to starting a WC business. I have weighed this idea for a bout a good 10-12 months. I just graduated the police academy. Everyone knows that LEO do not make good money, it is a job you love to do.
Well I am wanting to have a good second income for my family. My hours for doing this part-time is super fantastic. I work on average 15-17 days a month and have the rest off. I work a month of day and a month of nights. Plus I am off every other weekend. With this schedule I have plenty of time to work at this part time and maybe grow it to a full time business.
My question to you all is what are the very basics to getting started? Equipment, insurance, advertisement etc…
Do I need to get INS to start? What equipment will I need to start off with and a rough estimate on the cost of that and doing flyers just the easiest way to do it to get started?
Welcome to WCR. I would get insurance as soon as possible. Its not that bad. It was like $600 a year for me. With ladders and all I think I spent less then $1000.00 to get started. If you talk to Chris or Alex they can hook you up with everything you will need. Check out the store here.
You’ll find all your answers if you go to the search box. They’re is tons of good info here.
Start up is next to nothing. I would definitely get liability insurance and possibly a janitorial bond. You may not have employee’s but I bond looks good to a costumer they’re around a $100 (give or take) per year.
As far as costs - no offense Stark, but $150 isn’t realistic in my view, expect to spend upwards of $1000 - I’m just being upfront. Here’s the breakdown:
File business entity with state/county - check on licensing if needed.
Basic tools - squeegee handle, channels w/rubber, replacement rubber, hucks or scrim (towels), razor scraper, t - bar, scrubber covers, steel wool, soap, ladder.
Insurance - $500 - $1000 for the year. Some might finance monthly. I pay $275 for the year 2 MILL GL (don’t ask me how)
Vehicle
Biz cards/flyers/marketing material
Telephone
Of course there is a lot more, but this should put you in business. But then again…what other kind of business can you start with such low overhead? Good Luck!
Welcome Tony. (man that felt weird)
I’d say get insurance as soon as you can. If you aren’t in a hurry to build the business you can start out somewhere between the cost Stark and Dormatex gave you. The easiest way to make a little cash is to pass out some fliers and get friends and family to spread the word for you. Also since you are starting out part time I’d encourage you to charge a fair price - don’t go low just to draw some customers. I’m not saying you have to charge a premium but since it’s not your bread and butter and your taking away family time to have a second job why not get paid well for that?
Squeegee handles: Unger Ergo Tec & Unger 0° swivel handle
Squeegee channels: Unger 18", 14" and 6" stainless steel
Squeegee rubber: Ettore or Unger (soft should be fine)
Scrubber T-Bar: 14", 18" (preferably ones that swivel) Ettore Or Unger
Scrubber sleeve: Pulex Microtiger &/or Ettore Microfibre or Unger Microfibre.
Bucket & lid: Unger or Pulex (with clips for holding squeegee and scrubber)
Poles: 6ft-8ft pole for low windows and 18ft-30ft for up to 3 levels. Unger or Ettore
Scrapper: Pocket scraper (any major brand) 6" Triumph (angled)
Ladders: Basic 1-2 step ladder (costco) Little Giant or knockoff (Werner/ Costco/ Featherlight) or any quality extension ladder. Tall enough for all jobs you are planning to tackle. (buy once)
Towels: terry towels for basic wiping of sills, frames and tracks, huck (surgical) towels or microfibres for glass detailing.
Non-essentials but nice to have:
Belt system: Bucket On A Belt (BOAB) Unger, Spray bottle and bottle holder for belt.
Pole accessories: Unger fixi-clamp, angle adapter (to match pole brand), Ettore super brush (good for cobwebs, cleaning screens)
Now you’ve done some home work. Most of that list you can buy here at the WCR store (prices shown)
Werner ladders are great. Install a pair of ladder levelers on each ladder. I use a 16,24 and 32 ft ext.ladders. If you have the cash invest in section ladders. A window cleaners “must have” A 24 ft pole is nice but rarely used by me personally unless you have tons off commercial work. I use a 3 section telescoping pole by Garelick. I think its a 12 ft’er. I use it all the time. Great for gutter cleaning too.
Hers a tip: Exploit the fact you are a police officer. Trust is soooo important when it come to residential cleaning. I was a fireman and used it to sell. I didnt brag about it but mentioned it my bio and through conversation. Home owners perk up to things like that. Use it you’ve earned the right.
Good Luck
I just graduated the police academy. Everyone knows that LEO do not make good money, it is a job you love to do.
I spent about $800 in tools which included a bucket, some poles, squeegees,strippers, huck and terry towels, little giant, stepladder, scrapers, blades, steel wool and of course soap. I did one job without a BOAB and knew from that point I needed one. I got ripped off on the little giant though and paid a whooping $450. I have found that the Werner knockoff is just as good and alot more inexpensive.
I put everything on credit which I paid off in 7 months but I would advise not to do this. Pay with cash you’re better off. I didn’t pay any interest because it was a home depot card but you don’t need to be behind the 8 ball so to speak.
The Insurance was about $560 for general liability and I paid half of it in cash and the other half later. I would say it would cost you nearly $1200 to have all the tools listed above but then again I could be wrong.
Welcome Tony
After you get all the bells and whistles or just enough to get by. I feel that the MOST important thing you could do to be successful at any business is to work for a company for a minimum of 6 months. A year would be better.
You will learn how to use the tools, chemicals, what kind of work you like to do. Your personality and people skills will determine if you are better equiped for residential work, ground work small commercial (store fronts) or various multi-level projects. You will be exposed to what to do and what Not to do at their expense and not yours. How to bid and how to go fast enough to make a good business hourly/daily income.
You could have all the bright shiny new tools, logo shirt and hat, custom biz cards/fliers and a styl’n ride. But, if you can’t clean a window perfectly everytime and quickly then you will lose the job and no referrals.
There are A LOT of perks for being self employed with tax write offs. Practice squeegeeing on your house, moms, the neighbors, the church or an empty building. Get someone to mentor you near you that is willing to show you some tricks and you will be way ahead.
Best to you on your venture.
Or…do what I did and have a garage sale. You would be surprised how quickly you can come up with a couple hundred dollars worth of junk to sell. And then I placed an order at WCR and Alex hooked me up!
This is my first post. Sorry for seemingly highjacking this thread, but since I’m in a similar situation as Tony, I thought I would also ask a few questions.
I am also thinking about cleaning windows part time in order to increase my income. I would like to keep it simple at first and try to get by with about a $300 investment (not including insurance) at first to test the waters. I have no experience in cleaning windows and I doubt I will quit my present job to work for a window cleaner full time to gain experience because I couldn’t afford the drop in income.
I have:
Tacoma with a toobox mounted in the bed.
Access to ladders that I can borrow. Little giant, 4’,6’ and 12’ step ladders
Experience in dealing with wealthy clients and high end homes. I’m in the high end custom cabinetry industry.
A few questions:
Am I crazy for even thinking about trying to start with $300? I’ve read $150 all the way up to $1000 and thats a big difference!
Should start by targeting residential or commercial or both?
Could I make do with a starter kit that is sold on this site? I came up with my $300 figure based on the fact that the price of the startup kits range from $125 -$200.
I am well aware that I will be limited in the types of jobs I can do with this little equipment and experience. But, I am not sure of any other way that I could gain the equipment and experience without jumping in feet first.
Would either of you two, who are asking this question about starting a WC business, hire someone to work in your house who has no ins.? Where is that horror story that floats around here on occasion?
Get the basics as aforementioned. But build up your equipment inventory S-L-O-W-L-Y. I started out part time at first myself. Start out doing the easier homes first until your skills improve and you can affored new gear.
The beauty of doing it part times is the money is still good and you can do as much or little as you like. If you a Police officer, your shift schedual is going to change every 6 months or so anyways. So don’t go to deep into buying gear just yet.
Last thing. Try to set up monthly exterior only cleaning accounts. That will keep you in the game and you’ll get more income than just annual cleanings.
Hope this helps,
