[clunk1977]

Hi all i been window cleaning for a while now and got 33 custies and use wfp. Was on a four on four off shift last year so was building up nicely until i too voluntary redundancy in Nov.

Been truck driving since and being pushed from pillar to post all week and getting nights out at the drop of a hat is not fun and the salary broken down per hour is crap.

Been off  work this week so went door knocking for and hour last night and got 3 new customers. Have spoke to the partner and really want to go full time this year so was thinking of joining a driving agency whilst building up the business.

Do any of you guys do another job as well as you windows.

[ftp]

That's how I started doing two jobs. It's great for a while but you need to build up a float if you can for the day you jump ship 'cos you won't have enough work to support yourself when the day comes. Unless of course you can 'work the system' as you build up work to full time level.

[cozy]

Hi Clunk,
I had a 2 year break awhile ago and went back to int truck driving, loved it but I really missed working for myself. The decision to go back to working for myself was made for me when I got made redundent. Over here there is a system whereby the Govt pays you a percentage (60%) of your average wage last earned for 15 months to help start a business.
If I hadn't had that I would have still jumped in head first and canvassed like crazy to get back upto speed if you know what I mean.
It's easy for me to say that as I have no mortgage now and only have monthly payments on my car
The point I noticed in your post is, you went out doorknocking for an hour and got 3 custies. The fact that you will doorknock IMO puts you streets ahead of the competition as the biggest fear in this work is not ladders or whatever, it's REJECTION. There are bouncers in the roughest clubs who have to battle with the worst type of people you can imagine just to earn a crust. In some cases, ask that sort of person to go doorknocking to get window custies and he would run a mile!
Tosh and a couple of old "salts" on here have said a couple of times "the people buy the tradesman, not the service". or words to that effect. I think that's right as I doorknock and have very good results, better than sticking a card or leaflet through a letterbox anyway.
I think if you put alot of work into your canassing, at this rate you can't go wrong. Good luck to you mate.

[leapstallbuildings]

Hi all i been window cleaning for a while now and got 33 custies and use wfp. Was on a four on four off shift last year so was building up nicely until i too voluntary redundancy in Nov.

Been truck driving since and being pushed from pillar to post all week and getting nights out at the drop of a hat is not fun and the salary broken down per hour is crap.

Been off  work this week so went door knocking for and hour last night and got 3 new customers. Have spoke to the partner and really want to go full time this year so was thinking of joining a driving agency whilst building up the business.

Do any of you guys do another job as well as you windows.

No but I have done.  When I was first starting, I had a self-employed driving job where I would go away for one week in 3 or 4.  It was quite well paid too.  I built my window cleaning round around that.  When that job went after about 6 months, I had half of what I then regarded as a full round.  I even turned away a full time job offer.  In more recent years I've had little out of hours part time jobs to supplement my income but I'm now doing it from W/C only.

[Tosh]

I did weekend security work; rubbish pay; and worked Fri/Sat/Sun nights, had Monday off and worked on building up window cleaning Tuesday to Friday.

Thank heavens I don't have to do that anymore.

[AuRavelling79]

When I started I sold private medical insurance on commission only and bought and sold toner and ink cartridges for computer printers (I had a few old custy's from a previous sales job in office equipment consumables).

As the window cleaning grew I dropped the consumables and the insurance company dropped me after saying full time or nowt and I said nowt!

I didn't intend to go window cleaning at all but it "took over" and custies seem to like my work so I'm glad it did.

[clunk1977]

cheers for the reply lads. Been out cleaning today then some more canvassing was about an hour yesterday and got 3 customers and an hour today 3 customers. Am getting the missus and her daughter out knocking next week see what more i can get.

clunk