and given me some good ideas of expectations.

I notice on here though there are a few that are not so nice, and can smell a hint of concern, and the way people read into things.

I have neven once said this would be an easy job other than the selling part.  And I have never once said I saw a WFP cleaner and thought this would be easy monrey.  You know who you are.

I konw is is hard graft.  I am fit, have run the london marathon in support of cancer research a couple of times.  I have just completed the three peaks challange, and that during the winter months, so can assure you I am not a fair weather worker.  I love the outdoors and like to keep adctive.  This is why I am moving over to this sort of work.

I really do not intend to take work of any other wc, I would not so that, and nor would I quote low, just does not make economic sense.   I sense the few negative ones on here are the ones worried about new starters coming out taking your business (I am used to these sort of people from other employments, the ones who worry about fresh blood and not crasg hot at selling themselves).  But am sure there is enough to go around, and as I said, I will not tyake anyones business.  The fist thing I say to a customer when I knock is "Have you a window cleaner?   if yes I walk away.  I guess you soon get a head for which roads have a wc and the ones who don't.

Is this what the forum is about? helping others out? or putting them down from the word go? 

Again, thank you so much for the WC on here who have wished me luck and given me some great advice.  I will let you know how I get on, and may try to do some in the evening too following advice on here.

Thanks for such a great forum guys.

[barry mallett]

doing the three peaks in the winter is a doddle compared to cleaning windows nov - march.let us know how you go on.and keep us posted when you sell your gear

[Ian101]

doing the three peaks in the winter is a doddle compared to cleaning windows nov - march.let us know how you go on.and keep us posted when you sell your gear

oooooo Barry u doubting thomas you !!

[Harry Boldwick]

doing the three peaks in the winter is a doddle compared to cleaning windows nov - march.let us know how you go on.and keep us posted when you sell your gear

Barry - Maybe I should buy yours when you sell up instead Barry, sounds like you had this in mind !

Anyway been out, long day 10 hrs knocking,

Struggled in some streets, but quickly moved on till I hit goldmine roads.  Some I had a bad streak but others did really well.  Lost count how many I knocked, so hard to work out the ratio.  I have however signed up 34 customers, and none less than a tenner.  Most are 4 weeks, with about 8 being 8 week cleans.  I guess the conversion is way of predictions, but 5 days over 2 weeks at this rate will build fast.

I guess reading through things out of the 34 I reckon I will retain 20 solid customers, with the others being a cancel or bad payer.  I know some may think a lucky streak and to see if I can do this on day two but like anything, I know you have bad days and good days.   I did get used by the end of the day which doors to knock. 

Not going door knockiong now, and want to get these customers up and runnig properly first while I get equipment sorted over the next few days.  Have arranged practice goes on neighbours houses before I go for broke on my paid 34.

I see the negative comments I got on here from people jumping the gun and quoting comments I never made have not come back.  Chineese Whispers eh.  I forgive you though.

And again thanks to those who supported me, and gave me that extra push to do this.

Hope you all had a good day

[prestige cleaners]

all the best harry, i only had 10mins practice on wfp b4 i was let loose on a custy. scary! i did lose a few the first few months, but got into it in the end.

if i your using wfp, make sure all the frames all cleaned thoroughly, and the rubbers. as they hold a lot of dirt, and do all the top windows first so that they drip dry before you start the bottoms, and make sure you rinse loads as well.

im a relative newbie, so i know how you feel like, but i did buy a couple of hundred custs so that helped at the start.

if you cant afford a wfp system to start with, just get an gxtel pole and brush (£50) 13ft. at least you can clean conservatory roofs and most gutterings with it (plug it into a hozelok hose pipe) theres good money in these, £20 -£25 per gutter side

£20-£50 for roofs...

all the best mate

[Wizard]

Get the squeegee and try a few windows when you get them clean and shiny then find the costumers. You cannot sell what you do not have yet. You need to sell your results. Till you can achieve them you cannot sell them. I think when you come on and talk as if you have achieved and you have not cleaned glass it will get up someone’s nose. I wish you every success so good luck and I hope it all works out for you.

[Ste M]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the great advice, ands thankyou to those you have giving me some good supportive advice and given me some good ideas of expectations.

I notice on here though there are a few that are not so nice, and can smell a hint of concern, and the way people read into things. you never gave us much to go off with your post, you said now the good weather is here and a lot of people jumped on that

I have neven once said this would be an easy job other than the selling part.  And I have never once said I saw a WFP cleaner and thought this would be easy monrey.  You know who you are. that'll be me, go back and read it, it says 'if', dont go jumping on everything people say, this is the net where you cant hear peoples tones, i was giving constructive comments and telling you it aint easy, its not and a lot of people on here will tell you no different.

I konw is is hard graft.  I am fit, have run the london marathon in support of cancer research a couple of times.  I have just completed the three peaks challange, and that during the winter months, so can assure you I am not a fair weather worker.  I love the outdoors and like to keep adctive.  This is why I am moving over to this sort of work.traditional is the active work, wfp is different and is actually very hard on the body, trust me, ive never had aches like i do now and i used to always go the gym

I really do not intend to take work of any other wc, I would not so that, and nor would I quote low, just does not make economic sense.   I sense the few negative ones on here are the ones worried about new starters coming out taking your business (I am used to these sort of people from other employments, the ones who worry about fresh blood and not crasg hot at selling themselves).  But am sure there is enough to go around, and as I said, I will not tyake anyones business.  The fist thing I say to a customer when I knock is "Have you a window cleaner?   if yes I walk away.  I guess you soon get a head for which roads have a wc and the ones who don't.no matter what anyone says, if you get offered work and they already have a cleaner, you will take it, its been covered on here loads, the only thing people look down on is deliberate undercutting

Is this what the forum is about? helping others out? or putting them down from the word go?  calm down a bit, step back and read more, there is a lot of people on here who will help you, but also a lot who will stay away if you make comments like this, im not meaning me btw i dont care what you say to me, very thick skinned

Again, thank you so much for the WC on here who have wished me luck and given me some great advice.  I will let you know how I get on, and may try to do some in the evening too following advice on here.

Thanks for such a great forum guys.no problem, glad to be helpful

where are you from anyway harry?

[barry mallett]

thats it hes jacked already , only 1 day canvassing

[amayze]

You know part of the problem here, is that any tom, dick and in this case harry, can register on this forum, gleam us and the industry for advice and some of us are too willing to dispense it.

Only a few weeks ago, one of the UK's consumer rights expects joined the forum, to share his comments !!

The cleaning industry is one of the least regulated industries in the country, and with relatively low start up costs (trad method), we are openly spectable to lots of new (and inexperienced) people joining in, especially as the weather warms up.

Perhaps, we should look at our cousins in Scotland, where you need a licence to operate as I can't remember reading a thread of someone looking to start up there??

[rob child]

well im a newbie and started trad early january and let me tell ya kid it aint easy but really enjoyable if that makes any sense!! what my problem is that it was easier to get custys in january/february than it is today because all of a sudden about 15 new wcs have appeared round my area haha no joke!! not easy trying to earn a good honest living but hey ill not give up like the others when weather gets crappy!! sorry for the rant lads

[biscuits2269]

Harry, where are you based?

[sunshine windies]

just wondering harry, hows it going, any advice on successful canvassing??!!

[lee09]

last active 14th March.
Must have done so well he's gone on holiday!

[sunshine windies]

 not as easy as he anticipated i guess

[prestige cleaners]

i forgot to say, your very brave getting the custs first b4 learning to window clean! 

[GB Window Cleaning]

my advice to newbies...dont bother! get a full time job where your money is garenteed!

[barry mallett]

 ;Dha ha told ya he wunt last 2 mins