High Profits With a Glass Scratch Removal Business
There are many reasons why a homeowner or a business would replace a window. Often, it’s because the glass has been damaged beyond repair or the seal between the two pieces of glass has been broken.
Replacing a window is not cheap. That’s why many homes and businesses simply live with minor defects and will only replace a window if the glass is actually broken. Surface scratches, stains, moisture between the glass, fogging, and other “minor” defects often don’t warrant replacing the entire window.
Scratches, in particular, are one defect that people are willing to live with. It’s not that they don’t want to have nice windows, it’s just that the cost is often prohibitive. If they could repair the damage at a fraction of the cost of replacing the entire window, most would jump at the chance.
And that’s where you come in: The scratch removal specialist.
Using high-tech tools, materials, and training, you can restore just about any window back to its original condition. The good news is that there are thousands of windows out there that need scratch removal and there are not a lot of people who do this. For that reason there’s a lot of work for anyone that possesses the right tools and training. If you need proof, just take notice of all the defects in the storefront windows of any downtown street.
If you decide to purchase the equipment and training to get set up in the scratch removal business, you’ll find that it pretty much sells itself. Not many people are aware that this service even exists. They’ve simply learned to live with their windows the way they are. Even though you may have to do some door-to-door sales, you should be able to sell the service effortlessly if you do it right. Pick out a few locations with obvious scratches on the front windows and it shouldn’t be hard to sell your service. The biggest hurdle you may have is convincing them that you won’t destroy the glass permanently.
Cost
If you plan on getting into this business, then you’re going to have to spend some money on the right equipment and training. This is not a business that you can start without some seed money. The equipment is very specialized and is relatively expensive. Depending on the system you get, you could be looking at a few thousand dollars just to get started (and that’s for a cheap system). More than likely, you’ll wind up spending at least $5,000 to get set up and properly trained. Most manufacturers will supply their own training. If you purchase the equipment, you’ve got to get proper training – it’s as simple as that. Getting the proper training is at least as important as purchasing the right equipment – maybe even more.
The Process
Most scratch removal systems consist of a rotary machine (similar to an electric drill, except much more heavy-duty), abrasive pads, and a liquid cooling system. The liquid is pumped into the rotary machine so that it sprays the window as the abrasive disc sands down the affected area. This has a cooling effect and will prevent overheating of the glass. In some systems, there is a very fine abrasive contained within the liquid itself.
Once the scratches are removed, you will start changing discs – incrementing up towards a very fine polishing surface. You may have to change four or five discs starting from the most coarse to the finest. Once you’re finished with the final disk, the surface of the window should look normal again after a good cleaning.
Problems
Although the system might look fairly straightforward, it’s easy to destroy a piece of glass if you’re not using the right techniques. Two of the most common problems are, shattering glass from a buildup of heat on the glass surface (not moving the disc quickly enough) – and distortion of the glass from being too aggressive with the machine. This is why you need to be properly trained. If you make a mistake, you could be on the hook for thousands of dollars to replace a window.
A recent trend that is appearing in many of the major cities is a form of vandalism known as “acid graffiti.” Essentially, this is the same as normal graffiti except that the vandals use a hydrofluoric acid solution to permanently etch storefront windows and bus shelters. This type of damage is ideal for your business. In fact, other than replacing the glass, the owner won’t have many options than to call a specialist such as yourself.
Limitations
There are certain jobs that are beyond the capabilities of a scratch removal system. These include windows that have deep gouges, cracks, or have a coating on them. As part of your training, you should be able to identify jobs that are beyond your capabilities and that you should walk away from. As you gain experience, you’ll be able to spot these problems a mile away. Fortunately, most of your jobs will involve regular windows and “normal” scratches.
Marketing
As I mentioned previously, it’s relatively easy to sell this service. The first thing you’re going to want to do is get the word out by placing an ad in the newspaper. Eventually, you’ll probably want to place an ad in the Yellow Pages also. Besides that you can:
Take a walk downtown and take note of any damaged storefront windows. Make sure you have some business cards and ask to speak with the owner.
Identify storefront windows with damage and insert a flier or your business card in the door after hours.
Flier higher end neighborhoods and offer a limited time discount. You would be surprised at how many homes have scratched windows. Again, most people likely don’t know that this service even exists.
As with any business, you’re going to have to put much more effort into getting your name out there in the beginning. After a while you’ll notice referrals and repeat business ramping up – eventually getting to the point where you no longer have to rely on any form of advertising at all. Make no mistake – this is one business where referrals and repeat customers can supply you with a very comfortable living.
The window scratch removal business is certainly not for everyone. However, for those who are able to take the plunge, there is a seemingly unlimited customer demand for this service.
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