[Dry Clean]

Does that mean Dry Clean isnt getting any of the leftover yorkies? 

Worse that that, its means I will only be getting a lump of coal from Santa next year.

[Marc Stock]

, Yey to all mankind !

I will be watching to see how you do though Marc , all the best mate , i may well have to do the same , or employ again soon , which way i go is gonna be a poop or bust job 

Well this is it isnt it.

At the end of the day once i have enough work to pay someone a wage to do the physical work, it frees up my time to consider other business avenues.

To have a few window cleaning vans going isnt just what im looking at. The idea is to get the business ticking over making a small profit and also start something else and then something else etc.  All run by Bramar Ltd under various trading names appropriate to each type of business.

So StockClean will be cleaning related stuff.

I might buy some burger vans and have Bramar Ltd trading as the munch shack or whatever.

Im also interested in buying and selling motorcycles..again using a trading name through Bramar Ltd.

Or i might just call it Bramar window cleaning and Bramar burgers etc..

Who knows.  The point is i am near the end of window cleaning and this is my last push to make it work so i can do other ventures. If not ill sell up and forget the window cleaning and do those other things

[Dry Clean]

, Yey to all mankind !

I will be watching to see how you do though Marc , all the best mate , i may well have to do the same , or employ again soon , which way i go is gonna be a poop or bust job 

Well this is it isnt it.

At the end of the day once i have enough work to pay someone a wage to do the physical work, it frees up my time to consider other business avenues.

To have a few window cleaning vans going isnt just what im looking at. The idea is to get the business ticking over making a small profit and also start something else and then something else etc.  All run by Bramar Ltd under various trading names appropriate to each type of business.

So StockClean will be cleaning related stuff.

I might buy some burger vans and have Bramar Ltd trading as the munch shack or whatever.

Im also interested in buying and selling motorcycles..again using a trading name through Bramar Ltd.

Or i might just call it Bramar window cleaning and Bramar burgers etc..

Who knows.  The point is i am near the end of window cleaning and this is my last push to make it work so i can do other ventures. If not ill sell up and forget the window cleaning and do those other things

Marc your overestimating how much extra money one employee will get you and underestimating what overloading yourself
with work will do to your moral and even health.
You would be better to up your workload now to an acceptable level and then put the extra cash into property or similar.

[Tom-01]

, Yey to all mankind !

I will be watching to see how you do though Marc , all the best mate , i may well have to do the same , or employ again soon , which way i go is gonna be a poop or bust job 

Well this is it isnt it.

At the end of the day once i have enough work to pay someone a wage to do the physical work, it frees up my time to consider other business avenues.

To have a few window cleaning vans going isnt just what im looking at. The idea is to get the business ticking over making a small profit and also start something else and then something else etc.  All run by Bramar Ltd under various trading names appropriate to each type of business.

So StockClean will be cleaning related stuff.

I might buy some burger vans and have Bramar Ltd trading as the munch shack or whatever.

Im also interested in buying and selling motorcycles..again using a trading name through Bramar Ltd.

Or i might just call it Bramar window cleaning and Bramar burgers etc..

Who knows.  The point is i am near the end of window cleaning and this is my last push to make it work so i can do other ventures. If not ill sell up and forget the window cleaning and do those other things

What happens on a Tuesday morning when your employed window cleaner calls in sick and is likely to be off for a couple of days.. the burger munch guy has split up with his Missus so needs time off and you have a viewing arranged for 10:30 that morning for the Ducati?

Yes its a bit OTT, however at the moment you are sick of window cleaning but have a 15 month plan to double its output, also thinking of multiple other businesses (nothing wrong with various revenue streams) but have already tried engineering which didn't work so went back to window cleaning...

A bit of clarity and a lot of focus are needed really and you need to learn to enjoy your window cleaning for it to be able to progress, otherwise always in the back of your mind is the thought of 'oh well if it doesn't work I'll jack it in again'.

It's good to get your brand sorted, but get it done asap and concentrate on getting the work in - but you need to enjoy it!

[Marc Stock]

Good points. All valid.

Well hopefully i will get some joy back with the window cleaning. And all good scenarios tom. 

I am for the time being just concentrating on the window cleaning. That is my main focus now for 15months I have to say i am getting some joy back by being more...active in growing the business..it is interesting how just deciding to push forward how it seems to motivate you and renew your joy.

But i am always looking for new challenges and in a way everything in my plan is a new challenge.

Dry Clean...you know you do have valid points to make and that is a good example of a good opinion so i thank you for that.

Re: the engineering,. Its going ok but thats a long long road in investment in machines and well...its paying for itself..just. but thats really my father's thing. We were hoping to work together, and we still  do..But we need another 100k in investment for machines and that sort of money takes time to get as we are not borrowing money for.it


 

[Stoots]

, Yey to all mankind !

I will be watching to see how you do though Marc , all the best mate , i may well have to do the same , or employ again soon , which way i go is gonna be a poop or bust job 

Well this is it isnt it.

At the end of the day once i have enough work to pay someone a wage to do the physical work, it frees up my time to consider other business avenues.

To have a few window cleaning vans going isnt just what im looking at. The idea is to get the business ticking over making a small profit and also start something else and then something else etc.  All run by Bramar Ltd under various trading names appropriate to each type of business.

So StockClean will be cleaning related stuff.

I might buy some burger vans and have Bramar Ltd trading as the munch shack or whatever.

Im also interested in buying and selling motorcycles..again using a trading name through Bramar Ltd.

Or i might just call it Bramar window cleaning and Bramar burgers etc..

Who knows.  The point is i am near the end of window cleaning and this is my last push to make it work so i can do other ventures. If not ill sell up and forget the window cleaning and do those other things

This is a good post mark, and the reason I want to grow a bit.

I don't think I want a massive window business, I think it would be a logistical nightmare managing thousands of customers with payments etc. It can be frustrating as a sole trader with 300 custys , to have thousands must be really hard work.

The vat threshold with a couple of employees would suffice, there's more things out there than window cleaning and it would be good to explore other business ideas.

Having said that I might decide to grow a larger business than that.

I don't like to think too far ahead, next step is vat threshold then look at it again and go for the next target whatever that may be.

[Marc Stock]

Bit by bit.

Small targets. Its tempting to think ill do this then that and then from that ill have all this to do that with etc.

Head runs away with itself. Often for me.

You know i have beaten depression, survived bankruptcy, built up a window cleaning business from.scratch twice...

So. Im not that much of a wet blanket 

[֍Winp®oClean֍]

Out of interest.. what bike do you ride?

[Dry Clean]

Good points. All valid.

Well hopefully i will get some joy back with the window cleaning. And all good scenarios tom. 

I am for the time being just concentrating on the window cleaning. That is my main focus now for 15months I have to say i am getting some joy back by being more...active in growing the business..it is interesting how just deciding to push forward how it seems to motivate you and renew your joy.

But i am always looking for new challenges and in a way everything in my plan is a new challenge.

Dry Clean...you know you do have valid points to make and that is a good example of a good opinion so i thank you for that.

Re: the engineering,. Its going ok but thats a long long road in investment in machines and well...its paying for itself..just. but thats really my father's thing. We were hoping to work together, and we still  do..But we need another 100k in investment for machines and that sort of money takes time to get as we are not borrowing money for.it

Was almost 30 years in the engineering game, are you into the sheet metal work side of things or is it more to do with CNC machining, lathes, mills, drilling machines and so on ?
Your right about the starting up costs, the price of the eqipment is scary.

[Marc Stock]

Predominantly CNC milling on HAAS machine centres. And turning on our automated bar fed lathes.

We can also do multi axis, 3D,  and high quantity manufacturing, we mill anything from aircraft grade Stainless Steel billet and Aluminium and specialise specifically in carbon fiber machining and titanium.

Whats annoying is there are engineering companies charging £25 an hour for this sort of work.. its very frustrating

[Marc Stock]

Out of interest.. what bike do you ride?

Nothing special at the moment. Im on my CBT i have a 125cc lexmoto venom to get some no claims bonus on L plates.  Done 3k miles on it now though and bought it in July after passing my CBT.

Got my theory test in January and will be doing my direct acess as soon as possible after that.

As far as bikes go once i pass, im looking at Either a GSX 650F or an SV650s or a VFR 750/ 800 something like that.

Dream bike? MV Augusta F3 800

[P @ F]

FS1E for me every time 

[P @ F]

Gotta have a micron zorst though , and a rebore to 65 

[Marc Stock]

Tell you what..they go for silly money if you  find a good one.

[P @ F]

My mate had an absolute minter back in the day , all powder coated , the rebore and micron , would like to have that now !

I had a TS50X with bent out redes or whatever they were called , I was well happy to yomp along at 43 until my grin was wiped off my face as he pi55ed past at 58+ , I'm chucklin right now     

[֍Winp®oClean֍]

Out of interest.. what bike do you ride?

Nothing special at the moment. Im on my CBT i have a 125cc lexmoto venom to get some no claims bonus on L plates.  Done 3k miles on it now though and bought it in July after passing my CBT.

Got my theory test in January and will be doing my direct acess as soon as possible after that.

As far as bikes go once i pass, im looking at Either a GSX 650F or an SV650s or a VFR 750/ 800 something like that.

Dream bike? MV Augusta F3 800

You can have a lot of fun on a 125. I had a brand new SV650s when they first came out- ok for the price and for pottering but the build budget shows when you push it, also a bit limp compared to an inline 4. VFR would be a better introduction to something bigger IMO.
I've had literally allsorts over the years, used to compete in my late teens/early twenties but eventually injuries and economics put an end to that.
I'm currently looking for an old-school stoker, RGV, TZR, RS250 etc but keep changing my mind and going the other way to a trail/enduro!!

P&F- Those were the days.. AR50 with 80 kit on + micron pipe, racing reeds etc!! LOL

[P @ F]

Our mate had the AR50 but would never spend his money on the 80 upgrade , I wonder how much time we wasted waiting for him !
Another had the DT50 , he spent most of his time pushing that badboy 

[Johnny B]

I had a brand new Honda CB50J back in '79 when I was a teenager. It looked 'sporty' but it was so slow it was scary! Got rear ended on it when pulling away at the lights!

John

[Marc Stock]

Yeah you know i have always wanted a motorcycle. Mum and dad prevented me from getting one 3 times throughout my life.

37 years old on a 125cc bike on L plates its hilarious really. Feel like a teenager again.

Whats really suprised me is how friendly the motorcycle community are. Really very enjoyable, plus the feeling you get even on a 125 is just awesome.  Tell you what its made me a much better driver, and the 1st time you get on a motorbike 30 mph feels like 90mph.

[֍Winp®oClean֍]

See which ones I can recall

MT5, MTX50, MBX50,SS-50
DT50, RD50, FS1E,
TS50ER, X1-50, RG50(rare),AP50
AR50, KE50......