[supernova77]

I enjoy running my own business.

I know someone who was employed and worked for the same company for 30 years... They were made redundant on the 23rd December 2011 and told not to come back in... They only got a pay off enough to keep them going for 3 months!

Look after yourself, thats what I say!

Andy

[Roy Cauldery]

Loving the ipod Vince- me too!! total freedom

[LT carpet cleaning]

I window cleaned til the age 0f 38, then decided enough is enough and entered the IT industry.Wish I had decided that at 28! I train Pilots, quality professionals, Lab technicians etc.

Now have a job I love that takes me all round the world.

Would certainly never be ashamed of having been a wc though.

[DeLuce]

yeah, quite happy being a W/C, and can keep earning into old age if necessary. It's flexible and little hassle.
 Better than milking cows which I did for 17yrs, twelve days on 2 days off, up at 5.30, long days for £6pr hr which was the most I got and that was 6yrs ago 

[easy clean]

I was a mobile crane engineer, used to earn fantastic money but it was 7 days and long hours even tho a lot of the time we wasn't doing much we still jad to be there. At least with this I have so much time on my hands!

[roundbuilder]

Easy , how many vans you got on the road mate to be able to not work have to work and be able to drive the flash motor you drive??

[Klean07]

I'll be working untill I drop dead. So I could still be wc when I'm 80!! Poles will be like feathers then hopefully!!

[easy clean]

Mick I run 3 vans but 1 is mainly for pressure washing and conservatories, the other 2 are flat out constantly. The main thing is my guys that work for me really are good and that's the biggest challenge.......getting the right staff, then keeping them! It doesn't happen over night, I've been through my fair share of idiots!!!

[roundbuilder]

Fair play to you. i remember when you showed me all your wfp gear when i wanted to start up 5 odd years ago which was a great help. I have now got 2 vans on road but a long way to go to catch you up..ill get there though. may even buy a flasher ferrari than you 1 day........doubt it but will try.

[John F]

i hope so.

[frankwii]

I have two jobs at the moment -
 
job1 -site manager / school maintenance / dogs body
pay  - £14hr

pros:
cake and crumbs left over at end of day

cons:

lots of red tape and b****ks and grief from staff
unblocking toilets with alien toys in them  - use your
writing reports to cover the previous report

Job2 - Window Cleaner / bussiness owner
pay - £30+ hr


pros: clean windows - how hard can that be
teas and fresh cakes - and yes they are fresh
happy people
the occasional police being called when you are cleaning the window s

cons:
not enough time to canvass as i'm to busy with jobs
not seeing the kinds in the evening due to job one

i think i know which way and where i be going in a few months

where else can you earn  a decent living with out the hassle and stress


 

[andrew tapsell]

defintely till i die. i love it dont get me wrong it has its pitfalls. i used to be a builder and compared to that its spot on .   
coming home with cement and sand on your skin and hair always dirty
clothes always mucky
not getting paid sometimes
dirty van
sore hands
little respect
worrying about getting work
hassel over people not turning up
i could go on. all i have to worry about is myself getting the work done most of custys stump up the cash on the day or over a few days by post . if any problem with custys dump them and get two new ones. simple

[petemg]

hi ya :)i am unemployable at 58, no other job will let me climb ladders cos of the HSE , its a  trad window cleaners life for me,AND PROUD OF IT

[hank jr]

well what can i say, apart from thanks everyone for sharing your views. its well appreciated

[bobby p]

I enjoy running my own business.

I know someone who was employed and worked for the same company for 30 years... They were made redundant on the 23rd December 2011 and told not to come back in... They only got a pay off enough to keep them going for 3 months!

Look after yourself, thats what I say!

Andy

im never the slightest bit sorry for anybody made redundant after a very long time, theyve had decades of the good times,so itd be wrong to coast into retirement without a dose of the bad

[steve rix]

Depends how you see yourself. Sure I'm a window cleaner but I own a company that in 5 years has gone from nothing to employing 7, soon to be 9 people. With wives and kids thats quite a few people depend on me/us for a living and I,m quite proud of that.

[dave f]

ive had tow stints at window cleaning, packed it in in the 80s had few mundane jobs then back doing the windows its great being your own boss again takes a lot of balls to to know your on yer own not relying on some one else, im 50 plan to be doing this no mater what

[John F]

ive had tow stints at window cleaning, packed it in in the 80s had few mundane jobs then back doing the windows its great being your own boss again takes a lot of balls to to know your on yer own not relying on some one else, im 50 plan to be doing this no mater what

good post. good attitude.

[Ian Rochester]

The beauty of window cleaning is that you have lots of little eggs in lots of baskets, so you are pretty much recession proof.

Customers are generally quite loyal and will not drop you if you're doing a decent job.

[Paul Coleman]

I did all sorts before I started window cleaning in 1991.
Builders' labourer, bakery hand, kitchen porter, printer's assistant, multi-drop driver, nursing assistant, advertising merchandiser.  Quite a variety there - though the print work lasted the longest (13 years).  I liked the advertising job too bombing around the southeast in someone else's van and only seeing a boss about two or three times in a year.  That was what gave me the first clue that perhaps self-employment was for me.  Nevertheless, when that job folded, I went on the dole while looking for work (the job market was very difficult then too).  I started window cleaning out of desperation really.  I had a Datsun Cherry hatchback that was on its last wheels so, with the last of my money, I bought a few tools.  Even the ladder was borrowed.  I knocked doors from zero turnover.  I only intended to do it until I got a "proper" job.  20 years later, I'm still at it.  It was getting very stale though but 6 years ago, WFP gave me a new lease of life.  Happy to do this until I retire.
The beauty of window cleaning, especially if you use WFP, is that you can earn something reasonably decent even if you do it part-time and study on your time off.