New to window cleaning

[Dave85]

Hi guys been looking on the forum for weeks now and finally got round to signing up to the forum. I have wanted to start a window cleaning business for a couple of years now but was to settled in my current job (manager in a large supermarket) and didn't have the balls to start a new job however about a a couple of months ago I finally gave myself a kick up the backside and started to buy some equipment (traditional) and practiced on my house in my spare time. But eventually decided to go wfp. Got all my company uniform sorted got a bit more equipment ordered plus flyers business cards etc . Spent every evening van hunting online and got myself a van kitted out with wfp system barring the pole . All brand new equipment fitted by Joe at Baileyswfpsystems in Retford. Ordered a 22 ft gardeners pole got the necessary public liability insurance and I have now been up and running 2 weeks. Got about 30 customers at the moment but having to do it around family life plus a 45+ hours per week job. Which has its difficulties but I really enjoy window cleaning and I'm determined to make a real fo of it .so was wondering what you guys did when you started out.when did you decide to leave your other job

My business has picked up really well and I'm thinking of either cutting days down in my current job or handing in my notice.

 

[steve garwood]

Howdie Dave and welcome

 

[Scots lad]

Best of luck mate

 

[Dave B]

Welcome bud

When i started back up for myself again i took a driving job and cut my hours down as i got busier..was only doing the driving job about 6 months before i jacked it in

Maybe take agency work to fill your quiet days if you can't cut your hours at work

If you bite the bullet and just walk away from your job it can be a good thing as it will force you to get out there and get work

The downside is you need to then be prepared to spend every available minute doing something to get work whether facebook, leafletting or door knocking you would have to be constantly doing something until you have enough work

Good luck

 

[Hollie2021]

Hello Dave .

I have noticed since I joined the forum, that a lot of the guys that are starting up a new window cleaning round all start with flyers, uniforms ,new gear,vans,etc,but very little work to go at , I realise the idea is to build the work as you go along.

The way I started years ago was, after knackering my back bricklaying and being told by specialists to get out of the trade (which I'd done since leaving school)or I could end up in a wheelchair , I'd been a self employed bricklayer since being 21 yrs of age after serving my apprenticeship, so I was used to working for myself and everything that goes with it(accounts, expenses ,insurance,weather,etc).

I bought two part time rounds and worked them together with a roof rack on the family car , ladders and trad gear, by buying you are not stepping on other window cleaners toes ( no price wars , agro, etc)I don't know what it's like down your way Dave , but up here in Yorkshire the windys are very territorial and can get nasty.

The round ended up being that big I had to go to from 4 weekly to six weekly and then started selling off sections because it got too much( I was working 6 days a week trad)at 60 year old, I never posted one flyer or advertised for work , the work came in by word of mouth, so my idea Dave was to put my money (all my savings)

Into buying the work and then building it from there .

I'm now 66 yrs old and have kept about a £1000 a month work to keep me from stagnating , and I've bought the WFP gear to play about with(LOL)

Just my idea Dave it worked for me.

all the best mate.

Glenn( the old fellah)

.

 

[Trev81]

Quit employment and go for it. You will never regret it! Best thing I ever did, just wish I did it at 18!

 

[Dave85]

Thanks for the welcome. Yeh I understand it may be slightly naive to buy equipment etc before having work lined up. Although I did have a few customers waiting for me when I set up just from word of mouth and colleagues at work etc. I'm in North Yorkshire in a bigish market town that's got loads of other window cleaners but have had no issues with them yet lol. I do have next week of work so I'm looking forward to getting out canvassing and hopefully building up the customers. And then will hopefully be a step closer to cutting down my days at my current job. Or leaving!!! Fingers crossed. I'm also looking to buy a small round in my area if one comes available.

 

[boarcity]

be ready to have honest chat with anyone who will listen. 5 minutes spent chewing the cud with a stranger will often lead to new customers, family members or acquaintances. i got a whole load of new work by dining regularly at a community cafe ,so dont ever sit in your van having your lunch is my tip.

 

[Trev81]

Its not naive mate! I went ball deep into it buying a high end system new van, strong branding, website, uniforms etc etc etc without a single customer.

Sold my last business and knew it would work, always been s risk taker, had no plans to buy any work. 10 months on I am turning over £3,500 4 weekly and growing daily, picking up big commercial work too now. Its out there for anybody that wants it!!

Plenty will give you there way of doing it but that was my way of doing it.

And I love what I do more and more each day /emoticons/smile.png) cant ask for more than that from a job can you!! Role on the spring/summer

 

[Dave B]

I talk with most of my customers and i have no end of work through recommendations

I actively ask customers to recommend me to anyone they know who may need me

It does work

Me and @Adams0211 were talking about it earlier how we seem to work certain areas

He is nearer than me by 2 miles to where 90% of my workload is but i got there at the right time and nearly 2 years later still get calls and messages for quotes from people there recommending me as Neil knows from me getting messages while we are at the roadside chatting

He gets a lot more than me in the direct area i live in

Strange how that works but definitely worth spending a few minutes for a chinwag as it can lead to more work

 

[David K]

Welcome !:thumbsup:

When i started Out we mostly lived of my ex wifes paycheck , Got it build up Quick though . I Also had a little cleaning jobs at first . Now its only Windows /emoticons/biggrin.png

 

[OutlaneWC]

I'm also just starting and have a full time job window cleaning and also playin semi pro rugby and just had a baby last week so finding it hard going at the minute but determined to make it work!

Where in Yorkshire are you Glenn? And will you be selling up anytime soon haha?

 

[OutlaneWC]

Ohhh and good luck Dave!

 

[Dave B]

Welcome !:thumbsup:When i started Out we mostly lived of my ex wifes paycheck , Got it build up Quick though . I Also had a little cleaning jobs at first . Now its only Windows /emoticons/biggrin.png

Nothing like necessity to make you get something like this working straight away

You have no choice but to succeed

 

[Adams0211]

Here's a link to a post I made back in December about me starting out and some of the other guys have posted about how they started out.

What made you become a window cleaner?

Sent from my iPhone using Window Cleaning Forums mobile app

 

[Hollie2021]

I'm also just starting and have a full time job window cleaning and also playin semi pro rugby and just had a baby last week so finding it hard going at the minute but determined to make it work!
Where in Yorkshire are you Glenn? And will you be selling up anytime soon haha?

Hello outline WC.

My work is in Malhamdale & outlying areas around Skipton,but the work I've sold was in upperWharfedale , I won't be selling for a year or two yet, that's providing my fitness holds up, I find I can take it a bit easier now the big sections sold.

I've just finished rebuilding my pure freedom trolley (got it given)it was in a sorry state , but a good rub down and repaint with Hammerite , new 22amh battery, a flowmaster control panel(remote)shurflo pump100 psi, and jobs a good'n.

Have you played at threshfeild ? I used to clean John Spencer's Windows and a lot of the windows in threshfeild.

Good luck in building your round .

All the best Glenn ( old fellah)

 

[OutlaneWC]

sorry I should of said I play rugby league, I've just signed for keighley after playing last year in Australia! I will just be going traditional to start off with then hopefully move onto WFP

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

sorry I should of said I play rugby league, I've just signed for keighley after playing last year in Australia! I will just be going traditional to start off with then hopefully move onto WFP

I would have found a way to stay and cleaned windows out there.

 

[Hollie2021]

sorry I should of said I play rugby league, I've just signed for keighley after playing last year in Australia! I will just be going traditional to start off with then hopefully move onto WFP

Hello Outlane.

I've lived and worked (bricklaying)in Aussie , I emigrated twice , 1972 & again 1990, Melbourne first time , Sydney second time .

Going trad will help keep your fitness level going along with your training for Keighley ,will you be starting your new round in the Keighley area?.

From time to time I get asked if I clean over that way , if any thing crops up I'll let you know , it's just like the lads have said on here a one off and a little bit of chat can lead to a nice little seam.

All the best mate .

Glenn( the old fellah)

 

[Simply Business]

Welcome to the forum @Dave85! And best of luck with your decision. Some great chaps on here to give you advice!

 

[OutlaneWC]

If I could green I would but it wasn't possible at the time with having a baby! So was better to come back and hopefully try get back over there in a few years!

I live in Halifax but I don't mind travelling to find work, if I could get s round in keighley what I could do on training days that would be good..