New Kid On The Block

[Andykarlaxxx]

Nice 1 mate pleased to meet

 

[Kips]

Welcome!

Defo go with a backpack system to start out with, to begin your round won't be big so you won't need loads of kit - and you can do just as good a job with them. You only really need a big tank in the back of a van when you get to the stage where you are out working all day several days a week. it'll take you a while to get there so just go with backpack/RO system to begin. Just my 2 cents /emoticons/wink.png

 

[Andykarlaxxx]

Thanks bud, would a backpack system be powerful enough for the reach of commercial work, also would I have enough water to do commercial work, haven't looked into the backpacks at all but I just presumed they would be more for the residential side of window cleaning, which I don't want anything to do with, strictly commercial haha.

But I'm just a puppy at the moment and have no idea what I'm talking about to a certain extent

 

[Kips]

Yes, they'd be fine. Get the 'big boy' one from windowcleaningwarehouse.

As for your plans to do commercial only, I think you might need to just slow it down a few steps. Getting good commercial work isn't easy, for instance do you know how to write a risk assessment and a method statement? Insurance? Do you know how much to charge, are you registered for vat and a limited company? If you're just talking about doing cash in hand shops then you likely won't need all that, but if you're talking about proper offices, car showrooms etc, then you likely will. And to be honest, it doesnt even pay that much more than a good residential round! I'm not trying to rain on your parade, but I think most of us on here would say slow down a little bit, don't run before you can walk. Commercial work is very competitive in terms of pricing and presentation, and even if you get a job, if you're doing it and not following health and safety stuff (cones, tape, harnesses, etcetc) another windy will often snap a picture of you and send it off to the health and safety executive and the company to cost you the job (and potentially get you a fine) so they can go in and nab it. Believe me, it happens. And then you have to wait to be paid, which can take ages. On the other hand, residental work is a lot more fun, you meet a lot of nice people and get offered cups of tea, you get paid cash in your hand and at the end of the day you make about the same once your round is built up a bit. We do commercial and residential work, and by and large the commercial work sucks. You have to be there before the place opens, spend a lot more time faffing around with health and safety stuff, you dont see a soul and you dont get paid once you're done! On the other hand my favourite part of our work is this old peoples estate - all trad (which I normally hate) but they're all lovely, we have good banter, catch up a bit, have tea and biscuits, and they all pay cash! I know which i'd rather be doing all day /emoticons/tongue.png

Go residential first, build up your round, so you have time to learn from your mistakes. If you spend 2 months getting 1 contract that earns you 800 quid every 3 months, then you lose it after one clean because you sprayed water through a vent, you're screwed. If you lose a house off a residential round, you've only lost 6 - 10 quid a month.

Just my 2 cents!

 

[Catherine]

Andykarla, Kips is spot on, I make commercial appointments for window cleaners as a living, and its quite tough, loyalty issues is the main thing, lots and lots of cold calling, and then when you get the appointment your not guaranteed to get the job, definately a domestic round first. Only way to do commercial only would be to buy a commercial round. Hope that helps

 

[Andykarlaxxx]

Hmmmm, I appreciate both your views, but I won't be working on residents houses at all, I plan to so just commercial.

I understand you are saying works not hard to come buy, and I totally agree, think its like that in all trades, there's always health and safety laws to be followed also.

I don't expect it to be easy, if it was everyone would be doing it wouldn't they haha.

Thanks guys

 

[Andykarlaxxx]

Really so appreciate your help

 

[Catherine]

No probs Andy, but will you be prepared to wait for upto 60 days for payment? and then chase again? Not all are 60 days, some are month on month, but from what some of the guys say they are continuously chasing money. Think you would have to have some serious finances to build up a commercial round only and hang on, one guy I work for took 5 years to do that, good luck though - have you got a marketing plan in place to get the business? Im not being pedantic or anything, but I know from experience how blooming hard commercial work is to get.

 

[Andykarlaxxx]

Yea waiting for payments isn't really a problem. I'm okay with that.

Appreciate what your saying I no it's not going to be easy, if it takes 5 years to build up, happy days looks like I've got a lot of work to do haha.

 

[Kips]

Just out of curiosity, why the aversion to doing residential work? It pays better!

 

[Andykarlaxxx]

I probably would take on the work of residential type.

I just want to specialise in the commercial part though,

I can see this may be throwing people a bit, young lad wanting to start at the top with the big dogs, and I can completely understand that,

I mainly speak of commercial more as I want my equipment to be able to handle commercial jobs, I want the 80ft pole set up

 

[Posh]

Greetings.

 

[Mr B shine]

welcom

 

[Andykarlaxxx]

Hello lads thanks

 

[Richard Hyde]

just go and watch ya local window cleaners in action,,then go practise wat ya see on your own home,, simples,,,and free

 

[Solar Steve]

I probably would take on the work of residential type.I just want to specialise in the commercial part though,

I can see this may be throwing people a bit, young lad wanting to start at the top with the big dogs, and I can completely understand that,

I mainly speak of commercial more as I want my equipment to be able to handle commercial jobs, I want the 80ft pole set up

After your first day working with an 80 footer, you'll wonder why you are not in a cosy office somewhere. Why on earth do you want one of them things?

 

[Andykarlaxxx]

Pretty good idea that razor,cheers mate

.....

After your first day working with an 80 footer, you'll wonder why you are not in a cosy office somewhere. Why on earth do you want one of them things?

Hehe a good bit of graft never hurt anyone

 

[adyspurs]

Welcome Andy,If I were you start of simple,don't run before you can walk.

I'm sure with the right drive and determination you will be successful but belive me it's tough out there.

I've been window cleaning since 13 traditional and wfp and been self employed for about 5 so was in the game for 15 odd years before going on my own.

only been last couple of years where really reaping the rewards.

My advice would be go through previous posts on this forum,plenty of research and if you got spare time get a few small jobs to warm you up.

Good luck mate hope you cut it and always stay top if your game.

 

[Andykarlaxxx]

Thanks a lot mate much apreciated