How To Start A Window Cleaning Business

What’s not to like? Window Cleaning is a low cost, high profit business that we can help you start fast!

A clear view is just a call away!

When you were in school, did you dream about becoming a window cleaner? Highly unlikely, right? But you may have wanted to become Spiderman or get an opportunity to look at the world from another angle.

1. Overview
2. Qualifications
3. Pros and Cons
4. How much can I earn?
5. How much does it cost to start?
6. Do your research
7. Choice of business structure and registering your company
8. Create your business plan
9. Marketing and Branding
10. Red tape
11. Conclusion

 

Starting a Window Cleaning business can be lucrative and as an added bonus, it is quick, easy and low cost to start. Being a window cleaner entails scaling new heights, putting your physical stamina to the test, always learning new things, and much more.

 

• Potential Annual Revenue: £30-46,000+
• Start Up Cost: £500-£2,500
• Time To Revenue: 3-4+ months 
• Annual Market Growth Rate:     %
• Best for: The physically fit, meticulous, self-motivated and trustworthy entrepreneurs.

Few things improve the appearance of a property like sparkling clean windows. However, maintaining spotless glass can be a major challenge for many people due to its tediousness, difficulty and risks associated with using ladders or access equipment.  

A reliable window cleaner has never been more in demand! In some areas of the country homeowners can wait for years to be added to a cleaners round. 

 

Start your own Window Cleaning Business and give your local area more curb appeal! 

 

Window cleaning businesses typically have three types of clients

• Domestic

  This target market consists of homeowners and is a great low cost start up. Basic equipment excluding a vehicle will be in the region of £500. Once you have established your business you may want to include commercial jobs. 

• Commercial

  A commercial window cleaning service focuses on cleaning windows of buildings like offices, shops, hotels, and restaurants etc. This is more costly to set up as you will need more specialised equipment. You are more likely to be looking at between £3-5,000 but you can charge more for your services.

• High-rise

  A high-rise window cleaning company operates on tower blocks, offices and skyscrapers and has more safety and insurance requirements.

From registering your company, establishing your brand to marketing your services, we’ll cover everything you need to know to help you turn your entrepreneurial talent into a successful company owner. 

 

 

Qualifications

You don’t need any formal qualifications to become a window cleaner.

The Federation of Window Cleaners, is a registered professional trade association who represents the window cleaning industry. It runs many courses and can give advice. As do the British Window Cleaning Academy and the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) which is the largest, professional, independent body within the cleaning industry. Join these trade associations to give you kudos and new customers will have enhanced confidence in your business. 

A Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) certificate can be highly beneficial to the role.

To work as a window cleaner or operate a window cleaning service in Scotland, you will need a window cleaner’s Licence. A licence isn’t required for the rest of the UK. 

If  you´ve years of experience having worked for a company previously, this will help you connect with new customers easily as they know you´re qualified to do the job and that you know the safety procedures. But it never hurts to have extra training to specialise and expand your enterprise, also keep up to date on health and safety requirements. Try to keep your education rolling! 

 

So whether you´re already a qualified, experienced window cleaner and have decided to branch out on your own or you have finished an apprenticeship/course and gained some experience or want to see how you could start your own business, we are here to help you take the next steps in your shining career. 

 

So, before you grab that Squeegee, here are some pros and cons to keep in mind:

 

6 Great Reasons to Start a Window Cleaning Business

1. High Demand Professional window cleaners, who do their job well, are hard to find. The number of windows in the world is growing day by day. Win, win!
2. Low startup costs: Compared to many other businesses, the costs associated with starting a window cleaning business are relatively low. You mainly need cleaning supplies, a reliable vehicle and some knowledge of marketing. 
3. Recurring business: Windows need to be cleaned regularly, which can lead to a steady stream of repeat customers. If you provide excellent service, you can build a loyal client base that provides consistent revenue.
4. Flexible schedule: You can often set your own hours and work according to your availability. This flexibility can be beneficial for those who need to balance work with other responsibilities.
5. Scalability: If you manage to establish a good reputation and a solid customer base, you can expand your services to include other related tasks, such as gutter cleaning or pressure washing, and grow your business.
6. Low barrier to entry: You do not need extensive formal training to start. Basic skills can be learned relatively quickly, but health and safety knowledge is essential.

 

4 Common Challenges When Starting a Window Cleaning Business

1. Seasonal fluctuations: Demand for window cleaning services may fluctuate with the seasons. You might experience slow periods during winter months which can affect your revenue. Rain, snow, or extreme temperatures are unpleasant at best and may limit your ability to clean windows, impacting your income and schedule.
2. Physical demands: Window cleaning can be physically demanding, especially for high-rise buildings or windows that are difficult to access. This could lead to potential injuries or strain, especially if proper safety precautions are not followed.
3. Intensive competition: The market for window cleaning services can be competitive, especially in densely populated areas. You may have to work hard to differentiate your services from those of competitors to attract and retain customers.
4. Repetitive tasks: The job can be monotonous, especially if you are primarily dealing with a large number of residential customers. This may lead to a lack of job satisfaction over time.

 

 

The all-important question – How much can I earn starting my own window cleaning business?

Do your research. Find out what other local window cleaning businesses are charging in your area for the same services you offer. 

Exploit your speciality if you have one! 

The average salary for a self employed window cleaner  in the UK is around £35,000. This is obviously dependent on your experience, the type of services you offer, the size of your client base and your local region. Many make less than the average and many make much more. 

You may choose to charge by the hour or quote for a job per window. 

Many tradespeople impose a minimum call out fee but a free estimate gives you a chance to view the property, manage the risk of underestimating with a flat rate, establish the logistics involved in accessing the windows and whether you can offer them additional services. Plus, it gives you a chance to develop a relationship and ask questions. This may increase overhead costs, but it builds loyalty.

You might find that lowering your price for customers who agree to regular cleanings for a set fee will help you build customer relationships and gain consistent revenue for your business.

For commercial properties offer discounted long-term contracts. This ensures a stable and predictable income for you over an extended period and security and reliability for your customer.

The most important thing to remember is to make your pricing clear before you start the job and warn them of any extras that may occur.

 

 

How much does it cost to start a window cleaning business?

Depending on what level you intend to set out on, your start up costs can vary quite a lot. 

Starting off at the most basic level you won´t need to invest in lots of expensive equipment. A bucket, detergent, a good ladder, cloths and a  Squeegee are your main tools.

As you start to make profit  you should consider investing in a water-fed pole to allow you to reach high windows without the use of a ladder. These a lightweight and speedy solutions to reaching windows from the safety of the ground, 

If you are going to be cleaning high rise buildings you will have to have the necessary training and invest in larger items of equipment such as scaffolding and harnesses.

Many window cleaner supply companies offer Starter Kits for those beginning their entrepreneurial journey.

You will need transport, this will be your biggest outlay. Look at the second hand market or leasing a van. Remember you´ll be paying for fuel, insurance and maintenance as well. 

Also consider where you will store your equipment. Will you be working from home or a rent space? 

 

Do Your Research  

To sparkle in the window cleaning business you´ll need to do your research and decide what you´d like to concentrate on and what you can add to your portfolio.

Could you offer something different and exploit an untapped market in your area? 

Upsell your window cleaning services by explaining to your customers about your seasonal add-on services. 

• Gutter Cleaning: Expand your services to include the cleaning of gutters and drains. This is annual autumnal seasonal work but clogged gutters can lead to water damage and other issues, so offering this service can be highly valuable to your clients. 
• Roof cleaning is another service that you can include and tends to be in the spring as mosses and shoots take hold on the roof tiles. 
• Jet washing driveways, decking and patios for the spring/summer months can boost your income. Cleaning tools are pretty interchangeable so no new equipment is necessary. Also cleaning  uPVC sills, doors and conservatory framework.
• Go Green: There is a growing trend of providing green cleaning across all types of cleaning services. Use environmentally friendly cleaning solutions and reusable cloths and towels
• Do you clean inside windows? How about blind cleaning and/or installation? Great indoor jobs for those winter months.
• With the growing tend of decorating your house for Christmas or Halloween , why not offer a lights/decoration package?!
• Solar Panel Cleaning With the increasing popularity of solar panels, offering specialized cleaning services for solar panels can help clients maximize their energy output and prolong the life of their solar systems. 
• Do you have specialised cleaning training? Historic buildings, fragile bricks and glass need extra care and different cleaning solutions.

 

How I’d set this business up.

So, here’s how I’d make sure you build on your successes! 

Choice of business structure

Anyone who sets up a new company should have a business plan. Ask yourself “What is my ultimate goal and how am I going to achieve it? “ Think organised, efficient and productive. 

 

A strong plan is fundamentally important when you are setting up any business. As a solopreneur, you can start this business as either a sole trader or a limited company.

I’d also strongly consider a hybrid start up structure where you can reap the benefits of both structures with minimal cost and risk.

This could enable you to start trading with the simplicity of a sole trader but also have secured the limited company for marketing hacks and saving tax later if you decide to incorporate your business.

Have you considered a catchy company name yet? Use our FREE Company Name Checker Tool and find your perfect name. You’ll be searching through a database of over 5 million registered company names and more than 11 million UK domain names.

 

 

Business plan

Start by formulating a business plan. This will help to focus on delivering a clear message to your potential customers. 

There are different types of business plans. (But you can use my 1 page business plan here) It’s designed to cut the waffle but has enough detail to make it a meaningful tool so that you remain laser focussed on what needs to be done when you set up this business.

 Hold yourself accountable!! 

If you are unsure what to do at this point I recommend seeking professional advice. My team is available to talk you through this in a clear and concise way you will understand.

 

 

How to Market a Start Up Window Cleaning Business.

This is a business that I would definitely want to fast-track from the beginning for growth. You want to get busy as quickly as possible and there is only one real way to achieve this.

Most buyers/potential clients for this service are going to find a builder using a Google search. Sure some will use an app, some might ask for a recommendation on social media but MOST will look on Google.

Google knows that when someone is looking for a window cleaner, they want to see results close to where they are located.

This usually means that Google will show a maps listing at the top of the search results like the image below.

 

 

If your business shows up here then you are right at the top of the search results, under the nose of people who want to find a window cleaning company.

For any type of business/search term where Google shows a Maps listing like this, I describe these businesses as having “high local marketability”.

High local marketability means if you know what you are doing and tick the right boxes with Google you can get a lot of business enquiries very easily.

 

So if potential customers can’t find you on Google, they won’t be calling you. And guess what? That means someone else has picked up their  chamois leather and that customer and you’re missing out!

 

 

So how do you dominate Google search results for this business?

You have to optimise for the Google maps listing.
How do you do that? 

Follow these 10 simple steps to marketing a window cleaning business:

1. Get a website. Make sure it complies with Google’s best practice guidelines.
2. Get your new website in Google so clients find YOU.
3. Provide LOCAL PROOF. Use a local phone number and a mobile to tell clients and Google you are definitely a local business.
4. Provide SOCIAL PROOF. Show reviews from real customers on your site. This is called “social proof” and turns browsers into customers!
5. Use LANDING PAGES. A landing page is optimised for a specific search term making it rank higher than your competitors. Landing pages are for people who want to buy your service now. They show the client what they want to see.
6. Provide great CTA’s (CTA =call to action). Make it super easy on your website for clients to get in touch with you by including features such as a messaging/chat app and CTA’s that show clients exactly how to contact you.
7. Share FEEDBACK. Go the extra mile to provide an outstanding service and you are sure to collect plenty of positive feedback from clients. Ensure you harness this by collecting reviews from every new customer.
8. AUTOMATE – You won’t have time to be manually updating your website. Make sure you automatically show the new reviews on your website, driving more clients to your business.
9. PROMOTE – Regular updates to your website and using Google tools will give your website an extra edge.
10. MAINTAIN – From time to time websites need technical maintenance to the software they run on to keep peak performance.

 
Most window cleaning businesses DO NOT invest enough time and money to execute this simple marketing  strategy providing you with the opportunity to step in and DOMINATE in the local search engine results.

 

Live Chat Function

This is great as it gives your potential customers a “one click method” to message you straight from your website – you get the messages on your usual Messenger account, This is probably something that your competitors won’t have and we’ve had clients getting great success using this tactic. Make it easy for your potential clients to get in touch with you. 

 

 

Still confused? We can create a personal website for you to get you off to the best start. 

 

Always ask for references and reviews on your website and apps. This is so important for new customers looking for a reliable company. 

Google reviews, testimonials and recommendations are essential. Potential customers WILL check for reviews when they are searching for a service, product or trade. 

Look for positive feedback from other successful window cleaning companies. If customers are giving great reviews about professionalism and speed from their window cleaners, this means that in order for you to get favourable feedback, you need to be on the ball and do the same but better! 

This is difficult when you first start out and asking can be uncomfortable but a happy client will want to help you up the ladder every time.

 

 

 

Here are 8 great tips to help you market your window cleaning company effectively:

Promoting your business is crucial to attract new customers and grow your business. 

 

• Do your research

The wonderful world of window cleaning can be competitive, so it’s important to research your competitors in the local area. Examine their websites and online presence. Identify what you can offer that others don’t. This will help you differentiate your business and attract more customers.

Ask people in the local area what service they would like to see. Are they having trouble with blocked gutters and drains or do they just need a reliable service?

 

• Create a great company and domain name for your website

Choose a name that is related to you and your business and is memorable for your potential customers. 

Remember to steer well clear of similar sounding names so confusion does not occur with other companies. You can do this easily with our Company Name Search tool 

 

 

We can quickly and easily help you get the ball rolling with this, registering your company and domain name and even providing you with fully featured business email boxes making your business look more professional, adding credibility when you are approaching new customers. So instead of emailing from an @yahoo or @hotmail address you can be emailing from @mycompanyname. Doesn´t that look better?

 

You will then have to register a domain name for your website. We all know websites are crucial nowadays so make sure you get yours registered as soon as you have chosen your trade name. Take a look at our Domain Name FAQs which will explain why a domain name is so important to getting your business up and running.
Then use our  domain checker and let´s get you onto the world wide web!!  

 

• SEO

Search engine optimisation is the art of getting your window cleaning company’s website to the top of the search results on Google and the other search engines so that you have the best chance of getting their business. 

If you’re new to running a website it’s easy to get caught out with a low cost SEO service that just doesn’t work.

We can help put together an affordable SEO package and we’ll always tell you what we are going to do and what results you might expect to achieve.

 

• Create a website

The site must also give lots more information about the services you offer, the area you cover and if relevant, any fixed rates you offer. They are also essential for contact purposes, online bookings and enquiries. 

Here you can introduce yourself and give your customers a little background info.

A little information about yourself can make the business more personal and boost customer confidence. 

Your website is a great place to showcase your cleaning skills. Plenty of before and after photos and videos will give a potential customer a feel for your work standards.

 

 

And don’t forget to add all reviews and comments to your website – I can’t stress highly enough how important reviews are. 

We all rely on those Google reviews and recommendations when we need a service, product or trade, so make sure they are clearly visible on your site. 

 

• Word Of Mouth and Networking

  are powerful and effective marketing tools and should never be underestimated! Customer service is king.

A lot of your business will come from clients recommendations. Make sure these reviews are on your website and monitored frequently.

We have already mentioned this (a lot!) but it is vitally important.

Always ask for References and Reviews on your website and apps, this will boost your online presence rating. 

Start with your friends and family if you have cleaned their windows. 

It’s very common to work with other trade professionals. Do you have links already to builders or landscape gardeners? Once a job is finished you can come in a clean the windows and doors and jet wash the surrounding drive etc. 

How about contacting local estate agents! House sellers like to keep unlived in properties clean and tidy for that great curb appeal!! 

These are all important mutually beneficial relationships. 

Ask if you can leave your business cards or leaflets in local supermarkets, DIY and hardware stores etc. 

Make sure you have any additional services mentioned on them. 

If you start to employ staff, collect customer feedback. Customer engagement and customer retention really matters, get in touch with your customer and listen to their views. This will also really help you to create trust among the customers.

Trade fairs such as The Cleaning Show and Cleaning Expo are perfect places to network. Try new equipment, pick up tips and build up relationships with suppliers.

 

• Design an eye-catching logo

Your logo is an important aspect of your brand identity, so it’s essential to design a logo that represents you and your business and can be used everywhere, including your workwear, vehicle, business cards and leaflets. 

Have you thought about adding QR codes to your marketing material? With a click of their mobile phone, customers can fill out a request form or write a review by using a QR code.

Add a QR code to your works vehicle, magnetic signs are perfect for this.  Potential consumers passing by can immediately scan for further information about your services. 

QR codes are perfect for business cards, giving website links, tips on maintenance or basic DIY. They are also an easy way to get that all-important customer feedback and can be added to invoices and receipts that go directly to your review page.

 

• Use Social Media

Why would a window cleaning company use social media?

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram and TikTok  can be powerful marketing tools for your business. 

Shout out loud what makes your business unique! Whether it´s using eco-friendly materials or having a 24 hours emergency service.

Whatever if it is, make sure you are getting the word out there. 

Join local business Facebook groups or similar platforms to promote your business and connect with potential customers. 

You can also create social media pages for your business and post regular updates, photos and promotions to attract more customers. 

Running competitions on social media is a great way to create more interest in your business. Remember to make it simple and quick to enter. Offer a house window clean as a prize or gutter clearing and cleaning in the autumn months

Remember not everyone uses social media, so stay visual in your area with leaflets though letterboxes and posters too.

Also join online directories, many people rely on them for finding tradespeople. 

 

• Use apps and software

There are many apps available that can help you manage your business more efficiently. They can be used for booking, saving customer details and receiving payment. 

Project management software will be vital especially as your business starts to grow. Companies such as Asana, Clickup, Monday.com and Zoho all offer good packages that will help you take control of your business and keep those bookings running smoothly. 

 

By implementing these marketing strategies, you can attract more customers, improve your brand identity and grow your business.

 

Other formalities

 There are other formalities that you will need to complete before you can start trading successfully.

Open a bank account

You need a separate business bank account for your business whether it’s a sole trader or limited company.

Keeping your personal and business finances separate is crucial for several reasons. It simplifies accounting and bookkeeping, making it easier to track business expenses, income, and tax obligations. It also helps demonstrate financial transparency, which can be important for legal and tax purposes.

How about a  contactless card payment machine? No carrying lots of change around with you all day. There are plenty on the market now and easy for you and your customers to use. 

You will need Insurance.

Window cleaning isn’t the highly dangerous profession it was in the past. Today with the use of water fed poles, great heights can be reached working from the ground. Whilst speed and safety have improved, knowledge of these new systems is needed to run a profitable, reliable business. And accidents DO happen.

There are lots of companies offering their services so have a good look around and take their advice. 

Public liability insurance is crucial to protect yourself and your customers, providing cover against injury or accidental damage to their property. 

If you employ someone Employers’ liability insurance is essential to cover any injury and illness sustained whilst whilst being employed by you, 

Then there is insurance for your equipment and tools, protecting you from theft, damage and loss. 

Make sure your insurance company knows your vehicle is a works vehicle. And make sure your eye-catching logo and your contact details are prominently displayed!  

Provide a reliable and trustworthy service 

 

Conclusion

We´ve established that starting a window cleaning business is low cost and can give you a great income fast! Before starting, it’s important to conduct thorough market research, create a detailed business plan and consider how you can differentiate your services from local competitors.

With property development continuing to grow, there´ll always be plenty of glass to clean.  And depending on your needs you can keep it as a small enterprise or expand with time. 

Think outside of the box and never underestimate the power of networking and forming partnerships within the local area. Collaborating with complementary businesses, such as  estate agents or property management companies, can significantly expand your client base and lead to lucrative, long-term contracts.

The key to longevity in this competitive field lies in the ability to adapt to market changes, maintain exceptional customer relations and continually upgrade your skills and equipment.

When clarity matters most, find out more and contact my team. Let´s get your new business off to the best start!