Struggling to make end meet

[Luke97]

I’m currently struggling with work and feel like giving up as I’m not making anything from windows and I may have to get another job to pay bills until I get more clients

Had quite a few cancel due to current climate.


Hopeing things will get better

 

[Jaygti]

If you can’t make ends meet with just window cleaning , then getting another job for a short while you build up your round is an excellent idea.
Make sure it’s flexible so you can stick with windows until you get more customers.
Depending on where you are, building a round can be a real slog.
Stick with it??

 

[Pjj]

Stick with it Luke , it’s not always easy but any spare time get out there knocking doors , if you have to do another part time job to make ends meet that will help out , hopefully with spring hear you will start picking up more work , are you offering add ons like plastic cleans ?? This is a very useful extra income with existing customers, keep your chin up Ime sure you will get there ? what part of the country are you in ???

 

[ched999uk]

You have to do what's necessary to pay the bills and put food on the table. When ever you have some 'spare' time get chapping.

 

[JohnDoeWindows]

Definitely persevere with it by any means necessary. This game is IMPOSSIBLE to fail in (maybe not literally, but almost!) It's inevitable that at some point, you'll be where you need to be and more It's just a matter of time. For some, it's a relatively quick, stress free (almost) process and for others it's a real grind, but anyone who sticks with it will eventually succeed.

 

[scottish cleaning service]

Your first 6 months are hard because you expect to pick up a new customer everyday, well I did. When this doesn't happen and no money coming in then it just gets you down. I was lucky I had a pension and lump sum to fall back on. If you begin as a Trader then you don't need to buy much but if you go down the wfp then all your money goes on new gear. Like getting into any trade its great if you know someone well who will help you get started. I didn't know anyone until I joined this forum and my cleaning business has exploded.

 

[Part Timer]

The NE is a very saturated area and the prices are very competitive. It might take you 3 or 4 years, nowadays, to get established up here but I assure you perseverance will make you succeed.
I am glad you have been honest with your predicament, and praise you for being so. Reading some people's comments on here it's easy to think that you are somehow failing by struggling to become established. The hard truth is it's alot harder in some areas compared to others.
My only advice would be is do whatever you need to do to be able to keep your window cleaning business going. If that means doing Amazon, taxis, stacking shelves etc then do it as once established you will look back and smile.

 

[tommywilliams88]

Have you tried contacting any other firms? There will be other businesses operating and out of those companies there may be one or two who will sub you a round. I know a company near me (south UK) who take on self employed as long as you’ve got a plain van, and they’ll sub out domestic work to complete per week which can usually be done in 3-4 days, leaving you a day or two per week to build your own round up. Might be worth exploring. That way you stay in the trade and have time to build your own business

 

[Jamesmarshall]

Keep trying- it’s not all plain sailing it does take a while to get to the place where you want to be. It ain’t gonna happen overnight. It’s took me well over 10 years to get to a great place business wise where you can pick and choose , demand high prices and turn down stuff without worrying about a job you’ve turned away

Definitely keep trying though - when you get there you’ll see what the hard work was for ?

 

[cleaniac]

Ah yes, again another person who thinks window cleaning was their fast meal ticket to financial security in 6 months all too common. Will you be amongst the majority that realise that's it's just too much hard work to continue? Probably.

I have said, and will say, time and time again. IT TAKES YEARS to build up a financially stable, very profitable window cleaning business.

Prepare for it to continue like this for at least 4 or 5 years before it starts to become something that is a self sustaining going concern.

Please don't get yourself down over it, you have to persist, trust me by the time you have broken past this stage, and you have a going concern that is self sustaining and making good money, you will be absolutely sick and tired of the job, and the money you make from it will trap you for good, so be prepared..?

Then the rest of your time will be trying to get out of window cleaning, but nothing else pays as well, or gives you the freedom you need...your screwed either way..

 

[Iron Giant]

Just keep plugging at it, I've heard of a guy in your town who is selling up and moving abroad in the near future, this could be an opening for you if his customers don't take to the new cleaner, as I said to you when you were over mine or on the phone there are lads coming over from your town into my area so it's clearly saturated in your town.

 

[RWCleaning]

I did domino’s pizza delivery driving 3 nights a week when I started up while canvassing in there day & doing a bit of work.
Nothing wrong with it.

 

[High-tower]

I drove a van Fri/Sat/Sun & a couple of evenings, also picked up extra shifts if the weather was bad.

 

[kevinc250]

it is very very hard in the early days, i was lucky in some repect having left a full time job and stepping into an established round via a guy retiring i started mid october in 2010 and by november the worst winter in many years came and that lasted until febuary so i know how you feel luke, i'm just outside leeds and see guys coming down from darlo for a week or so every month, i know its tough especially when you read on here about guys saying how well they are doing etc but, you have just started my friend and it is a constant slog for a couple of years or so until you can see some kind of payback from window cleaning.
what i did when i first became self employed was to look at the other cleaners in my area, what did they offer? and what didn't they and question yourself why, you'll soon be able to see some kind of an opening somewhere-honestly you will, it could simply be gutter cleaning or facias and soffitts or pressure washing, i know a guy who started out with a small karcher and persisted learning to softwash he, now goes all over cleaning shop canopies and softwashing there you go, shop canopy cleaning how many shops in your or surrounding areas do them? and are they filthy? aliminium cleaning is quite simple just like purple rhino do or used to do bring those frames and doors back to looking like new, you have to think out of the box sometimes moss removal and roof cleaning is being done to death now but outdoor timber furniture can be made to look like new again with very little outlay, stain removal from hanging baskets is another one from an initial outlay of say £20 you would generate much more than that start looking at your customers homes just for say hanging basket stains or rust stains from brackets you already have an extra added income if they do and if you only charge a fiver its a job, and in the beginning you'll need every one of those add ons.

 

[Windowcleaningfleet]

U need to give it time for it to be profitable, the problem with window cleaning is that it takes time to build a good profitable round, the longer a round is established the more it blossoms.

A window cleaning business is like a flower, u got to keep watering it each year for it to improve on all levels.

It sounds like to me your a new starter, so your just really planting the seeds, you got to be patience and a part time job will really help you and give you backbone.

Thank you

 

[P4dstar]

Ah yes, again another person who thinks window cleaning was their fast meal ticket to financial security in 6 months all too common. Will you be amongst the majority that realise that's it's just too much hard work to continue? Probably.

I have said, and will say, time and time again. IT TAKES YEARS to build up a financially stable, very profitable window cleaning business.

Prepare for it to continue like this for at least 4 or 5 years before it starts to become something that is a self sustaining going concern.

Please don't get yourself down over it, you have to persist, trust me by the time you have broken past this stage, and you have a going concern that is self sustaining and making good money, you will be absolutely sick and tired of the job, and the money you make from it will trap you for good, so be prepared..?

Then the rest of your time will be trying to get out of window cleaning, but nothing else pays as well, or gives you the freedom you need...your screwed either way..

I bet you’re a blast at parties

 

[mike007]

Fact is most who start up fail. Usually due to not getting enough customers to earn a wage at the outset as your experiencing .And also it is a different mindset being self employed. I supplemented my income with driving jobs including every Sunday for 2 years while becoming established. You have to persevere...and some find it not worth that perseverence when they could just turn up at work as an employee with maybe less hassle.

 

[adamangler]

Have you tired facebook groups ?

When i started in 2014 it was really slow, i didnt know anything about advertising or marketting and i spent most my money paying canvassers or leaflets. I did a bit myself but struggled to have the confidence to do it so it was slow. It wasnt until about 3 years ago when i discovered facebook did i realise what i was missing.

Ive had 30/40 customers in one nights posting ads before, in fact ive probably had 100 new custs this year all for free from posting to fb...very unusual not to pick up a handfull every time i decide to post on there. I dont do it anymore as too busy. Also paid for facebook ads work well, i average £5 a lead or about £10 a customer and have build plenty of work that way.

Try the next door app as well.

It took me 2 years to build 200 customers the classic way, i bet i could build that in a couple of months now just from facebook ads/groups alone.

 

[scottish cleaning service]

60% of companies fail in first 3 years. Usually it all comes down to money. I have a pension so that's the only reason I'm still going. Only had 20 customers in my first year and 40 in my second year because I had found out more cleaning avenues. I must have about 100 customers now and still have time for plenty of add-ons.

 

[Reliable Lead Gen Canvas]

It really can be difficult in the early days when you literally have no experience or no idea what you need to do to make it work. I remember when i started it took me a year just to get to about £1000 a month in work, and that was not enough to live on at all, so i had to have side businesses until the windows could make more money. Took me 4 years to get to the point i was bringing in 4k a month. Most of that is because i struggled and tried to figure out everything myself the hard way. Did all my own door knocking, website, flyers etc. It took 4 years to get what i would call a semi decent turnover. Then 2 years later i decided to expand and in less than 3 months i added 3k a month to our turnover. When you know what to do and how to do it, it is so much quicker and easier. The problem is figuring it out yourself literally takes years. Knowing what i know now, the best advice i can give is find yourself a mentor or somebody who can share exactly what you need to do to make it work. It will save so much time and hassle if you just follow what the successful window cleaners are already doing. If your lucky enough to have some money/savings behind you then the quickest way to grow is to pay a canvasser/lead generation/mass flyer drops. This can boost your income quick and fast but only if you have capital to do this to begin with or can get access to some funds. I took a loan out to pay for some canvassing years ago, risky move, but its paid for itself 10 times over at this point. Now we do everything in house so i don't need to worry about any of that.

Also if you dont have a good enough resolve you will quit just like everyone else. When times are tough, that is when you need to dig deep and find a way to break through. We have all been there at some point. Good luck to you

 

[Cghwindowcleaning]

Speak to other window cleaners in your area and put yourself out there.
You will be surprised how many are full and turning jobs away.These could be passing them on to you.

I don't clean houses or any add ons but I turn away a couple a week at the minute with no one reliable or good to pass them on to.
Also some may have a day or two a week to sub out some window cleaning to you.
This will help with money and experience.I have subbed work in the past and I have subbed work out and both can work.