I wanted to share my personal experience of building a business from the ground up. Everything here is my own opinion, learnt the hard way over 13 years of making mistakes, adapting, and growing.
The Context: A Tough Start
In 2010, I was made redundant from my retail job. It was a devastating time for my wife and me; we had to resort to food banks and skip meals to ensure our children were fed. After six months of applying for everything, I finally landed a role in the service industry. It was an okay environment, but at £7.18 an hour (less than the living wage) and with no prospect of a meaningful pay rise, I knew it wasn't a sustainable future.
In 2013, still struggling to make ends meet, I made a promise to myself: we would never go back to that food bank situation.
The Turning Point
When I first came across the idea of window cleaning, I’ll be honest—I looked down my nose at it. I fell into the trap of thinking it wasn't a "professional" career. But the idea kept circling in my head. One day, I stood looking out of our window, counting the houses on the street. I thought to myself, "If I charge just a few pounds per house, that’s a lot of potential..." That was the moment I realised that with hard work and a professional mindset, window cleaning wasn't just a job—it was a scalable business. I spent the next few months researching everything I could find and watching hundreds of hours of professional training videos.
13 Years Later: 2013 – 2026
Today, DL Clean has evolved from a one-man operation into one of the largest residential window cleaning and commercial exterior specialists in Exeter and East Devon. We now operate from our own premises, employ a dedicated team, and maintain a six-figure turnover.
We’ve also expanded our expertise into eco-friendly wheelie bin sanitisation and specialised gutter clearance, applying the same "simple but effective" philosophy to every job we do.
My Advice for Aspiring Business Owners
1. Just Start. My first piece of advice is applicable to anyone thinking of starting their own venture: Do it. "You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." If you don't, you'll always be wondering "what if." The worst-case scenario is that it doesn't work out and you try something else. Don't spend more than you're willing to lose and keep the model simple. The simpler you make it, the more chance it has of succeeding.
I once heard a story of someone who invested in fancy office furniture and expensive premises before they had sold a single product. Without income to cover the expenditure, the business failed under a mountain of debt. Focus on the service first.
2. Know Your Market. You must know where you want to sit in your industry. I’ve always used local supermarkets as a benchmark for the market. In our area, we have the full spectrum, and I chose to place DL Clean in the "Value" bracket—where high-quality service meets fair, transparent pricing.
This is why we became Trading Standards Approved (Buy With Confidence) back in 2014. We wanted our customers to know that our 13-year reputation is built on honesty and vetting, not just talk.
3. Quality Over Everything. I once saw sterling silver paper clips for £100. In the wrong market, that’s an absurd expense. In the right market, someone might not think twice about it. We have built our business by providing a service that people value. Whether it's a 10-year partnership with a landmark like Clip 'n Climb Exeter or a monthly bin clean in Cranbrook, we deliver a standard that justifies the trust our customers place in us.
Ready to see the DL Clean difference? Whether you need your home windows sparkling or your commercial premises maintained by a vetted team, Contact us today for a bespoke quote.
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