[Craig downey]

Hi all, i am finally jumping in and getting going with a window cleaning business.. 

I have been thinking about it for ages and finally decided to give it a try.  I am going to get a trolley set up with RO into an ibc tank in my garage and just take 25ltr barrels out to get started with.

I have been looking at the Pure freedom and also x line trolley, apart form the price i guess they are about the same really.  So my main question is regarding poles, any recommendations what pole and brush to use?

both the 2 companies i mentioned have different brushes so if you could recommend one of theirs it would be good.. i have also been told by a friend to look at the gardener CL X27.. this looks nice but a bit pricey??

I want smomething that i can use to get me started to test the water and will last me into the future when decide to upgrade my kit  I am going to be looking at normal domestic properties. up to 3 stories

Thanks in advance for any help

Craig

P.s If anybody has a set up for sale i could also be interested...

[nathankaye]

Hi craig, theres plenty of advice on here esp if use the search tool above. As many come on here for this advice.

You will come across the same advice, mostly dont waste your time on a trolley system, many (like u suggested) end up upgrading onto a van system either diy or van kitted.
The advice about the pole is spot on. The gardner pole is a carbon pole and be a good all rounder for you. Fibre glass is cheaper and hybrid a fraction more but less than a carbon pole, but that extra in price pays for itself in the effort excerted in cleaning that it saves.

But check out the many threads on here giving advice on this very subject and all the best in your new venture

[Craig downey]

Thanks, didn't realise there was a search feature will have a look at that.

I'm thinking a trolley will do me for quite some time apart from the barrels running out and needing changing I cany see the problem with using one, and as I have read already you can eventually "mount" the trolley in the van and attach it to a van tank and crack on like that.. I have another business I run out of my van at the moment so having a a full on van system isn't really an option

[nathankaye]

Pending the trolley system, yes you can adapt later into a van system if required. Or alternatively if using a diy system (pending tap tds, filter water into an ibc tank in storage and transfer water into tank in van. Minimizing van space taken uo with an upright tank.

I switched from traditional cleaning of 14 yrs last yr to wfp. I too was considering using trolley for upstairs and trad downstairs and later adapt to van system. I was adviced by many to skip this procedure as many end up doing tank in van. For me it paid off taking that advice. Because to be honest, i fills me with dread messing around refilling trolley.
Today i also have a trolley for some jobs which are too awkward to park etc. Trolley is great (gardiner back pack system) and using a valve tap, i can clean 3 -4 houses before it gets filled, thats full houses.
  I use a fiat scudo and also pressure wash. My reel n brushes come out and my 500ltr upright tank stays in van and i still have space for p/washer.

But if wanting to start cheap whilst this side of business grows, then diy the gardiner back pack, a carbon pole and a pure freedom ro system into an ibc tank or double di vessel pending your tap tds.

[jk999]

Question for you have you ever cleaned windows before if not whats making you start a window round

[Craig downey]

Question for you have you ever cleaned windows before if not whats making you start a window round

I did 1 day working with a friend who has his own business.  I currently own and run a gardening maintenance business, however this stops December and doesn't really start properly until March.  I hate the stress of finishing for the winter and worrying about money every single year. Having seen a few of my friends running their own wondow business and not worrying about winter (or weather as a whole) I just want a business I can get stuck into 12 months of the year and really build up

[Craig downey]

Pending the trolley system, yes you can adapt later into a van system if required. Or alternatively if using a diy system (pending tap tds, filter water into an ibc tank in storage and transfer water into tank in van. Minimizing van space taken uo with an upright tank.

I have looked at getting a lay flat tank, I currently have a false floor in the van so a false floor could potentially go unter that without causing to many issues... I just think having the trolley and literally everything can come out of the van when not in use would be a lot easier?

[tlwcs]

Question for you have you ever cleaned windows before if not whats making you start a window round

I did 1 day working with a friend who has his own business.  I currently own and run a gardening maintenance business, however this stops December and doesn't really start properly until March.  I hate the stress of finishing for the winter and worrying about money every single year. Having seen a few of my friends running their own wondow business and not worrying about winter (or weather as a whole) I just want a business I can get stuck into 12 months of the year and really build up

If you service customers regularly (lawn mowing?) over 9 months why don't you take their yearly spend and divide it by 12 and get them to dd that figure every month. This irons out the 3 winter months to give you an income all year round.

[Craig downey]

Question for you have you ever cleaned windows before if not whats making you start a window round

I did 1 day working with a friend who has his own business.  I currently own and run a gardening maintenance business, however this stops December and doesn't really start properly until March.  I hate the stress of finishing for the winter and worrying about money every single year. Having seen a few of my friends running their own wondow business and not worrying about winter (or weather as a whole) I just want a business I can get stuck into 12 months of the year and really build up

If you service customers regularly (lawn mowing?) over 9 months why don't you take their yearly spend and divide it by 12 and get them to dd that figure every month. This irons out the 3 winter months to give you an income all year round.

I have a few that do that but it's not as easy as that.  If you get rained off etc

Anyway do you have any hints regarding my question poles/brushes etc

[nathankaye]

The DD option is easier than u think, they pay monthly say at the end of the month. So if you get rained off one day, go the next if ur schedule allows. As im sure already do

[Craig downey]

The DD option is easier than u think, they pay monthly say at the end of the month. So if you get rained off one day, go the next if ur schedule allows. As im sure already do

As I  said I already do it with some of my customers, I take monthly standing order and also use gocardless.... but with all respect I am asking about starting  up window cleaning not advise on how to run my current business

[Craig downey]

Also think about the maths.. can you afford to have 3 months a year off? So yes cash flow might not be an issue if all my customers paid over 12 monthly payments however the actual amount of money taken wouldn't be enough to live off, so I don't just need to spread my money out over 12 months, I need to be working over 12 months

[jk999]

If i was starting a business now i wouldnt start up window cleaning because there is a lot out there cleaning and its not that easy to build up a round ,get some more experience with your mates in the winter months and if you still like what you see then go for it but i would buy a ready made round

[sunshine windows]

X-line brushes have a fairly good reputation.

I'd avoid the Purefreedom brush if they're still using Vikans, as they're fairly heavy in comparison to some others.

Take a look at the gardiner website for their range of poles and brushes. You won't go wrong with anything they supply.

Good luck with it.

[Craig downey]

X-line brushes have a fairly good reputation.

I'd avoid the Purefreedom brush if they're still using Vikans, as they're fairly heavy in comparison to some others.

Take a look at the gardiner website for their range of poles and brushes. You won't go wrong with anything they supply.

Good luck with it.

Thanks

[Arnold Palmer]

Where are you based?

[W.booler]

Cheshire

[SeanK]

Window cleaning is an all year job, if your looking for a winter add on maybe fascia/ gutter cleaning would be a better
option.
For this all you need is a decent pole and a hose to connect to the customers tap.

[Craig downey]

Where are you based?

Liverpool

[Craig downey]

Window cleaning is an all year job, if your looking for a winter add on maybe fascia/ gutter cleaning would be a better
option.
For this all you need is a decent pole and a hose to connect to the customers tap.

No, I'm looking at starting it now to get me through winter, however I would be continuing and eventually if the round build up I would fade out the gardening side and let windows cleaning take over. I already have a sky vac and have been using this for about 2 years now, so setting up a new business with both Windows and gutter cleaning would be a good start