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Mooners

Active member
Messages
40
Location
Fareham
Hi All,

I’ve just joined up as I’m gathering as much info as I can with a view to setting up a window cleaning business myself, a complete change of career. First up I must say the site is great although it’s information overload at the moment….which is great of course.

Some advice is needed as to what would be the best start up kit.

The aim is to go down the WFP route and have a van mounted system.

Just starting out, would it be recommended to buy a 2 man system with the view of future growth or just stick to a one man system for now? Also what tank sizes for both would you recommend?

Another dilemma is do I go for buying a pre existing set up as seen on ebay? The only doubts I have with this is the mileage on most of these vans is sky high. Maybe not a good idea buying one of these vans if it’s going to be a money pit and not going to start of a morning.

Is buying a used van (with sensible mileage and service history) and getting a new system fitted the better option? This gives me the peace of mind of some manufacturer support with the RO system that I have inside the van. Perhaps the sensible option though a little more costly.

Is it worth while going for a mid sized van maybe LWB or maybe a little bigger (box van) with the intention of being able to store other equipment that may be needed as part of the business and future growth?? Or just keep it fairly small and compact??

On the above note any recommendations on who to purchase a new system from? I’ve done a bit of research but would be good to get recommendations.

I’m under no illusions this is going to be a walk in the park and am full of admiration for the people that do make a business out of this profession. I’m sure there are many that try and fail.

Any info/advice gratefully received.

 
10k /emoticons/smile.png. Well, you could buy a decent van, I'd definitely go for a Dispatch, Expert new shape. Put a 500L DIY single system in. Get a website and maybe buy some work to get you going. If you have time on your hands, go canvass.

 
Evening mooners Welcome to the party ... I know of a bloke that spent £30 k on a new van set up , £10 k should get you a good van set up ,, are you planning on getting a company set up or a DIY set up

 
Hi & welcome @Mooners :thumbsup:

My advice first off is before spending out any money is to try it out first to see if you like the job or not as wfp work is not as easy as ppl think it is. I'm sure if you contact a supplier like purefreedom they could line you up with a wfp window cleaner you could go out with for a day before you commit yourself to buying anything.

10k is a lot of money to throw at setting up a small business so you want to make sure it's for you surely? There are plenty of other options out there that you could spend 10k on setting up so not just look at window cleaning.

 
Hi & welcome @Mooners :thumbsup:My advice first off is before spending out any money is to try it out first to see if you like the job or not as wfp work is not as easy as ppl think it is. I'm sure if you contact a supplier like purefreedom they could line you up with a wfp window cleaner you could go out with for a day before you commit yourself to buying anything.

10k is a lot of money to throw at setting up a small business so you want to make sure it's for you surely? There are plenty of other options out there that you could spend 10k on setting up so not just look at window cleaning.
Hi Smurf, thanks for the advice. I'll do that and let you know how i get on

 
Hi mooners. I just got a small van to start out. You might want to think about the areas you're likely to work in... Cramped villages and cities with narrow roads and bad parking, or sprawling suburbs with loads of access, or countryside maybe. Then you might want a compact city van, a transporter or transit, or landrover defender type respectively.

 
I've also decided on a career change to windows/gutter etc about two months ago. I'm on a much smaller budget than you. This forum has been invaluable. Helps to do a formal business plan too, even if it's just for you but as if you have to Justin it to the bank, that way it helps you see what's realistic and what you have and haven't identified.

A diy water fed setup might be good even if you can afford off the shelf, as then you'll understand how it fits together and can fault find better if it goes wrong.

 
Hi All,

I’ve just joined up as I’m gathering as much info as I can with a view to setting up a window cleaning business myself, a complete change of career. First up I must say the site is great although it’s information overload at the moment….which is great of course.

Some advice is needed as to what would be the best start up kit.

The aim is to go down the WFP route and have a van mounted system.

Just starting out, would it be recommended to buy a 2 man system with the view of future growth or just stick to a one man system for now? Also what tank sizes for both would you recommend?

Another dilemma is do I go for buying a pre existing set up as seen on ebay? The only doubts I have with this is the mileage on most of these vans is sky high. Maybe not a good idea buying one of these vans if it’s going to be a money pit and not going to start of a morning.

Is buying a used van (with sensible mileage and service history) and getting a new system fitted the better option? This gives me the peace of mind of some manufacturer support with the RO system that I have inside the van. Perhaps the sensible option though a little more costly.

Is it worth while going for a mid sized van maybe LWB or maybe a little bigger (box van) with the intention of being able to store other equipment that may be needed as part of the business and future growth?? Or just keep it fairly small and compact??

On the above note any recommendations on who to purchase a new system from? I’ve done a bit of research but would be good to get recommendations.

I’m under no illusions this is going to be a walk in the park and am full of admiration for the people that do make a business out of this profession. I’m sure there are many that try and fail.

Any info/advice gratefully received.
I would go for biggest van possible.I bought almost new van last year and realised that I will need bigger one when decide to go wfp route.

 
Hi Mooners and Jimroot I went thru similar experience to you guys last year, was made redundant could not even job interviews despite being in a good mid manager role for 12 yrs plus. anyway I decided to set up a WC business from scratch. I have spent about 9K including 5.5K on a van. and 2.5k on buying some work to get me started. rest spent on a trolly kit which spends 90% of the time in my van, but is available for the 10% of jobs where I need to wheel it about. I would say about 80% of my work is WFP. I have a dozen 25ltr bottles so no van mounted water for me atm. to be honest I did try the 100 mtr hose reel thing but got ****** off with lugging in and out of the van (weighs a ton when you put water thru it), i ended up buying a 40mtr length of pole hose which is a lot more manageable around the domestic houses I work on.

I got some trad kit as I like to do that on a few properties and couple of customers insist on the "old ways is best"

best bit of advice i can offer is start off spending as little as you can, get some customers first (friend/family) get a bit of trad gear you'll always need it even if WFPing, get some ladders add safe feet or spikes and go and try it out before spending anything more than a couple of hundred quid.

if your into tech & a bit creative do you own web site, business cards and flyers. Try your hand at a bit of canvassing, i was surprised how friendly people were when i went out cold calling.

Be friendly to other local window cleaners - you never know they may want to off load some work.

missus has hollered upstairs that dinner is ready so I will come back and post some more thoughts later.

good luck and any other questions pls ask away.

 
Welcome bud

I don't know a lot about wfp as am trad but you can buy a pure freedom trolley and use it mounted in the van

A lot cheaper

I personally would diy one as you would be using the same parts but doing it cheap

 
Hi Mooners and Jimroot I went thru similar experience to you guys last year, was made redundant could not even job interviews despite being in a good mid manager role for 12 yrs plus. anyway I decided to set up a WC business from scratch. I have spent about 9K including 5.5K on a van. and 2.5k on buying some work to get me started. rest spent on a trolly kit which spends 90% of the time in my van, but is available for the 10% of jobs where I need to wheel it about. I would say about 80% of my work is WFP. I have a dozen 25ltr bottles so no van mounted water for me atm. to be honest I did try the 100 mtr hose reel thing but got ****** off with lugging in and out of the van (weighs a ton when you put water thru it), i ended up buying a 40mtr length of pole hose which is a lot more manageable around the domestic houses I work on.
I got some trad kit as I like to do that on a few properties and couple of customers insist on the "old ways is best"

best bit of advice i can offer is start off spending as little as you can, get some customers first (friend/family) get a bit of trad gear you'll always need it even if WFPing, get some ladders add safe feet or spikes and go and try it out before spending anything more than a couple of hundred quid.

if your into tech & a bit creative do you own web site, business cards and flyers. Try your hand at a bit of canvassing, i was surprised how friendly people were when i went out cold calling.

Be friendly to other local window cleaners - you never know they may want to off load some work.

missus has hollered upstairs that dinner is ready so I will come back and post some more thoughts later.

good luck and any other questions pls ask away.

big thanks for the advice, much appreciated. I'm going to try and get out with someone for the day to make sure it's for me. Then I'll move on to grabbing more advice of the forum, thanks again.

 
hi and welcome mooners

I’m under no illusions this is going to be a walk in the park and am full of admiration for the people that do make a business out of this profession. I’m sure there are many that try and fail.

yeh i have been trying and failing for forty years..../emoticons/biggrin.png

been on wfp all day today.....its bloomin hard work....not that i do the amount of work some on here do all i can say is....respect ...oh the pain of the first week back...

 
Man up dave frank cheapie

Or is it pike?

Don't have 2 weeks off for crimbo and you can't get lazy then

 
hey thats my whole hols for the year..i cant really sit and watch tv and pig out during the summer so i have a long time til the next one....will i make it....oh the pain i need some of smurfs manthefuckup....from his fridge....

hopefully planning a lot of home projects in the garden daveyboy but every year nature beats me.../emoticons/biggrin.png

day off tomorrow....not really got a thousand mags to deliver with the wife and of course......everyone will carry my card...

and this time....any new jobs will be smurfed../emoticons/biggrin.png.

 

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