hi! may i ask where can i find free....

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WindowCleaner

New Member
hi all of the member and friend's i just planing for my new first job.. and to be a window cleaner... i hope at my age 18 .. young life can be success.. am poor too go out buy fancy equiment and book.. and tips.. i use the library to got me here. anyone here can help me a find many of the video tips' for newbie or anything that talk about cleaning window. my english is poor . its is my second launguage.i try to read all but my english too poor to follow the intruction. that in this forums and others site i have been to. i think if i watching any video clip it' would more helpfull for me to understand. please help me am very thank you all.. and if there is anyone that live near me and would like to help me with real life or leave a email so if i have questiong i can ask for advise show me the way to learn. lead me to the way to sucess please help me .
 
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grasshawg

New Member
I'd like to help you if we can get through the language barrier. I'm no window cleaner, but I may be able to throw some advice your way. (Do's and dont's type stuff) What part of Texas are you in? I'm in East Texas, close to Louisiana. You can contact me if you wish.
Micah Kommers probably would be your best contact person for the "hands on" side of window cleaning. He posts a lot. I'm sure he'll help if he can. Good luck!
Randy
 
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grasshawg

New Member
After my original post, I was thinking and decided to add something.
First of all, I applaud your decision to become self employed. It takes a lot of guts to begin with, but for someone who is lacking in communication skills, it takes even more guts. Good for you!!
However, may I suggest making English your FIRST language if you're going to live and work in the United States? For one, that would give you a great advantage. I am not bi-lingual, (and alot of people are not), so you've got a leg up on much of your competition.
Secondly, this may sound harsh, but your native tounge belongs in your native country. Your potential customers will have much more respect for you, too.
Your English is not bad at all. You have the basic knowledge needed to communicate. That's more than some have. That shows you're willing to try. You just need to take the next step and take a class or two. Again, I applaud your guts. You are not afraid to take big steps. I know this post wasn't a waste of time. I can tell by the way you spoke in your post. Take Care, and God Bless!
Randy
 
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Micah

New Member
Hey WindowCleaner,

If it's possible, you would learn a lot from working with a window cleaner. I wouldn't suggest working with one in the town you plan on getting business, but if you can find a WC'er to work with that you won't be direct comp. with it would be great. Try to buy your basic equipment first. An 18 inch squegee would be good for beginners, a 18 inch strip washer, a 8 foot pole, a good water bucket, and some decent towls to wipe with. Cleaning windows fast is a skill. It can't be taught over the internet. Watching a video could help somewhat, but nothing will beat being able to talk with a window cleaner in person. Age should not hold you back. Im 20 and I consider my business very profitable. It's nice to see another young person want to work at being successful. Keep in mind the cost of doing business. Save for taxes, and definatly think and get qoutes for insurance. Look into the Small Business Administration to see about getting a small loan to help you get started. I believe they offer great interest rates, and are easier to get then a normal loan. I do agree with Randy, communication skills are a must. You'll catch on quickly though. If you have any more questions, please ask. :)
 
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WindowCleaner

New Member
first of all i would like to say thank you to grasshaawg soo nice too met you :)
i live in garland texas near dallas city so far from you isnt? and yes i living in united state .i go school and night school to learn english . i am trying improve my english in each everyday. i wont give up my mom told me " never give up on thing you had choice , no matter how time's it takes. have to know in your self that you can do anything its up to you to make it happened." i grown up in a poor family i want to help my parent and my self to pay the rent and bill at home's . i willing to trying anything to be sucess. thank you very much randy for your understanding. comunication is very hard for me to get a customer. please help me with how can i start a converation when i meet or nocking a house . am very thank you randy
second is thanks some tips from micah but i dont know anyonethat lives near me doing window cleaning. so difical for me but i wont give up i veryy appraciate two of you hope we can talk some more . i must go study my english class now thank you for you'll times thank you very much
 
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grasshawg

New Member
Garland is not very far from me, about 180 miles. I know the Dallas area very well as a former truck driver. My brother lives somewhere around Greenville Ave. and Shilo Rd. off 635.
Your mom sounds like a wise woman. Listen to her. She gives good advice.
Let me see if I understand your problem:
1. I'm going to assume you're hispanic.
2. You can't go to the rich white neighborhoods without being harrassed by the police, and getting people there to trust you is a problem thanks to many bad people that have given hard working honest people like yourself a bad reputation. Sad but true.
3. You can't go to the black neighborhoods without worrying about getting back out of there alive. Sad but true.
4. You can't go to the hispanic neighborhoods because of struggling hard working people like you simply don't have extra $$$ to spend on window cleaning.
How to solve this problem? Go to the rich white neighborhoods anyway, dress sharply, smile, shake hands, tell them what you do and why you're there. And say it in the best English you can. You'll have to gain their trust, because they probably won't trust you from the start. Sad but true.
I know you have a limited budget. Go to www.vistaprint.com, and see how to design your own business cards. Place your order, and they'll be in your lap in two weeks.
Got a printer? Use window's "word pad" to make a simple flyer you can print out. Get permission from gas stations, auto parts stores, hardware stores, etc. to place your cards and/or your flyers on their counter or in their window.
Most of all, keep working on that English. I am always willing to help anyone who is willing to help himself. Take care, and God bless!
Randy
 
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Revive

New Member
High end neirbourhood

Although it's hard for me to understand the racial part,I guess it is what it is.Grasshawg is $100% right. The high end neibourhoods are more likely to spend the money. Use your age to your advantage. Offer to do a window for free to show how good you are. I would imagine that most fairly succesful people, no matter where you are, love to see this kind of initative. I know I do. "Good Luck". My son is the same age, and I love hearing customers telling me how professional he is. Act and present yourself in the same manor you have shown on this board,and sooner or later you are bound to be succesful. My hat is off to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Richard Clayson
Revive Powerwashing Inc.
905 208 4308
 
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WindowCleaner

New Member
thank you for the links to makes my bussiness card and good advice thank you very much randy i had been so much busy working at the restuarant so i have some extra cash to start out . yes very hard time working and studying but i wont givin up yet i had try done serval bussiness card but things is do i need to do any fancy bussiness card from the first start? well i had think about it i just buy a stack of print paper and i will just print with out any color cause too much money to spend color and in a normal print paper i will have might like 10 of the card in each paper i will be alot busy because i need help my parent paying the rent and all. but things i still researching get more idea this is the forum that i had found alot of interesting thanks all well 180 miles. is very far takes like maybe 5 hours to get to garland.and i havent know alot of street around but wow thanks .i had no car for right now because too much bills.. its more diffical for me to go around but it's not the problem at all ill still trying my best

Revive.
congratuation to your son richchard calyson. i got alot to learn from him and all of poeple thanks very much and thanks all everyone in this forum that dad past by and putting out some time and read thanks all
 
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grasshawg

New Member
All that time and effort may be better spent on something else rather than trying to make your own cards. Remember, the idea is to look as professional as possible and not to look like the same old lackey that is here today and gone tomorrow.
I understand if you simply don't have the $$$, but if you have enough $$$ for all that ink and paper, there's enough for vista-print. Nothing fancy. Give me you email. I'll send you a couple of samples and let you know how much they cost. Take care.
Randy

ps. Just from your posting, I can tell your English is getting better already. Good going!
 
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Micah

New Member
A lot of the office supply stores print business cards. The cheap ones are extremely plain, but they still contain the important basic stuff. If I remember correctly, it was $12 for 500. The main problem of printing cards off the computer is they smear once they're the least bit wet. They also tend not to look as professional. I wish you success.
 
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grasshawg

New Member
Micah, Vista Print offers professionally printed cards. You just design them yourself using their templates or custom design your own. I ordered from them at first because I was strapped for cash just starting out, and I've kept ordering from them because they're good quality.
They usually offer 250 cards free for frist time customers. All you pay is the shipping. After your initital order, they ususally offer great deals. I got 1000 cards for about $23, shipping and all!
They print 'em and mail them to you.
Randy
 
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Micah

New Member
Vistaprint is a great source. I was trying to down play the idea of printing cards from the computer. The business card is a representation of you and your business, so it should be as professional as possible. I get 1000 cards printed front and back in full color with a shiny gloss coating for about $70.00 from an internet company as well. The price from a local company was in the 400's!
 
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Christopher

New Member
Hello Window Cleaner, Here is a website where they have a lot of info, a bulletin board and links to several stores that sell window cleaning supplies that are less expensive than buying them locally. Some have kits for newbies or intro specials. Some of the Stores have salesmen that have experience that will help you when you have questions.
http://www.window-cleaning.net/
 
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Micah

New Member
WindowCleaner,

I read an article in the latest American Window Cleaner yesterday. It spoke of a guy that started washing car windows for $2 in parking lots in 1993. When he realized there was more money in storefront and residential windows, he did exactly that. Now's he's got a great business going for himself. Don't give up. Keep your prioritys straight. Buy the best equipment you can afford. Buy Insurance the DAY you can afford it. Continue working on your English. And save the money. Plan on holding 30 cents to every dollar for taxes (you shouldn't have to spend that much, but be prepared).
 
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