[CraigDowney]

So, 3 years ago me and my brother in law set out window cleaning. We started in October and built our round basicslly on Facebook posts. 3 years on, while im still 50% owner i have taken a back seat.

I'm now considering setting out on my own, to give it a proper go i feel I need to quit my day job. I work out Inwould need to borrow around £10,000 to buy van kit and wages of around 4 minths while I build the round. Risky?? Yes, worth the risk? What do you think. I hate my current job and couldn't even consider doing it forever.

[nathankaye]

Depends on mind set. For example there's a chap on here who you can listen too at the expo show come September, who started with a bucket n ladder and a clapped out car. Now raking the money in.

[Ooooooog]

If you want it, you’ve gotta win it,

Why 10 grand?

[Dry Clean]

Depends on mind set. For example there's a chap on here who you can listen too at the expo show come September, who started with a bucket n ladder and a clapped out car. Now raking the money in.

Wow Nathan that's a silly reply even by your standards, here's some advice instead of listening to someone wibbling on about going out with a bucket and ladder get a bucket and ladder and do the same ,better still get some cheap WFP equipment, its safer.
To be honest with three years experience in both building and running a round you shouldn't need to ask these questions.

[Richard Groves]

I did  the same thing back in 2005.
I remortgaged to get out of an endowment and set aside a couple of grand to get a van and some equipment. What was left over covered my essential living expenses for 6 months which took the pressure off whilst I started to build up my round. Sometimes you have to take risks to see what you are really capable of.  You just have to knock enough doors / post enough flyers. And working generates work and more leads. Within a couple of years you'll look back and ask yourself why you didn't do it sooner. Salaried  job security is a myth whereas self employment, you are master of your own destiny.

How high do you want to go ?
That helpful chap Mr Pryor might like to step in here if he's reading this and impart some words of wisdom  seeing as he's so helpful 

[Smudger]

Good posts,

but if you are 50% owner with your brother then you need to split that 50/50 so you have a flying start or he pays you off to the tune of 50% value of the business and you go and start from scratch but with a couple of grand in your hand.

you have a great advantage of most people striating up as you have 3 years experience - you must have a fair idea if you can do this full time but more importantly can you get the customers ??

while I don't know your outgoings I'd say 10K is way over the top - it may not be pretty but a van a DIY system plus all the bits could be got for just over 4K - so if you need 2K a month living then I wouldn't take the plunge.

Why not build up a bit more while working then go all in

Darran

[Craig downey]

I currently take 10% of sales from the other business.

My thinking is i have done it before why not do it again, but this time all for me. 

i was looking at getting a facelift compact 425 system with power reels, plus a decent gardiner pole. 

my current job is take home pay of around £400 per week,  risk is i don't get enough customers in the 4 months budget and need to take a pay cut.  i could work my current job, for a month or 2 perhaps to ease the pressure of getting customers, but i don't want the job to get in the way of me growing the business, so not sure if a clean break would be better or too much of a gamble.

I know most of you can't really answer the question i have asked, and appreciate what you have all said, i was looking for people like the big kahuna who had done similar  to what i was planning.  i don't have plans to take over the world, just a good life style business, nice earning ( yes hard work but I'm not scared of that) 

Dry Clean, your right i don't really need to ask these type of question, but this is forum and i am looking for other points of view.

[nathankaye]

Depends on mind set. For example there's a chap on here who you can listen too at the expo show come September, who started with a bucket n ladder and a clapped out car. Now raking the money in.

Wow Nathan that's a silly reply even by your standards, here's some advice instead of listening to someone wibbling on about going out with a bucket and ladder get a bucket and ladder and do the same ,better still get some cheap WFP equipment, its safer.
To be honest with three years experience in both building and running a round you shouldn't need to ask these questions.

Yes I've quoted 😂
My comment was said in jest

[Smudger]

in had a clean break from work - not my choice just anther redundancy in the manufacturing sector.

so I had no window cleaning experience and next to no money (12 weeks wages)  - I got a van ( initially did trad for 2 weeks ) for £800 an old Ali WFP pole a merlin RO unit - went door knocking by week 10 I just, just had enough to pay the bills from there I pushed hard to a point I was doing around £200 to £250 a day - this took between 1 year to 18 months

From there I kept going and expanding because that's what I wanted to do - but if you are happy at this level then there's no need to keep pushing for more

Darran

[Stoots]

My first window cleaning system cost about a grand or less

£500 VAN
£50 tank (second hand)
£15 pump (c****y one, ebay)
£50 reel (second hand)

throw in a battery, a home made trolley, few barrels and a box of spares etc and a water fed pole i made from a harris pole and i was away.

i used that setup for about a year the only thing i upgraded in that time was to an slx 22

Ive always used D.I.Y systems although i improved it all over the foliowing years to this day i still have second hand tanks and
reels


if you took 8k of your budget and put that to advertising you would have a full round in a matter of months

[CraigDowney]

I was thinking of doing a full diy set up, but then the other part of me said, if im going to do it, do it properly. So was looking as facelift compact m with power reels, and a slx pole .

If you had money to spend on advertising, what do you thinks works best?

[Smudger]

Build a system  yourself - why at this stage 'give away' cash to a company that in essence puts a few bells and whistles on a plastic tank and battery - no one looks in the van the important thing is its safe and functional

Darran

[Dry Clean]

I was thinking of doing a full diy set up, but then the other part of me said, if im going to do it, do it properly. So was looking as facelift compact m with power reels, and a slx pole .

If you had money to spend on advertising, what do you thinks works best?

If your biggest problem/fear is making up the shortfall in your wage until you have enough work then why add to that pressure  by overspending on equipment.
When it comes to advertising the sky's the limit but if  you're  on a tight budget then canvassing/door knocking is your best option, other than the price of a business card it will only cost you in time.

[jonboywalton75]

Business cards/flyers, endless door knocking, doing a good job, cheapish ( not junk) diy system to start, hard workand determination and Bob's your uncle.

[CraigDowney]

Yeah I suppose your right about the system, so I will make my own, I will however treat myself to a power reel and slx pole.   That would probably work out about £1000 cheaper than a ready made system.

[jonboywalton75]

SLX i agree with👍
Power reel, well I'd spend MY money on a something else 😁

[mufcglen]

I started from the back of a car with a set of ladders and bucket, reckon I spent about £40 on unger trad gear to get me out🤗
As I built customers I also saved and bought myself a partner van for £300 and started to build a diy wfp system, the most expensive but was buying a clx22 at the time for £120!!
I’ve always constantly reinvested and now have a transit custom still fitted with a diy system as I like to do things myself but its just every bit as good as most other setup’s with hot water and electric reels and xtreme poles.
I only put money back in now when I want to change or renew something.
I know everyone’s situation is different but rather than get a loan or something why not build as you go save putting yourself under more financial pressure.

[CleanClear]

I currently take 10% of sales from the other business.

My thinking is i have done it before why not do it again, but this time all for me. 

 What did you actually do before to be in a position to only get 10% of sales when you are a 50% owner of the business ? How come you aint getting 50% of the profits ?

[CraigDowney]

I dont do anything now other than provide the water. He does 100% of the work and I get 10% of sales.

Setting up the last business i did basicslly everything. Researched and sourced wfp. Double di, pole brush backpack. Set up website, email, Google, aworka, gocardless, text local,  ltd company. Facebook (which got us almost all of our work) designed leaflets. We even used my van (i was originally a gardener so had the van) so i basically set the whole thing up and got it off the ground, and we just split the cost of the actual spend.

I don't think i could really take half the profits when he is now doing all the work . A 10% royalty almost is a good deal for me.

[Smudger]

Of course you can - thats business you put 50% in your worth 50% of its value now

just ask any divorcee !!

Darran