Starting out on my own.

Hi all I am thinking about starting out on my own as I been working for someone else now for 11 years and wondering if it's worth doing so as there is so many people around doing the same. I'm looking at doing mainly windows and gutters and start up funds are currently quite low so any advice given will be greatly appreciated. Thanks Ashley

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Not worth doing at all mate.  

Why bother lining your own pockets when you could keep lining someone elses? 

Why work the hours to suit your lifestyle when you can let someone else tell you when you're going to work? 

Why build an asset and a future for yourself when instead you could have an average pay check and no asset at all? 

Why would you want to be able to take a week off when you like to take the family on holiday when instead you can let someone else tell you when you may have a holiday? 

Why have pride of ownership something that's yours and not spend your life wondering what if? 

Did you get my point? ?

[emoji28][emoji28][emoji28] yeah I think I get it. The thing i was getting at though is the guy I work with does really well however there's loads of window cleaners in my area I don't know if I will get any work

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Then you have already defeated yourself. 

Does he do EVERY window in your area? 

Are there no homes left without window cleaners in your area?

The market is competitive everywhere.  The lads that are successful are the ones that do. The ones that fail are the ones the sit back and wonder what might have happened. 

I have built rounds in Jersey, Nottingham and Derbyshire. Never once have I bothered to look incase there are some other window cleaners about. 

If it helps you decide

I started 7 months ago with no customers , no job alternative I had £200 I bought a cheap van financed a startup reach and wash system, sorted public liability insurance and canvassed solid everyday, now I have 120 customers been through a good summer holiday period with add on conservatories , fascia ,soffit,gutter cleans and upgraded my van and equipment along the way.

Still a long way to go yet but the futures positive.

And regarding other window cleaners in the area..... theres 6/7 guys all within a 2 mile radius of me plus other companies coming into the area from a far and we all have work :/

Its not been easy to start and build a customer base or even keep growing but it will be worth the effort eventually to say its my own hard work that got me where I am.

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ashley john said:

yeah I think I get it. The thing i was getting at though is the guy I work with does really well however there's loads of window cleaners in my area I don't know if I will get any work

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Jumping into the unknown is always the hardest bit. To leave a paid job, even if it isn't well paid, is a hard thing to do. All I would say is if you work hard, a lot harder than you're currently doing, you should do well. 

Why not try build a round up on the weekend. Or ask the bloke you work with if you can have Friday's of now. So you can go out knocking on doors.

I wouldn't just leave and hope to get work. I did that once and was trying to take any job £16 house driving 30 mins to do it. Just to get any work in. Very hard getting the work. Plus. I find you pick more work up March time. Why don't you go out knocking one weekend. Saying do you want clean windows for Christmas?


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No I wouldn't like to make a successful business out of it my aim is to leave my current job. Thanks for the suggestions much appreciated

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there may be a fair few windys around you,dont worry about them,most dont last, the biggest gripe i get when taking on new customers is that their last one was unreliable, goes awol for months at a time.
good RELIABLE window cleaners are never short of work

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ashley john said:

Hi all I am thinking about starting out on my own as I been working for someone else now for 11 years and wondering if it's worth doing so as there is so many people around doing the same. I'm looking at doing mainly windows and gutters and start up funds are currently quite low so any advice given will be greatly appreciated. Thanks Ashley

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Is it worth telling the bloke you work for your plans?

He may let you take some work with you. He may appreciate your honesty and it will give him time to plan.

Just a thought.

Steve E said:

Is it worth telling the bloke you work for your plans?

He may let you take some work with you. He may appreciate your honesty and it will give him time to plan.

Just a thought.

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may also let him keep his tools, and a few leads

Clisty1989 said:

may also let him keep his tools, and a few leads

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I agree...that's the way the world should work

If your able to, try and start while your still in a paid job. I got made redundant from my full time job 4 months ago, currently have 60 customers so I’m no where near my old full time wage, expectedly very slow to start a business, so if I had a choice I would have cut my hours down a bit or canvass on weekends whilst in my full time job

Maund said:

If your able to, try and start while your still in a paid job. I got made redundant from my full time job 4 months ago, currently have 60 customers so I’m no where near my old full time wage, expectedly very slow to start a business, so if I had a choice I would have cut my hours down a bit or canvass on weekends whilst in my full time job

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Yeah that's the thing I won't leave until I get at least 1500 a month I know that's a bit optimistic but I want to add on office cleaning, commercial and domestic. I got a mate who could possibly get me contracts with building cleans after however I have heard a lot of negative stories with after build cleaning

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If your thinking of talking to your current employer do you have a contract of employment with your current job ??? I ask because I would look at it for any paragraphs regarding conflict of interest or non compete agreements.

Just my experience but they tend to get a little edgy once you tell them your thinking of breaking out on your own as you could have an effect on there business and they could try garden leaving you for a period to not undertake any work that is similar or even same as you currently work for them for a period of time :/


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It would have to be a water tight contract to put him on garden leave. It's in the Magna Carta that it is illegal to deny a man the ability to earn a wage. 

Correct but it can depend what work does to earn that wage and doing exactly same work he might already be doing would stand under contract I.e window cleaner for a company goes solo as a window cleaner in exactly the same area

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Part Timer said:

It would have to be a water tight contract to put him on garden leave. It's in the Magna Carta that it is illegal to deny a man the ability to earn a wage. 

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Bloody Hell....That really is old school!

I saw 7 windies in an estate I do yesterday plus myself and still picked up a new custie. Just go for it, canvass hard and you will find work.
Gez


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Gerry Scrimshaw said:

I saw 7 windies in an estate I do yesterday plus myself and still picked up a new custie. Just go for it, canvass hard and you will find work.
Gez


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Cheers for the advice will do

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Where are you located

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