hey gang!
i am posting my first thread with you guys/ladies and am interested in any advice you may give a new guy.
are there any good sites i should visit for free advice for a beginner.
here is my backround, I own a mobile detailing co since 1997, and many client of mine have inquired about cleaning their windows. I currently have three client that i do windows as well as their vehicles.
i do two resturants. rest. #1 has 5 24"x36" exterior windows, and the insides are divided in four. total # of windows is 25.
exteriors done every month for 14 bucks. every thre mos i do int and exterior at $35.
#2 resterant has 75 window on inside and out veriing in size from approx 6x6, 18x18, with 3 at 18x24". i do int and exterior monthly at $65. i do the outsides every two weeks at$35.
#3 is a residential i charge $1 per window on the first floor, $2 on the second floor. note: i dont have to move the ladder around for the second floor because the roof goes all theway around. this is gravy cause it only takes about an hour without the use of my helper, 25 mins with a helper.
do these rates sound good for my and my client( i donyt want to rip them off, and i beleive i do an excelent job and ewant to be compesated correctly as well)

one more thing...equipment.
i use an ettore scrubber and verious size stell sueegies. my solutions i use is the one from home depot(pricey) or an amonia solution, or amonia and a little dish detergent. should i switch to brasss squeegies? should i use a different cleaning solution?

thanks in advance.

rob
dirt doctors enterprises of tampabay

Dirt Doctors
"We do Clean.. Know what I mean?"

Ay your prices, you can't have insurance, do you?

I would dump the help, because you are raping yourself blind.

The window washer in my area charges $40 per house, verses your $17.

The guys I have seen post use Gleam, which I suppose is the same as Dawn dishwashing soap.

I may be reading your post wrong, but if it were correct, I would re-adjust my prices quick.

If you do a search on this board (I think the post were around 1.5 years ago), I believe the price per sq ft should work out to be about .15-cents per sq ft., or about $2.50 per side of a normal size window at a storefront.

Good luck, window washing is supposed to pay better than P/W, with hardly any overhead.

Best advise though, get insurance if you don't already have it.

how much insurance will i need and what is the cost. what is the reason you suggest insurance so much? i dont do many clients and my eat up everypenny due to the fact i only do this paet time. what is the minimum amout of coverage to get?
my auto detailing biz is insured and let me tell you it is expensive!
thanks for replying
dirt

Dirt Doctors
"We do Clean.. Know what I mean?"

Dirt,
Your prices are way to low.We get $8 per window (average size) frame on residential (more for large windowspicture windows,sliding doors,etc.)
OrangeCrest is right on the commercial windows $2.50 to $3.00 per side is about all you can get,but it's still pays good if you know how to do glass fast(practice is the only way to get fast)We use all Ettore products including their window wash concentrate.Brass squeeges don't preform any better than steel,these are merely the holder for the rubber edge,some guys prefer silicone,we have never tried it.
Our insurance falls in with our PWing business.When we only offered window washing we carried 250,000 liability,can't remember how much it cost now,but I know it was not a lot of $$$.
OrangeCrest is also right that you need to raise your prices,you are hurting the guys that offer windows that are charging what they should and have insurance.Why insurance?Break a window,stomp some little old ladies flowers,damage some siding with a ladder etc. and see why you need insurance.

word!

Dirt Doctors
"We do Clean.. Know what I mean?"

What type of windows are in the residential job (double hung, casements)? Pricing will vary from market to market. You should shop your competition, most will give phone quotes, others will come out and give you an onsite estimate. Adjust accordingly, and fast. We run a window cleaning service, and run 90% residential an 10% commercial. Insurance is a must like the guys mentioned, it's also a good selling tool.

Solution is up to you, most companies use DAWN dish soap, we use a proprietary solution to our company.

There is excellent money in residential window cleaning, we currently have two three man crews, each crew generates on average about $200K/year.

We are looking to add PW as an additional revenue stream. We also offer gutter cleaning and blind cleaning.

If you want more information email me at gary@noonshine.com

Good Luck!

Gary

Squirtgun, do you do any Residential powerwashing?

Degraff

Jaycam Pressure Washing

We do residential and commercial,we have been doing a lot more commercial than anything else lately.We have done a few decks,and we are getting more calls for housewashes.We would like to be doing a lot more.

Squirtgun,

How do you go after the commercial jobs? Such as your new strip malls under construction, TGif, Ruby Tuesdays, etc. I know that a lot of commercial units are going up around me and I would like to get in on this industry. Any info is greatly appreciated and since we are not close in distance, no need to fear me.

Degraff

Jaycam Pressure Washing

Start by approaching the manager of the restaurants,for strip malls you can try to get the number of the owner or property management company.A fair amount of our commercial work was carried over from the days when we only washed windows.
For new construction The general contractor is the guy to see.The $$$ for commercial work varies greatly.fastfood places don'tr pay as well as TGIf or Ruby Tuesdays.Good luck!!!