This site has been an awesome wealth of information for me. There’s so much more to this work than I’d ever imagined. Anyway, I just started window cleaning last week and finally got my business cards in the mail yesterday. I was one of those kids that always wanted to squeegee dad’s windshield at the gas station, and the feeling of fanning a window feels therapeutic and ‘zen’ to me, as cheesy as that sounds. So, here I am with a half-dozen brass squeegees, a bucket, too many rags and a wand. I’ve practiced on my sliding glass mirror so many times I’ve worn off the film.
Another reason I chose to go about this business is to be my own boss. I was getting tired of being micro-managed to the point I’d talk back if I felt I wasn’t being treated fairly, or if my opinion or decision was clearly correct. So herein, I’ve probably already answered my own question, but when purchasing my stuff at a local wc store, the owner said a guy needed help and gave him my number. It turns out this guy is a 30 year veteran of window cleaning. I met with him, and he proposed I work with him for 6 months at $15/hr. learning all of the tricks of the trade. I worked for him yesterday, and did a dozen storefronts downtown before noon. This guy knows every other person on the street. I don’t know how he gets his work done waving to people every 10 seconds. He said my work is up to his level, but my speed needs to pick up. I’m still learning, so this is expected.
He said that he wants to retire, and possibly wants me to take over his business after my apprenticeship with him (he takes a cut). I feel like this would be a great opportunity, and he’s already throwing me random work he doesn’t want to do. I think this is a great way to start, but there’s something to be said about closing my own deals and doing the work the way I want to. I’ve noticed he’s getting a bit lazy with the work and can’t always see his mistakes with his age. He was cool enough to tell me to point them out though. It is part-time work with this dude, so I can pursue my own clients on my own time.
What do you all think? Should I go rogue-wolf, or stick it out with this guy to learn some tricks? What if you were presented this opportunity your first week of window cleaning? Tricky one.
" I’ve practiced on my sliding glass mirror so many times I’ve worn off the film."… practice makes perfect!
Then you said …“this guy is a 30 year veteran of window cleaning.” " He said my work is up to his level,"
That would throw a red flag for me, you probably cleaned that 1 door a hundred times and over 30yrs that guy has or should have a least cleaned 100,000 pieces of glass …“and you guy have the same quality of work???” one of two things your a Squeegee king or he’s not that talented of a window cleaner.Maybe you should learn proper technique from some one else that will really teach you … its just my .02 cents.
As for doing your own thing once you have the tools technique and insurance and ect…You should build a business of your own. Being a proper business owner will bring you the things you hope and dream for!
If he’s getting lazy then get yourself your own uniforms, your own insurance, and hire yourself out to him with the understanding that you also want to try catching your own business. Watch and learn how he runs his business and compare and contrast it against wcr guru’s. In my opinion, cleaning the glass is about 20% of your work, 60% is learning how to run the business, and another 30% (at least) is learning how to manage employees. And no, I didn’t do my math wrong - if you have employees, you understand…:eek:
$15 / hr for 6 months is a pretty cheap investment.
If he wants to retire, you could probably come up with a really good agreement. For something like that you could give him a commission of 10 or 20% of what his customers are worth instead of trying to scrape up enough funds to buy him outright. Most customers are loyal to their cleaner so some of them won’t switch to you automatically. But if you let them know he’s retired and you’re sending him a commission every month they might stick easier.
If you lose a customer, he loses the commission from that customer. Your customers are 100% yours.
It is sort of a flag that your work is already up to his. There’s a LOT of little tricks you can learn from wcr. Like Steve said, either you’re really good at this (which is possible - I had one cleaner who picked it up in 10 minutes) or he sort of sucks at it. But as long as the glass looks good and the customers are happy, then that’s the minimum level you have to meet so it sounds like low hanging fruit to me.
If I were you this is what I would do (assuming you haven’t done WC work in the past and have no onsite experience)
work for this guy for 6 months, alongside him while asking questions and learning techniques (both business and in the field)
after 6 months get your own insurance and business properly set up. If he is retiring then taking a 70/30 (ish) split for some time until you purchase the work down the line seems fair?
Just a few ideas… I would hope you aren’t his level of a window cleaner yet, 30 years means he should be damn good. Maybe he likes your attention to detail and work ethic, which makes you a good candidate for eventually selling his customers to.
Mike Radzik
Pro Window Cleaning
Central Massachusetts
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Here is what I would do . you said you are just starting out so I’m sure you don’t have enough work to keep yourself busy all week . I would just keep working with this guy on a part time bases, an if you can benifit by learning a thing or two that’s just a plus . If he is telling you the truth about getting out of the business remember I’m sure he has had his storefront customers for a long time which means a lot that is something that you should consider buying if he is selling . If he turns out that he doesn’t sell then it is what it is an at least you filled in the gaps made some money learned a little and by then you should be well on your way to having your own things going . If you do buy his work make sure you do it legit lawyer contract find out what a fair price would he for his work
One more thing I wouldn’t worry about how he works if he is talking to people an taking his time only doing 12 stores before noon that’s how he works I’m sure one he first started he was more motivated to move an get things done . This doesn’t mean when an if you take over his work you have to work this way . I took my work over from an older guy he was the same way would be talking to every one took us one hour to do one center now that same center I’m done in 20 minutes
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Sounds like my area… But most guys around here are old and only do storefronts, so they price residential the same way.
They’re probably great at storefront with 25-40 years of experience, but they’ve put the residential pricing so low that I get crazy looks a lot with my pricing
Mike Radzik
Pro Window Cleaning
Central Massachusetts
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Have you ever had your store front customers ask you to give them a price on there house ? You can tell them 5 dollars a window an they think it’s crazy . I don’t even waste my time when a store front customer asks me to do there house I just say I’m so busy I don’t even think I would be able to get to it this month or next sorry .
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Only one customer, owns a gas station I do twice a week, wants power washing and window cleaning… On his house, mothers, and sisters… All drove luxury SUVs as well. Great customers with beautiful homes.
It hurts to think some guys charge $4 for a double hung 1/1 and $2 for a casement in and out
Mike Radzik
Pro Window Cleaning
Central Massachusetts
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There is always going to be a guy that doesn’t know any better out there that is doing a house wash for $99.99 Windows for $2-$4 per I try not to let those guys bother me they think that just because they keep getting yes do it ,yes do it there winning then once they realize they cant even afford a new squeegee or a company shirt they fold up, an then the next guy starts up. I am making double they make sometimes triple and get plent of no that is to much no I have a guy that does it cheaper. Yes It aggravates me they are charging this kind of money, but in the long run ill be still cleaning in 10-15 years from now they will be working for someone.
One thing you should do is get a signed agreement now that in 6 months you are either going to buy his customers or part ways, something that favors protecting you so that it is not 6 months of working with him only to decide “Well, sorry but I am not ready to sell this yet. You can still work for me for $15 an hour though.”
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Well the problem trying to sell your service for rezzy work to a storefront owner is a different process totally then a fresh rezzy call.
The storefront owner normally as been dealing with people (wc) that come in to their store and bottom lining the price because for some stupid reason people have a mind set that you have to charge rock bottom prices for SF windows (which is not true). The key to this situation is start from day one with your SF clients…Dont Be A Low Baller! show the difference between your service and what all the others do.
Im not saying you can change their (SF owners) mind but at least you can make a decent living doing storefront work and if your SF client wants there home done they wont be shocked at your pricing.
So [MENTION=36863]walkthruglass[/MENTION] which way you leaning towards inregards to working for this guy or going on your own?
Storefront customers think that $15 for their storefront is a good deal but $15 for one DH window with storms is a rip off. Both tasks take about the same amount of time but people don’t realize that.
Yes you can make a decent living doing storefronts, But for me I don’t waste my time with storefronts an resi sometimes I just tell them a price per window, an say let me know if an when you want it done. lmao then the conversation will never come up again.
Thanks for all of your help! I just wrote a huge reply, but couldn’t post it.
I’m thinking a balance between the long-time window cleaner and my own business is the best way to go. I don’t want to be at the mercy of others.
The guy won’t get on a ladder, so I do all of the ladder work, plus he’s sending me residential clients without taking a cut. He refuses to do residential. I just did a 9 story condo with my climbing gear that he hooked up for me.
I appreciate all of your advice. I was told I wouldn’t be able to make a living doing this until I’m a year in, but I feel I’m doing ok so far.
