How to Start a Window Cleaning Business in 11 Steps

1. Research the window cleaning market

Before you start purchasing squeegees or slapping your logo on a van, you’ve got to know if there’s actually a need for window cleaning services in your area.

So, before officially opening your window cleaning business, do some homework. Drive through neighborhoods, do Google searches, and ask questions that lead to paying customers.

• Who’s out there with dirty windows? Are you planning to focus on homeowners in suburban neighborhoods? Office buildings with glass facades? They each come with their own quirks. A retired couple might want spotless living room windows. And a storefront owner may need weekly cleanings to keep their displays looking sharp.
• What’s the glass situation look like? How many homes or buildings in your area actually need regular window cleaning? In sunny climates with lots of pollen, demand stays steady. In coastal areas, salt builds up. Growing neighborhoods could be prime territory for landing recurring jobs.
• What frustrates potential customers? Ever tried cleaning a second-story window? It’s not easy, and many people either don’t have the gear or can’t be bothered with the hassle. Business owners don’t want streaky glass that turns away customers. Think about what frustrates people and how you can offer a professional solution.
• Any rules or red tape? When using extension poles near power lines or climbing up ladders on commercial buildings, there may be insurance requirements or city permits to think about. Call your local licensing office now so you’re not scrambling later.
• What are your competitors offering? Scope out your competition. Do they charge flat rates per pane? Do they offer extras like gutter cleaning or hard water stain removal? What do customers say in Google reviews? These details help you figure out where you can shine.

2. Choose which services to offer

One of the first decisions to make as you set up your window cleaning business is whether you’ll focus on residential properties, commercial buildings, or both. The needs of homeowners and business owners are a bit different, so defining your target market can help you attract the ideal customers.

For example, a homeowner might look for sparkling clean windows to boost curb appeal and a retail store might want regular service to maintain a spotless, welcoming storefront. Clearly defining what you offer will make it easier for potential customers to say “yes.”

Here are examples of service options you can consider offering:

3. Write a business plan

Creating a plan for your window cleaning business helps you plan your day-to-day operations and prepare you for the future. It also helps you secure a loan if you need start-up money. 

Your business plan should include:

• Cover page: Include your business name and the date.
• Table of contents: List the different sections of the business plan.
• Executive summary: Give a quick recap of the entire document.
• Business overview: Provide a description of your business and explain the services you’ll offer to customers.
• Services list: Show the residential or commercial window cleaning services you’ll provide.
• Pricing strategy: Set pricing for your services.
• Market analysis: Show what area you’ll serve and what customers are there.
• Competitive analysis: Compare your business to other window cleaning businesses in your area.
• Marketing plan: Outline how you’ll reach ideal customers and win new work.
• Employee planning: Decide what roles you’ll need and make a hiring timeline.
• Financial projections: Plan income, expenses, and salary for your first year of business.

4. Establish your business and get business insurance

It’s time to make your business vision a bona fide, legal entity. Here’s how:

• Choose a window cleaning business name to register your business under and let people know who you are and what you offer. Even if you’re flying solo and using your own name to represent your business, it goes a long way in helping customers remember you.
• Pick a business structure. In the U.S., that’s usually a sole proprietor, partnership, or limited liability company (LLC), or limited liability partnership (LLP). You can also choose to incorporate your business.
• Get a business permit to make sure you can legally offer services in the area of your choice. Your local Chamber of Commerce will be able to help you understand the type of license you need and the requirements for your area.
• Apply for an employer identification number (EIN) if you plan to grow your business and eventually hire some help. This also helps when filing taxes with the Internal Revenue Service.
• Open a business bank account and sign up for accounting software to keep your bookkeeping crystal clean. QuickBooks is a popular option for small businesses to record expenses, track accounts receivable, and document all forms of income.

5. Buy your window cleaning supplies

The right tools will help you get the job done right. Luckily, traditional window cleaning tools are affordable and widely available.

Add these items to your shopping list:

• A squeegee
• Microfiber cloths and towels
• An extension pole
• T-bar and sleeve
• A scraper
• Cleaning solution and buckets (regular dish soap works great)
• A ladder
• A bidding and invoicing system

These tools and supplies can be purchased for a few hundred dollars if sourced well. Once you’ve gotten your business off the ground, you can invest in more advanced tools, like a water purification system and water-fed pole.

6. Decide how much you’ll charge

Unless you’ve worked in the window cleaning industry before, learning how to price and bid window cleaning jobs may take some practice.

Most window cleaners don’t charge by the hour. Instead, they charge by the number of window panes (each individual piece of glass) and the type of cleaning (construction, inside and outside, or inside only).

Average prices are $4 to $8 per window pane and anywhere from 50 cents to $8 per screen. You will need to charge more for construction cleans and less for high-frequency clients (you’ll make up the profits in the long run). You can also charge for cleaning window tracks and sills.

The more you bid, the more you’ll learn. If you win 100% of your bids, you might be charging too little. If you’re losing out, don’t be afraid to ask what your competitor offered so you can begin to understand the market.

READ MORE: Learn more about pricing strategies for service businesses.

7. Find and attract new customers

Promoting your window cleaning business will help you find your first customers and grow. You don’t need to hire an expensive agency or spend lots of money to get started.

Here are a few inexpensive ways to market it:

• Go door-to-door in your service area to introduce your services to potential residential or commercial clients. Canvassing can be nerve-racking, but it works!
• Build a professional home service website that lists your services and gives prospects an easy way to book work
• List yourself in local business directories and online marketplaces
• Create a Google Business listing and start collecting reviews
• Network with local service businesses, such as landscapers, remodelers, and realtors. You can offer a two-way referral system to grow each other’s client base.

Once you’ve started to build your book of clients, you can include remarketing strategies, like following up with existing customers, email and postcard marketing, and creating a referral program.

8. Hire a team

This step may or may not be a top priority when you start out, but it’s necessary as you grow and scale the business. You could see your revenue increase with every new crew you add. 

When you’re unbelievably busy or are looking to expand into a new territory, it’s probably time to hire your first employee.

If you’re just starting out, keep your team close knit so you can train them well and ensure consistent quality and service.

9. Expand your service offering

Adding services to your window cleaning business will open up opportunities for more work and greater profits. Choosing to offer additional services, though, will depend on your region, business goals, and customer demand.

You could start out by just offering window cleaning, and soon you might see customers asking for other services like gutter cleaning and pressure washing too. Adding these services can increase your revenue and allow your team to work all year round.

If you just do window cleaning, you’ll probably see a slow winter if you’re in a cold climate. But if you expand your offerings, your income won’t fall off a cliff.

Ideas for additional window cleaning services to offer include:

• Gutter cleaning
• Pressure washing
• Soft washing
• Screen repair
• Christmas light installation

You can either advertise these services or only offer them on request.

10. Improve your customer service

Anyone can wash windows. But it’s your professionalism and customer service skills that will set you apart. Great service keeps customers coming back and brings referrals.

Whether it’s sending appointment reminders, texting quotes, or sending impeccable window cleaning invoices, there are lots of ways to impress clients.

11. Create processes to make your business more efficient

Administrative tasks aren’t the reason you started a window cleaning business. But neglecting them could be the reason you go out of business.

Letting client information slip through the cracks, missing appointments, and losing track of invoices will seriously damage your reputation and cash flow.

The earlier you take control of your business operations, the less financial loss and headache you’ll have down the road. Window cleaning software is your best bet to get organized and stay organized.

When you use Jobber’s window cleaning software, you’ll have access to:

• A field service CRM, to keep your client info, bids, and billing history in one place
• Job scheduling and dispatching, so you can optimize your time and fit in more jobs
• Professional estimates, which you can create from your mobile phone, email your clients, and have them approve in one click
• Invoicing and payments, so you can get paid on the spot, and follow up if a client owes you money
• A mobile app, so you can do all the above and more from the office or the field