How to Start a Window Cleaning Business in 11 Practical Steps

The main risk is jumping in without a plan. If you skip the planning stage, you can end up in the wrong niche, charging too little, or buying equipment you don’t really need. The good news is that with some simple groundwork, you can set up a window cleaning business that runs smoothly and makes money.

Below, I’ve shared 11 steps you must follow — and a bonus step that can make all the difference.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Starting a Window Cleaning Business

Here are 11 practical steps that can help you build and launch a successful window cleaning business:

Start by looking at the buildings in your area. If most are retail stores or small offices, then you know that’s where you can find some good opportunities.

Research the neighborhoods around you. Business research shows that people with disposable income are far more likely to outsource cleaning, so note which areas have higher average incomes. 

Analyze the competition

Use Google Maps to find other window cleaners in the area and go through their websites, services, and reviews. Figure out what services they offer and find service gaps that you can take advantage of, and make your business stand out.

For example, if a competitor has mixed Google reviews, you can find common complaints and then pitch your services as a solution to these complaints. You might be able to appeal to customers who complain about high prices with lower pricing or offer specialty services that no one else does. 

Talk to your customers

Finally, speak to potential clients (businesses, homeowners) about their cleaning needs and whether they could use your business. Ask them questions about their current window cleaning needs, if their current providers are good, if there’s anything that needs improvement, how much they’re willing to pay, and any tips they could give you.

Before you start your cleaning business, you need to target a specific set of customers. This way, you can buy the right cleaning supplies and tools, create the right marketing messages, and figure out how much your customers are willing to pay.

Use your research to find a window cleaning niche that has local demand, fits your background and cleaning skills, and has the potential to become a profitable cleaning business.

Think about what window cleaning jobs you can safely do well, what you actually want to offer, and what you do not want to take on. For example, residential cleaning business owner Beth McGee says her company doesn’t offer window washing services because many homes have high-placed windows and skylights that are hard to clean. By not offering those services, she avoids disappointing clients with results she can’t guarantee, and you should set the same kind of limits to keep expectations clear and protect your reputation.

Common window cleaning business options include:

Residential window cleaning

This focuses on cleaning windows in private homes and small residential buildings. Typical clients include homeowners, landlords, and property managers. This niche is great for solo cleaners starting their business because it has low startup costs.

Services include:

• Interior and exterior glass cleaning.
• Screen and track cleaning.
• Skylight and mirror cleaning.
• Hard water stain removal.

Commercial window cleaning

Commercial window cleaning involves washing windows in offices, retail spaces, restaurants, and schools. You typically work with businesses, building managers, and government offices. Commercial cleaning can be a highly profitable field with recurring contracts if you can provide consistent, reliable service.

But this can be a harder field to enter for a solo cleaner or a new window-washing company, as you need a team to clean windows in larger buildings. You might also require insurance and licenses, depending on where you work.

Services include:

• Routine cleaning contracts (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly).
• Cleaning outside windows for shops and small businesses.
• Cleaning lobby windows and indoor glass dividers.

High-rise window cleaning

Cleaning windows and exterior glass surfaces in skyscrapers and tall commercial buildings is a high-risk job that requires specialized skills, safety training, certifications, and insurance. But trained and certified specialists can charge more than other cleaners. 

Services include:

• Rope access or suspended platform cleaning.
• Safety compliance and certifications.
• Post-construction window cleanup.

Industrial window cleaning

Industrial window cleaning involves cleaning windows in large buildings like factories, warehouses, production sites, and shipping or storage centers. You’ll need heavy-duty equipment and a large cleaning crew for most industrial cleaning jobs. Your crew must also have the right training and certifications to safely operate this equipment.

Services include:

• Cleaning large, high, or hard-to-reach windows.
• Pressure washing.
• Maintenance contracts for industrial sites.

Eco-friendly window cleaning

A 2025 report estimates that the eco-friendly cleaning services market will have a market size of $14.5 billion by 2033. This trend has reached the window washing industry. 

An eco-friendly window cleaning service offers the same services as other window cleaners, but focuses on sustainability and using green products. This can be a strong way to stand out from other window cleaning companies in your area.

Services include:

• Cleaning windows with chemical-free products that break down safely.
• Using purified water and water-fed pole systems for natural, streak-free cleaning.
• Using reusable cloths, efficient tools, and low-water methods to cut waste where possible.

When you’ve done your research and picked a niche, it’s time to create a business plan. A business plan should clearly explain the goals for your business and how you plan to achieve them. It should include a market analysis of your local area, the services you will offer, your ideal customers, and how you will market and sell to them. It should also include your budget and a simple estimate of your costs and expected income.

Writing your business plan will force you to think carefully about how your window washing business will work. It can clarify what steps you need to take during the launch process and help you see the big picture of your future business. It’s also required by most investors or to get a loan from a bank.

The market analysis and budget sections are especially important, as they help show that there’s a need for your business and that you can turn a profit. Your market analysis section will include your competitor analysis. It should explain what makes you different from other window cleaners in your niche and area.

Your budget section will outline what it’ll cost to start and run your business (things like equipment, insurance, and marketing) and how much you expect to earn. This can help you determine if you have adequate funding and when you can expect to start making a profit. 

(If you need help budgeting, you can jump down to the section covering the costs to start your window cleaning business. You can also jump down to the ways to fund your business to learn more about those.) 

Estimating your startup costs

As part of your business plan, make a simple estimate of how much money you will need to get started. Starting a window cleaning business is relatively affordable compared to the costs of starting other types of cleaning companies. Focus on broad categories, such as:

• Equipment and tools (poles, ladders, squeegees, safety gear)
• Licenses, permits, and insurance
• A vehicle and fuel
• Marketing and branding (website, cards, flyers)
• Software or apps

For a small residential window cleaning startup, total costs usually fall around $1,000–$3,000, depending on what you already own.

For commercial window cleaning, expect to spend more on stronger ladders, additional safety gear, and higher insurance costs.

For high-rise window cleaning, startup costs can reach tens of thousands of dollars. This is because you need specialized equipment (such as rope access systems or lifts), advanced safety training, and much higher insurance coverage. Check our complete cleaning business insurance guide for more information

The goal here is not to list every exact price, but to understand whether your chosen niche requires a small or large upfront investment.

Estimate your earning potential

Your business plan should also include a simple forecast of how much you can earn. Window cleaning can Your business plan should also include a simple forecast of how much you can earn in your chosen niche. Think about:

• How many jobs you can complete per week
• Your average price per job
• How often clients will return
• Whether you will work alone or hire help

A solo residential window cleaner with steady repeat customers can often earn $40,000–$80,000 per year.

A small team offering commercial window cleaning can grow into the low six figures, especially with recurring contracts. 

High-rise and industrial window cleaning can bring in much higher-paying jobs, but these jobs also come with higher costs and stricter training requirements. You can get more details in our cleaning business profitability guide.

This estimate does not need to be perfect. It should simply help you decide whether your niche, pricing, and weekly workload can support the income you want.

Joining a franchise

It’s worth noting that there are several national window cleaning franchises you could consider joining, including Squeegee Squad and Window Genie.

Joining a franchise still allows you to own your own business, and you’ll get benefits like training, an operations manual, and brand recognition from day one. Being part of a franchise can make it much easier to get your business off the ground.

However, franchises also limit your flexibility and have steep costs. There are rules you must follow about how you advertise your business, for example. You’ll also need to pay a franchise fee (at Squeegee Squad, the franchise fee starts at $50,000) and send a portion of your revenue back to the franchise each month.

So, you need to think carefully about whether joining a franchise will help you run the business you want.

Your business’s name should be catchy, memorable, and easy to understand. If possible, customers should know from the name alone that you offer window cleaning services.

For legal reasons, your business’s name needs to be unique. To check that your business name hasn’t already been taken, head to your state’s Secretary of State website and run a quick search. Examples include the California Secretary of State’s Business Entity Search and the Ohio Secretary of State’s Business Search.

You can also search online to see if the domain name you’d like for your business’s website (e.g., www.yourbusinessname.com) is available. Also, check the US Patent and Trademark Office database to check if someone else has a trademark for your chosen name.

And it’s always a good idea to run the name by friends and family for a second opinion or fresh ideas.

The next step is to register your business with state authorities and the IRS. To register with your state, you’ll need to decide how you want to structure your business. There are a few options:

Sole proprietorship

By default, your business will start out as a sole proprietorship. This is the easiest and cheapest structure to set up and is best for solo cleaners or small window cleaning teams.

From a legal and tax standpoint, this means you and your business are the same entity. This means that business income is reported on your personal tax return. You also have no personal liability protection, so you’re personally responsible for any legal or financial damages resulting from business activities.

You don’t need to register with your state if you run your business as a sole proprietorship, although you may still need permits to operate (see below).

Partnership

If you’re starting your window cleaning business with one or more co-owners, you can set it up as a partnership. It’s similar to a sole proprietorship, but with two or more people sharing ownership, profits, and responsibilities.

In a basic “general partnership,” each partner can be held personally responsible for business debts and legal problems, just like in a sole proprietorship. Business income is usually reported on each partner’s personal tax return.

Because there is no liability protection, many small teams choose a multi-member LLC instead. If you still use a partnership, write a short agreement that explains how you will share profits, costs, and decisions.

Limited liability company (LLC)

It’s a good idea to structure your business as an LLC. With this structure, you and your business are separate legal entities. That’s important because if your business goes bankrupt, your personal assets, like your home, won’t be impacted.

An LLC is ideal for small to medium-sized window cleaning businesses, especially those providing higher liability-risk services like high-rise or industrial window cleaning.

You can restructure your business as an LLC by filing paperwork online with your state’s Secretary of State. There’s a filing fee in most states, and you’ll need to renew your registration each year. Depending on the state, this will cost around $50-$300 per year.

Corporation

You can also structure your business as a corporation. This is ideal for large window cleaning businesses with multiple teams and locations. It’s also a good option if you want to issue shares in your business, such as to investors.

The drawback to structuring your business as a corporation is that it requires a lot of paperwork and can be expensive to set up. You could also end up being taxed twice on your income.

For most window cleaning business owners, it’s best to start with an LLC. Most window cleaning businesses never need to become a corporation, and if you ever do, you’ll know it because you’ll be growing fast, adding locations, or bringing in investors.

Register your business

Register your window cleaning company with the appropriate federal, state, and local authorities. You can check how to register using resources like the US Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Registration Guide or on your Secretary of State’s website.

The initial filing fees to form a business range from $50-$520, depending on your state. It can also vary based on your services and business structure.

Request an EIN

You should also request an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. You can do it for free on the IRS’s website. Even if you don’t plan on hiring employees right away, you’ll need an EIN to set up a business bank account and for tax purposes.

Open a business bank account

It’s important to avoid mixing your personal and business finances. Doing so can make it difficult to track your costs and revenue and get you in hot water with tax authorities.

Fortunately, opening a business bank account is simple. Most major banks and credit unions offer fee-free or low-cost business checking accounts. Some online banks also offer attractive accounts for small businesses.

Payments you receive from customers should go to your business bank account. You can also use this account to pay for business expenses, like cleaning supplies.

Depending on your location, you may need permits or licenses before you can start washing windows.

For better or worse, there’s no single license that applies everywhere. Every city and state has its own rules.

The best way to find out what permits you need is to contact your state’s Secretary of State office and your city’s business office.

Business insurance is also important and may be a legal requirement in your city or state. There are several different types of business insurance available, but the one that every window washing business should have is general liability insurance.

General liability insurance protects you from damages if there’s an accident on a job site. For example, this type of policy will pay for most costs if you or someone else gets hurt while you’re cleaning windows or if property is damaged.

“You should consider investing in liability insurance to protect yourself from any potential lawsuits that might come up due to accidents or damages caused while on the job,” says Nathaly Vieira, owner of InspireClean.

In addition, if you have employees, you’ll be required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance in many states. You can find out more about your state’s worker compensation laws by reviewing our state labor law guides.

Some states have public insurance pools that you must pay into, while others require you to purchase a private workers’ compensation insurance policy.

It’s a good idea to speak with an insurance agent to get the right insurance coverage for your business.

Getting the money you need to launch your new window washing business is a major part of the startup process. The good news is that you have a few options available, including:

• Self-funding.
• Small-business loans.
• Personal loans.
• Family and friends.

Let’s take a closer look at the benefits and drawbacks of each.

Self-funding

One of the simplest ways to fund your new business is to pay for it yourself. This is known as self-funding or bootstrapping.

For this to be a viable option, you’ll need to have enough savings available to cover all of your startup expenses. You should also make sure you still have savings left over to cover at least 3 to 6 months’ worth of personal expenses, like food and rent, since your business may not be profitable right away.

The benefit of self-funding is that you’ll maintain complete control over your business. You also won’t have to go through the lengthy process of getting a loan or pay any interest on it.

The downside is that all of the money you put into your business is at risk. If your business doesn’t work out, you could lose a significant portion of your savings.

Self-funding is typically only an option for a solo business or a very small team offering general window cleaning services. If you want to start a specialized window cleaning or commercial window cleaning business, you’ll need additional funds to buy heavy-duty equipment or specialized tools and pay employees.

Small-business loan

Another option is to take out a loan from a bank or credit union. Many financial institutions offer small-business loans, including low-interest loans backed by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Applying for these loans can be a long process, but they offer very favorable terms.

The benefit of funding your business with a small business loan is that you don’t have to draw on your own savings. Small business loans also tend to have favorable terms. Some loan programs even offer the option for a portion or all of your debt to be forgiven if you meet certain qualifications.

The drawback of taking out a loan is that the process can be lengthy. It typically takes 1 to 3 months to get an SBA loan. You’ll also have to make interest payments on your loan, which will add to your total startup cost.

Personal loan

If you don’t want to go through the process of qualifying for a small business loan, another option is to take out a personal loan. Personal loans are often easier to qualify for, and some lenders will send you money the same day you apply.

The drawback to taking out a personal loan is that they typically carry much higher interest rates than small business loans, and you are personally responsible for paying them back, even if your business struggles. You’ll also need to watch out for terms like prepayment penalties, which can impose fines if you pay back your loan early to reduce your interest charges.

Family and friends loan

You can also go to family and friends for a loan. In many cases, family and friends may be willing to offer loans with low or no interest.

Bear in mind that borrowing money from family and friends can negatively impact your personal relationships. It’s a good idea to draw up a contract and stick to a repayment schedule just like you would for any other loan.

Window cleaning businesses require different tools based on the services they provide. You will need multiple sets of tools and additional supplies if you have a cleaning crew.

Basic window cleaning tools

These are essential for any window washing company, regardless of size or specialty:

• Squeegees.
• Scrubbers/applicators.
• Buckets.
• Window scrapers or blades.
• Microfiber cloths or towels.
• Extension poles.
• Cleaning solutions.

Access and safety equipment

This equipment helps you reach higher windows and keeps you and your cleaning crew safe:

• Ladders.
• Stabilizers or ladder pads.
• Harnesses and safety ropes.
• Roof rigs and anchor points.
• Hard hats, gloves, and non-slip boots.

Professional / commercial equipment

This equipment is used for large-scale or specialized projects:

• Water tanks and pumps.
• Pressure washers.
• Scaffolding or lifts.
• Tool belts.
• Vehicles.

Cleaning solutions and chemicals

You will need specific cleaning solutions to clean different window cleaning jobs, including:

• General window cleaner.
• Degreasers.
• Hard water stain remover.
• Eco-friendly alternatives (for sustainable cleaners).

The exact equipment you’ll need is a mix of tools from the above lists and will depend on the customers and niche you choose. 

Regardless of the type of window cleaning services you provide, your cleaning staff must be trained in the relevant safety regulations.

Check OSHA regulations

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has regulations that are relevant to using equipment during window cleaning jobs. For example, there are requirements for using scaffolding and ropes that apply to most high-rise, industrial, and commercial window cleaners.

OSHA also requires window cleaners to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent serious workplace injuries and minimize exposure to strong chemicals. Fall protection training is also essential for window cleaners because they work on ladders or are suspended on building exteriors.

This guide lists all the safety regulations required for window cleaners.

Get safety and training certifications

While safety certifications might not be legally required, they’re highly recommended for compliance with OSHA standards and often requested by clients, particularly in high-rise and commercial window cleaning.

You can get standard safety certifications through training courses offered by organizations like the International Window Cleaning Association (IWCA). These programs cover safety procedures for ladder use, fall protection, and chemical handling.

There are also specialized certifications that are vital for high-rise window cleaning, like the rope access certification from the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT) or the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA).

Your window cleaning business should comply with any state regulations, too. For example, California has state regulations that apply to all window cleaning operations.

Window cleaning prices vary depending on your location, the local demand for window cleaning, and the type of window cleaning services you offer.

For example, for commercial projects, you’re bidding for recurring contracts that are calculated based on square footage, frequency, and scope of work. This is completely different from residential cleaning, where you can charge by the window or by the hour.

Before you start pricing your services, calculate the actual costs of running your business. Add up costs related to labor, travel, insurance, supplies, equipment, vehicles, employee wages, and more. Then, add a markup (or profit margin: the money left over after expenses) to get your prices.

Your prices should be competitive with your competitors and the average prices for your niche.

Common pricing structures for window cleaning services include:

Per-window pricing

Window cleaning businesses often charge a flat rate of $5-$15 per window or $4-$8 per pane. You can charge a higher rate for difficult-to-clean windows, such as skylights.

Best for

This pricing structure works best if a building’s windows are similar in size and shape. That’s sometimes the case for office buildings, but not for many other types of buildings. For most business owners, hourly and per-project pricing are better options than per-window pricing.

It can also work well for homes that have relatively few windows and don’t require anything more than a sturdy ladder and cleaning supplies.

Pros

• Helpful for customers, since they know exactly how much a job will cost ahead of time based on how many windows their building has.

Cons

• This method can be time-consuming because you have to count every window and also decide how much to charge when a building has windows of different sizes.

Hourly pricing

Many window washing companies charge $40-$75 per hour for residential cleaning, based on our market analysis.

You can charge higher rates if a job requires extra equipment, such as scaffolding, or if it’s difficult or dangerous.

You can introduce tiered pricing structures, like a “standard” window cleaning rate for basic window washing and a “deep” window cleaning to remove stuck-on grime and algae.

You can also charge an extra fee for cleaning hard-to-reach features like skylights or panes behind storm windows. For example, you could charge $60 per hour plus $10 per skylight and $5 per storm window pane.

When providing quotes for customers, you may want to slightly overestimate how long a job will take. Most customers will be happy to pay less than your quote because the work went faster than anticipated. But they won’t be happy if you underestimate the time a job will take and charge more than your quote.

Best for

Jobs where it’s hard to know how long the work will take, such as buildings with many window types or hard-to-reach windows.

Pros

• One of the simplest ways to price your services.
• You’re paid the same amount no matter what type of building you’re working on.
• You’re also paid for all of the time you work, including any extra hours if a job takes longer than expected.

Cons

• You can’t earn more money by improving efficiency. But this shouldn’t be a problem if you already work efficiently and set your rates accordingly. 

Per-project pricing

Another way to price your services is to set a fixed rate for an entire window cleaning job. For example, you might charge $250 for washing the windows of a small house or $500 for washing the windows of a medium-sized grocery store.

Best for

Project pricing works well for small jobs for which you can quickly tell how long cleaning will take. An experienced window washer will be able to look at a house and estimate the time right away.

It also works well for very large jobs, such as cleaning high-rise buildings. In these cases, you can set a project price based on the number of employees and the amount of equipment you’ll assign to the job rather than based solely on how long you think it will take.

Pros

• Both you and the customer know how much a job will cost ahead of time. You can accurately project your revenue, and the customer won’t be hit with a surprise bill at the end of the job.
• Encourages efficiency: you’ll earn the same amount no matter how long a job takes you. If you invest in high-efficiency washing equipment, like better pressure washers or longer extension poles, you can increase your efficiency across all of your future jobs.

Cons

• A fixed-price project might take longer than expected. If that happens, you won’t be paid for the extra time like you would be with hourly pricing.
• Works best once you have experience washing windows professionally and can accurately estimate how long a project will take.

Add-ons

Since every window cleaning job won’t be the same, you can include optional add-ons at additional prices. 

For example, if you run a residential window cleaning business, you can offer gutter cleaning, pressure washing, or Christmas light installation. These services use a lot of the same equipment your business already owns and can help you generate more revenue.

You can also charge more for cleaning hard-to-reach places or specialized cleaning (like solar panel cleaning).

Marketing your window cleaning business is essential to reaching people who need their windows washed.

To help people find you online, you should create a simple website with a low-cost website builder like Wix or Squarespace. Include online contact and booking forms.

Then, set up your Google Business Profile, so you show up when people search for local window cleaning services. Add all the relevant details and ask previous customers to leave reviews. 

Online reviews are vital for new businesses as they show potential customers that you are credible and can be trusted to get the job done. One way to make it easier for customers to provide reviews is adding QR codes to your marketing materials. Customers can scan these codes to go directly to the review page.

Once these steps are done, develop a detailed cleaning marketing plan that dives into who your target clients are, the marketing channels you’ll use to target them, and any other tactics to generate customers.

Common cleaning marketing methods include:

• Posting cleaning flyers and door hangers in areas with your target clients.
• Cold-calling potential commercial and residential clients.
• Knocking on doors and making in-person visits.
• Social media videos showing window cleaning progress videos.
• Online posts with before/after photos and customer testimonials on multiple channels.
• Paid search engine and social media ads.
• Offline ads in local magazines, radio stations, and TV.
• Email marketing with cold emails, newsletters, and special offers.

If you’re just starting out as a professional cleaner, you can also find clients on marketplaces like Angi, Yelp, and Thumbtack.

Entrepreneurs and small cleaning business owners can use simple online tools to create their marketing materials. For example, Canva is a free design tool that offers attractive templates for flyers and social media posts.

Cold-calling and knocking on doors can be daunting, but it’s one of the most effective ways to connect with local homeowners and business owners for window cleaning. Online tools like ChatGPT can help you come up with engaging scripts for cold-calling clients. Remember that you’re helping potential customers with a problem and keep a positive attitude. The worst thing anyone can say is no.

You should also consider partnering with other businesses in your target market. Muffetta Krueger, founder of Muffetta’s Domestic Assistants, suggests “networking with real estate agents, property managers, and businesses to secure recurring contracts.”

When starting out, your goal should be to find your first, loyal customers, not build a window-washing empire overnight. Keep your approach simple and low-cost.

Talk to everyone you can about your new business and be ready to pitch your services to interested customers. You can also carry business cards with you and ask family and friends to spread the word.

Once you find customers, it’s up to you to provide excellent service to generate repeat business and word-of-mouth referrals.

BONUS: Pick the right window cleaning business software

Once you have more than a few regular clients or hire your first worker, running everything with paper notes, spreadsheets, and group chats quickly becomes messy. Jobs get mixed up, people show up at the wrong time, and it’s hard to track hours or prove what work was done.

The right software helps you keep your business organized in one place. You can store client details, job notes, prices, and photos, and keep a clear record of who did which job and when. Your cleaners can see their daily jobs on their phones, follow simple instructions, and send you updates from the field.

Instead of jumping between different tools, you can use an all-in-one cleaning services app like Connecteam. It lets you build and share schedules, track work hours, send tasks and checklists, collect forms and photos, and chat with your team in one simple app, all straight from your phone or computer.

Connecteam also has a free plan for companies with up to 10 employees, with access to all premium features. If you want to test it with a larger team before upgrading, you can use the 14-day free trial, with no credit card needed.

Turning Your Plan Into Action

Starting a window cleaning business can feel like a big project, but it becomes much easier when you break it into clear steps. Do your research, choose a niche, write a simple business plan, and make sure your paperwork, permits, insurance, and safety training are in place. Then, get the right tools, set your prices, and start talking to customers.

You don’t need to build a huge company right away. Start small, focus on doing great work, and keep your first customers happy so they come back and recommend you to others. As you grow, use simple systems and tools to manage your business, like an all-in-one cleaning services app like Connecteam, to stay organized and run your team. 

With steady effort and good service, a window cleaning business can become a reliable and profitable source of income over time.

FAQs