Info for a prospective noob window cleaner

1

Hi all,
I’ve been reading on this forum here a little, and I’ve been thinking about starting my own window cleaning business in my area.

I live in a town with a population of about 8,000, but within 30 or so minutes driving distance probably around 95,000. If I stretched out the driving time to about 45-60 minutes, the population is about 840,000!(big city).

One thing I would like to know is,
1, How do you decide how to price a job?
Do you price it by the window pane?
By the hour?
By the whole job?
Do you switch it up depending on the job?

2, What is a competitive price per window pane in this kind of business?

I would start off part time, then probably work into it full time as the business allows.

If it matters, I’m a 23 year old single guy, who doesn’t have a bunch of overhead.
Going back to school isn’t really an option for me.
I currently do furniture upholstery,
but I have no desire to do furniture the rest of my life.

I’m not afraid to work hard to get into, and run a lucrative business of my own.

I wouldn’t really have a problem going to different areas to clean windows (It’s not fun being stuck in a factory day in and day out).
One of the biggest perks for me would be working for myself.

What do you guys(and gals) think?
With the right kind of marketing(I already have some awesome ideas for that), is this something that a guy could NET, say $80,000 (or more) a year doing?

Thanks ahead of time for all the info, tips, and help!
-Joe

1 Like
2

Anybody???

3

Maybe go work for a window cleaner in that larger town. You’ll learn how to clean, how windows work and maybe something about pricing. This business is harder than you think.

3 Likes
4

Thanks for the reply, but that didn’t really answer any of my questions.
I’m trying to get AWAY FROM working for somebody else, not FOR somebody else.
Respectfully, thanks.

Anyone else want to chime in?

5

Doesn’t sound like you have any experience cleaning windows.

To be honest, you are gonna struggle pretty hard for a few years. Making 80K your first year, slim to none. You might not see that for several years.

Big city might mean more people, but it means MUCH more competition too, Also consider that drive time. You have 2 hours round trip you will be making zero (or paying workers who are making you zero).

Not trying to discourage you. But I personally would not call it a good move to quit your job and expect to make 80K. It might be pretty tough to gross 30K.

1 Like
6

Another honesty moment here. Lots of people want to work for themselves, but few can actually do it. It takes a lot of discipline most don’t have.

Again, not being discouraging. Most people are better suited to work FOR someone. When times are tough, some fold like a piece of paper. You can put yourself in a bad place sometimes, when you make a poor decision.

1 Like
7

@anon82274079
Thank you for your insight, however, not to be blunt, but my first post stated that this is something I would work into doing full time when the business permitted it.
I don’t have any plans to just leave my current job with no guarantee of finding work.
I would keep my current job probably until I got good enough and the window cleaning business would allow me to go full time cleaning windows.

Right off the bat, I wouldn’t have to be making big money, as right now I NET around maybe $35k-$38k a year.

If I was netting the same that i do now, consistently in my first year doing window cleaning full-time, i wouldn’t really have too much to complain about, because the business would grow as time went on.

As for the experience, I have my parents house to practice on in order to just get practice.

And I’m sure people in my church would let me clean their windows in order to get more experience.

The thing is, I’m the kind of person that, if I want something badly enough, I can have the grit and determination to probably find a way to make it happen!
Again thank you kindly for your reply.

Anybody else have any helpful info they would like to share?

1 Like
8

One thing I would like to know is,

1, How do you decide how to price a job? Like the other guys have said, working for another window cleaning company first, helped MOST of us learn the trade. However, if you’re willing to buy the proper gear ($800-$2500) (more if you do WFP (water fed pole)) and spend countless hours washing your own windows, and then slowing gaining a customer here or there.

Do you price it by the window pane? SOme do, some don’t hell some even change it up! I currently charge by the pane depending on size, unless its a special im running at 20 panes any size specific price!

By the hour? You’ll decide as you go, I current;y have averaged it out to where if I divide by the hours I’m making $50 an hour, however it is really hard to judge the time frame EVERY job would take. IMHO!

By the whole job?

Do you switch it up depending on the job? <-- SOme do it depending on their mood, my old boss changed it up every 6 months, got annoying!

2, What is a competitive price per window pane in this kind of business? Have a local window cleaner or 3 come give you a quote, or hell be completely honest with them and ask what they charge and why, and mention you want to open your own. Most of us encourage new start ups, as it can make us look better. : D

  1. You will not make that much if you have 0 experiences in business, 0 experience in window cleaning, and you want to keep a part time job. Take it from me, i have owned my own WC business for 3 years as of the 15th, and worked a full 50-60 hours a week at AceHardware, this third year im in good profit, picking up more and more jobs, i am able to spend less time at Ace, and more time focusing on my business and family. I am now down to 32 hours at Ace. with all this extra time i’ll have this winter and heading into the main season again, I will be able to push myself even harder and further… Hoosier is correct when he says, this is not for the easily broken! You must push hard, and hell, you will fall down a few times, maybe even 100’s, but you must keep trying! Gotta start somewhere, look at me! Just follow the rules, get your legal licenses and permits and promotional gear, rig, I mean there is a lot involved, but if you have the will power you can accomplish it!
2 Likes
9

@anon82274079
I just read your last post.
Thank you for the gut check.
I appreciate your honesty.
Cheers

1 Like
10

Hi all,
I’ve been reading on this forum here a little, and I’ve been thinking about starting my own window cleaning business in my area.
I live in a town with a population of about 8,000, but within 30 or so minutes driving distance probably around 95,000. If I stretched out the driving time to about 45-60 minutes, the population is about 840,000!(big city).
One thing I would like to know is,
1, How do you decide how to price a job?
Do you price it by the window pane? Starting with per pane price is the easiest and many vets in the biz still use it.
By the hour? Those that judge by the hour and succeed are experienced cleaners. Never think $25/hr that you clean glass is good. That’s great if you’re an employee not the owner.
By the whole job?
Do you switch it up depending on the job?
2, What is a competitive price per window pane in this kind of business? I don’t know where you’re from so I can’t answer that. I would suggest networking with other local window cleaners.
I would start off part time, then probably work into it full time as the business allows.
If it matters, I’m a 23 year old single guy, who doesn’t have a bunch of overhead.
Going back to school isn’t really an option for me. Just because you don’t have overhead now mean you can charge $X amount less than your competitors. You should account for things down the road like: insurance, CRM’s, website, vehicle maintenance, employees, workers’ comp, etc.
I currently do furniture upholstery,
but I have no desire to do furniture the rest of my life.
I’m not afraid to work hard to get into, and run a lucrative business of my own.
I wouldn’t really have a problem going to different areas to clean windows (It’s not fun being stuck in a factory day in and day out).
One of the biggest perks for me would be working for myself.
What do you guys(and gals) think?
With the right kind of marketing(I already have some awesome ideas for that) _put those ideas on hold and get this book https://windowcleaner.com/free-book_ , is this something that a guy could NET, say $80,000 (or more) a year doing? Net $80K? Gross $80-100K by yourself is feasible, but to net that would mean you’ll have to gross way more.
Thanks ahead of time for all the info, tips, and help!
-Joe

3 Likes
11

I just ordered the book! Thanks.
Also thanks folks for the honest replies!
Please, keep 'em coming!

1 Like
12

On top of working and then looking for work of and the no, we do it in house, we already have someone and still pull yourself out of bed after who knows how many hours you logged in that week than go for it.

13

break down your pricing into surface or per pane per side so for example a house with 20 standard double hungs would have 80 surfaces times by your per surface price add a screen, track cost, this way you will not be earning $50/hr to begin with, as your learn how to do the job. But when you are proficient at what your doing your hourly rate will be higher while maintaining your pricing structure.
Last year I subed a guy whos hourly rate was half of mine but he took 4 hours to clean what would take me 30-40 mins and I had to reclean about 10 + panes coz they looked like crap.

1 Like
14

@Steve076,
Thanks for the pricing info… it is helpful!

I would like to hear from some more of you guys!

15

If I was you, I’d consider moving to the city, and then starting the business. Storefront is a good foundation to launch from. It’s steady money every month with out much marketing except door to door then stretch out into residential. You won’t have many storefronts in a town of 8000.

1 Like
16

That is correct about the small town… but there is a town about 10 minutes from me that is around 40,000…the big city like I said is about an hour away…give or take.
I would really rather get into residential for the most part, but it would be good to have some businesses too for the constant work I reckon.

17

Depending on your business plan and climate you live in, will determine what direction may suit you best. In my area, you can’t do resi year round. So I have several months off of it a year. My resi shuts down in October and start again in April.

Low rise commercial can be a great source of income (steady stream). Many guys here build a business around storefronts (especially if they have a crew or crews). I don’t particularly care for it because here, there is hardly any money in storefronts. 1-3 bucks a pane is chicken scratch compared to 8+ a window resi/commercial. Storefronts seem to be only loyal to the cheapest price here too.

18

@anon82274079
I live in NC

19
3 Likes
20

I can live on a buck a pane storefront along a tight route. Business would be real slow tomorrow if I went to three bucks. Two or three houses a a week really helps though.