Hello,
I don’t post a lot here, just absorb as much as I can and learn from all the posts. I’ve been looking for info on the topic of people who have started a window cleaning business with a partner and can’t really find much. So I’m looking for any tips, pros/cons, do’s/don’ts for starting this business with someone else.
There’s a podcast somewhere on this website about successful partnerships. And the website is filled with great info
Hi there. Why are you deciding to do it with a partner as opposed to alone?
Well let me tell the whole story. I’ve honestly been wanting to start this business for a couple years now. But, a mortgage and two kids later it’s been kind of hard. I’m now starting to finally see some time where I can get this off the ground. My friend and I have always dreamed of running our own business and I ran this idea past him a few weeks ago and he is 100% on board. He’s been doing the research that I’ve been doing for years now and says he’s ready to start knocking on doors tomorrow. I feel like we have a perfect blend. Between my people skills, hard work and customer service knowledge, and his experience of working construction, long days, up and down ladders and roofs is just another day to him. Plus I feel maybe in the beginning it can help to have someone else there to feed off of and help when you hit the inevitable bump in the road. Trust me I’ve heard the old saying of never going into business with family/friends. But there has to be some success stories out there. Very, very little competition in our area, we both just honestly feel this could be a good thing. Side note, absolutely love this site, and never miss a podcast. Shoutout to Jersey for every week giving me that little extra boost to quit dreaming and start doing! Thanks in advance for everyone’s input!
1 Like
Dave Ramsey says the only ship that won’t sail is a partnership. I’ve heard multiple times that nine out of 10 partnerships fail. that being said my business is a partnership and though it’s been difficult in some ways it’s an asset in others. but I think we have some unusual commitments that will help make our partnership successful in the long run.
2 Likes
from this post it sounds like you’re focusing only on the upside, you need to be realistic about the downsides of partnership for example you won’t have exclusive decision control. as well as every time you get a house you’re only making half the money. I’m not saying don’t do it but just don’t be wearing Rose colored glasses.
5 Likes
It’s great to see new people wanting to get into this business.Do you mind if i ask what exactly your work backround is previous to this.Your partner will be up and down ladders alot more frequently compared to his days in construction!!
Have you both considered testing the waters for a few weeks/months to see how it goes and also how you get along working together?Dont forget this could possibly make you both want to see each other less outside of work!As has been mentioned every penny earned will be split down the middle which would include any days or weeks one of you might be out sick.Something that could potentially cause conflict.
Will you both be travelling and working in the same van/truck or plan on covering more ground having seperate work vehicles???
I would suggest both of you buying a mop and squeegee to practice cleaning windows on your own homes in the meantime.
Genuinely hope it works out if you go ahead with it.
P.S. Welcome to the future of aches and pains you never knew could happen in parts of your body!!
1 Like
@alex and I have been doing this as a partnership for 11.5 years now. There’s been a lot of ups and downs for sure… But it was worth doing. I don’t think the business would work if either of us dipped out.
I suppose if you really compliment each other’s skill sets it can work.
I’ve read endless stories about partnerships going badly though. Usually, it comes down to 1 person feels like they are working harder than the other.
My suggestion would be to pre-write an exit agreement. make a plan of exactly what will happen and how it will work if 1 person decides they want out.
1 Like
Thanks! I actually was able to find a helpful article there. Appreciate it
1 Like
Thanks for the advice! I’ve definitely taken into consideration the financial aspect of it. I’m sure there will be difficult times. But hopefully they’ll be few and far between…
I work in a machine shop. Work 4-12 with really no end in sight of getting off that shit. We will definitely be testing the waters in the beginning. We plan on practicing on our homes and family members here soon. We will probably start off in just one truck. We’re gonna have a sit down here soon and really go through all the details, to hopefully make us that 1 in 10 that does survive!
See I knew there was a success story out there! I’m curious to hear more about an exit agreement. Sounds like a solid idea, but How do I approach that to my partner without sounding like a jerk? “Hey in the event we end up wanting to kill each other, we’ll do this…”
I was in a partnership in a business. Worst mistake ever. Cost me the business, and a lot of money. I will never do that again. If you do, make sure a contract is written up that spells out everything. Who does what, where money goes, and comes from.What happens if one person wants out. But, if you value the friendship, do not start a partnership
I know im late to the game, but a few more thoughts.
If you value the friendship and want to give the business a better chance make sure to have a contract. What if 10 years down the road one of you moves, or someone gets hurt and cant work, or just wants to leave, but you dont have something in place to help with that? The short but very real version is it could end up in litigation or the business could fail, aside from loss of the friendship.
Write a business plan. I have a business management degree in entrepreneurship, so I didnt write one. Is/was that a good idea? Likely not, but this business isnt nearly as complicated as many others, so I have been able to get by. I have written one before though in college under a very good teacher, so I knew when something was missing out of my knowledge about a window cleaning business that I needed to research. Unless you have similar experience, and especially since you are looking at having a partner, I would strongly suggest you write one together. If you have waited years to start, take a few more months to do this together. Think of it like premarital counseling. You will work out alot with each other, and once your done you will both be on much more equal footing on how your business will work, what your market looks like, and how this industry works. I suggest preparing effective business plans by bruce barringer. Its outdated with some of the websites listed in the book, but its still very good.
Also, before you start the business plan, make sure you both sit down seperate of each other and write down in much detail as possible where you both see the business in 5 years, and then meet and talk about each point in detail. You will learn a good deal about how each other thinks, and what the other person expects. Another great reason to have a contract is if someone wants to grow alot, or at all beyond a liveable amount, and the other doesnt, then what?
Case in point, when I was 19 a few friends and I wanted to hike part of the appalachian trail. We packed for 3 days, and trained a few times together. When we went to the start of the trail in GA we were all excited, but while hiking i wanted to stop and take a few pics every once in awhile. They wanted to conquer the trail and not take pictures. Later on, my legs cramped and I had trouble walking, so I had to go slower. Being great friends, they decided to leave me and we were going to meet at the top of a mountain. (You never leave someone behind on a trail, but thankfully this was a busy section) I think one of them came back for me a bit later, but the point is I spent $1,000 on that trip to learn a very valuable lesson. The more serious the venture, the more you need to make sure all parties are either aligned on goals, etc. Or are willing to stay commited on compromises.
Also, last point but VERY important. If you, or your friend, have trouble having these kind of conversations, then you shouldn’t be in business together.
3 Likes
Thank you for all that great info! I plan on getting a business plan wrote up in the following weeks.
1 Like
Good for you! Best of luck!
I know it’s been said Ad nauseam but for good reason.
There’s a ton of truth in the old saying “partnerships ruin friendships”!
When considering building a business you must always look at it as a risk or a gamble.
a question to ask yourself is Can I prudently take a risk and succeed or fail without it ruining me. A gamble is much harder too recover from if it fails.
window cleaning is easy imo and doesn’t take much to get started.
look at your market, maybe there isn’t enough work to justify good competition? demographics makes a big difference when it comes too window cleaning or any sevic based work.
also be sure too get accurate input from your wife and his. my wife has help me from making poor decisions simply because my risk meter has a much higher tolerance than hers
Or you can work solo and dance in your driveway every day when you get off at noon.
Don’t tell anyone I do that. It’s a secret. Lol
4 Likes
