Getting a head start
June 1st 2007

Starting a window cleaning business is an exciting venture that can deliver high income to those prepared to put in hard work. But entrepreneurs need to be careful,warns Unger's Matt Hodgkins, as making the right decisions early on can be crucial to future success

Two important considerations when starting a business are equipment and costs.These are frequently at odds with each other, and a careful balancing act is often required. Finances need to be managed to keep down overheads while at the same time ensuring that the best tools possible are purchased to give the edge over similarly sized competitors.Any tools bought also need to be carefully considered investments which will continue to be suitable as the business grows.

Premium quality tools are an important investment for cleaners but these can prove unaffordable at an early stage of business development. Financial constraints can prevent operators from buying the tools they need and they may have to save money up to purchase them.This can cause the business to lose an edge over competitors in the meantime, while appearing less professional than it should.

One of the key areas requiring premium quality tools is cleaning at height, an integral part of the window cleaning trade. Window cleaners seeking to progress and gain an advantage need to ensure they can clean as high as possible, including challenging buildings such as regency houses and blocks of flats. The more windows reached the more they get paid, ensuring the business grows.

Cleaning at height is a process that can be clumsy, time consuming and dangerous.

Smaller businesses will often use ladders in these situations with high falls carrying a great risk of injury.A solution to this is a water-fed pole system.These systems have a high reach and are less time consuming with no need to waste time moving cumbersome ladders.

Pole systems have the flexibility to move freely at ground level while cleaning much larger areas.Unger's HiFlo CarbonTec poles provide a light weight modular system made with precision engineered components, including HS Carbon Tubes with glass layers.The system has specialised connectors for fast assembly and an internal water feed, providing valuable time savings by cleaning windows swiftly and efficiently.

Water fed poles provide a useful solution to cleaning at height, but, as identified earlier, the best tools can prove costly.A solution to this is a more compact and affordable version. Naturally, Unger touts its six section HiFlo Carbon Tec Water Fed pole system.

The new six section kit has a maximum height of 9 metres (29 feet) and further sections can be purchased as and when they are required.Additional poles can be purchased as your business grows, adding some 1.5 metres in length each time and attaining a maximum height of 15 metres (50 feet).

The new six section HiFlo CarbonTec is supplied in a GearBag that has been specifically designed for storage, ease-of-use and mobility.

The nylon bag is styled like a sports bag and is equipped with carrying handles, shoulder strap and external pockets for carrying accessories and small parts.

This equipment gives the small business an air of professionalism and provides a much needed edge over businesses of a similar size.

The competitive edge it gives will ensure the initial outlay is recouped quickly after its purchase.

For further information, just call the number on the right.

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