I just started working for a brand new company as Master Window Cleaner/Trainer/Foreman. Our company just started up in Feb and we have already made 20k+.
Yes. It’s a good business. But we don’t just clean windows. We sell package deals.
Window, Roof, Gutters, Gutter Filtration, House Wash (Soft Wash), pressure washing, metal restoration, etc.
The trick is finding the right people to work for you. But most of all, YOU need to know what you are doing.
The kind of jobs I do are very dangerous, labor intensive and tedious. You gotta be on the ball at all times.
This line of work isn’t for everyone. But if you can make it work…
Don’t start a window cleaning business with plans of getting RICH…do it because its something you enjoy doing and can get satisfaction from. Money by itself is just paper…it wont make you happy, however doing something that you love as an occupation will…
if you have a parking spot for a trailer, you can buy a modest land scaping trailer for under $1,000. Then go on craigs list and buy a ladder rack for 60 bucks for a modest steel one that is not adjustable, to even nicer units that are aluminum and are hinged with locks etc that retail for $1,000 you can get them for 200-300.
Then take this to a metal shop and have them weld up some pipe on the trailer, and attach the roof rack to the trailer. Also look for such a trailer that is already made, that would obviously save both time and money. Rare, but they are out there.
This really depends on how nice your neighborhood is … really nice neighborhoods will have ordinances against trailers in your yard, it likely will not fit in your garage, and if you live in a shady neighborhood, your ladders will likely be stolen.
i would use the little giant if i had the leg leveler on the bottom, and a stand away at the top (the U shaped thing that keeps you off of aluminum sills, or the gutters).
I am a decent sized guy (6ft 4" 235 lbs) i feel safe on my little giants, i would definitely consider using just a little giant for a month or two if you need to demonstrate to yourself the money is out there, you can do it etc.
Then when you start landing $500-$600 jobs and you finish them in one day you can of course go buy a modest trailer, a $3,000 minivan like an astro van, and a decent extension ladder.
Well hear them out, but do not let them boss you around. Particularly if they are not successful, or they are successful at a government or big union job and they can’t get you a job there, take what ever they say with a grain of salt. Well their advice is often, do what i did, get hired in at GE, Ford, State agency etc in 1994, etc. Oh wait, its not 1994 anymore. Just because someone tells you they bolt bumpers on minivans and they make 80k take home, and their entire compensation is over 150k per year (thats the median compensation for GM UAW worker 2 years ago) IT DOES NOT MEAN THEY KNOW SQUAT about business.
If your uncle or neighbor, or your buddies dad runs a successful business that he started himself, listen to him. Listen to him well, and ask him for all the advice you can get.
I know a number of guys that do similar work, like chimney sweeping, floor refinishing, painting and they are rich. Not old money dupont rich, but they have million dollar homes. They have vacation homes that are worth 250k-400k. Granted they have 12-50 employees, but they are not bank VPs and they live next to bank VP, fortune 500 managers, dual income federal employee’s, etc. Go for it.
I have been reading the forums for about 4 months, researching and contemplating starting this endeavor. I have experience years ago cleaning for a big company and enjoyed the work although it was very physical demanding. I currently make 15/hr right now and have a flexible schedule where I can tell my boss " hey next week I need this day off and this day." I would love to start something where I can leave my current job but would simply be happy with A HOUSE a week as a side gig at this point. About to make the plunge on the starter kits and ladders but need some encouragement to take the jump! Is this a okay season to get started in? Im in ATL. Do you guys think 1 house a week is doable starting out? I imagine I can spend at least a full (12 hour day ) a week canvasing and another day a week hopefully working… Got my LLC and the logo and currently working on website…
That would be the way I’d do things, if I were starting over again.
I jumped ship and started my business with no overlap at the old job. That was better for my growth but also led to some lean months, I feel.
Since hindsight is 20/20 I will recommend you keep your regular job. It seems flexible enough to adapt as your own business ventures blossom.
I will also recommend you begin building a few route days to be your fail-safe through lean times. Canvass storefronts until you have a $500 dollar route that can be completed in about a day. Then build 3 more $500 dollar days and stagger them so you have one route day each week.
With $2000 guaranteed gross each month you will have a lot more freedom to trim work days at your old job, and thus spend more time canvassing/networking to build the residential side of your business.
2000 a month in commercial would almost replace my current income alone! That’s great advice, thanks! Do you find it easier to get route work over residential?
Keep in mind, that’s gross income. As a business owner you do not take all that money home. More likely you will only see about half that money in your bank account. But it’s a good baseline to shoot for, and it gives you a stable foundation on which to build the rest of your month.
To live a good lifestyle and save for retirement you really need to gross 8-10k a month solo for 9 months out of the year with low overhead. Run the numbers. They don’t lie. You can live on less but to do everything you want to do its going to break out to 75k plus.
Right now my concern is taking away a 12 hour day at 15hr and replacing it with less because I have no room for that in the budget. I would love to have work for 5 full days and make that kind of money but right now I’m just trying to be realistic about adding to my income.
I just read profit first, thanks to this site. How long did it take you guys to see a steady flow of residential customers? Say 2 a week? and how much time canvassing for that?
