[welshwindows]

ive been a traditional window cleaner (domestic mostly)for two years now, my round takes up all my time. so business is pretty good. im averaging between 14- 25 pound an hour turnover(approx three houses an hour in estates.)

anyyway thinking of moving to the commercial market and mabye switching to waterfed poles. has any of you taken on staff? how much money can i make off each cleaner say per day after tax/insurance etc??? is it worth it?

any tips on gaining commercial contracts would be kindly recieved.
thanks

[bridger windows]

Im moving over to wfp as it is difficult to employ someone to help. Im struggling to get round and with the system, which my friend uses, im told it will be 30 - 50 % quicker which means more money and increased productivity equivalent to another pair of hands! You have to pay holiday, sick pay, insurance, national insurance on top of your own, extra tax because you are earning money form them helping (something like that anyway) and do their tax return. You cant send them up a ladder unless it is footed every time or fixed top and bottom, and according to health and safety there should be risk assessment for each climb, etc etc. Pain in the arse, or you can do it on your own with pole from the safety of the ground and keep all the money ! Then if you still need someone then there is no health and safety issue. If your staff member has a fall and you haven't done all of the required safety preparation prepare to be sued! Ive been thinking of changing over for a while now and am in the process of choosing a system. Have a look at the conversations ive had on "windows look rubbish" section.

[welshwindows]

cheers, i knew it would be faster but didnt have a figure. ive been toying with the idea for a while also,and pretty much had the same concerns as you have. ive decided to have a word with all my customers over the next 8 weeks to see their reaction to the change over to test the water like.

have you thought of what youll do when your round gets full again on a wfp system?? because im hoping to build the business and then oversee the work some day rather than do it. my sums just dont add up though. not sure ifwindow cleaning is an expandable business once your maxed out working the fastest way you can

[bridger windows]

Just keep advertising once your comfortable and keep taking on work. They don't mind if your late anyway, then you can employ someone when it gets too much and they wont mind if your on time! My friend has around 3000 customers and 3 staff, running two vans. I do  majority of my customers 6-8 weekly but rarely get round even 8 weekly. Partly down to lazyness sometimes or weather, or both! I only have 430 customers traditional so hopefully with system ill be getting round 6 weekly all the time which means massive difference in yearly earnings. My friend is managing 3000 with 4 sets of hands so makes total sense. Ive started telling customers about change over and they seem fine, after all they get the frames cleaned for the same money, windows stay cleaner for longer, and im safe on the ground. At the end of the dayif you fell of a ladder and broke your back would you not think you were stupid not to use a safer method that earned you more money! Im sick of lugging ladders around and after 8 years its only a matter of time before an accident and that could be game over no job! And being self employed you are entitled to nout from government.

[welshwindows]

when you getting your new system then? sounds good to me and is deffo the next step for my business.
have you decided on a system yet? ive tried to reaserch but the markets flooded and everyone claims theirs is the best. youve got about the same amount of custys as i do so id be interested to know which system to go for.
all ive figured out is to go for the biggest tank i can.

cheers for the advice bridger

[bridger windows]

Im losing sleep trying to decide which system. Ionics are the biggest flashiest looking, brodex wont leave you alone and ring every day of withheld no so wont use them. Told someone on this forum i was getting ionics and what it cost and they told me could build it myself for 1500 quid. Or he showed me company called pure freedom if i didnt want to build it.

Ionics

600L Themopure fitted to van
1000L static system for garden Around £12000

[bridger windows]

Brodex was about 8 0r 9K

Pure freedom £6500 fitted
800L thermo
1000L static system all same sort of extras but they send you protective coat to paint on bottom of van, £70, ionics, £600! but they do it.  Pure freedome are in grimsby ionics are in swindon, im in woking surrey so grimsby megga drive.
pure freedom say they use the same filters and ro and heater unit that ionics do and they dont drill holes in the side of the van to attach hoses to, they do it a more discrete way making van more resellable. it doing my head in. my friend uses ionics and cant rate them higher. do i take the risk and save 5500 quid or do i go with what my friend uses and spent the extra cash. I know it looks the best but if it does the same who cares. any way im no help im doing my own head in and i think im rambling on too much. im going to ask which company to go with on forum and ill let you know
 

[welshwindows]

bridger ive just opened this can of worms for myself today. the lad from pure freedom quoted me 2,300 quid for everything. thats a 650l tank and a 17ft pole.but with two pumps so i can upgrade to two workers at a later date.

but basically i found the whole thing baffling. ive arranged for a ionics guy to come give me a demo,at them prices i might just cancel!!

[GWCS]

there is a comapny called Varitech that many people also use, they are based in north devon i think it was, they offer a systems, fitting service and a hot system too.

http://www.varitechcatalogue.com/

As with anything, you also need to check up how long and how much consumables will cost/last!  Stuff like Resin, RO membranes and pre filters.

If your using Ionics, you need to use their own resin chambers which are something expensive! whereas most if not all others manufacturers of van systems use standard DI cannisters.

bear in mind theys guys with sales will pretty much tell you what you want to hear to grab a sale.

Take yell.com - first thing they ask is what type of market are you in, Commercial, Residential - then when you tell them, they will blab on about how many hit they are getting of that particular type of business.. its easy to spot! they ask questions to hook you on the line... be aware of sales from the start and dont be pressured into anything.

Any offers they make, keep a a note of them, if they decide to take them off or give you a ultimatum say "sign up today and well give you 2 free pole" dont, unless its really what your after - you can try going back to them and say, well im considering going with either you are them, however if you agree to put those 2 free poles in the deal i'll buy my system from you..

@ bridger, the protective coat is sent to you so they only have you van for a day to fit the system! you can always ask them to do it for you, however they will need you van for like 3-4 days for the paint to dry off, before they can install your system.

[bridger windows]

This is doing my head in! I have sort of decided to go with ionics because of the after sales and my friend recommends the highly. He says just the after care service is worth and extra expsence, of which there is plenty! He says he has had to go to ionics in swindon a few times and equipment is sorted there and then, or if really bad they will come to you. The drive for me would take 1.5 hours whereas the other two, pure freedom and varitec would take at least 3 hours! Sod that.

Then there is my mate who services water purifiers for drinking water, and he says he can build the purification plant for very little. Any way will let you what i decide. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH