[williamx]

Mick

Welcome to the wonderful world of cleaning windows, the first thing you need to be aware of is what you put into your business is what you will get out of it.

You are in a fantanstic position at the moment because you have not started yet, you have not made any costly mistakes like the rest of us, and the advise that you are receiving, is already saving you time and money.

You say that you are on the dole, so my first port of call would be the job centre to find out what they can do for you, the goverment are always on abouting helping people get people back to work.

You will be able to claim "Tax Credits - Council Tax Benefit and housing benefit if you rent".

You could try the Arrow Fund who will loan you finance to start up with, or you might be acceptable on the Prince Trust or some other enterprise scheme.

You say you want to be a window cleaner, now you have to decide what type of cleaner you will be?

I would recommend that you start out as a "Water fed Poler", it is the way forward in this industry and it is not that expensive to start out with.

Because you are  in Wolverhampton ( soft water area) a basic wfp set up will cost you less that £500.

The next very important thing for you to do is charge the right amount for the job, it can be very scary when you first start out and you NEED that business, that you underprice your work, my advise is DON'T underprice anything, you will not go hungry, you will survive.

I live in Birmingham but I have clients all over the West Midlands, if you want to call me then please feel free to do so and I will help as much as possible.

You can find my contact details via my new website www.purehydrocleaners.co.uk

William

[lee09]

Mick

Welcome to the wonderful world of cleaning windows, the first thing you need to be aware of is what you put into your business is what you will get out of it.

You are in a fantanstic position at the moment because you have not started yet, you have not made any costly mistakes like the rest of us, and the advise that you are receiving, is already saving you time and money.

You say that you are on the dole, so my first port of call would be the job centre to find out what they can do for you, the goverment are always on abouting helping people get people back to work.

You will be able to claim "Tax Credits - Council Tax Benefit and housing benefit if you rent".

You could try the Arrow Fund who will loan you finance to start up with, or you might be acceptable on the Prince Trust or some other enterprise scheme.

You say you want to be a window cleaner, now you have to decide what type of cleaner you will be?

I would recommend that you start out as a "Water fed Poler", it is the way forward in this industry and it is not that expensive to start out with.

Because you are  in Wolverhampton ( soft water area) a basic wfp set up will cost you less that £500.

The next very important thing for you to do is charge the right amount for the job, it can be very scary when you first start out and you NEED that business, that you underprice your work, my advise is DON'T underprice anything, you will not go hungry, you will survive.

I live in Birmingham but I have clients all over the West Midlands, if you want to call me then please feel free to do so and I will help as much as possible.

You can find my contact details via my new website www.purehydrocleaners.co.uk

William

Mick
What a good post William has written. The only thing I would add is this "thinking of becoming" Get some  experience, see if you can work with someone for a day or too to see if you like it
good luck
Lee

[jonnyald]

my tip is go buy a swivel squeegee  and get hold of a lightweight alloy ladder ,bucket and rags and off you go matey . it doesnt take long to get used to ladderwork  and  good luck !  you are starting at just about the best time of the year too .

 once you start off  on the street dont fret about pricing , use ten quid as a rough guide and adjust it one way or another once you get feedback from customers. theyll tell u what the big boy in your town charges .when they ask "how much is it boy?" just cheerily reply "a tenner" and that usually works as a rule

[1wayno]

i do agree that wfp is the way forward in this buisness,but youve got to take in consideration that he needs a van aswell as the wfp system,and if you havnt got much money then it can be to costly,its always best to know trad and wfp,and startin out trad is the easiest,cheapest,and quickest way to get yourself set up as a window cleaner. once youve got the hang off window cleaning and start savin up money,then you can always get a wfp system and van,dont rush into it and spend alot of money on something you dont really have a clue about,for you situation id recomend startin trad to get yourself into the buisness 

[williamx]

i do agree that wfp is the way forward in this buisness,but youve got to take in consideration that he needs a van aswell as the wfp system,and if you havnt got much money then it can be to costly,its always best to know trad and wfp,and startin out trad is the easiest,cheapest,and quickest way to get yourself set up as a window cleaner. once youve got the hang off window cleaning and start savin up money,then you can always get a wfp system and van,dont rush into it and spend alot of money on something you dont really have a clue about,for you situation id recomend startin trad to get yourself into the buisness 

I am afraid  i have to disagree with you and the reason is just before chistmas I crashed my van on the A5 mountains in wales.

The insurance company have given me a Vauxhall Corsa as a replacement.

For the last 2 weeks I have been working at full pace,  using both wfp and my carpet cleaning machines and sometimes both at the same time.

You do not need always need a  van to be a wfp window cleaner.

If I was a ladder cleaner, then I would have had to purchased a roof rack to carry on working.

[jonnyald]

I am afraid  i have to disagree with you and the reason is just before chistmas I crashed my van on the A5 mountains in wales.

The insurance company have given me a Vauxhall Corsa as a replacement.

For the last 2 weeks I have been working at full pace,  using both wfp and my carpet cleaning machines and sometimes both at the same time.

You do not need always need a  van to be a wfp window cleaner.

If I was a ladder cleaner, then I would have had to purchased a roof rack to carry on working.

not so - my ladder set would fit inside a corsa and iv never had a roof rack  and my ladders slide into my car on a  wooden sledge ,far better than on top of motor

[stfc]

wolves is not a soft water area it is hard water

[williamx]

wolves is not a soft water area it is hard water

Whats the TDS of the water

[1wayno]

at the end of the day,starting up trad is alot cheaper,easier,and less hassle than wfp,and in this guys situation i do strongly think it the best option for him,nearly everyone who has a wfp system has a van,coz they jus to big and heavy for an average car,it ud be alot cheaper to buy a roof rack for ur current car and buy ladders and trad gear,rather than buyin a van and buyin a full wfp system,its jus logical and the best option for him. fair enuff if he was coined up and had the money to spend on a van and wfp system,they yeh,but its always best to know both trad and wfp so id still say he'd be better of doin half trad and half wfp to begin with.

[williamx]

at the end of the day,starting up trad is alot cheaper,easier,and less hassle than wfp,and in this guys situation i do strongly think it the best option for him,nearly everyone who has a wfp system has a van,coz they jus to big and heavy for an average car,it ud be alot cheaper to buy a roof rack for ur current car and buy ladders and trad gear,rather than buyin a van and buyin a full wfp system,its jus logical and the best option for him. fair enuff if he was coined up and had the money to spend on a van and wfp system,they yeh,but its always best to know both trad and wfp so id still say he'd be better of doin half trad and half wfp to begin with.

Each to their own, I can only comment on what I have achieved.

and if what I know now, I knew 30 years ago, then I would be a very rich man.

[1wayno]

oh yeh i agree each to their own,dont get me wrong i think wfp is great and its deffo the way forward in this buisness  but you will always need to know trad method,they will always be custies and jobs where you will have to use trad,and im jus considering this guys situation,i jus think trad is the best thing to do atm,ithink it trad is always the best way to start off  but yeh different people have different opinions  but whatever you decide good luck to ya mate

[Jackal]

I think if you unemployed claiming benefits, you can go self employed for six months and still claim all your benefits, but the money you earn has to be recorded go into a bank account and you will need permission to use it, (or the cheques counter signed), not sure of all the details but it is worth having a talk with them. After the six months you have to make a decision on weather to sign off benefits and go it alone or fold the business (if there is one) and remain on benefits.

Good luck

the way i was told when i was on dole is you can get paid £50 per week for 16 weeks off goverment scheme to go self employed but you need to be on job seekers for 6 months which is stupid in my opinion not many folk can survive 6 months on dole ,but like others have said no harm in asking see if its changed now

[Nathanael Jones]

good luck , make sure you start with the pole from day 1 regards alan

why start with the pole?

Because the Health and Safety laws regarding work at height strictly limit ladder use,...
Because its faster & easier (You'll earn more)
Because it cleans better (In the right hands of course!)
Because he might have a family who'd miss him if he fell (Newbies often have ZERO ladder training & little experience so the risks are higher)
Because it often reduces public liability insurance costs not using ladders (In my experience at least)
Because it doesn't have to cost the earth,.. a basic WFP backpack setup can cost less than £500 all in.
Because most cleaners convert to WFP eventually anyway

Trad skills are still essential,.. but wfp might help you live long enough to learn them properly!

[mick786]

Thanks to everyone for the very good avice, can,t beleave how helpful you all are.
Ya I am thinking starting off the trad way for now, going out caversing in about to weeks from now just getting some cards made etc

[prestigeclean]

look at the advice again and change your descion lively lol regards alan

[1wayno]

good luck , make sure you start with the pole from day 1 regards alan

why start with the pole?

Because the Health and Safety laws regarding work at height strictly limit ladder use,...
Because its faster & easier (You'll earn more)
Because it cleans better (In the right hands of course!)
Because he might have a family who'd miss him if he fell (Newbies often have ZERO ladder training & little experience so the risks are higher)
Because it often reduces public liability insurance costs not using ladders (In my experience at least)
Because it doesn't have to cost the earth,.. a basic WFP backpack setup can cost less than £500 all in.
Because most cleaners convert to WFP eventually anyway

Trad skills are still essential,.. but wfp might help you live long enough to learn them properly!

they no law against cleaning windows on ladders,stop tryin to scare the dude,i dont think it cleans better,i think it cleans just as well,unless your stupid and wreckless your very unlikly to fall,and if you did fall most people only end up with a few bruises,to buy a van and a wfp system its waaay to expensive in this guys position,and a backback only has about 20l of water,last you about 15mins! and youd still have to buy di vessel and maybe ro depending where you live,and most cleaners convert to wfp eventually coz they have the finances to do so,grafting on the ladders for years and saved the money to make that conversion,this guy is on the dole,money is tight,wfp is out of the question in this situation.
youve made a wise and good choice in startin off with trad,im sure you'll do well and earn lots of money,and one day wen you can afford it and if u wanted to,you can buy a wfp system,good luck to ya mate and welcome 

[Nathanael Jones]

Not "tryin to scare the dude",.. but I honestly believe that the extra few quid on a basic WFP setup is something that everyone should be able to afford.
The £500 I quoted includes a small DI & RO, backpack, diy pole, brush, etc etc,.. everything you need to get started.

[1wayno]

i agree with wfp being quicker and ALOT safer,i really do think wfp are great,but i really dont think this guy has a spare £500 lieing around,and a backpack is no good really,they last 15mins top and youhave to keep refilling em,wastes time and it alot of faffing,if your gunna go in2 wfp you may aswell go in properly and buy a full system,this guy dunt have a clue about window cleaning,and starting out trad,its a nice easy stressfull way to feel your way in2 the buisness,then you can save money and buy a wfp system when your ready and financially stable  like we sed b4 diffent people have different views,becoz weve all had different experiences and so on,i agree with most of the stuff you say and i respect your views coz you obviously have a good tidy buisness goin and thats sumot to be respected and to be proud of,i was jus thinkin in this guys situation that trad is the best way,and im sure he'l be glad he's chosen to do it that way 

best wishes
wayne

[1wayno]

personally i dont think you need to pay money to learn how to clean windows but hey,thats jus me  i taught my bro how to do it,jus showed him the tech,told him to jus practice on his own windows,and after a week he got it perfect,not a quick on the windows of course coz that jus takes time,but still

[mci services]

hi all i,m new hear, ya thinking of becoming a window cleaner as on the dole and need work, got a few saving to buy tools etc, and any one of you good guys give me some avice like priceing up, getting work, starting out, I have,nt done window cleaning before so trying to get as much info as i can ,   pleaseeeeeeee help   thanks guys hope to hear back ta ta

dont bother its a nightmare, its either too cold, too hot, or the customers are a complete nightmare and shouldnt even be allowed a window cleaner. and if it rains you will turn to dust or something

go for it and go to buisinees link and see what you can get funding wise and do a business plan then you can make your decisions properly.

wfp vs ladder? do what you can afford. ladders dont fall, window cleaners fall just do what you can and away you go