[andyM]

Sounds like a concept from a silly American "How to succeed in business" type book. 
Forget the 25p discounts etc. before it gets overcomplicated.
Just clean windows and get paid, if you do a good enough regular job and are trustworthy then people will recommend you.

[Johnny B]

ive never offered any discount or incentive at all in 22 years of window cleaning.they either want a window cleaning service  or not.

you need to canvass,canvass and canvass some more,drop leaflets and upsell your services if you need the work(offer f/s/g cleaning and conny roofs,solar panels etc as well as window cleaning)

once you get a few customers.always do a good job and be reliable.over the years you will get a lot of recommendations by word of mouth,people seeing you working when your out and about and seeing your van if its signwritten.

no quick fixes im afraid to building a solid core of reliable window cleaning customers IMO.it takes a few years.

Spot on. It seems to me that the reason there are so may start ups that fail is because of the misconception that it is quick, easy money. Once you are established, it is, but it takes a lot of determination and effort to get there, and many are discouraged when faced with bad weather, non-payers, the not today brigade, etc. I am nearly 4 years in from building my second run, and it is taking a lot longer than when I originally started 18 years ago.

John

[slap bash]

I am with you above.
It always amazes me how much time and  focus going into cleaning and more so the collecting cash. Its all the rest that is the work we do. And if I had time to list all the none seen crap we must do to clean glass, then one soon realizes cash is a small but vital part.   It would make a interesting list of all the know how and skill you need to be a window cleaner. And don`t say its easy for if it was this forum would not be so busy answering questions about the easy it was to be a windy.

[PoleKing]

Almost anybody can clean a window.
Most people couldn't run a successful window cleaning business though.
IMO

[SeanK]

Almost anybody can clean a window.
Most people couldn't run a successful window cleaning business though.
IMO

You would be surprised at how many who cant especially when using WFP, most newbie WFP cleaners in my area
fail simply because they cant use the equipment properly or understand what type of frame is going to cause problems
and how to stop these problems from happening.
They think its just a matter of scrubbing and rinsing everything between the bricks.

[dazmond]

Almost anybody can clean a window.
Most people couldn't run a successful window cleaning business though.
IMO

You would be surprised at how many who cant especially when using WFP, most newbie WFP cleaners in my area
fail simply because they cant use the equipment properly or understand what type of frame is going to cause problems
and how to stop these problems from happening.
They think its just a matter of scrubbing and rinsing everything between the bricks.

it is really bar the odd dodgy rubber seal sean!works for me!

[Mike #1]

Almost anybody can clean a window.
Most people couldn't run a successful window cleaning business though.
IMO

Bang on mate , People dont realise what is involved and once they realise that its crap not getting holiday pay etc and not getting paid they drift back to been an employee .

[windowswashed]

Almost anybody can clean a window.
Most people couldn't run a successful window cleaning business though.
IMO

You would be surprised at how many who cant especially when using WFP, most newbie WFP cleaners in my area
fail simply because they cant use the equipment properly or understand what type of frame is going to cause problems
and how to stop these problems from happening.
They think its just a matter of scrubbing and rinsing everything between the bricks.

Very true,  This week I've just taken three customers from a WFP user who cant clean properly, his loss, my gain. Even had two ex customers phone me up asking if I'd take them back from a trad cleaner who undercut me (scumbags imo)