I started out using a 21ft Folding Ladder…Basically Werner’ version of a little giant… Though I only used it for about a month before I bought a 24ft extension ladder… using a little giant at full extension is a little sketchy.
Nick
In N Out Window and Gutter Cleaning, Seattle, WA 206-432-0025
welcome! Yes its a great business to get into if youre willing to work hard at it and do a great job. Go for it!! Good luck!!!
Window cleaning has MASSIVE potential for anyone, almost anywhere. However, you’ve got to take the time to learn how to do it right (WCR) and spend some cash to invest in the right equipment (WCR). As many have already stated, window cleaning requires very little in terms of initial investment, however, I would recommend getting yourself trained on a WFP and going after some large commercial clients since you live in a place which can facilitate those opportunities. From personal experience, small storefronts bring in regular income which is nice and they also provide you with referrals and as a new guy you NEED these guys to have your back because from these small $40 - $80/month jobs you’ll get their homes in the summer, their other friends’ businesses, etc. In a nutshell, it gets tour name and reputation out there. Also, decide now to have integrity and to stand by your service. If something was damaged on your watch, tell the customer and offer a solution. If the job sucks and you can tell, do it again and do it better, don’t wait for them to call you on it. Most importantly, join the WCRA and get yourself a world class education in window cleaning because this site will take you higher than you can imagine in the window cleaning world.
That was probably all lame and lecture-ish but I’m passionate about window cleaning and get excited about newbies starting out so there ya go.
Good luck!
Well i was a little worry about the economy also, because i know people will be paying less for services. But now i see you can be successful if you put in the hard work and time. 550 clients is a lot of clients in three years, but i am impressed by that. So flyers are the best way to get customers.
So a little giant ladder would work in the beginning.
Thanks for the encouragement, i should just go for it. I already purchased the equipment. All i need is the ladder and soap.
Thanks your post wasn’t lame, but i can see your passionate about window cleaning. I plan on practicing on my house or some of friends house first to see if i am using the right technique. The small storefront is a good idea also, i would need referrals to expand my business. But i will read more about wcra, so does this make your business seem more professional to potential clients.
Can you borrow a ladder until you make enough to buy one? Check Craigs list, yard sales or pawn shops. You can find good deals on used ladders. With a root rack on your car, you can get by without a truck for awhile. Practice with the pole. It’s tricky till you get the hang of it.
Welcome. Practice practice practice. Forget ladders by a WFP. THERE AWESOME but expensive. Good luck to you
jesse Im Glad to here things are going so well for you over in Kitsap. I would have thought you would have a tough time over there.(I grew up in P.O./ Bremerton.) I thought the economy would have hit there harder than anywhere.
To the new guy"Michael" if Jesse can make it happen in the area he is in it can done anywhere.
I am in my 3rd year of business and have over 550 clients that were mostly gotten from Hitting neighborhoods with flyers.About 65% actually.
Actually, the economy is better than most places. We have a lot of government jobs holding steady from the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bangor Submarine Base, and Keyport Naval Undersea Warfare Engineering Station. But, I don’t really do much work in Bremerton - mostly Bainbridge Island, Poulsbo, Manchester and Kingston.
In my experience, fliers are one of the most cost effective routes to go, especially if you are handing them out yourself. I used to wake up at 5 am and stick fliers to doors for two hours before starting my day. This was a perfect time because I didn’t have to worry about running into anyone (getting mad at me for sticking something to their door) and also it wasn’t during my business hours so no one would be calling me at that time.
Fliers work best for middle-class neighborhoods. The more wealthy people, in my experience, do not respond to them. Plus, wealthier neighborhoods are much harder to flier - long driveways often with gates, houses spaced far apart. And even the ones that seem flier-able i.e. “golf course” communities, often have rules prohibiting the posting of fliers.
One thing that I did was to contact the gated community and talk to the property manager. I asked her if we could clean the windows on their clubhouse in exchange for letting us put a stack of fliers & business cards in the clubhouse. Sure enough, they were happy to get a free cleaning and I did get a few jobs out of that.
I should be able to find one, but i will need a roof rack also. I have to see how much that cost also.
Never listen to anyone in regards to business unless they own a successful one. My father in law blasted me on the phone for about 1 hour when I first stated as to how no one wanted to pay to have windows cleaned etc. Meanwhile he lives in a country where no one would pay cause they can’t afford to. After my first week in business I had a $1600 job under my belt that paid cash. My wife took a picture of me with all the $20’s fanned out and smiling next to my truck. He has since changed his mind about my business decision. Heck last year I paid for him and his wife to come here for 1 month. They did not pay a dime for anything. There are countless stories of people, who are successful in business. Not rich, but successful. Who will tell you that if they listened to what everyone told them, they would not be where they are now.
My friend is a perfect example. He bought a personal training business back in 1994 with just 10 weekly accounts for $500 while on his two week vacation from his job at the federal reserve bank. The 2nd week into the vacation he quit his job. Everyone of our friends to include myself told him he was crazy to quit a job that would give him a nice retirement etc. Well here we are almost 20 years later. He still owns the business, plus a karate dojo that I can only guess brings in a nice bank as it is $400 per month to join and he has 100 students. Not sure of his overhead on that business though. He has 6 rental homes. Lives in Fair haven which anyone who lives in Jersey will tell you is a very nice weathly neighborhood. Owns a $600,000.00 home, new benz truck that his wife drives the kids around in. He trades in his bmw every year for a new one and has restored 69 Vette as his weekend toy. He just spent roughly 50k to put on a addtion to his home. He is one of the few people I know where as this economy has not seemed to hurt his life style. He is a little tight with his cash but not cheap so I guess that has helped. Anyway point being, if he listened to all of his friends and family he would be working a 9-5 now and prob hating his commute into NYC everyday.
if it was possible i would try and get to go with someone on this forum . who is willing to take you to work with them for a couple of weeks to learn you the ropes… get on a plane jump in a car and go work for someone for a short period of time… maybe after cleaning for a while you might not really like it or your not cut out for it .
Or Get 10,000 +++ flyers done set your self for example a time limit of 6 months… tell your self your going to work 14 hours a day for 6 months ( its setting goals ) . start at 6.oclock in the morning work till late at night eat well …just dont give up… this is the crux of it all… all good things come to those who wait…its all about will power and stamina
Get mark stranges Video on window cleaning or something similar… if you need a flyer done i can send you one… having a goof flyer is really important… does not have to be that flash just needs to deliver what your after.
But i highly recommend asking some one here if they you could work with them free of charge for a few days a a week etc… " ASK " ime sure someone will help
Thanks you are right that i shouldn’t listen to anyone, who hasn’t ran this type of business successfully. I see a huge potential for this business in my area, because there aren’t many window cleaning business here. I guess people assume you won’t make much money cleaning windows. Your friend started a business that people thought he shouldn’t, and he has succeeded at it. That story did motivate me, i plan on going for my goals no matter what anyone else says.
I’m amazed at your earning potential. What is your plan for customer acquisition? Mostly I get word-of-mouth after 21 years but I can assure you I won’t be making a million dollars soon. Please advise.
Nikos
Remember that the term “well established” is relative. Some businesses take decades to achieve that status, some take months. I would consider myself on the very verge of well-establishment… 2012, no question.
When I started I offered a lot of add-ons. Now its only residential window cleaning, although if a client inquires about powerwashing / gutter cleaning / gutter whitening etc I have no problem helping them out with those.
Sorry, I lied, I DO do screen repair and fabrication but that’s mostly during the winter (seems to be the big season for it, who would’ve thought?)
I’ve been in business for one year and 9 months. The way things are going, 2012 (my 3rd official year) will be my first $100k year.
So, to answer the original question… window cleaning CAN be a great business to get into. As with any other business it depends on a number of factors and how hard you push yourself.
There is definitely demand. You just need to figure out the best way for you to reach the people who want your service. This will depend on your current income of course. That’s the most important thing in the beginning.
Its all about the image and the ability to set yourself apart from the comp by having the equipment to complete every job you encounter and also be able to earn the big money. Work on your image and offer multiple services. A town of 100,000 people is pretty small but I’m guessing there is not too much competition so you may be able to bring in some good money.
Ignore the people who say you can’t do it because 9-5 people are normally stuck in a box, they ride to work in a cage, exit the cage to enter a box, exit the box to enter a cage, ride the cage home, walk into the box, turn on the TV and spend their free time watching other people live their lives while they complain about how bad the day was, how bad work is and how much they hate their boss however they kiss his/her butt every day and spend the remainder of their free time wondering what the boss thinks about them.
I left a $150,000 J.O.B to start a company that cleans windows, enough said
Mark,
Love the way you stated this and would like to add an example from a different perspective as stated to me by a good friend:
He said: “Herschel, there is a majority of the masses who, when pay-day comes around, the bills are paid, and there is enough (money) left over for a bag of pork rinds, a six pack, and wrestling is on the T.V. - Well, for them, life is good!! That’s just as far as they will go towards the horizon.”
And then he said: “But there are a few people like you and I who are looking far beyond the horizon and we’re always pushing ourselves to go beyond that point. We’re just a little bit greedy in that enough isn’t enough. We want more! And we’re going to do whatever it takes to get there.”
Chris C is a perfect example of what you can do if your a hard worker. Many guys on here remember when he first came on this board asking the same questions everyone asks. Differance is, he listened and worked hard. If i’m not mistaken he was taking two days out of his week and hitting the bricks all day to land accounts. He learnedd fast, took the advice of his peers and now makes his own living, which is one of the best feeling you can ever have. If your a hard worker and can roll with the ups and downs you can make just about any business work. You have to able to adapt and not be afraid to make a decission. Also you must know when the time is right to hand over certain responsabilities to others. If you are making 100k a year and working 18 hours, yet can’t seem to pull in more work. It’s time to let someone answer the phones and work your back office. Don’t get stuck trying to be everything in your company. Most important thing is you MUST be a leader. You don’t need to know how to do the task 100%, you need to know how to direct someone to complete that task to the benefit of your company.
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Great post
