[pncleaning]

Hi all

I have a son finishing school soon and as he does not want to work for me,  he wants to do something for himself. I am looking for some advice I can pass onto him as he wants to start a window cleaning business.

Could you kind people advise the best place to buy all the equipment he will need? and would you advise on the wfp system as opposed to the traditional method? He will be working alone so how long would you expect a newbie to clean the windows in 1 average size house?


Thankyou in advance

Paul

[pncleaning]

Any comments on the above would be appreciated guys and gals!!!!

PLEASE!!!!!!!!


 Paul

[Cliff perkins]

Hi if you do a search on here you will find all the imformation you need . Just search anything you need.as for suppliers theres loads but cleaningspot is 1 as is the cleaning warehouse and pure freedom all of the above are at the end of a phone if you need to chat.
Regards cliff

[wellsy43]

hi paul,

you have the same problem as me.....getting a reply, everyones watching the grand prix i reckon.
i clean trad so i cant give any advice on wfp. all i can say is in my opinion trad is less expensive to get up and running.

when you say how long to clean an av sized house. all i can say is time him, he will be slow at first but stick with it. when he does an av 3 bed semi in about 20 mins and is proud of the quality then he's up to speed. having said that, in my opinion it doesnt matter too much about speed when you first start out....its quality that counts, a custy won't want you back if you do a shoddy job. speed comes with practice.

[steve rix]

Unless he is 100% sure about this start trad. Seen how many second hand wfp kits are for sale on ebay?

[kevinc]

hi paul,why not invite him on the forum so he can ask questions and get a better idea of how to go about everything?

[pncleaning]

Thankyou all for your kind advice and time. Can I ask why your advice would be to go traditional window cleaning please? reason why we were considering wfp was because I thought it may be quicker for him to pick it up rather than trad? and also would cut his cleaning time down per house?  Im no expert on this it was just thoughts

And thats a good idea I will get him to come on here.

Thankyou again

Paul

[wellsy43]

cant say if wfp is easier to pick up, but consider this, start up trad, a few hundred, start up wfp.....a few grand. if ur son decides after a few weeks its not for him he might have covered the cost trad but would certainly be out of pocket with wfp. secondly from reading posts on here i believe that some wfp cleaners combine the 2 methods as some windows are better cleaned trad or custys prefer it, or other reasons.

[Halfadaylee]

Hi Paul,
Are you sure he wants to start window cleaning? It seems theres a job for him with you that he does not want. So why window cleaning, is it one of your suggestions?

Personally I would let him stew with nothing to do and no money in his pocket, this will give him some focus at least.

If window cleaning is what he wants to do lend him the money for second hand wfp kit from on here. Get him to learn trad by doing the insides of your house and all the families till he is confident/good.

I know its hard but he has to make the choices.

Art

[kevinc]

hi paul,this is just a personal take on this,(there could be a whole can of worms opened if taken the wrong way)without wanting to make yet another debate over trad/wfp i would say let your boy start trad first-its a good skill to have and retain,i still have homes and shops that i trad because its quicker to do,simple as that and i guess some members on here will agree with me and some won't-get him booked on a ladder training course if there is one about(i'm old school and spent many years on em doing other jobs)so training is a must for the young un.quality is a must have, never mind speed that'll come with time, he'll still be earning good money anyway for his age,then introduce wfp later on

[Ron Rogers]

Hi Paul
Google, The window cleaning coach, theres some good advice on there.

[barry mallett]

yeh start trad first , and then go through the hassle of converting your round to wfp .great advice . have him go out on a push bike as well , with a tin bucket

[dazmond]

i would say none of the above for now at his age!look around for a local window cleaner he can work for so he gets to learn trad and wfp.he might not want to do the job when he s done 6 months windows cleaning day in/day out.or he may love it and want to start on his own.

i worked for a year for another windy back in 1992 before starting on my own in 1993.

[AuRavelling79]

The other eye-watering problem is his driving a vehicle - the prices are just crazy for a lad just leaving school.

If you and he could work and learn together then that would be the way forward IMO. Get him canvassing and then both of you work together on the work. I reckon that (unless you have room in your van) a self build trailer system would be a good way forward to start with.

Cheap as chips - 2nd hand 400kg trailer plus add a 2nd hand 250L tank and you will have enough to be getting started.

Costs - Good 2nd hand Trailer  £250?

250 Tank £50/ Battery x2 £20 local garage cast offs./CLX22 pole £140/Gardiners Reel + hose £100. Bits and bobs/insulation/immersion/charger £100 plus

So what's that up to? £750 approx


You know it makes sense ....

Next step put him on the van or family car insurance (not cheap but cheaper than on his own policy) and off he goes!

[pncleaning]

Thankyou all for your sound advice and good ideas. Me and my son Josh has sat down and we have decided that he will work for me until I add  window cleaning to my other services. I will then transfer one of my employee`s who can drive to work alongside my son.

I like your idea gold and will seriously look into what you suggested. I also visited the window cleaning coach and found that to be a very good site.

Thankyou all again

Paul