Hello everyone… Sorry for my spelling I work graveyard and we have a 9month baby that keeps mom and I busy. Well my fam is counting on me and my great idea. This WC buiz is going to make or break us. I just got my basic Unger cleaning kit for $69 and have finished the 2 books “The window Cleaning Business” and how to clean windows like a pro. My wife is skeptical of the whole thing and to get us going I dont care to work harder for less. I told her that if I had to I was going to charge all the small store front stip mall type places a flat $10 and all the others $25 an hour, no mater how many windows were around there single story building. After a week or so and depending how many people are going to ask me back again and how often I will think about raising my prices so the people that like my work wont mind and the others will just make it so I dont have to work as hard for so little. I know everyone has told me that I may be underselling myself to much but if i can bring home at least $300 - $500 a week, I dont care how hard I will be working. My fam and I went from doing well in California to hitting rock bottom. ANd now we live in a small city in AZ and the economy is so bad, that all I know is my family depends on me. And I dont like staring at brick walls. So Im going to climb this wall and make it so my wife and 4 girls will never have to face the walls I have had to.
When I go out this week I am going to be wearing nothing but a nice t-shirt and slacks, cary my business cards with our 800 number, and sell myself. My long term goal is the $50,000 - $100,000 a year and have custom bid sheets and our company logo ironed on the back of my shirts, And caution sign buckets on each side of me ware I work. And to start all I have is basic receipt book from Office Max
And tips, templates, and info anyone has that may help my fam and I with our new adventure would be great. Untill then I will stick with my graveyard job, and try to learn from everyone and every question… And YES I will try to reframe from asking questions before searching the forum. I know how anoying that can me for some of you.
By the way, Do I need to use filtered water in my buckets? Or can I get away with AZ’s hard water? I think I may be forced to fill several buckets of water and put them in the back seat of our car, each day and refill them between every other job.
I certainly hope everything works out for you. I do have some suggestions. After insurance, taxes, and all of the other overhead expenses, $25.00 sounds a little. Especially since you are new and will take time to learn all of the little tricks to improve efficiency. Go to the Mr. Sanchez blogs on this site and you will pick up a lot of time saving shortcuts. $40.00 per hr. is more realistic. Be persistent, never stop marketing, and don’t give up easily.
I’m pulling for you all the way!
welcome and good luck. Once you get going $300-500 a DAY is a decent day. Most of the time I’d say its higher.This can be a very good business even in this economy, trust me. Be professional and do a great job and read everything you can on here.
Welcome,
Sounds like your ready to go. Remember that just because you hear the word No it only means No that day. When cleaning storefronts keep beating your head against the wall and eventually the wall will fall down. Once these managers and owners see that you will show up consistently and work hard they eventually come around. Go get em!
Amber2008, I am in the same boat. I still live in Cali. but I had to walk from my home w/3 kids & wife. So I know where you are. I have worked for myself for more than 20 years. I have done well (for the most part). Hear are the big things I have learned with starting and running a business.
Start:
Stay focused on the goal.
Price is not the main factor. example, BMW are expensive & VW bugs are cheaper!
Service/quality will sell you the best.
Never give up. No is just a obsticle to overcome
Running Bus.
By conservitive (don’t by shinny objects because they are the latest and greatest)
Save for the rainny days.
train employees, too be as perfect as you are and expect nothing less.
do what you say and say what you do.
There are many more things but this is the major lessons I have learned
Oh. keep wife in the loop so she feels more comfortable & secure that thing will/are going to work out (Trust In God whom/what ever it may be.)
Hey Amber2008,
you don’t need filtered water. I work in one of the hardest water areas in the world & use water from the tap/faucet. You may want to invest in some pro-soap though, I use GG4.
