Receipts

Dont sweat them… some counties dont even require a license. And if ur a 1 man show doing mostly storefronts dont worry about insurance.
U also don’t need fancy receipts (though it would add to ur professional look)

Get a tshirt or polo, business cards, receipt book, bank account, tools of course, and build it! Don’t worry about the haters.

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Yeah I know I don’t need a license here but am planning on getting registered with the county when I can make a little extra money. I’ve sort of rethought receipts now haha. But my NextBus purchase is going to be business cards. Then I’ll move to shirts and whatnot. Thanks for the feedback and advice! And I can blame the “haters”, I see where they are coming from but at the same time I could not care less about what they have to say haha. Once again thanks for the info!

Edit- also will be opening up a bank account once I file with the county

No one is hating. This place is chock full of advice and opinions.

With one or two residential cleans you can have all of your business cards, t-shirts, DBA and insurance needs done.

It is a tough world out there and if you think this was hate then you have barely left the safety of your mothers womb. What you received was solid advice and information from people who have been there before you; just not sugar coated and gift wrapped. I know this may seem harsh. It is not. All the luck to you. Aim for the best and land someplace close.

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I don’t think you guys are actually haters. That’s why I put quotation marks around haters in my last comment. And in a comment earlier I said I appreciated you guys giving it to me straight. I am staying away from residential for now. I want to do storefronts for now. But I totally get what your saying. Lately I have just been busy with school. I’d tell you that’s why I haven’t gone out and got to work but that would just be an excuse. Bottom line is I haven’t gotten to work and there is 0 excuses or reasons in the world for me to defend that decision with.

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Yeah as long as your weren’t insulted by my memes I’m not insulted by you…

Go use wave invoicing. It’ll make your days. It’ll keep track of everything or you, it’s like wuickbooks but just as good if not better and it’s free. You can do expenses , receipts , invoicing, customer database (not emailing them) it’s way worth it… I was in your same boat… first I spent $2000 on tools and $50 to register with Oregon for 2 years. I ran without insurance for he first two years but also expressed that to my customers.

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Wave. Automated invoicing, payment and bookkeeping. Free. Can’t go wrong.

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Wishing or hoping that something bad happens to a person is way worse than working non-legit, in my opinion. Just saying…

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I’d wish the same on someone running around without vehicle insurance. I don’t really care if that hurts your feelers, either.

Running a business non legit means you are doing STUPID things, don’t care about the people you are doing work for, or that you give one shit about your own (non)business. It’s all about just getting whatever money you can out of people It’s not about building an actual business, or doing what is best for the people you are doing work for.

You think a shade tree mechanic or a plumber, electrician, or a HVAC guy is looked at any different? What? Because it’s JUST window cleaning, it’s ok to be a hack?

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IWell not everyone has all the money to start out fully legit. Why not do a handful of jobs and slowly work towards becoming legit. According to you… “No that’s bad, you have to go through all the hoops before you can clean windows or else you are a POS and obviously want to destroy people’s windows”. Obviously that’s being a little dramatic on my part but that’s what you sound like to me.

You can’t compare windows and driving a car. Getting in a car is taking a risk, no doubt. Cleaning windows with no razors and being aware of tempered and tinted glass makes cleaning windows a lot less risky. Still risk yes but the chance of me breaking or scratching someone’s windows while I work my way up to be able to afford insurance is highly unlikely.

I will admit, earlier you ticked me off a little bit. Sitting in class sort of angry. Couldn’t figure out why and then I realized it was your comment. Soon got over that when I realized how dumb it was to be mad over some words on the internet. Now you just sound funny to me. My favorite is the “running a non legit business means you are doing stupid things” hahaha dude you have to be kidding me. I’m not staying away from a legit business because I want to fly under the radar and be able to do what I want without consequence. I’m staying away for right now because I literally cannot afford it.

I’m guessing you are quite the hoot at parties.

So, how much money has your (non)business MADE since you started it? How much did you gross last year? How much were your expenses?

Your little childish quip about government permission? Try not paying taxes and see how that works for you. Like it or not, you have to do things like you are supposed to, or you are gonna get punished. You act like NOTHING can go wrong cleaning windows. It’s EXACTLY like driving a car without insurance. I’ve been driving 29 years and have been in ONE accident involving another person. Insurance is for dumb suckers, right?
You buy insurance to protect yourself AND others people. If you can’t afford it, you don’t drive. If you can’t afford insurance and to do things right, you get a JOB.

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And if you can’t use your gift of speech properly, you stop talking.

To answer your original question:

You think every single person in this forum bought insurance the day they started? Do you truly believe that? Like I admitted above, right now I am a college student looking to make extra money. I am a full time student. I am also in a small town, About a 20 min drive in either direction will get me to other small towns. 30mins and I get to a larger town. Say I’m only able to find enough customers to service about 4 a week. Mind you these small towns consist of mostly small stores, some fast food places are larger and have more windows though. You think that is enough to justify insurance in the beginning.

Don’t get me wrong, I do have plans to get insurance if I continue on this route. But there is a time and place and I can’t justify spending money on insurance yet. If anything that means that I am going to take extra care when dealing with people’s windows.

I think there is something deeper here. You seemed to be outraged at such a small thing. Something that doesn’t affect you but you have taken it personally. Even gone as far as saying you hope I get screwed in the end. All that makes me think that something is happening in the background with you. Maybe take a break from work? Did you have an argument with someone close to you recently? Your heart seems to be filled with anger. Just my thoughts

Also take a look at Keith Kalfas’ story. Regardless of what you may think of him, he started his business from nothing. He didn’t have insurance. He didn’t go down to the clerks office and ask them for a piece of paper that would grant him some mysterious power that allowed him to work. No, he did it like people have always done it in the past. He got his tools and materials and hit the streets. Now I’m not saying I’m trying to be anything like him. I’m just saying you act like there is a concrete way you need to start a busines and if you don’t do it that way you will amount to nothing.

Also going back to the government thing, don’t take that too serious. I know certain things need to be done but there are only a few regulations that I support in the free market. Signing a piece of paper and giving it to the county so you are allowed to work is not one of them.

“…He didn’t go down to the clerks office and ask them for a piece of paper that would grant him some mysterious power that allowed him to work…”

“…I know certain things need to be done but there are only a few regulations that I support in the free market. Signing a piece of paper and giving it to the county so you are allowed to work is not one of them.”

This attitude towards the issue explains it all.
Maybe you should find a paying part time gig somewhere in the field of study you are taking in college. That way you can morph right into full time of your chosen field.

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I stated not to take the government thing too seriously first off. Second off I stated I know certain things needed to be done to run a legit business such as filing with the county. I never said I wouldn’t do those things, I just said I didn’t support them. I don’t support a lot of things but I still abide by the laws and rules that are put in place. I have every intention to file with the state after 2 or 3 jobs. I just don’t like that I have to do that in order to “legally” be able to work. Obviously I couldn’t hold a good argument or solution to most of the regulations put in place inside the business world but I will voice my opinion on them. My major right now is business with a concentration in entrepreneurship. I’ve decided to try the window cleaning first before looking for a job. Mostly because I think it’s a good challenge and I would like to make money on my own terms. If this doesn’t work out or down the road I decide I’ve had enough I would look for a sales job.

Grow up, being legit wont break the bank, its called being responsible, life has risks.

Auto is more risky so the $ for that type of insurance is higher too, put it into perspective.

I havent put a claim on my car insurance in 10 years. I have broke a window in the past 2 years. You dont know when accidents will happen.

Point is, when you collect money for your services you have obligations, to cover any damages you may have caused. A $20. storefront cleaning could have an accident, cracked window, oops, just dont know. Now tell the owner they need to pay $500. for it because you cant a afford it and couldnt afford the $100 a month insurance to protect yourself and customers.

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Then your best bet is to have a healthy discussion with your professor or who ever is teaching the Business Classes you are taking. He/she should have valuable information and advice for you.

Go here. It is FREE. Doesn’t cost anything but your time to ask questions and listen to truth. Some of the best advice for a new business - and it is FREE, right in your budget.

S.C.O.R.E.

Yes I know you can break windows. I don’t have money to pay for insurance right now. Can’t just magically pay for it. I need to work a little bit before I can afford insurance. Seriously I doubt everyone here started with insurance right off the bat. Did you? I don’t mind the feedback but you’re acting like I’m doing something totally taboo. Every business starts somewhere