[dazmond]

so lads have you got enough work?,too much work? or still building up?

do you constant strive to improve your profitablity,canvass,leaflet etc?

i think ive reached a plateau in my business where i have enough work and some good paying accounts but not too much where this window cleaning is getting me down because of the sheer drudgery day in/day out!!

3 years ago my round was very different.i was still on ladders and earning £10,000-£12,000 less a year working longer and harder than i do now!!

ive rested on my laurels this year a bit and the excitement of wfp has subsided.

i even groan at times when i get a new job!!

ive noticed ive not picked up much work this year compared to previous years.less add ons and lots more competition but im content!!

so where are you with your business and are you comfortable?or always restless and striving for more??


best wishes to you all


dazmond

[Mike55]

Good post Daz....

I think we probably all go through spells where we get content and lose a bit of drive.

I find a good holiday usually does the trick - or a new bit of equipment :-)

But at the end of the day cleaning windows is cleaning windows....not particularly exciting.....would rather have been sticking a few in at Wembley last night for a living!

[Mike #1]

I am happy with the day to day stuff I have become more organised with using Aworka to track my work and take the headache out of the accounting side of things.

But I am wanting to push my business more to increase my income even though I will be taxed to death.

I would like to earn 50% more than I am now mainly because things are becoming more expensive and wife wants to move which means bigger mortgage for more years . Mike

[robertphil]

 im comfey with it right now,,, but who knows whats around the corner eh

iv only been cleaning windows 5yrs and only a year and a half with employees and you never know what their plans are .
At this moment ive 4 partimers workers on the books and as the round is somewhere near chocka block ive been trimming a few unpleasant customers from the list recently .

im also planning my first proper Xmas holiday in years since i got this up and running

[Dean Taberner]

I don't like windows anymore.

Dean

[gavinb]

I love cleaning windows , but hate building my round up going through all
The messers to build a refined round .
I would of had at least double the amount I have now but I know I will get paid now
From the ones I do have left .

[jimiwindows]

too much work phone keeps ringing. need more work phone don't ring. sods law

[David lyddon]

Been cleaning windows 25 years,in my area there were about 4 window cleaners
now there must be 30 and a few scallies to.
this game is getting harder, we just have to try harder i suppose.
regards dave

[benny donnelly]

I am fairly new to the game and am still at the building phase, weeding out bad payers/messers etc, but im getting there slowly but surely, there is quite a few WCers around but my opinion is there is plenty of windows about for everyone 

I really enjoy the work tbh, I worked the past 10 years doing the 9-5 slog and man did i come to hate it, so being my own boss now, deciding when i work, how much i pay myself, days off when i please and having to answer to no-one, just jump in the van do my days work then come home its not to far off a millionaires lifestyle for me, just the lifestyle now not the money though 

[Mist A Bit]

im very happy with my work at moment, got enough window cleaning work for the months but do a bit of leafleting now and then to improve things. getting more gutter jobs now that got gutter vac . enquireies still coming in at a managable pase. improving equipment all the time. stopped smoking so all good. i was trad 3 years ago moved to wfp and set up a small system in my rusty escort van, now running a 800ltr hot system and have a 40ft reach on gutter vac. Been the best 3years for making progress and its all because i got rid of my ex who would of dragged me into the gutter.
 I find a supportive lady works well and not someone who destroyes everything u try and build.

steve

[Klean07]

I've been wc for over 25 years and still enjoy it! I still love the buzz of getting new business and the satisfaction of crossing off the wasters etc!

[Johnny B]

I am 15  months into building my run from scratch in the emerald isle.

I have to say that, mainly due to the economic situation here (frankly it's in the bog), it has been very tough going, and at times I have struggled to keep motivated, but have grafted on through sheer determination and the fact that failure is not an option, as at the age of 50, I have no chance of getting employment here.

However, with 323 customers (approx 70% are regulars and the other are 'occasionals') on the books at the moment, I am finally beginning to make a living from it.

I am not comfortable yet, but I will be once I have a refined run of 500 customers.

John   

[Ronnie Bryce]

Business is on the decline for me, very slowly, but I can see it every week almost. Customer's I have had for over a dozen year's are just simply canceling. Most say they are going to do it themselves. It is a sign of the times and believe me, I do not charge much in comparison to what is reported by some on here.

Last week I put up nine custies by one pound, four have cancelled. People are without doubt watching what they spend.

My worry for the future of my business is the age of my clientele, most are 60 plus and with reported dwindling pension's, not many new custies are coming on board.  

There is nowt I can do. I accept window cleaning is changing and that it may not be what people now accept as the normal thing to have. Younger custies, generally are a pain, older custies are watching the pennies.

I still make a reasonable living. In just a few year's time, I wont. Most of us wont either, at least not from glass washing. This is my perception and many will disagree. It is what I believe for better or worse though.

[james peters]

yes happy...
20yrs wc and 7 wfp......although I am now looking to the future......as I get older...
the good thing is  all about what you put in.....rthe harderyou put in the more it groes....

at the moment I am happy building slowly.......what I have noticed of late is that most new custies are wanting 8 weekly.....
I am fine with this....
this year I havnt pushed much......
but next year I am gonna build.

[bobplum]

i am now at the stage were i employ,probably part time or shrink a little and do say 4 days a week and have enough to live on and get the work/life balance.
I must admit this week i have been really down,not had a holiday in 5 years,350 customers to get thru mostly on my own,cant find an employee and its starting to take its toll.(occasionally my daughter helps but she is in uni training as a nurse so dont want to burden her)
Today,sunday i will be sitting down with the wife and a final decision will be made as to what i will do,expand/employ or SELL,so watch this space for some rounds going in chester ..........Richys eyes will be lighting up now

[Small but perfectley formed]

I would like more bigger residential jobs ones that are £25 plus also more wet work , had some nice rain jobs but these are now gone to the nationals

[Tony Edwards]

Been going just 4 months now, but building a good solid customer base. Targeting the top end stuff  £1m+.

Harder to get but great when you do. My average custy is £28 a month. Some £20 others £50 0r £60

Getting lots of extra work connys, fascias etc. So although my customer base is small, the weekly earnings are boosted massively by the extras.

I love every day working