for a few months I’ve researched this business and want to start my own.
I’ve gone through all the necessary steps to set up a business. read a few books etc too. bought a few tools and cleaned my windows and a few friends for free well, for a beer or two lol.
but I keep getting the same question when I tell people what I plan on doing.
Do you really think that many people want their windows cleaned? especially for $100+ average?
and honestly I believe there are a lot of homes and businesses out there but these questions keep me wondering…am I wasting my time?
I realize I may have to hustle my first year or two and hopefully the phone will ring on it’s own and I don’t have to get out there and basically go door to door selling.
you guys and your stories keep me going. simply because you guys are actually doing it. and there are probably 100+ of neighborhoods in Cincinnati with hundreds of 300k-1M homes. then there are also a bunch in Northern Kentucky right across the river.
and there are a lot of businesses I see daily (now that I pay attention) that have very very dirty windows. massive staining etc too. even ones downtown. which is making me wonder…are all these places just cheap or no one takes the time to contact them? there are several window cleaning companies in my city. but they are all pretty small. 3-4 trucks max for one of the larger ones. (fish window cleaning isn’t operating either lol)
so level with a new guy…
[COLOR=“red”]is this career really paying the bills for you and what should I realistically expect my first year?[/COLOR]
I’d be happy making $400-500 a week. and I could live on that. but of course I’d love to make more. which is one reason why I will be offering a few other things.
window repair
screen repair
power washing (might as well use this thing instead of letting it sit)
awning cleaning
gutter cleaning.
and snow removal via my snow blower (no parking lots etc)
I actually live within 6 miles of 5 very rich neighborhoods I could make probably $300 day doing snow removal since there are literally hundreds of homes in each of them. I’m talking 500k+ homes. (these are pretty huge homes for my area of the country)
the other reason is I’m affraid not many people are willing to pay someone else to clean their windows. especially when the average window (from what I gather) will cost $5-20 each depending on location and size
I have 12 years in the construction industry. and I know how to deal with customers due to the work I did for those 12 years. the business and work side of everything doesn’t scare me as much as the selling part. this will be new to me. and there are a lot of tricks I need to learn. because lets face it, is 100% necessary to master if I want a paycheck at the end of the week.
you will get out of it what you put into it, i was in the same position as you 1 year ago thinking no one will pay big bucks to have their windows cleaned. they WILL. 4 or 5 hundred can easily be made in a half day if your jobs are priced right. your first year i would say you could expect anywhere between $0 and $50,000 gross. just keep on advertising
People do in fact want this done. We do literally thousands of store fronts and hundreds of homes each week… even this time of year. There is lots of work available out there, you just have out reach your hand out and take it.
**** you better make $400 per day or go home! I know cinci and the surrounding area you will do fine…I wished i had a town that big to work in…Two to three houses and you would have your $500 in 1 or 2 days…!!
The answer for the first three questions is: absolutely. How much you make your first year depends a lot on you and the effort you put into your business. It will also depend on the quality and dependability of your work and the integrity with which you build your business. I understand your concern. When I started my business (1986), if you had told me that people would pay $500 to have their home windows cleaned, I would have said you were crazy. Now our minimum is $100 for a first time clean and rarely do we have one that cheap. We have a few monthly and quarterly accounts that are less but honestly most homes start around $250 - $300. Monday we will be cleaning a home for $850. A few weeks ago we cleaned a home for $1,300. The most we ever got for a window cleaning was $2000. I mention these not for you to expect to get a lot of homes at these prices, but to encourage you not to hesitate to give that estimate that sounds ridiculously high. Not all will pay it, but a suprisingly large number will. Window cleaning has been good to us and for the most part has been recession proof. Go for it.
There are several very big companies (Braco, and Erlanger, right across the river) in your city. They’re both sharp outifits. But, especialy in residential, I’m sure there’s more than enough room for you. Sell, sell, sell. Residential at the level you describe are very loyal, (Regarding what you see downtown: Stain removal isn’t selling again in northeastern Ohio yet, and alot of public work (city, state, fed) has cut way back this year in Ohio)
ah yes, I see them now. I always heard of united and mills. but now I do recall seeing a braco truck around town.
I used to work for a glass shop and couldn’t believe how many people wanted european shower enclosures. they are very sharp looking for sure.
thanks for the pep talk guys. I need to ignore the haters. I’ve learned to never really listen to people who don’t have any experience with the subject. but it’s hard to get their negativity out of my head sometimes. I know they mean well.
I also have a idea I’m going to try.
since I worked for Patio enclosures inc, and I’m good friends with the owner, I might see if he’ll give out my card when they sell a room. they build sunrooms, solariums and conservatories.
I could also get a list of past customers and swing by their locations especially.
People will always shoot down a good idea, roll with it and give it a try. The cost of entry is so low… Also thats a great idea you have about working with the patio guy… See if you can take it a step further and maybe get them to put a little static cling on the glass when they are done. Something that reads" We recommend these glass surfaces be professionally cleaned by________"
Your first year expect the best, but plan for the worst. DO NOT be making crazy buys on stuff just because you land a great paying gig that may be regular. [B]NOTHING[/B] will drive you more than being broke. You mentioned not wanting to go door to door. Sometimes that just does not work. The key to it, is to TEST and find out what works for you and your business. Try EVERYTHING that you can, and stick to what works.
There are plenty of windows for everyone to clean. Call up other residential guys like yourself and let them know you are around to help them if they need it. Trust me, I have gotton alot of business when I really needed it from other window cleaners, and I return the favor.
People can joke with you all they want about window cleaners not making money, but there are plenty of guys that are making more per hour than doctors on some jobs.
If this is what you want to do, just handle it. You can do it, especially with a support system like this forum always churning out great ideas.
Always stay positive, and for the first year…work your tail off every day you can unless you are so sick you can’t move. Seriously.
Read everything you can on marketing, and use every dime you can to put your ideas to work.
I’m of the opinion that every window cleaner I see, is doing work that should be mine.
Meaning, there’s work to be had, you just have to figure out why they’re doing it instead of you.
Here’s the trick about selling… it’s ALL about ‘preparation and repetition.’
Yeah, there are plenty of tricks, but it all boils down to how you say something.
Even the “cheesiest” sales pitch sounds good when you’re comfortable saying it.
Think about this;
[INDENT][INDENT]You’re meeting customers, and realize they all have similar objections - you’ll probably stumble through your words for the first few.
By the time you get to that 5th one - you probably have come up with a good way to overcome that objection.
And by the time you meet the TWENTY fifth customer - your response will flow like you’re William Shakespeare, because you’ve said it so many times![/INDENT][/INDENT]
Take the time to listen to your customers objections, and go home and figure out how to tackle them for the next time!
I’ve been at it since 1986 in an area with “towns” of 1300 to 6000 populations for the most part, a few “ritzy” areas and a lake that has tons of vacation homes. Scranton has 72,000 or so. It’s 35 miles away from me and get relatively little work from that area.
Even so, I have enough work to pay the expected bills and a load of stupid debt. It’s not always a walk in the park, but if you make your customers happy, they mostly won’t care what you charge. Be nice to everyone, don’t trash talk any who seem to be your competition and you’ll get a cheering section that sends plenty of work your way(free advertising).
It is a business like any other, if you are good at what you do and treat people respectfully and fairly, you will work and make a living. Just remember, when you start a business, it is [I]your name[/I] that is on the line. Everything about the business will identify with you, what do you want people to say?
I’m really good with people. my previous job had me dealing with them daily. I was always at their home. heck I used to get the most letters and calls of gratitude etc about me to the company. something that the other guys used to get jealous about lol.
I can’t lie and say I got along with everyone though.
sometimes you just meet the one person that gets under your skin. but I try to be professional about it even if I have to take the blunt approach when dealing with them.
some people will try their best to scam you if you let them.
I live in a town of 6000. Nearest population center is 15 miles away in Tyler TX, a city of 90k. The month of November grossed me $6500 and that was probably 15 days of work. We started this company in March of this year. Still working this part-time and the money is there to be made. Looking to start a crew working to get ready for the spring workload.
Before you go full bore on this, read E-Myth to help you prepare for some of the hurdles you will face as a business owner.
In my opinion the window cleaning industry can be very profitable. Purchase basic accounting software, window cleaning supplies, insurance, and a vehicle to transport your equipment.
The start-up costs and overhead are relatively low. Without crunching the numbers I would guess $5 K would get you up and running, this includes the purchase of a cheap cargo van or truck.
The most important piece of advice I can give you is to plan your workday hour by hour, listing specific tasks that need to be accomplish that day. Trust me when I say it is very easy to lose 30 minutes of your time because you get caught up in your email or WCR forums. I am a huge advocate of WCR and what they can do for you but if YOU let it become a distraction rather than a resource it can cost you time…and time is money!
Focus on what needs to be done and KEEP your expenses low when starting out. It is easy to purchase a $2 K WFP set-up when you start making money but stick with your guns and game plan.
The one mistake I made as a young business owner and entrepreneur is spending money on things that “seem” great in the moment, just because I had the money. Put a plan in place and stick to that plan - especially in your first year!
I’ve already got a truck. I own 2 actually. I haven’t owned a car since 1998. I just need a simple ladder rack, ladders, a few more tools and supplies. and $560 for insurance, business cards, advertisement material, and I’m ready to hit the ground running.
is it a bad idea to start this in the winter months?
you say part time…are you not commited to it 100% or are you saying it’s too risky to quit your day job? or do you simply mean you really don’t need to do it full time because it’s paying that well?
I’ve never made $6500 a month in my life lol. I thought I was doing pretty good with $2500 before taxes.
I’m currently unemployed. I never said that to you guys because I’m embarassed about it to be honest. good paying jobs just aren’t out there in my line of work right now. and the ones that are hiring think I’m going to supply all the tools and vehicle for them for $12-14/hr. so after everything is said and done I’ll be working for $10.
so I’ve decided to take the bull by the horns and turn my life around the way I want it to go. not the way some other company owner tells me it’s going to happen.
I’m super nervous about it but honestly like one of you guys already said, nothing drives someone more than being broke.
I have one more question for you guys, [COLOR=“red”]what’s the best game plan starting out as far as getting work? [/COLOR]I keep thinking I will basically need to solicit services door to door. but I’ve been told some neighborhoods have ban this practice and I could face fines.
but I just don’t see me getting a lot of calls right out of the gate by passing out fliers etc. of course I’m going to do both. and try some other tips I’ve seen on this site. see which ones work and which ones don’t. but since you guys have pretty much narrowed most of it down yourselves I figured if you don’t mind telling your secrets I’m all ears lol.
