By David King
Schools are out for summer leaving many students with idle hands. But not for a group of Northgate graduates and upperclassmen; they have decided to start a window cleaning business called Pristine Window Services — and so far, things are going very well.
“I actually started this business myself last year, and it was just a small operation,” says Ankit Chatriki. “Another friend of mine and I would go around knocking on doors with just squeegees and mops. We would do two to three houses a week.”
After the first year, Chatriki did extensive research on window cleaning methods and tips on door-to-door salesmanship. “We wanted to go to a full-scale operation.”
This year, the crew is up to 12 students, each trained in sales and as window washing technicians.
They have also invested in professional equipment, including the Xero Pure Water System. (Those who remember the show “Home Improvement can hear actor Tim Allen barking about now.)
This is a three-stage water filtration system that removes the minerals and particles that leave streaks and spots on windows. They can now wash windows of two- and three-story homes. They also purchased a water-fed pole and brushes.
“For some of the two and three-story houses, getting on a ladder, cleaning all the windows and squeegeeing them off tended to be dangerous, and most clients didn’t want us to do that.”
We serviced a few houses this year just using a squeegee and a mop and then from there, we bought the equipment. That ran us around $4,000.
They chose to operate a business because they all have an interest in business administration and in owning a business in their future.
“A lot of us are teen entrepreneurs or aspiring entrepreneurs. We see possibilities!
“My college doesn’t start until September, and I didn’t really see the point of wasting four months. I’ve always had friends that have the mindset to do something to keep ourselves busy and make some money.”
Chatriki says they have learned many lessons from this that will help them in the future.
“Most of us do not believe in a regular 9 to 5 workday such as at a fast-food restaurant because it doesn’t really build the long-term skills we are seeking.
While doing research they also explored market pricing and pledged to bring a better value. While competitive in per window pricing, their service includes cleaning inside and/or outside windows, frames, and screens. Best of all, they guarantee satisfaction.
When approached by their door–to-door salesperson at the Diablo Gazette office, I admired their self-determination and entrepreneurial spirit at such an early stage of life and wanted to support them. We have 34 windows here, and speaking as their client, we are very satisfied. They are the real deal. thepristinewindowservice.com