Hi all, just looking for tips or advice on starting up my own little business adventure.
It's nothing big or fancy but it's window cleaning I'm getting into, my girlfriends dad is at it 14-16years up in Belfast and has really got into my head about starting it up down South using the same system he uses, it's called "the reach and wash system" using purified water with water fed poles that reach 3story buildings, it's a very quick system where the water dries in itself and leaves no water marks. He averages about 80 houses a day with him and the other two lads that work for him and makes his living in 3 days and has 4 days off.
Anyways, is there anybody on here that's doing this themselves? Or anybody have any advice on what to do and what not to do when starting out on ur own? My girlfriends dad has given me advice and that but it would be nice to try get any other advice off another voice on when setting up your own company?
My background is, I'm a carpenter by trade, iv been maintenance staff in a private hospital the last 4-5 years, iv dropped myself onto a 3day week with the hospital in order to have 3days to myself to get this up and running. The reason I mentioned my background is I'm sort of thinking long term to think about doing maintenance/cleaning and try get in with a few big local companies/property agents with my own staff.
Again any advice would be great if anybody Is in this line of work?
I'm not remotely in that line of work, but the advice I'd offer applies to all small business start ups. Research your market - that is, the market locally where you intend to start business. Your girlfriend's dad has 16 years of custom built up in his area, and no doubt, an enormous amount of goodwill from regular customers which will translate into recommendations.
You will be starting in an area where you are unknown (as a window cleaner) and - if the territory is remotely viable in sustaining a business - will already be heavily serviced by existing businesses. What will you be able to offer that they do not? Most customers are notoriously fond of the habitual - they don't change easily unless they have been royally hacked off recently by their current service. How are you going to break into this existing relationship?
It will probably take you a minimum of six months - probably two to three years - to establish as a new entrant in the market with a sufficient customer base to reliably predict your revenue. Can your finances stand such a period of time with low to variable income?
Don't use your girlfriend's dad's business as guide to what is possible now. Ask him how astonishingly hard he had to work at first to establish himself. That's not to say it can't be done again, and by you - but don't be misled by the work '3 days, 4 days off' situation. In the first three years of your business, you'll be lucky to have a single day's holiday (maybe Christmas!)
Research the market. Find out exactly what customers want, why they may be disenchanted by their existing service. Know exactly who the competition is, what they offer, their prices, their strengths and weakness. Know the same about your prospective business. Try and predict what will happen if you turn up - a price war, reputation sabotage (don't be innocent, it happens) yet another new entrant using the opportunity to start up themselves?
If all this scares you, good. Fear sharpens the wits, reduces the chances of mistakes. However, if it also fills you with energy, a desire to beat the challenge, to be the best at what you want to do, then, stout fella, give it right good go and devil take the hindmost.