[Kate987123]

Hi,

I am hoping to start a window cleaning business in my area as everyone seems to be looking for a window cleaner and the only one around is quite unreliable but it seems like it is going to be more difficult then I expected!
I have made a list of question because I am really confused, any help or advice would be most gratefully received!

1. I want to employ someone, what type of insurance do I need? How do I pay them (hourly/per house/daily)? How much is fair?

2. I thought I would just be able to employ someone with no experience, but after reading some posts am thinking they may need to be experienced or trained? What do you recommend?

3. Do I need to 'buy a round' or can I just canvass? (I would have thought that if I can offer a better service at a cheaper price it is upto the customer but I'm not sure)?

4. If I do employ someone, as an employer must I offer sick pay/holiday pay etc? Also, do they pay tax or do I pay their tax? National Insurance?

5. Also, can someone explain to me about trolleys/back packs etc?!!

What I thought would be a really good business opportunity is becoming increasingly complicated! I am hoping to start Uni in Oct but wanted to get this up and running during the summer and have something to work at as I'm getting disheartened with my part time telesales job. I really think there is a gap in the market in my area but just need help to get it started (have tried talking to council/citizens advice but they didn't seem interested!!).

Sorry if I have asked really obvious questions or repeated earlier posts. Really grateful for any help and advice you can give. Thank You

[pjulk]

If i was you i would not even think about employing someone until you have a big enough round to support yourself and someone else.

I does take a while to build up a descent round.

I would go it alone first of all until you have got more work than you can manage which would probably be in a year or so.

Paul

[gaza]

HEY PAUL:What ave we just been on about[getting reliable staff] as you know Ive even sacked my own son.
Get back to question Paul is right stay on your own for at least a year there is more to it than putting a ladder against the wall and cleaning windows.

STILL LEARNING AFTER 4 YRS+ IN THIS BUISS.
someone keeps shifting the goal post [new regs] to take into account.

Try and answer your questions when Ive got more time if someone on here doesnt beforehand [bet they will]

One piece of advice is phone a insurance company up and ask them for a quote on employees liability  and public liability.
the public liability will be cheap wait till you get the quote for the other one.
FOR your  public liability you can pay as little as 100 squid for 1 million cover for employees liability ive been quoted up to 1000 squid told them their having a laugh just ring up or go on line and ask for a quote,then review your plans GAZA

[Philip Hanson]

An intersting post!

I think that people often imagine that window cleaning is less complicated than it is.  As I see it, you have several problems which may be based on some misconceptions about window cleaning, but most of these are not big obstacles.

Firstly, you want to employ someone to do the work for you.  I'm afraid that you'll probably find this quite tricky.  Window cleaning is not an especially difficult business to get into, and most people who want to be window cleaners do so because they want to be their own boss.

As you have seen, good window cleaners are in huge demand almost everywhere in the UK, and there is no shortage of work for those who are prepared to get out and drum it up.  This is bad news if you want to employ someone, because there's no advantage to working for someone else over being self-employed.

A simple solution to this problem : why not do the work yourself?  Although window cleaning has traditionally been a male-dominated industry, with the advent of pole systems more and more women are taking on the job.  I know of several ladies who are very successful window cleaners.  It's not difficult to earn in the region of £20 per hour, and you'll find that customers will really love having a female window cleaner.  If you build up a successful little round, you can sell it when you go off to University for a nice lump sum.

If you don't much like the idea of going up ladders, you could get a small pole-system.  This is a kit which allows you to clean windows from the ground, (with no ladders) and is becomming very popular in the industry.

I would caution against buying a round at this stage, as you are new to the business and may not really know what to look for.  Its quite common for rounds offered for sale to be a bit of a rip-off.  Canvassed work will always be better than bought work anyway, and of course costs you nothing!

-Philip

[Kate987123]

Thanks for your help. Very interested in the small post system as the idea of going up ladders was putting me off doing it myself!! Aside from the ladders (lol) I would prefer to start out alone as no one can ruin my reputation before I have started!

Anymore info on the small pole system? Do they work as well as a traditional methods (ie going up the ladder!) and do you think people would be put off by this method?

Had a look on streamsupplies.net but still a bit confused about what I would actually need to get if I go for the small pole system method. Any ideas how much money I will need to get started?

Thanks Again - really appreciate your help

[Davindo Cleana]

Same advice as others have given - walk before you run - learn as much as you can yourself and then you will know how to converse with customers and eventually, employees, rather than being somebody who coordinates the running of the business but hasn't got much of an idea - the other thing is, employees who don't earn so much, might not put the effort into the work, and that will come back to you in the form of complaints and cancellations - so be mindful that it's not just a money making thing; it's perhaps one of the most tangible of services where customers can see in an instant if the job's been done properly
Good Luck

[williamx]

Kate

The set up costs involved if you went the WFP method of cleaning will depend whether you are in a hard or soft water area. 

For example if you are in a soft water area with tap water less than 100 tds it would cost around £1000 to have a DI WFP system, but if you are in a hard water area then you will need an RO unit as well which will cost about another £500 on to the budget.

You will also need a vechicle of some kind, this should cost around £700 for something simple and reliable.

If you want training then you could ask on this forum if any member local to you would be willing to show you the ropes, if no member is forthcoming then there are companys out there who do offer training courses, not to sure of the cost but should't be more than £150.

You say that you are going to uni in October? is the uni local to where you window cleaning round is going to be? if so then you should be able to start up and run a small round depending on the amount of time that you can get away from your studies, if not then come October you will find it very difficult to service your customers, as often as you agreed you would, this is mainly because if the weather is bad then all work is stopped.

I would not buy a existing round as you will probable end up with another cleaners bad jobs.  If you start by canvassing the areas you will soon build up a few customers and when you start cleaning you will pick up plenty of by passers.

The same would apply to employing someone on a fixed wage, the costs involved would make you bankrupt within 6 months.

But if you would still like to have someone else working with you then the best way would be to look for someone who is willing to be a partner, this will save you paying wages - employers libility insurance - sick pay and all the other taxes that are involved.

I would recommend that you get a contract drawn up detailing who does what, who spends what, and how the money is divided between you.

Hope this helps a bit

[Kate987123]

Thanks for all your help. Have been looking on the net for equipment and have found a water fed pole trolley system at streamsupplies.net for only £499 which seems really cheap compared to elsewhere, is there something missing from it?! Says it comes with pump, removable battery, waterproof switch and housing provision for  DI pressure vessel, so what else do I need to buy?

Sorry to sound so stupid but could someone give me a basic step by step guide for what I would actually do when using the WFP system?!

(On many sites they offer extension poles, (not waterfed) should I consider using these??

Thanks again

[williamx]

If you are any where near birmingham give us a call and I show you my systems

[Kate987123]

Not near Birnmingham I'm afraid (I'm in Berkshire) but thanks for the offer. Regarding you previous post; I have a Vauxhall Corsa car at the moment, do you think I need to get a van instead? What will I need to transport when I'm working?

[williamx]

kate

You could use a corsa but the main problem is going to be the weight of the water, for example when you clean a 3 bed house the first time it will take approx 25 litres of water = 25 kilos the maximum weight you would be able to carry is 4 barrels = 4 houses before you need to go back home and refill, so I would recommend a van with a miminum load weight of 600 kilos.

I have looked at that website and I think its a bit expensive you could source around and build something the same if not better for £285.

You will then need the following

A DI tank £180

A RO unit (if you are in a hard water area) £450

Water holding tanks £200

Poles plus cleaning head £100

[Kate987123]

There is an estate nearby with about 300 hundred houses so I guess I could start off using my car and then get a van asap.

Was looking at a website on WFP and it said all you need to do is use the brush on the window, is this right? I wouldn't have to use the t bar or cloth (can you tell I've never this before?!!) etc?

[pjulk]

Kate

Here is a video of WFP being used.
http://www.window-tools.com/MVC-002V.MPG

Mind you this chap is extremely fast

Paul

[Kate987123]

Thank you for the link, was really helpful!

[Kate987123]

Hey,

Have been looking at WFP systems and parts etc, trying to work out the cheapest way of starting out. Does anyone know anywhere that I would be able to get a second hand system? Or if you can rent them?

Have been reading old posts, and one member sells pure water at £10 per 500 litres. Is this a viable option to begin with? If I buy pure water what parts do I still need? How many houses can I get done with 500 litres of water?

Thanks Again!

Kate

[williamx]

Kate

If you want a second hand machine try ebay or this site, and as far that I know no one gone into the hire business with these machines, you could try your local hire shop, they might be willing to invest in a system but they would want you to sign a long term hire agreement.

As for buying water at £10 per 500 litres, this is viable and on the first clean you will use around 25 litres to clean a semi-detached house, if the house is really dirty or its a clean after the builders have been their you can end up using 100 litres. When you quote someone for cleaning always charge more for a first clean.

Once you have the windows up to scratch then expect to use about 15 litres per house.

[williamx]

Try reading thought this site http://www.window-tools.com/commercial.htm