[p1w1]

I am 56 still jumping over gates dog poop gardens non payers  e t c if I were to sell up it would have to  be all or nothing . so no turning back

No offence.. it not nice when you feel like this about work, but it sounds to me you need to sort your round out a bit and refine.
Dont jump over gates anymore (text the customer the night before for access, if they dont do it then tell them you cant clean for them anymore.)
Dog poop issue, under no circumstances will i clean at a property that has dog poop lying around. If i clean a front and then go round the back to find dog poo i wont clean it but i will still charge full price. Again let the customer know this is unacceptable offer to text before hand or dump.
Bad payers, be straight with them, tell them payments need to be on time or inform consistent late payers they need to pay by direct debt else you can't clean for them anymore. GoCardless is very easy to set up.
Thats those 3 issues sorted.
i know its easy to just type it out on a forum what changes to make, in reality it does take a bit of time, but seriously mate if these are the things getting you down then change how you work and what you're prepared to put up with.

[Lee Pryor]

or spend the next year or so growing, get another van preferably with a bigger tank, put 1 worker in each van, get off the cleaning yourself and spend the time refining your business, getting rid of bad payers ect. All of 18 months effort could transform your business into one with less problems and you not being the one that generates the money.  You could easilly stay under the vat level, pay the 2 guys 20k each and still earn 30-35k yourself and not have to clean anymore.

[Plankton]

Oh by the way you now owe Lee £450+vat for the info

As windowswashed said look at what's out there, the hours "they" want you to work and the rate of pay and you'll more than likely change your mind. For all I know you could be very good at something else but if it's down to dog crap then ditch the customer, personally I can't be bothered with texting customers day before so I would ditch them as well.

[AuRavelling79]

I'll shoot from the hip too.

This time of the year we're a week away from the clocks going back and winter approaching. It's a bit gloomy, dank and drizzly and I want to forget window cleaning, but what else is there that will pay £30/£40 per hour?

But I find the Daz's and Nathan's of this world encouraging and want to have their positive attitude. So ...

I'm 58 and climb gates with a small ladder. Bit of exercise see?
I will put up prices from time to time.
I can save dosh/have a break/take a day off when like.

I won't do dog crap houses.
I won't text beforehand.
I wont put up with bad payers/not today's/it might rain/it's too drizzly/come back in spring types.
I will not go back to any customer that puts a knot in my stomach - as in I feel uneasy to go there.
I do cull untrainable customers usually after a strike or two, but I reserve the right to flounce immediately.

I have a bit too much work and so can drop any developing dross to improve the average.
I do count my blessings.
I do "only" 6 hour days. (I might do 7 or 8 if it means I can take the next day off)
I usually average 4 days a week. Rarely more. Maybe less.

I only do "one offs" if the price is good and I'm in the mood.

....

Hobbies and interests. I use spare time on these.

This year I have done nothing major but here's a few little treats I have given myself/family.

January - Day out to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with my bro, my nephew and my son-in-law.
February - Long weekend to Budapest with Mrs. Gold
March - Visited the West Somerset Heritage Railway and had lunch in Watchet with Mrs Gold.
April - Down our (23 year old) caravan for a weekend in Devon
May - Day out for a pub lunch - cycling out from Bath to Wellow in Somerset with my bro and our wives and my daughter.
June - Caravan and drove to Cornwall for a day.
July - Day out on the motorbikes with my other son-in-law and his dad - Monmouth - South Wales.
           Went for a day walk along Offa's dyke path with youngest daughter - bought her lunch in Tintern
August - Camping barn lake district long weekend with a group of about ten.
September - Canoeing on River Spey for 5 days
October - Back down for a day out to the Submarine museum in Portsmouth with my bro and co.

Freeeedoooooommmm!

 

[dave the rave]

Winter always sorts the wheat from the Chaff.
Dave is just looking for sympathy , in a couple of days he will be refreshed and saying he back on board with window cleaning.

[paul alan]

im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning  its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system  its a good  round  I'm just not botherd any more

Flog the lot Dave!

If you can get £20,000 for it I would suggest investing the proceeds in a 'garden grow'. Here's how it works....

Rent a JCB to excavate a decent sized hole in your back garden.
Buy shipping container to plop in the aforementioned hole.
Wire the leccy to the nearest streetlamp.
Purchase some water related equipment (hydroponics I think they're called).
Grow some TOMATO plants or mebbe CHILLI plants.
Lots of plant food, remember to flush the nutrients out before you retail no one wants it left in, staining on the glass and all that.
Find a wholesale dealer to shift your produce.

Sit back and enjoy your retirement. Simples .

.

Drawbacks might include no back garden but other than that can't see any problems.

HTH

You know too much about this kind of tomato growing

[Stoots]

The key is to not get emotionally involved.

Whatever happens day to day is just life, dont take it personally.

Keep advertising constantly so you can replace any problems.

With regards non payers, dump them straight away and take them to small claims court and sling a pot of paint down their driveway. Don't get angry just smile and chuckle to yourself as you do it.

[Slacky]

im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning  its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system  its a good  round  I'm just not botherd any more

Take a month off and wait for the bailiffs. See how your enthusiasm is then.

[G Griffin]

The key is to not get emotionally involved.

Whatever happens day to day is just life, dont take it personally.

Keep advertising constantly so you can replace any problems.

With regards non payers, dump them straight away and take them to small claims court and sling a pot of paint down their driveway. Don't get angry just smile and chuckle to yourself as you do it.

Isn't slinging a pot of paint down a driveway getting emotionally involved or taking it personally?

[dazmond]

I am 56 still jumping over gates dog poop gardens non payers  e t c if I were to sell up it would have to  be all or nothing . so no turning back

how long have you  been a shiner dave?

[Stoots]

The key is to not get emotionally involved.

Whatever happens day to day is just life, dont take it personally.

Keep advertising constantly so you can replace any problems.

With regards non payers, dump them straight away and take them to small claims court and sling a pot of paint down their driveway. Don't get angry just smile and chuckle to yourself as you do it.

Isn't slinging a pot of paint down a driveway getting emotionally involved or taking it personally?

Possibly  but no one's perfect

[jo5hm4n]

sling a pot of paint down their driveway. Don't get angry just smile and chuckle to yourself as you do it.

This is a belter of an idea.  I have an ex custard that owes me £48 and point blank refuses to pay, might just do this for halloween see how he likes it.  Might even chuck paint on the windows whilst im at it!

[rosskesava]

im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning  its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system  its a good  round  I'm just not botherd any more

If you're unhappy and if you're thinking like that, and you've thought about it, and considered your options, then sell up.

[tony day]

im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning  its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system  its a good  round  I'm just not botherd any more

I've done many trades and i have to say window cleaning is by far the worst! There is a psychological torment about window cleaning. Repetitive, Chasing money, messers, winter, rain, and the physical side of things too. IT'S A SH#T TRADE!!

[Shrek]

im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning  its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system  its a good  round  I'm just not botherd any more

I've done many trades and i have to say window cleaning is by far the worst! There is a psychological torment about window cleaning. Repetitive, Chasing money, messers, winter, rain, and the physical side of things too. IT'S A SH#T TRADE!!

A trade? I couldn’t even get a TRADE card at b&q 

[Slacky]

My other half says she couldn't do my job full time. She's the problems in cash-flow and motivation.

I have pulled my hair out with cash-flow in the past but am fortunate enough not to have to concern myself with it anymore. Motivation is an on-going concern. New toys help. I fitted a PowerUP reel last week. That helps!

[dazmond]

My other half says she couldn't do my job full time. She's the problems in cash-flow and motivation.

I have pulled my hair out with cash-flow in the past but am fortunate enough not to have to concern myself with it anymore. Motivation is an on-going concern. New toys help. I fitted a PowerUP reel last week. That helps!

I see my debt list as money in the bank.its virtually the same as it being in the bank (esp with the low interest rates at the moment).it comes in eventually.even if i didnt get paid off ANY customer for months id still be able to pay my bills comfortably but that never happens.i get paid every day here and there.some days i get virtually all my days money in(cash/cheques).

[dazmond]

im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning  its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system  its a good  round  I'm just not botherd any more

I've done many trades and i have to say window cleaning is by far the worst! There is a psychological torment about window cleaning. Repetitive, Chasing money, messers, winter, rain, and the physical side of things too. IT'S A SH#T TRADE!!

psychological torment?really?i think its the perfect "daydreamers" job.chilled out and relaxing at times.i mainly work in the peaceful leafy suburbs though or rural locations with stunning views of countryside.

yes its repetitive.so what.lots of jobs are.

chasing money is hardly much of a chore these days as my collecting is drastically reduce to around 3 hours A MONTH(it used to be around 3 hours a week at one time!)

i hardly get any messers.they ve been weeded out and dropped.

winter and rain have never bothered me.ive always worked outside all my life.i used to work outside for 10 hours a day when i worked for someone else!at least now its only 5 or 6 hours a day in the winter.

physically i find WFP window cleaning easier and more profitable than trad so not a problem plus im in much better shape with a clean lifestyle and working out in the gym 3 days a week.

[tony day]

im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning  its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system  its a good  round  I'm just not botherd any more

I've done many trades and i have to say window cleaning is by far the worst! There is a psychological torment about window cleaning. Repetitive, Chasing money, messers, winter, rain, and the physical side of things too. IT'S A SH#T TRADE!!

psychological torment?really?i think its the perfect "daydreamers" job.chilled out and relaxing at times.i mainly work in the peaceful leafy suburbs though or rural locations with stunning views of countryside.

yes its repetitive.so what.lots of jobs are.

chasing money is hardly much of a chore these days as my collecting is drastically reduce to around 3 hours A MONTH(it used to be around 3 hours a week at one time!)

i hardly get any messers.they ve been weeded out and dropped.

winter and rain have never bothered me.ive always worked outside all my life.i used to work outside for 10 hours a day when i worked for someone else!at least now its only 5 or 6 hours a day in the winter.

physically i find WFP window cleaning easier and more profitable than trad so not a problem plus im in much better shape with a clean lifestyle and working out in the gym 3 days a week.

Glad to hear that window cleaning can please the less mentally challenged!

[Stoots]

im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning  its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system  its a good  round  I'm just not botherd any more

I've done many trades and i have to say window cleaning is by far the worst! There is a psychological torment about window cleaning. Repetitive, Chasing money, messers, winter, rain, and the physical side of things too. IT'S A SH#T TRADE!!

That sums it up quite nicely. It's a mentally challenging business.

Nothing Is ever done, there's always someone who hasn't paid or someone who moves out or cancels, skips a clean etc. Rarely does it run smoothly and when you think  you are on top a week of thunderstorms throws the entire thing to pot again.

It's the ability to cope with these factors that will define how you enjoy the job. Some people can just block all the crap out and keep going regardless. Others like Dave obviously are sick of the thing.

I'm 3 years in, pretty much full and I know that my next aim is to start removing myself from window cleaning as much as poss.