How to Start a Window Cleaning Business: 7 Steps to Success

Discover how to start a window cleaning business and get advice from the pros for long-term success.

Maintaining a home’s exterior can improve curb appeal and increase resale value. According to experts from the University of Texas, curb appeal accounts for at least 7% of a home’s value. Keeping the exterior of a home in tip-top shape can also protect indoor air quality and maintain a home’s energy efficiency levels. As a result, window cleaning, soft wash exterior home cleaning, and pressure washing services are in high demand. Revenue in the U.S. window cleaning industry grew 2.3% over the past five years and is expected to reach $2.9 billion this year, according to IBISWorld. As consumer spending rises, window cleaning demand will grow to $3.2 billion by 2029.

Getting Started

A window cleaning and home exterior washing franchise like Window Gang offers low startup costs and recurring revenue. You can start small as an owner-operator and scale the business as you add customers and raise brand awareness. You’ll also be able to set your schedule and choose where you want to focus on growing your customer base.

Here are seven steps covering how to start a window cleaning business:

1. Determine your specialty: Identify your target audience. Do you want to focus on homeowners or local businesses? You’ll need less specialty equipment to clean residential windows, but B2B accounts offer long-term contracts ensuring consistent sales.
2. Write a business plan. A business plan is a roadmap to success. It should outline your objectives, strategies, and financial projections, along with marketing goals
3. Do the paperwork: Like any new business, register it and apply for the necessary licenses and permits. You’ll also need the appropriate insurance to protect your business and employees.
4. Buy equipment: A window cleaning and pressure washing business does not need a storefront. You can outfit a van or truck with the necessary supplies and take care of back-office administrative tasks from a home office. You’ll need to invest in high-quality equipment to ensure durability. Our preferred franchise vendors will supply this equipment to maintain consistency and offer competitive pricing.
5. Hire and train staff: Depending on your business model, hire and train staff to serve customers. Your employees need adequate training and certifications to provide superior services. Some of these trainings are held by the franchisor to ensure you’re equipped to operate safely and effectively. You can rely on resources from industry associations, such as the International Window Cleaning Association, to facilitate training.
6. Advertise: Building a loyal customer base can be challenging. Window Gang’s support staff will help you develop a customized marketing plan that includes a mix of digital and print ads, as well as social media outreach to help you drive sales and generate leads.
7. Focus on customer satisfaction: You need a customer-focused mindset to be successful. Superior service and consistent top-notch results will enable you to generate referrals and positive reviews to help scale your business.

Franchising Streamlines Startup

An exterior cleaning service business can be a lucrative venture. Yet getting started is challenging, especially if you’re new to entrepreneurship. Window cleaning is often seasonal, and managing cash flow during the winter can be difficult. Customer acquisition can also be challenging for a new business without an existing reputation or referrals, and standing out in a crowded market can be hard.

Partnering with Window Gang allows you to start strong with an established brand, proven operations, and training. Premium Service Brands (PSB) is the franchisor of nine home service brands, including Window Gang — a 48-unit commercial and residential window cleaning business. Window Gang debuted in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, and now serves more than 1,600 cities nationwide. We are a window cleaning, gutter cleaning, soft washing, and pressure washing franchise.

With startup costs ranging from $108,200 to $148,600, you’ll get the tools, training, and support you need to set you up for success. You’ll receive at least 50 hours of classroom training and nearly 30 hours of virtual training to help you get started. We also provide ongoing support, marketing guidance, and peer groups to help you meet your financial goals. Every Window Gang franchisee receives a protected territory with between 50,000 to 80,000 single-family homes.

PSB combats seasonality by encouraging its franchise owners to focus on adding complementary brands to their portfolios. Brand stacking can enable you to generate year-round sales by sharing resources and leveraging your existing customer base.

Learn More About PSB

Get started to learn more about how you can launch a window cleaning business by partnering with PSB, a leader in the home services franchising industry.