My window cleaning story…
Hey Everyone, Conway here. Im the owner of USA Window washing and I’m starting a blog here on my website.
I get asked all the time, “what made you start a window cleaning business?” Well, the answer is sort of a long one, but I’ll try and keep it as short as I can.
I graduated from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. I then I went back to my hometown in San Diego, California. I got a white collar job in downtown San Diego as a tech recruiter for an international company. I was actually quite happy there. I learned lots of valuable sales skills, networking, and how to budget my income.
The whole time I was working there, I had an itch that couldn’t be scratched unless I left everything behind. Long-term budget world travel. I wanted to travel the world out of a small backpack for 6 months. Once I decided to actually go for it and leave my home, work and familiarity, it was the most liberating feeling I’ve ever felt in my entire life. I bought a one way ticket for Australia! I traveled all over Austalia, south east Asia, Turkey, and then down to central and south America. My “6 month trip” turned into a year and a half. Best year of my life. I could go on and on about my adventures, but I’ll save that for another time.
I eventually ran out of money so I went back home and lived with my parents while I was thinking of what I was going to do next.
While looking at job applications on my computer, The doorbell rang. I went to open the door and it was a window cleaning salesman. I didnt slam the door in his face, all he wanted to do was to give me a business card and a free quote. I told him go ahead and count the windows for a bid. About 45 seconds later he came back and told me what was inculded in the deal, then said for everything it would be $599. I was honestly shocked. I never knew window washing could be so profitable. This guy was also in his mid-twenties.
After he left, I thought, I could clean the windows myself. I went down to the HomeDepot and bought the most basic window cleaning equipment. I think I paid about $30 for all of it. I came back and cleaning my windows. I really enjoyed doing it, so I asked my next door neighbors if they wanted me to wash their windows for just $100. They happily agreed the killer deal. I did almost every house on my street and then decided that this is what I’m going to do.
Entrepreneurship has always fascinated me, and since window washing is a relatively low cost startup business, I thought it would be the perfect first buisness to do.
I moved up to LA, and started knocking on doors everyday. I quickly found that door sales in not for the weak. Everythime I would get discouraged, I would remind myself that this is what I signed myself up for and that I rather be outside and talking to my community rather than what I was doing before.
While living in LA, I was making good money cleaning windows, however I wasn’t I wasn’t really happy with my personal life. I didnt make any good friends, and everything was just SO expensive.
Two of my bestfriend had recently moved up to Bend Oregon, so I thought I would go and visit for a weekend. Within the first 24 hours I was in Bend, I knew I wanted to move here. Luckily, my lease was over in two weeks, so made another impulse decision to move out to Bend Oregon.
I’ve been in Bend Oregon for almost a year now, and its been my favorite place I’ve ever lived. Everything here is fantastic. The people, the food, the sports activities, and the beer!
I’ve continued to run my window washing buisness here in Bend and it has been going great! I do an excellent job each and every time, and I really try to connect with my clients on a personal level. I now have made a decent book of business, however there is always space to grow and to challenge myself.
Now I’ve been a window cleaner for about two and a half years and I’m absolutley loving it. I have a passion for window cleanig and I am determinded to take USA Window Washing to the moon!
And thats how I got into window washing. If you have read this far on my post, thank you for reading! If you are a client of mine, thank you very much for supporting my business. If I havent worked with you yet, I enourage you to give me a ring or send a text for an introduction of my services, as well as a free quote.
Thanks everyone,
Conway
USA Window Washing
