Window Cleaning for work

kayak83

Not sure if this is correct place to post?!?!

My work is in need of a window cleaner and I am considering putting in a quote to come in at the weekend to do it.

I estimate that there is around 70+ windows (1m x 2m), half at ground and others at first floor level. I estimate a whole days work or maybe 2.

I do not want to undersell myself - what is the going rate? What should I charge?
Id get a friend to help so would that justify increasing price too.

Id be interested to know what other businesses pay for their window cleaning and what people charge?

Thanks in advance

Quentin

Bear in mind you would need to take out insurance for this. (Public liability as well as employers liability and personal injury for you and your employee).

If this is just a one off job you are tendering for you might find this means you can't be competitive.

Timmne

Apologies for not being able to help with your original question but if you consider investing in a reach pole system, you can do it all from ground level.

http://www.reachandclean.co.uk/acatalog/special_offer.html - it's not *cheap* but means you could even specialise in window cleaning in the future!

kayak83

thankyou for the idea to get a reach pole system - they look good but certainly at the moment it is expensive. maybe if it takes off I will invest in one.
Thanks for your replys

geordie_joe

Timmne wrote: »

Apologies for not being able to help with your original question but if you consider investing in a reach pole system, you can do it all from ground level.

Just make sure you don't employ an idiot who thinks it will be great fun, when spotting a window that is open one inch, to lever the window open wide enough to get the brush in a spray gallons of water round the room.

The plonker who did it to my flat did it when I was sitting giving a witness statement to a policeman after witnessing two idiots setting fire to a post box.

Dorset coppers don't half get upset, and move quickly, when you turn a hosepipe on them.

The owner of the window cleaning company got upset too, but to be fair he did move fast and replaced everything without question.

kayak83

How much should I be charging?

Quentin

Cost all your overheads - include that insurance!

Then decide your hourly rate for your labour and that of your mates. Take into account your our client will require an invoice, so you will need to charge an hourly rate you are happy to pay tax on (separate return as self employed).

Work out how long it's going to take - include travelling time. (Your info above states one or two days - you need to be sure you estimate correctly as if you are wrong you won't be able to go back after the job's done and ask for more!)

Then cost it up.

yakface77

Hey KAYAK,
Im self employed and last year saw the risk of my main business having quiet months so invested in window cleaning equipment. I call it plan B.
I did not need to use plan b until 2 weeks ago.

I started doing neighbours and families windows plastics and white water goods, all from the luxury of the pavement.

I invested in a second hand trolley system which is a water-fed-pole system, using pure filtered water, you need filters to purify. i put the trolley in the back of the car. i top up 4x 25ltr cannisters which gets me 150-200 pounds of work.

Kayak, a rough guide for window cleaners is a £1 a window, 70 windows using this system would take an average person 2 hours max, a house with 10 windows takes me 10 mins max, and is worth £10

I did a ladys pine end white goods and guttering, took me an hour used 1 x25ltr container and earned me £40. nice and easy, however is physical, but you dont have to worry about falling off ladders.

The system cost me £250 with a telescopic brush, trolley with motor pump and battery, to pump through the water, also the filter system was in with that. you can pay from £600-£3000 for trolley, trailer and full systems.

I now have 15 regular customers, commercial and domestic worth £250 a month to me, and i can do them all within 2 days no sweat.:beer:

When you clean windows, you get other work easily, from nosy neighbours etc.

I love the exercise and the open doors, it is a great means of extra income.

hope this helps, pm me if you like

yakface77

If your company contact the big providers, they will do this for between £70-£100, they are bigish windows. Im not that well expierienced, but i always say 'ill beat anyone else on price';)

kayak83

Thanks to all!
I am self employed part time anyway for other work I do so tax is all taken care off.
I'll have a proper count up of windows and put in a quote.
Cheers:beer:

d900

i have owned a house for a 3 years and so have only had to wash windows for 3 years having tried everything i am yet to find anything better than some washing up liquid in some water giving the windows a good scrub and then drying them with the local free news paper.