[mickmills]

the window cleaning coach (dave) is a great guy !!! i got let down by a w/c who never turned up so thought i would do it myself ,checked daves site which has the basics ,do my own now and a couple of neighbours ,i work on ladders daily so no height issues ,i find it rewarding and calming too ,new to this site but contributors are great and i am pleased to see offers of work experience on available .

[Wickerman]

I am an ex heavy goods driver (18 years Class one) Fed up being away all the time, up to 6 weeks on my last job. Chucked it and decided to set up cleaning Co 3 years ago. Driveways, Graffiti etc. Am drifting into window cleaning as I enjoy seeing a finished job and also enjoy a happy customer. Nowhere as easy as I thought (trad so far) but very theraputic

[Jays Window Cleaning]

hi all im a new here too. This is why i decided to start wc.
   I use to be a self employed painter and decorator for about 15 years  had a small business for about 5 years of it. But in time work had graduly faded out. I have had years of experience climbing ladders, also cleaning windows after they had been painted as an extra on jobs. I have always enjoyed working for myself and being on the move.  I have enjoyed getting my customers and i have a good round, increasing by the day.

[TonyD]

I've been a car valeter for many years, and for the last 5 or so ran a specialist detailing service, with a great nationwide reputation and regularly detailed expensive cars from Inverness to Brighton, charging anywhere from £350 to £700 per detail, I've even detailed a Bugatti Veyron once.  And used car wax that was worth more than my van.   This is me and my past work -  http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7298&highlight=

BUT, from this time last year it was apparent that the market for this type of business was drastically shrinking, with the economy in trouble and lots of new starters trying to get in on the market, inexpereinced and desperate for work quoting prices that I just couldn't compete with, my insurance to work on cars worth £200k plus needed a good income to pay for, a lot of people into detailing now aren't insured properly and some even work out of their boot part time for spare cash !   There where maybe 10 people carrying out specialist detailing nationwide when I started out, now there are around 250 ! or more
 
So, it became apparent that I had to make the decision to change business to keep the bills paid, and started a handyman/building maintenance service as I did this sort of thing for about 8 years many years ago.  It wasn't doing bad, but given the economy it just isn't as busy as I'd like. So...........I got into window cleaning, and actually really enjoying it, and the way my round has grown over the first month I think I'll be ditching the handyman business side and sticking with window cleaning as my main business. 

The first thing that hit me hard in window cleaning though, domestic anyway, is the way a lot of customers look down on you.  Very different than how customers looked up to my expertise when working on their supercar.  Quite a few times I've had conversations now and it seems some hold me similar to a beggar, even with company branded polo and cards etc.   Never mind, the valeting side of my detailing business was often like that "just a cleaner" like any other, so I'm immune to that now anyway   If they want to think that, that's their problem, not mine.  I wonder if they realise some "cleaners" own businesses worth many times theirs ?  and as they go to sit at their desk 9 - 5 every day we have the freedom and pride of being self employed. 
It's not all been like that, and I have some great customers already, tips and cups of tea  , and as said I really enjoy it, and looking forward to moving to wfp when busy enough to finance it.