Ask T Squeegee 

Matt Ford asks: Question for business owners. Do you prefer to work solo or have a crew?

I enjoy working solo; however, it does limit what you can take on and the volume of work you can do. Working solo could prove difficult when you’re sick or get hurt and can’t work. Your income becomes affected, and your customers become neglected. But there’s the flip side to having a crew of guys and gals to help provide your services. The added expenses include hiring people, Workman’s compensation, extra vehicles, and maintenance. Is Jim Bob going to show up today? What if someone breaks something or has sticky fingers? There are pros and cons to either, honestly. You just have to measure carefully what works best for you and your goals. What do you want your business to be? Nobody you hire will ever care about the business the way you naturally will, but a few great employees could make a lot of money, providing stability and future growth. Or you can do things more simply, do what you can do alone, and still make great money with fewer headaches. This question can be different for everyone, and everyone has a different opinion on it. Mine is just one of the many. Hopefully, my opinion here can help you formulate your own. 

 

Troy Donet asks: What do you charge for cleaning storm windows? I know there’s a lot involved in cleaning them, and you have to take them apart to do the job right.  So, I was wondering what to charge. 

Well, it was bound to happen. I’m answering the “how much do you charge” question and giving the short answer of, “how much do I charge for storm windows?” A LARGE amount. Storm window cleaning, aka triple tracks, can be some of the industry’s most frustrating and labor-intensive tasks. I’m upwards of 25.00 a window where I am from. And honestly, I’m not afraid to raise it. Storm window cleanings rarely go smoothly and are rarely done when you think they’re going to be done. Windows will get stuck, and clips will be broken, turning an already difficult task into a complete nightmare. My advice would be to ensure you’ve done your due diligence while bidding on the job, so you are prepared for the task at hand, and most importantly, don’t be afraid to charge accordingly. How much you charge depends on your market. What I charge in my area will likely differ from where you are. You could charge more. Who knows? Just be sure you aren’t selling yourself short and making the money you need to stay profitable. That would be the best advice I can give you.

 

As always, if you have a question about window cleaning or anything else (I’ll even give dating advice!), email [email protected], and I will answer it here in the most amazing magazine in the known universe American Window Cleaner Magazine!