I'm a solo window cleaner but I've got a freind who has a cupple of lads and hes said it's a nightmare and quoted they will never care more than you! They just don't so thats always put me off takes years to get a good solid reputation and months to loose it a few bad cleans on the bounce is all it takes hope u get on top of it mate 👍
Mate, “Never care more than you?” You’re lucky if they care half as much as you, & if they’re any good at it, eventually they’ll start up on their own, I have one guy help me twice a week, but mostly work alone, My advice to anyone starting up would be, just work alone, I’ve been at it for 38yrs (I do 50% trad & 50% WFP) The guy I have twice a week, is to help me on the trad work
Thanks for sharing , it must be very disappointing when people let you down after you are fair with them but that’s life ! I’m pretty thorough when cleaning (self employed ) but watching this has been a good reminder to ensure I don’t get complacent with my own work 👍🏻
Hi PK, ive been in this business for 20 years pal and I only do traditional work, face to window, clean all frames, then glass and wipe all sills, never had any complaints because it works. WFP is good for high rise offices etc, anywhere 3 storeys or above is not accessible by ladder. Upto you how to teach the ways you work but trad is always the best result, old school face to window!
WFP is miles better than trad. Trad leaves soap on the glass which attracts dirt. Plus, you can’t get into crevices with a cloth, but you can with brush bristles and flowing water. WFP cleans the whole window and keeps in cleaner for longer. It’s not even a debate.
its good that you clean all of the frames but most trad guys don't! In the fastest window cleaner competition the rules are clean the glass and wipe the sills that's it. I don't really think you can clean the frames with cloths anyway. We turn up at customers houses sometimes and the frames have never been cleaned because they have a trad guy and the protective layer has been eaten away and that can cause issues for us. They should have got wfp in the first place and they wouldn't have that issue.
It’s hard and also scary. I employ my lad but unfortunately doesn’t have a drivers licence. we are an exterior steam cleaning business, but I’m due to have a replacement shoulder shortly. So I’m stuffed. I need to think about employing someone else. But then all of a sudden now you’re talking about 3 wages. And maybe another van. But know one will ever go the job as good as you. Even my lad has been with me for 4 years. And I’m still picking him up in cutting corners etc…. And he knows my standards. It’s all very scary. No problem through the summer time where we’re flat out but try ing to keep 2 lads busy throughout the winter and earn a bit for myself is a very scary thought and causes sleepless nights. Great vid tho.
Been there done that, too much hassle, abusing the vans, arrogant to customers, not doing a good job, calling in sick half hour before theyre due to start, went back to grafting on my own and id never change now its so much easier and no stress
I agree, I’ve had them all, over the years, drinkers, gamblers, pot heads, dreamers, druggies, bullshitters, youngsters, middle age, & even a pensioner, always on their phone guys, arguing with girlfriends, on phone, in front of customers, Moaners, can’t wait to finish, missing windows, damaging equipment, it’s stressful, I mostly work alone now, it’s less hassle 38yrs at it so far..
Enjoyed this video, if you have 3 vans you might be in that middle zone where vats applied but your not at 10 vans. Id be interested to hear how you have found that effect your business and your strategy
You mentioned that 1 man 1 van is more effective than 2 men 1 van, could you possibly explain how that is the case as in my head I have this understanding if 1 man 1 van is doing 300 quid of work a day and gets paid 150 I take home 150 whereas if 2 men 1 van are doing 500 quid worth of work and both get paid 150 (300 total) i take home 200. What have I not considered here? Edit: Your videos are very informative by the way, learnt so much thank you.
Well if the 2 staff were doing 300 each in 2 separate vans you would be making 300? Think you should aim for around 500 per van per day because after all expenses you’re probably only going to get 30-35% profit.
Not taking into account vat surely? 300 and having to pay a man, no way is there 30%profit. If you're paying someone half of that 50% it's too much, In my opinion you should be aiming for paying staff around 30% of turnover, this will be enough to then leave profit margin.
I think window cleaning is a difficult job to employ for... Because anyone half competent is going to realise very quickly that it's best for them to go out on their own and start their own round. It's low cost to entry and all you need is a bit of graft and a few months to get your round built up! What does that leave you with. Well by definition it's just the people who don't want to put in the effort. If they're not going to do that for themselves why would they do it for you?
Dont go back over it. Call you staff back to the property, show them what your not happy with, and show them exactly how you want it done. Your only making your job harder, not giving them the feedback they deserve.
This is outrageous. Checking up on your workers and telling them off for not wearing a seatbelt. Grown men. If the training is good then the quality will be good. You pay them minimum wage and tell them if they do loads of work to a high standard they can have a bonus. Speed and quality dont go hand in hand whatsoever! If you're reading this lads, have some self respect, buy a backpack, a second hand pole, a few barrels and go knocking on doors. Build your own round and earn much better money down the line.
No, it’s not outrageous. Checking up on my workers yeah I have a responsibility to my customers just like lots of other businesses like supermarkets like bus drivers heavy goods, vehicle drivers, teachers, anyone who works for a business is subject to some sort of monitoring that is the world of work. Shouldn’t need to tell anyone off for wearing a seatbelt it’s illegal and grown men should know this. Minimum wage is not the poor wage you make it out to be it’s gone up by about 30% in the last three years a massive increase and on top of this, they get a good bonus. There are lots of professionals who have been to university who are on less money than my lads. It’s not a case of speed or quality you do not have to have one without the other. It is possible to get both by working efficiently and having good equipment, good training but with good monitoring which is the point I’m making in the video.
@pkcleaning-windowcleaningm4377 well who is checking you then?? If you get a customer complaint then yes go and check the work, but the constant threat of having you check on them every week is not a good model for employee retention. They're not driving a bus or a forklift, they're squirting water on a window. There is no safety issue. So again, once trained to standard they don't need u chasing up on them. I guarantee I could go to your jobs and pick faults.
Not wearing a seatbelt and driving a van heavily laden with water and having one phone on on your lap and texting on the other whilst reversing not a safety issue????????
@pkcleaning-windowcleaningm4377 how the hell do you link that to checking if someone has cleaned windows properly? Talking about you following staff around and checking their work
Only if the person using the pole does not do the job properly. Used to clean trad for 20 plus years switched to WFP. Done properly the pole is much better, cleans frames sills and no streak makes. You just need to find a decent window cleaner.
I'm a solo window cleaner but I've got a freind who has a cupple of lads and hes said it's a nightmare and quoted they will never care more than you! They just don't so thats always put me off takes years to get a good solid reputation and months to loose it a few bad cleans on the bounce is all it takes hope u get on top of it mate 👍
Mate,
“Never care more than you?”
You’re lucky if they care half as much as you,
& if they’re any good at it, eventually they’ll start up on their own,
I have one guy help me twice a week, but mostly work alone,
My advice to anyone starting up would be, just work alone,
I’ve been at it for 38yrs (I do 50% trad & 50% WFP)
The guy I have twice a week, is to help me on the trad work
Thanks for sharing , it must be very disappointing when people let you down after you are fair with them but that’s life ! I’m pretty thorough when cleaning (self employed ) but watching this has been a good reminder to ensure I don’t get complacent with my own work 👍🏻
Had to comment again, I use the moreman tools and fairy max soap, clean each month and honestly works a treat, good luck with ur business!
Hi PK, ive been in this business for 20 years pal and I only do traditional work, face to window, clean all frames, then glass and wipe all sills, never had any complaints because it works. WFP is good for high rise offices etc, anywhere 3 storeys or above is not accessible by ladder. Upto you how to teach the ways you work but trad is always the best result, old school face to window!
WFP is miles better than trad. Trad leaves soap on the glass which attracts dirt. Plus, you can’t get into crevices with a cloth, but you can with brush bristles and flowing water. WFP cleans the whole window and keeps in cleaner for longer. It’s not even a debate.
its good that you clean all of the frames but most trad guys don't! In the fastest window cleaner competition the rules are clean the glass and wipe the sills that's it. I don't really think you can clean the frames with cloths anyway. We turn up at customers houses sometimes and the frames have never been cleaned because they have a trad guy and the protective layer has been eaten away and that can cause issues for us. They should have got wfp in the first place and they wouldn't have that issue.
It’s hard and also scary. I employ my lad but unfortunately doesn’t have a drivers licence. we are an exterior steam cleaning business, but I’m due to have a replacement shoulder shortly. So I’m stuffed. I need to think about employing someone else. But then all of a sudden now you’re talking about 3 wages. And maybe another van. But know one will ever go the job as good as you. Even my lad has been with me for 4 years. And I’m still picking him up in cutting corners etc…. And he knows my standards.
It’s all very scary. No problem through the summer time where we’re flat out but try ing to keep 2 lads busy throughout the winter and earn a bit for myself is a very scary thought and causes sleepless nights.
Great vid tho.
Been there done that, too much hassle, abusing the vans, arrogant to customers, not doing a good job, calling in sick half hour before theyre due to start, went back to grafting on my own and id never change now its so much easier and no stress
Yeah, totally understand that mate but the problem with that is it’s then not a business.
I agree, I’ve had them all, over the years, drinkers, gamblers, pot heads, dreamers, druggies, bullshitters, youngsters, middle age, & even a pensioner, always on their phone guys, arguing with girlfriends, on phone, in front of customers,
Moaners, can’t wait to finish, missing windows, damaging equipment, it’s stressful,
I mostly work alone now, it’s less hassle
38yrs at it so far..
Enjoyed this video, if you have 3 vans you might be in that middle zone where vats applied but your not at 10 vans. Id be interested to hear how you have found that effect your business and your strategy
thanks yes I am thinking of making a video about that fairly soon thanks for the interest
Surely must be vat registered already?
You mentioned that 1 man 1 van is more effective than 2 men 1 van, could you possibly explain how that is the case as in my head I have this understanding if 1 man 1 van is doing 300 quid of work a day and gets paid 150 I take home 150 whereas if 2 men 1 van are doing 500 quid worth of work and both get paid 150 (300 total) i take home 200. What have I not considered here?
Edit: Your videos are very informative by the way, learnt so much thank you.
Well if the 2 staff were doing 300 each in 2 separate vans you would be making 300? Think you should aim for around 500 per van per day because after all expenses you’re probably only going to get 30-35% profit.
35% profit ? Lol
Not taking into account vat surely?
300 and having to pay a man, no way is there 30%profit.
If you're paying someone half of that 50% it's too much,
In my opinion you should be aiming for paying staff around 30% of turnover, this will be enough to then leave profit margin.
Love you know your thoughts on salary wages Etc etc
If you are training someone it should be to your high standards and spend time together until you are sure they can do it on their own
I think window cleaning is a difficult job to employ for... Because anyone half competent is going to realise very quickly that it's best for them to go out on their own and start their own round. It's low cost to entry and all you need is a bit of graft and a few months to get your round built up!
What does that leave you with. Well by definition it's just the people who don't want to put in the effort. If they're not going to do that for themselves why would they do it for you?
Hard to get good workers nowadays
its not called reach and wash
Dont go back over it. Call you staff back to the property, show them what your not happy with, and show them exactly how you want it done.
Your only making your job harder, not giving them the feedback they deserve.
as I mention ion the video sometimes you cant tell that there is an issue with a quick visual inspection so that is why I re-clean to check
How much can the staff get for the top bonus earners? (The annual bonus amount for A+ staff members)?
Cheers mate
This is outrageous. Checking up on your workers and telling them off for not wearing a seatbelt. Grown men. If the training is good then the quality will be good. You pay them minimum wage and tell them if they do loads of work to a high standard they can have a bonus. Speed and quality dont go hand in hand whatsoever!
If you're reading this lads, have some self respect, buy a backpack, a second hand pole, a few barrels and go knocking on doors. Build your own round and earn much better money down the line.
No, it’s not outrageous. Checking up on my workers yeah I have a responsibility to my customers just like lots of other businesses like supermarkets like bus drivers heavy goods, vehicle drivers, teachers, anyone who works for a business is subject to some sort of monitoring that is the world of work. Shouldn’t need to tell anyone off for wearing a seatbelt it’s illegal and grown men should know this. Minimum wage is not the poor wage you make it out to be it’s gone up by about 30% in the last three years a massive increase and on top of this, they get a good bonus. There are lots of professionals who have been to university who are on less money than my lads.
It’s not a case of speed or quality you do not have to have one without the other. It is possible to get both by working efficiently and having good equipment, good training but with good monitoring which is the point I’m making in the video.
@pkcleaning-windowcleaningm4377 well who is checking you then??
If you get a customer complaint then yes go and check the work, but the constant threat of having you check on them every week is not a good model for employee retention.
They're not driving a bus or a forklift, they're squirting water on a window. There is no safety issue. So again, once trained to standard they don't need u chasing up on them.
I guarantee I could go to your jobs and pick faults.
Not wearing a seatbelt and driving a van heavily laden with water and having one phone on on your lap and texting on the other whilst reversing not a safety issue????????
@pkcleaning-windowcleaningm4377 how the hell do you link that to checking if someone has cleaned windows properly? Talking about you following staff around and checking their work
Cleaning with a pole does not clean windows properly.
Only if the person using the pole does not do the job properly. Used to clean trad for 20 plus years switched to WFP. Done properly the pole is much better, cleans frames sills and no streak makes. You just need to find a decent window cleaner.
you're a uneducated fool
😂😂😂😂😂😂
I agree pole is better