Trials of Finding New Job

[bad company]

Countdown said:

The ones in our area appear to have some kind of cartel i.e. they won't do a property is "somebody else's" area

I don’t see how joining a franchise would help that situation.

[Algarve]

It sounds a bit scammy... if you wanted to run a burger joint or a fried chicken place then I understand needing/wanting the support of KFC or McDonalds, along with the obvious massive branding boost.

For cleaning windows though? I think someone seen you coming.

[Countdown]

bad company said:

Countdown said:

The ones in our area appear to have some kind of cartel i.e. they won't do a property is "somebody else's" area

I don’t see how joining a franchise would help that situation.

I don't disagree. It was just a general comment about how there's "window-cleaner territories/patches" regardless of whether somebody was an individual or a franchise.

[MYOB]

bad company said:

singlecoil said:

MYOB said:

After so long unsuccessfully applying for jobs, I've decided to buy into a window cleaning franchise!

I'm a former Civil servant of 20 years so a radical departure! There is work out there if you think outside the box.

Well done for thinking outside the 'I need someone to give me a job' box ,though I'm wondering why a franchise rather than just starting on your own?

That’s what I was thinking. A leaflet drop in the area you want to work will give you enough customers to get you started. Why pay a franchise company, what exactly will they do for their cut of your money?

I’ll get all the advice and training I need. I’ll get support on running my own franchise. I'll also get the equipment, including water purifier system and poles. And best of all, I'll tell them how much I want to earn, and they will be contractually obliged to get me the business to meet my requirements.

Franchising works best for me given that I don't have time to go canvassing and I'm not exactly the best sales person out there especially in a market that is saturated with competitors.

So whilst not a perfect model, it's what is best for me, and I don't have to worry about getting customers.

I can work around my child care arrangements too. It's the perfect arrangements for me. At some point in the future, I'll consider branching out on my own once I'm established. I know and trust the owner so no concerns about being fleeced.

[MYOB]

Countdown said:

The ones in our area appear to have some kind of cartel i.e. they won't do a property is "somebody else's" area

I have enquired about this and it's not a problem here. I've been out on jobs already as part of my training and the competitors here all know one another and are a friendly bunch.

[anonymous-user]

Just seems expensive for 10k down.

[MYOB]

Thesprucegoose said:

Just seems expensive for 10k down.

Where did you get that figure from?

The way I'm looking at it is that for an initial layout, I'll get everything I need and within a year, should be earning circa 1500 per week.

After the initial year, I can increase my business if necessary.

[anonymous-user]

https://greenproclean.co.uk/window-cleaning-busine...

[MYOB]

Thesprucegoose said:

https://greenproclean.co.uk/window-cleaning-busine...

This isn't the company though. But yes, something very similar.

Edited by MYOB on Friday 20th September 14:48

[bad company]

MYOB said:

Thesprucegoose said:

https://greenproclean.co.uk/window-cleaning-busine...

This isn't the company though. But yes, something very similar.

Edited by MYOB on Friday 20th September 14:48

Have you signed up & committed yet?

[MYOB]

bad company said:

MYOB said:

Thesprucegoose said:

https://greenproclean.co.uk/window-cleaning-busine...

This isn't the company though. But yes, something very similar.

Edited by MYOB on Friday 20th September 14:48

Have you signed up & committed yet?

Not yet...

[bad company]

MYOB said:

bad company said:

MYOB said:

Thesprucegoose said:

https://greenproclean.co.uk/window-cleaning-busine...

This isn't the company though. But yes, something very similar.

Edited by MYOB on Friday 20th September 14:48

Have you signed up & committed yet?

Not yet...

Then seriously consider targeting an area, printing some sale leaflets, buying the equipment and just starting. The sales blurb from the franchise firm is just that, blurb.

You could even offer to work as a staff window cleaner for a while to ‘learn the ropes’.

£10,000 is an awful lot of money to (I’d say) waste.

[MYOB]

bad company said:

Then seriously consider targeting an area, printing some sale leaflets, buying the equipment and just starting. The sales blurb from the franchise firm is just that, blurb.

You could even offer to work as a staff window cleaner for a while to ‘learn the ropes’.

£10,000 is an awful lot of money to (I’d say) waste.

I fully understand what you and others are saying and I appreciate the encouragement. I suppose my fears are that I won't necessarily get enough business if I start out on my own, especially as I don't feel that I have time to commit to canvassing due to child care. Paying out on a franchise to me, is paying someone else to get the customers on my books.

[Freshprince]

I got sent to a job interview for the wrong job recently! Recruiter seemed miffed that I refused the job offer afterwards!

Having only recently moved back to Midlands, from Essex, it’s frustrating i’m now having to move to London for any decent jobs!

[CX53]

Freshprince said:

I got sent to a job interview for the wrong job recently! Recruiter seemed miffed that I refused the job offer afterwards!

Having only recently moved back to Midlands, from Essex, it’s frustrating i’m now having to move to London for any decent jobs!

Depends where in the midlands. I moved to the midlands from the south coast where wages and jobs are good, and I’ve found it great up here.

Wages are plenty for a nice quality of life here in Northamptonshire, if I want more I can commute 40 mins to Milton Keynes, London is only an hour on the train, and I can comfortably afford a nice house without mortgaging up to the eyeballs.

I find a lot of comfort knowing if it all went tits up tomorrow and me and the Mrs had to work for minimum wage we could still afford everything. This wouldn’t be the case back down south for sure.

[The Moose]

MYOB said:

bad company said:

Then seriously consider targeting an area, printing some sale leaflets, buying the equipment and just starting. The sales blurb from the franchise firm is just that, blurb.

You could even offer to work as a staff window cleaner for a while to ‘learn the ropes’.

£10,000 is an awful lot of money to (I’d say) waste.

I fully understand what you and others are saying and I appreciate the encouragement. I suppose my fears are that I won't necessarily get enough business if I start out on my own, especially as I don't feel that I have time to commit to canvassing due to child care. Paying out on a franchise to me, is paying someone else to get the customers on my books.

How much is the equipment? £2,500 at most? £7,500 is 5 months of £1,500 a month with absolutely zero income to allow you to gain a customer base? That other site linked is a great example - see how much of your revenue they take!

That could be the most expensive £10k you ever spend!

[anonymous-user]

They talk about 2k a week, if i was investing i would want to speak to at least 5 franchisees to get an idea of the buiness. As you would expect problems as there are so little barriers to entry.

Edited by Thesprucegoose on Saturday 21st September 17:30

[condor]

My local village facebook group often has posts asking for a reliable window cleaner - so I think there's likely to be plenty of customers. Easy and I think free, to set up your own facebook business page.
I also think that it's not a good idea to be a franchisee of a window cleaning round.

[bad company]

condor said:

My local village facebook group often has posts asking for a reliable window cleaner - so I think there's likely to be plenty of customers. Easy and I think free, to set up your own facebook business page.
I also think that it's not a good idea to be a franchisee of a window cleaning round.

Yep, same where I live. Plenty of work for window cleaners, just needs a Facebook page and maybe a mail drop for those who don’t use fb.

[MYOB]

I've spoken to other franchisees, the ones who have stuck it out are content to pay franchise fees. There are one or two who left the franchise and set up on their own as they could not accept the franchise fees, despite having all the info on advance.

I get what you're all saying, but perhaps I'm too risk aversed, which is hardly a surprise given my 20 years in the civil service.

Lots to dwell on but another consideration is the franchise is pretty much well established and regarded in my area. I would also be up against the former franchisees I've mentioned along with other window cleaners.

There is potential to around 1500 per week whilst fitting around child care arrangements. This will or could increase over time. Question is, do I want to take the worry of getting customers out of the equation for the sake of regular franchise fees?