Commercial window cleaning. Any tips or tricks

[Sunrise]

All shop fronts are different sizes so it depends on size of windows, number of transoms/mullions, difficult to get to high areas, how many you have in a row or very close to each other, are you cleaning the signage as well, frequency of clean, under cover or exposed to the elements, parking, where you are in the country (social/price divide and probably a few more that slip my mind. Don't waist your time, you can make a good living just cleaning 3 bed semi's.

Thanks for your reply, I have changed tack since hearing from you guys and I'm gonna go all out for residential now.

 

[Yogi1872]

Even if it's not nationals who currently do it, how many people do you think have thought of your idea as a place to start, in doing so it's meant alot of the time it's rock bottom prices as everyone seems to use it as there first go to and say they will do it cheaper.

 

[Yogi1872]

We do a local post office and they pay cash on the day , and we do several schools through the local education authority hub and payment is bank transfer usually within 28 days , been doing this many years and only once did I have to chase payment. We also do a local university once a year 3 weeks work for 5 guys payment again is always within 28 days .

I'm not sure what your local council is like for pricing, but I know someone who done the schools and it ended up he broke just over even with the price they had him doing it, only reason he done it is because he's 19 guys and work can go infront in the summer good weather so it was work that filled time up that was spare. 2 years ago he stopped them as the budget they had for it would mean he would loose money doing it. He was doing the insides too.

Every window cleaning tendor what goes up here it has the price of the job as 80% based on who wins it. I don't even bother with them.

 

[Cghwindowcleaning]

Schools unless private are terrible money now.I must have priced 10 locally over the years and not got one.They get cleaned yearly so should attract a premium.

 

[Pjj]

I'm not sure what your local council is like for pricing, but I know someone who done the schools and it ended up he broke just over even with the price they had him doing it, only reason he done it is because he's 19 guys and work can go infront in the summer good weather so it was work that filled time up that was spare. 2 years ago he stopped them as the budget they had for it would mean he would loose money doing it. He was doing the insides too.

Every window cleaning tendor what goes up here it has the price of the job as 80% based on who wins it. I don't even bother with them.

The schools we do aren’t run by the council they are run by an academy we deal direct with them and they pay us , it’s all well priced work .They aren’t private schools , We clean the windows 4 times per year usually, vac gutters and softwash the buildings as required, one school is softwashed twice per year due to thousands of seagulls living and nesting on the roof the building has been declared a heath hazard due to all the poo on the walls and paths , there H & S guy just phones up and says it needs doing and we do it it’s a pain to be honest as the poo sticks to the aluminium cladding like the proverbial ! But it’s good money .we don’t bother with local authority work as they won’t pay a proper price .

 

[J'D]

Took me a few years to realise it but cleaning commercials is a real pain! Always need to chase payments, you end up cleaning the glass on their terms, access problems etc etc etc! You can make more dollar with domestic and have none of the hassle!

 

[Trevor Intense Cleaning]

Just started window cleaning a month ago alongside uPVC cleaning. I started using WFP. Been asked to do a Village cafe inside and outside of their windows. Haven't seen windows yet to see if their high or doable from ground level. For the insides I have a squeegee and washer I bought years ago for my own house. Only done traditional on my own house so more practice needed. Would this be best method for indoor glass? Or one of these long pole if needed and unger stingray for example. Going on Tuesday so haven't time to order and receive and new squeegee and washer. Think current one is unger.
Basic indoor kit squeegee, washer, bucket & cloth to go round edges?

 

[Pjj]

The stingray things are difficult to get good results with unless the glass is practically clean already , best method is squeegee and applicator ,if you can’t reach from the ground use a pole should work fine

 

[Trevor Intense Cleaning]

With limited experience personally felt squeegee and applicator would be best way but just wasn't sure. Just need to use little water if possible on glass as indoors. Also work on/learn how to have little water and what chemical to add to water. Thinking of squeezing washer through hand to remove excess water before washing glass.
Should I keep same price for cleaning glass inside same as outside?
Will see about ordering traditional kit so all is at hand

 

[mattybondi]

With limited experience personally felt squeegee and applicator would be best way but just wasn't sure. Just need to use little water if possible on glass as indoors. Also work on/learn how to have little water and what chemical to add to water. Thinking of squeezing washer through hand to remove excess water before washing glass.
Should I keep same price for cleaning glass inside same as outside?
Will see about ordering traditional kit so all is at hand

use very little soap on inside , dont squeeze out either or itll dry on you

 

[Trevor Intense Cleaning]

use very little soap on inside , dont squeeze out either or itll dry on you

Going to sound silly Matty . What do you mean by don't squeeze out?