Good day to all in this industry. I have began my journey into this industry researching the various equipment that is used.
I have to admit did not realize how much it involves. yes I know many say it does no take much of a brain to do the job…but I beg to differ. Especially when you are starting out and putting out money and want your company to be known as a top notch window cleaning company. So I ask this question to all those who have been in the business for some time and been successful at it as well. What are the necessary equipment to purchase if one wanted to start off with a cutting edge? What brands are rated better not necessarily more cost effective? Just asking and seeking real life experience over advertisment on the internet.
Thank you and look forward to sharing my progress and hopfully helping another new business owner who wants to clean one window at a time…the right way.
Welcome Addie…There is many hundreds of post/video’s here that will help you find all the tools that will work for you. Read and watch and learn all you can about window cleaning skills,tools and marketing.This forum is full of knowledge that you can not find in any one place or on any other forum out there. So enjoy your journey into the Window Cleaning Business.
Here is a post that might help you. [COLOR="#0000CD"][COLOR="#000000"]Work Belt Setup (for the newbies)[/COLOR][/COLOR] Its full of the way folks around here set there tools up for success.
Welcome Addie,
I started with a a vision $100 bucks, and tools from the hardware store. I bought my tools in the morning and by the end of the first day closed 4 restaurants and most of the properties in a shopping center.
I didn’t consider residential until someone at a liquor store asked if I did homes…which were a very different ball game.
Id probably build my business the same way again. Start with commercial and then build the residential. Commercial work is pretty easy to close. A tremendous amount of our residential work now comes from referrals.
So, My advice:
Set realistic goals about what you can accomplish. (example: 5 new commercial accounts a week and 1 home a day is very doable when your first starting out. Make a plan to support the goals and make it happen. I don’t think you need an entire business plan unless your looking for outside investors, but it would be wise to put a 3 month plan together.
A good window cleaning starter kit from WCR and a 20’ ladder will set you up for most homes.
Try to get more than everyone else is charging. You can always drop your price if they don’t bite right away. You’ll need the extra dough to hire help, purchase better gear and plan for rainy days.
Keep a log of your activities (cleaning/prospecting/marketing) so you can really understand the ratio of time: income. You should be able to do $35-$40 an hour for residential when your starting out. After 10-15 homes you’ll be able to pull that up to a good $60-$90 an hour. That sounds like a lot, but its the minimum of what you need to generate in order to run a legitimate business.
Remember to track your time with non-revenue generating activities and factor them into your revenue report so you can truly see how much you are able to pay yourself an hour.
If you want to keep your business more than 2 years - make your tax payments and make them on time. Starting out you’ll be able to just pay quarterly but I strongly recommend getting in the habit of paying monthly. I’ve spent my tax collection money more than once and the fines are very stiff for late payments.
There is a tremendous amount of income potential in this business. By the end of my first full year I was able to get married in Las Vegas, buy a home, and add vehicle dedicated for window cleaning. I’ll be 4 years old in October and have 3 trucks, 2 office staff 6 full time window cleaners and half a dozen contractors across the nation. (Admittedly , half the size I had planned on in year 4)
And the last thing. The labor side of things can really suck sometimes. The smiles and appreciation from homeowners seeing the results of a well executed job are worth the headaches, exhaustion, cuts, bruises and bee-stings. Focus on the smiles!
Great post Ryan its full of things you should do to run a successful company.
[COLOR="#008080"]If you want to keep your business more than 2 years - make your tax payments and make them on time. Starting out you’ll be able to just pay quarterly but I strongly recommend getting in the habit of paying monthly. I’ve spent my tax collection money more than once and the fines are very stiff for late payments. [/COLOR] You could have not put it any better, [I][B]“they DON"T PLAY around”…[/B][/I]
WCS,
Thank you so much for the feedback and the insight. Right now I have not began just in the process of ordering my equipment. I will be sure to stay on top of all my taxes once the income begans to roll in. I have all my papers to include Lic, EIN, and LLC papers. I want to do this the right way. I am now in the shooping market for becoming bonded and getting insurance. Srating a business is not easy especially when you are kicking out money for start up cost. But I am really looking forward to the fruit of my labor. Again thank you so much and continued success to you.
