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Last Updated on August 15, 2022 by coffeepo
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when starting your own company? We’re pretty sure you haven’t thought of opening a window cleaning business—but it might be worth considering. For only a few hours every week, you can earn extra money that lets you treat yourself and your loved ones.
These days, you don’t have to get a degree to be successful. You can start a business anytime with enough resources; you just need a plan. You can even do it while you’re still in school or working at your day job. In fact, a study shows that 30% of small business owners only have a high school degree.
Even so, starting a business can be overwhelming and complicated at first. But eventually, you’ll get the hang of it once you get into the groove. So, if you’re looking for ways to boost your income or buffer your resume, we’ll show you how to clean windows to a brighter future.
What is a Window Cleaning Business?
A window cleaning business is simply one that cleans windows—yeah, it’s dead simple. And the best part about this type of business? You have clients all year round because of the consistent demand for cleaning services in commercial and residential buildings. This means you can earn $100+ for only a few hours a day with a window cleaning business.
Another pro is that a window cleaning business is a low-risk venture and a reasonably recession-proof business. After all, windows get dirty regardless of the economy, and companies always want a clean workspace because it boosts productivity, reputation, and morale. Even when people are working from home, the demand from commercial buildings will simply switch to residential workspaces.
How to Start A Window Cleaning Business
The good news is, you don’t have to start big immediately. A window cleaning business can be an easy side gig so you can test the waters and have extra pocket money. What makes it appealing and possible are:
- Low startup costs
- Entry-level skills
- High profitability
- Flexible schedule
If you’re ready to get started, here are 5 steps to help you begin your business:
1. Determine What You Need to Get Started
A window cleaning business costs almost nothing and is one of the top 100 businesses with a low capital required to get started according to Entrepreneur. You don’t need to hire staff and scaling your operations is easy once you have a team working under you.
Choose A Target Market
The first thing you need to do is know who you want to serve. You have the freedom to decide if you want to learn how to start a commercial or residential window cleaning business. You can cater to either or both, but it will depend on the demand within your area.
For window cleaning businesses, your target market can be a wide range of clients, including:
- Government buildings
- Colleges & Universities
- Apartment buildings & Homeowners
- Commercial buildings
Consider Joining A Franchise
If you want to lower your risks, you can consider partnering with a franchise system rather than starting a window cleaning business from scratch. Some advantages of joining a franchise include:
- Access to business resources
- You start as a trusted brand
- Access to a built-in customer base
- Free training & support
Buy Your Window Cleaning Supplies
You don’t have to break the bank when starting a window cleaning business. In fact, you likely already own some of the basics. Like proper work boots and durable overalls to wear. The typical window cleaning company uses:
- Buckets & Sponges
- Industrial Cleaning Solutions
- Microfiber cloths
- Squeegees & Scrapers
- Ladders
- Extension poles
- And a vehicle to transport it all
If you’re planning to cater to the residential market, you can add these to your kit:
- Water purifier, because pure water dries with a crystal clear finish. With this, you won’t have to squeegee the windows afterward.
- Water-fed pole and filtration system, so you can wash windows without the need of a ladder.
But, if you’re opting to start a company that caters to commercial buildings, you will need more supplies, such as:
- Boom lifts: This is a vehicle used to elevate window cleaners and move horizontally and vertically. Boom lifts can range from 40ft tall to as high as 180 feet tall. Its mobility and flexibility allow cleaners to work faster and higher.
- Cherry pickers: This is a kind of crane with a platform that allows cleaners to access windows at height. A cherry picker can offer a reach of up to 200 feet. You’ll also have the option to mount it on the ground or on a truck.
- Abseiling equipment: Finally, you need the rope and safety gears used for rappelling from a tall building to clean windows.
2. Decide What Services to Offer
Your core business is cleaning your clients’ interior and exterior windows, but there’s a lot more to offer than just that. Some of the services you can offer as a window cleaning business are:
- Storm window cleaning: If you live in an area where most houses have storm windows, you should definitely add storm window cleaning to your services.
- Glass rail panel cleaning: Most people can DIY this, but if they’re always busy and in a public place, they should consider hiring a window washer with the right tools and training.
- Skylight washing: Skylight cleaning can be difficult for most people, so it’s a great service to offer to potential clients, especially in neighborhoods with older people.
- Screen cleaning: We all have experienced the benefits of a clear screen, but it gets dusty and dirty over time. And keeping it clean isn’t always the easiest. So, if you have the means to help them, then definitely add this to your services.
- Glassdoor cleaning: For companies and houses that have glass doors, it’s essential to maintain their cleanliness. More than that, it is the most used and touched surface of any building.
- Power Washing: You can offer this service to expedite the home exterior cleaning.
- Window Tinting and Film: For houses or buildings that get heavy sun exposure, this may be a good service to offer. Placing a window film seems easy to DIY, but it’s hard to ensure that there are no wrinkles, misaligned edges, or dirt underneath.
- Cleaning Chandeliers and Ceiling Fans: Chandeliers and ceiling fans are rarely cleaned because it’s hard to reach and tedious to clean. You’ll need a ladder to clean them, and in the US alone, there are about 164,000 injuries and 300 deaths each year caused by falls from ladders.
Every client has their own set expectations when it comes to window cleaning. So, you can set up a pre-service consultation with your clients to do an assessment and discuss rates. You can also create flyers and marketing materials to show all that your offer.
3. Price Your Services
To do this, start by researching your local market and scoping out the competition. Remember that you need to attract new clients without compromising your costs. For example, you can have different rates for window cleaning, which can be based on the national standard fees below.
In the window cleaning industry, the standard way of charging services is by:
- Charging per hour: This is the most straightforward way of charging services. Many window cleaners charge by the hour from $35-$75.
- Charging per window pane: You can charge between $10-$15 per window, depending on the window type. Larger or complex windows will cost more than smaller windows.
- Charging per project: Depending on the clients’ needs, sometimes it makes more sense to charge per project. For example, you can charge higher when tasked to clean a skyscraper because you consider the safety and preparation needed for operating a cherry picker.
Image from Pexels
4. Define Your USP to Stand Out From the Competition
Window cleaning companies can dedicate themselves to a single service. But, if you want more potential clients to look your way, you need to have something new for them. So, first, you need to be clear about your Unique Selling Point or USP.
Why are you better than your competitors? Are you cheaper, more organized, or fast and efficient? Do you donate your profits or hire people struggling to find a job? Determine your brand values and highlight WHY clients should choose you over other businesses in the area.
Once you know what that is, you’ll want to make it front and center in your marketing. From your website to your fliers, be consistent and showcase what makes you different.
5. Marketing and Advertising Your Window Cleaning Business
Lastly, you need a reliable stream of clients, and the best (and most obvious) way to do this is by marketing. Without it, you’ll struggle to keep your doors open for business. While you can start by pitching your business to friends and family, that’s not viable in the long term.
There are a few ways to stand out from the crowd to market your business effectively:
- Solid logo and branding: It gives you an identity distinct from the rest. If you’re struggling to come up with a name, you can also try using a business name generator.
- Digital marketing: Social media marketing can help you generate leads from a wider audience. To do this, maximize SEO in your advertisements to rank local search results.
- Listing your business in directories: Use platforms like Google My Business or Yelp for Business to ensure your website comes up when people search for window cleaners nearby. There might also be local business directories for you to add your info too!
- Traditional marketing: Although most marketing tactics moved online, traditional marketing still has its own merits. You can hand out business cards, go door-to-door, or give fliers to get the word out about your window cleaning business.
Pro Tip: Offer discounts for repeat customers, client referrals, and online reviews when you’re just starting out to land more clients.
Dirty Windows Mean Money
If you’re looking for a small business venture that’s easy to start and has the potential to be profitable, window cleaning is a great option. You can add a bit more shine to your work and do it as a part-time job or make a full-fledged business. Dust always accumulates, so there’s always an opportunity to find work.
As long as windows are dirty, people will need you to clean them.
Now you’re armed with the tools, go out and do it! See you in the winner’s circle 🙂
