[nathankaye]

So my mrs is wanting a change of scenery and isnt a fan of concrete cities. Loves the dales and my love of scotland.
So she wants me to seriously consider moving us all up to scotland. Selling my work and starting a new.
So im after a bit of advice / research from some of you guys already there.

I think someone mentioned before about needing a liscence to be a window cleaner. How does that work and whats involved?

Is it a saturated market and generally what prices can/do you charge?
(I appreciate that prices vary and vary between each window cleaner like it does here.   But a 3 bed basic semi would be between 10 n £15  and yet others may charge between £8 - £10, for instance.)

I know ive mentioned about pricing with confidence before but ive also mentioned how i would hate to start from scratch as ones starting up in areas I work for instance would only be picking up the odd ones here n there.   I know its going to be hard work but is there any other advice to take into account please.

Looking for helpful advice to take under consideration for weighing up such a move.
Not sure which part of scotland either, tho i particularly like the west coast or western side of scotland.

Thanks in advance

[Arnold Palmer]

Scotland is a big place. The licensing varies from council to council. I'm £150 for 3 years I think, it only covers Aberdeenshire.

You send off the form with a passport photo, a cheque and your liability insurance, the council forward your details to the police who may challenge the application. It takes about a month but I believe other councils have an online application facility, which may be quicker.

As for pricing, again Scotland is big and it's probably just about as diverse in pricing as England. I have family near Dundee, their window cleaner charges 1/2 what I'd charge. My average price is around £15 - £20

[֍Winp®oClean֍]

You'll need some serious waterproof gear for the west coast Nath- it rains more than it doesn't the further west and north you go!

[Arnold Palmer]

You'll need some serious waterproof gear for the west coast Nath- it rains more than it doesn't the further west and north you go!

I figured that's why he's moving to Scotland. We know what he likes to do in the rain.

[֍Winp®oClean֍]

You'll need some serious waterproof gear for the west coast Nath- it rains more than it doesn't the further west and north you go!

I figured that's why he's moving to Scotland. We know what he likes to do in the rain.

😂😂😂

[Dry Clean]

So my mrs is wanting a change of scenery and isnt a fan of concrete cities.

With the amount of damage you and your hot water could do in one of them I'm not surprised, would be like living on a bomb site.

[nathankaye]

You'll need some serious waterproof gear for the west coast Nath- it rains more than it doesn't the further west and north you go!

I figured that's why he's moving to Scotland. We know what he likes to do in the rain.

 
I aint gonna live that one down for a while 

[nathankaye]

So my mrs is wanting a change of scenery and isnt a fan of concrete cities.

With the amount of damage you and your hot water could do in one of them I'm not surprised, would be like living on a bomb site.

I know, right 
Thats how i check to see if the water is hot enough, if i dont get holes then its a let down.
 

[Jonny 87]

I’m in central Scotland, and as soupy has mentioned, prices vary wildly. Licensing is a doddle. (Unless you’ve got a criminal record) I’m also £150  for 3 years covering all of south Lanarkshire.

I have more work than I know what to do with,  and could easily expand if I so wished.

Other areas, not so much. Just like anywhere.

It’s easily do-able Nathan. If the move is good for your family then go for it.  Aslong as you had say 6 months of savings to get you by, you’d be fine. Within 12 months you could have an established round. It may mean a little bit of extra traveling, but you could Refine it over the years.

[dazmond]

you might have to work more than 2 days a week though nathan to make it pay.........more wet weather working for sure and the dreaded window cleaning licences(ive got a criminal record)......i think your mad to move esp after all the years of building your round up where you are at present.....

each to their own...it might work out ok for you as you can build from scratch so you wont make the same mistakes on pricing that you probably did when starting out first time......but itll be a hard slog the first couple of years id expect.....

i would want at least £20k saved up to get me through the first few difficult years of building up again.....good luck....

[nathankaye]

The liscense doesnt seem as bad as i thought, unless i need to expand into different districts as such.
Im in two minds, as you say daz, i have a lot more experience behind me in building up a round, not to make the rookie mistakes, especially in pricing.  So from that side im liking the idea.
On the other hand, ive spent alot of time and effort in shaping my work how i have it now. So even though i have experience, i know there isnt any short cuts in getting that again without alot of hard work.
Then theres the selling of my complete round.  I have my books from last 10 yrs so people will see its growth and potential still there for more if they wanted. It would just depend if people would pay the asking price.

Food for thought. Thanks for the advice guys, especially soupy n jonny from scotland. 

[Don Kee]

On the other hand, ive spent alot of time and effort in shaping my work how i have it now.

Yeah but like you say, hopefully you’ve learnt from your mistakes and wont make them again.

[֍Winp®oClean֍]

It's a different world, full of beautiful countryside. Far less population than England and house prices/rents in the countryside are very reasonable. On the whole Scotland is not negatively affected by immigration (yet). It can be a very good place to bring a family up. Not everywhere requires a licence either.

[capn sparkle]

They've got softer concrete apparently - Romans didn't get that far. 

[Stoots]

If you decide to sell up give us a shout i would be interested.

Get yourself off! you only live once

i would love to up sticks and start again in a better area but too many family ties round here....

[Frankybadboy]

will you do a video for us 

[Spotfree]

You could even wear a kilt, wenking in the rain would get much easier!

[nathankaye]

will you do a video for us 

Its a premium channel buddy if your wanting a vid of me w##king in the rain
😂😂😂😂😂😂

[nathankaye]

Its a little scary / exciting thinking about it.
Basically moving and not having a clue about the area but door knocking n building a round again.
Settling in the best posible place in scotland would be key for the family life. But where is the question at the moment, thankfully we're just in the thinking / considering it all stages.     Just been looking at oban and their liscense is 250 for the 3 years.  Did a search for window cleaners in the same area and they seem to cover an expanse of territory.
Also looked at the east of scotland like aberdeenshire and higher such as inverness.
Either way this is going to take some time deciding.
Cheers for the advice

[Jonny 87]

Don’t overlook central Scotland and also the borders Nathan.

No license needed for the borders.

For me In central Scotland I’m about 45 minutes from Glasgow and Edinburgh, and an hour and a half from the beauties of up north. It’s the best of both.

Some very rural towns in central and borders, but with compact areas also to build up a good round.

Up north at Inverness and even Aberdeen will
Require plenty driving between jobs. Especially to start.