From a VAT Fine to £1M: Ben King on Failed Partnerships and Finding His Brand

Brad sits down with Ben King, founder of King's Window Cleaning, who built a £1 million window cleaning empire after surviving a VAT fraud fine, a failed partnership with his best friend, and a mental breakdown that nearly ended everything. From starting with £5 petrol money and a battered Fiesta to building a systemised operation with 10 vans and a team that runs without him, Ben shares the raw reality of what it takes to rebuild after hitting rock bottom. Discover why Ben refused to call himself a million pound business owner until his round value hit the magic number, how watching The Founder changed the way he built his business, and why he spent years growing on emotion before finally learning the numbers that unlocked explosive growth. This is a masterclass in resilience, branding, systemisation, and building a business that works without you being on the tools. KEY TAKEAWAYS Partnerships Can Destroy Friendships: Ben and his best mate ran multiple businesses together, but their different mindsets and work styles tore the friendship apart. Money changes everything. They've since rekindled the relationship, but the lesson is clear: partnerships are high risk, especially with people you're close to. VAT Fraud Will Catch Up With You: Ben tried to run multiple businesses under the VAT threshold to avoid registration. He got caught, fined, and had to merge everything into one company. Trying to game the system always backfires. Pay your dues and build properly from the start. Mental Health Matters More Than Business: Ben hit rock bottom in 2019, walking his dog and imagining himself hanging from a tree. He shut down React Property Solutions, took a holiday, and came back with a new vision: King's Window Cleaning. Sometimes you have to burn it all down to rebuild stronger. Branding Is Your Competitive Advantage: Ben went through multiple brand changes before landing on King's Window Cleaning. The branding became so strong that other window cleaners told him it was the best they'd ever seen. All those iterations weren't wasted, they were the process that led to something great. Systemise Like McDonald's, Not Like a Solo Operator: Reading The E-Myth and watching The Founder changed everything for Ben. He realised he needed to build a copy and paste system where every van, every round, and every team member was identical. That's how you scale without chaos. Grow One Van at a Time: From 2020 onwards, Ben grew one van per year until this year, when he added four. Controlled growth with systems in place beats chaotic expansion every time. Know your numbers, know your capacity, and scale with intention. Don't Celebrate Until You Cross the Finish Line: Ben won't call himself a million pound business owner until his window cleaning round value hits £1 million, not just turnover. He also learned the hard way that slowing down before the goal costs you. Aim higher than your target so you land where you want to be. HOST BIO Brad Staines is a founder in the thick of it, but by design, not by default. As the face of Aquamark Cleaning, he's built a multi million pound operation with 30+ team members, strong systems, and a culture that gives people space to grow. He's still involved in the business a couple of days a week, but only doing the parts he genuinely enjoys: building relationships, growing the brand, spending time with the team, and spotting new opportunities. The day to day grind? That's been handed over to a structure that runs without constant firefighting. Brad's also found his rhythm outside of business, with a deep commitment to physical and mental training. Whether it's strength work, early morning runs, or cold plunges, he's a believer that how you show up for yourself shapes how you show up as a leader. Working On It is where he brings it