WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY

Six-figure income for a seasonal business? Yes!

Regular readers of this magazine know we are high on service businesses that save clients time, energy and offer them a lot of freedom and convenience. Dr. Glass, a window washing service, definitely fits the bill.

Philip Bregstone, the founder of the company and creator of the “Biz-in-a-Box” concept for Dr. Glass, supported himself through Syracuse University by washing windows in his hometown of Potomac, Maryland.

“It just so happened that there were a certain number of sports stars, Patrick Ewing and Sugar Ray Leonard, who lived in the neighborhoods where I was washing windows, so they started using me,” said Bregstone.

Bregstone has become known as “Dr. Glass” and now helps entrepreneurs launch their own profitable window-washing venture. For the past decade, Dr. Glass has helped start more than 150 businesses around the world. Most of these operations are now flourishing, allowing each proprietor to earn a good living as a home-based business owner/operator.

According to the company, “Using our system, a minister, a concert pianist, a food service manager, a travel industry director, an industrial management consultant, and an architect, among others, are now running successful high-end window-washing businesses [some full-time, some part-time].”

The market keeps expanding with new home construction. There’s longevity as windows will always need washing. Once established, it’s easy to profit from sub-contractors, leaving you even more time for other pursuits. Satisfaction is built-in. You provide a tangible quality service, work with your hands outdoors, finish a task and get paid the same day, according to Dr. Glass.

This is a seasonal business in most climates. You can have from two to four months a year to turn your attention to other endeavors. When we first interviewed Bregstone, he was proud to tell us that he earned a six-figure income with this seasonal business. It was then that he decided to help others do the same and created his business opportunity package.

Repeat business ensures a solid customer base and an ongoing revenue stream. Transition time is built in. You can start part-time and work up to a full-time income. “Firefighters, musicians, etc., choose to keep this as a lucrative part-time add-on,” says Bregstone.

By purchasing the system, even first-time entrepreneurs are set for success. “They receive step-by-step details on our special residential system; all the equipment you need and where to get it [and what it’s for]; basic window-washing techniques; how to organize the typical job,” says Dr. Glass.

Safety tips including how to handle all the different styles of windows; ladders & safety; screens & storms; tips on solving common on-the-job problems are all included. Managing a high-integrity business: scheduling, legal issues, insurance, taxes & accounting. Using the database template, is another tool.

The program also gives budding entrepreneurs step-by-step resources and tips to marketing, advertising, and bidding; how to find and keep customers; how to differentiate your business from the others; strategies for bidding; copious bidding and marketing materials to borrow from and copy.

Dr. Glass has also developed an email bulletin board whereby one can learn from the conversations between business owners using the system as they discuss day-to-day events, cold calling techniques, and more.

Of course, all of the fundamentals are included, too, such as setting up the equipment, working on ladders, basics techniques and information on how to avoid the pitfalls of a first-time business operation. This is all included on a handy video.

Another video helps entrepreneurs learn to handle the variety of different types of windows, plus screens, mirrors, skylights, razor scraping, tips and gadgets. Software to manage the business is also included. “Run your business on this specially designed database template. Customer contacts, call-backs, records of $/hr, job notes, locale, check deposits. This is the database that made Dr. Glass WW great!,” says the company.

A week-long apprentice opportunity comes with every Biz-in-a-Box. “Work with us directly, either in the Washington, DC, area or in Colorado. Includes hours of on-the-job window-washing skill building and problem solving. This is a chance to develop advanced techniques in all aspects of the work.”•

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