[Pro-Smart]

Hi - new to the Forum...

I started a window cleaning business a year ago and have grown it to £3k per month, plus connie roofs, fascias/soffits and one-off cleans on top. I have always charged premium prices so I have quite a bit of capacity left in a working month.

Therefore, I have been considering expanding the services on offer to include driveway/patio cleaning with a professional pressure washer and accessories - the idea being to become an "exterior cleaning specialist". By the time I have bought the kit, done some training, enhanced the website, amended my van signage etc. etc., the investment will be somewhere in the region of £3k+.

My question is; has anybody else gone ahead to expand their window cleaning business in a similar way and if so, what was their experience, was it worth it, what sort of fees can you charge, is it a profitable business etc?

Interested in your thoughts!  

[Window Washers]

i found it shifted my focus in the wrong way.

was like a kid with a new toy till the novelty wore off, if im honest

[PAUL ERITH]

This is some thing im looking to do next year aswell, got to do some research on courses, prices & equipment ect

already got the web addresses though  

Paul

www.erithpressurewashing.co.uk
www.erithpressurewashing.com

[Window Washers]

This is some thing im looking to do next year aswell, got to do some research on courses, prices & equipment ect

already got the web addresses though  

Paul

www.erithpressurewashing.co.uk
www.erithpressurewashing.com

you need a bigger van then

[easy clean]

Exactly the same as for me, the only difference is Ian prob didn't spend 30k on everything like I did!!!!!!

Concentrate on windows is my advice.

[PAUL ERITH]

Already looking at that can't decide on which one to get plus im also looking at having the pressure washing kit set up in a box trailer.

New shape ford transit, vivaro, dispach or new vauxhall combo with1000kg payload

Paul

[easy clean]

Save your money, if not then I've got everything you need that's hardly been used, I'd love to sell it to you to try and get my money back! No one wants it around here, too many pikeys doing it and you won't get a big enough return on investment

[Michael Peterson]

its horrible hard dirty work ! windows are much better

[wightsurf]

It is messy and I only bought the equipment because a very large contract
I have wanted it done and didn't like the idea of the competition getting in on it.
Now I have the washer I aol push for more work but I won't be doing it ,that's nippers job   

[Tony Edwards]

Save your money, if not then I've got everything you need that's hardly been used, I'd love to sell it to you to try and get my money back! No one wants it around here, too many pikeys doing it and you won't get a big enough return on investment

Easyclean

What you got for sale mate ?

cheers

[Window Washers]

its horrible hard dirty work ! windows are much better

dirty, would not really say hard at all

[easy clean]

I've got an 11 plate transit (rwd) 2.4, 1500 kg payload with 5,000 miles on it and equipment that has only been used about 5 times.
15 lpm 250 bar delta pressure washer
Mosmatic surface cleaner with recovery
7 kw Honda generator
Omnipole wet vac 4200 watt
And all the stuff to go with it, hoses feed hoses, reservoir bin, 2 tanks in van, lances, nozzles everything really to do the job.

[Pro-Smart]

Well, several months on - spring/summer season anyway - and I can report that I went ahead with the pressure washing and sealing add on. It paid for itself in approx 6 weeks and added some excellent business during the spring and summer. It meant that I had some 6 day weeks but when it's your own business it doesn't seem like work at all - only extra bunce!

I wouldn't recommend that it is your only source of income as business soon drops off in autumn/winter. But it's an excellent add-on to window and conservatory cleaning and really profitable...

[telfordwindowclnr]

Well, several months on - spring/summer season anyway - and I can report that I went ahead with the pressure washing and sealing add on. It paid for itself in approx 6 weeks and added some excellent business during the spring and summer. It meant that I had some 6 day weeks but when it's your own business it doesn't seem like work at all - only extra bunce!

I wouldn't recommend that it is your only source of income as business soon drops off in autumn/winter. But it's an excellent add-on to window and conservatory cleaning and really profitable...

Nice one mate!  We do it all as well.  I'm not sure why people think you get so filthy or why it is not profitable.  They must have been doing it wrong.  I often do more in a month on driveways during the summer as I do on windows.  My All Around website shows you what we do on that front.

[Caleb Morley]

Hi mate,

I'm also interested in expanding my business by doing pressure washing. thinking of offering it on weekends only.

Can you email me the kit your bought and the approx investment?

Thanks,

Caleb

info@lionsoflondon.co.uk

07935 382 279

[Pro-Smart]

Hi Kay,

Have just sent you details on the kit I bought....

Good luck,

Kev

[pdale]

I think it's well worth it. You've already got a customer base to work from and it's something you can do when it rains.

I was always being asked when I was window cleaning myself, bought a pressure washer but never really pushed it. If I was to ever to go back to window cleaning for myself it's something I'd seriously consider.

[Tom-01]

I think it's well worth it. You've already got a customer base to work from and it's something you can do when it rains.

I was always being asked when I was window cleaning myself, bought a pressure washer but never really pushed it. If I was to ever to go back to window cleaning for myself it's something I'd seriously consider.

Definitely agree. We have a good base of regular window cleaning work and a lot of our customers use us once a year for their gutters and once a year for their driveway/patio. Eg I have one smallish house windows are £30 every month, thats £360 a year. So far so good. Every summer we clean their patio for £280. Thats £640 a year with windows. And every winter all gutters cleaned, fascias etc and conservatory roof for £350. So from an original £360 per year that one customer is now worth £990 - who said its not profitable?

[H20cleaning]

To put it bluntly... Time consuming, dirty, cold, wet, sand in your eyes.
Its either one or the other unless you plan on hiring someone to do the full pressure washing then it would do well.

[Pro-Smart]

To put it bluntly... Time consuming, dirty, cold, wet, sand in your eyes.
Its either one or the other unless you plan on hiring someone to do the full pressure washing then it would do well.

Well it's nothing a hot shower wouldn't put right and with £400-£600 per day often achieved it's definitely worth getting dirty for... But each to their own I guess...

"Sand in eyes" - would recommend anyone contemplating pressure washing to ALWAYS wear protective goggles and ear defenders. Some of that stuff comes back up at you at a zillion mph!