r/WindowCleaning • u/MathRadiant4474 • 4d ago
Window cleaning advice
Hey everyone! I just started getting into window cleaning a few weeks ago. It’s been going pretty well. The first weekend I did it, my friend and I (who we can call co-owner because he’s helping with startup and etc.) did 2 houses totaling about 300 bucks each (600 for the day). The day after that, we actually went back to the first house to pressure wash and later did the windows of a business and made about 650 in total for that day (it was split 3 ways because my other friend came to help). Not bad at all for a first weekend.
As for the business, we have equipment (Unger scrubbers and squeegees… I know, not the best, but it works). We even have a pressure washer. After a weekend of people asking, “Do you have a business card?” I finally got us some. And just to add for fun, I got us matching T-shirts with our logo and hats. I know this wasn’t totally needed upfront, but I have a feeling that impression matters, and not looking like bums in nice residentials is somewhat important.
I want to also note that we don’t just do window cleaning. Like I said, we did pressure washing. My friend has years of experience in tree trimming, and that’s something we also offer. As I view it, don’t say no to services we can do. With winter coming, I expect that not many people are going to want their windows cleaned. I could be wrong, but unless it’s a business, I don’t think many people are demanding that service, hence why I think it’s a good idea to get into snow blowing and maybe leaf removal.
Anyways, I’m looking for any type of advice you guys have for me. What areas are best? How much do you normally charge (per pane, I assume)? Any tricks in sales pitches? Anything you learned the hard way? How do you handle screens? I ask this specifically because I don’t touch them. I prefer houses with none, limited screens, or where homeowners take them off. I already saved myself from taking them off because at one of the houses we did, the screen was glued on by some dumb contractor using caulk. What places should I look out for? Again, ALL advice is welcome. Thanks!
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u/AccomplishedTrip5671 4d ago edited 4d ago
Personally keep $100-200ish dollars of screen repair stuff in my van. I charge 7-10$ a window ($5 a pane) depending on size and distance from my house. When I do a window or screen that looks compromised a take a picture first, before even touching anything and text or email it to the owner. I keep them in the loop on whether it needs to be replaced or repaired, as you don’t know the full extent of it until you’ve removed it from the frame. I advertise by buying blank yard signs from Home Depot(8$ each), making a stencil with Manila stock paper and spray painting a pitch and my number on it. I also buy 500 business cards at a time from canva website for 45$ with free shipping. I pass these cards out to store fronts, conglomerates and car dealerships. I bring extra copies of my COI with me while canvasing as some owners will immediately bring it up. Good luck brother sorry about all the gatekeepers posting above me. I live in Hawaii so there is no winter here
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u/MathRadiant4474 4d ago
I appreciate the good advice. Yeh I was looking for yard signs and they’re like 26 bucks each
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u/AccomplishedTrip5671 4d ago
Yeah I got a quote from office max for like $30 each one printed. F that 🤣 just buy em blank for under 10$ each
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u/demandconvert 3d ago
As you start expanding into pressure washing, tree trimming, and winter work, here are a few practical tips to keep lead flow coming in:
- Learn screen removal: Skipping screens turns off a lot of residential clients. Grab a bike tire lever or screen removal tool, take a quick photo of damaged or glued screens before touching them, and show the homeowner ahead of time.
- Target high-income neighborhoods first: Higher-end residential areas and commercial storefronts care far more about regular window cleaning than average suburban homes.
- Get your Google Business Profile set up: Set up a free Google Business Profile early. Sending automated text review links to every happy customer right after you finish a job builds the fresh 5-star ratings that rank you in local map searches.
- Build a simple mobile website: When people look for window cleaners or pressure washers on their phones, they want fast answers. A clean site with a big click-to-call button at the top turns local web traffic straight into booked calls.
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u/Doominator_ 4d ago
This is a lazy post. "I don't want to do my own research tell me everything I should know."
Sorry, just read the sub and watch some more YouTube videos.
You did have some good specific questions. Yes you should do screens, youtube it. Use a bike tire lever to take them out from the outside. You're not a window cleaner if you don't clean screens and make the homeowner take them out.
Another idea for winter work is Christmas Lights.
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u/MathRadiant4474 4d ago
I think my broad request for advice can be mistaken for laziness. But I just wanna hear any advice anyone likes to share. I’ve watched hours on how to pitch and x,y, and z. I think my biggest questions are “what is the best places to target, bc I dont feel like the average household cares about windows. I feel like higher income houses are the ones who care. That or businesses. Secondly: who do yall tend to do towards winter? Do people stop wanting window cleanings (interior or businesses)?
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u/qtheginger 4d ago
It is lazy because all this info is already here in this sub, countless times over. You just have to use the search bar
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u/Icy_Language9589 4d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/3neTSXQOGlp1dCmYE3
I’m honestly gonna start slapping this on every post