How to Start a Window Cleaning Business: Equipment, Costs, Pricing and First Customers

You can start a window cleaning business with low startup costs: choose residential, commercial or both, register the business, get liability insurance, buy basic squeegee and water-fed pole equipment, set per-pane or per-job pricing, and win your first customers with door-to-door flyers, Google reviews and recurring service plans. Growth comes from routes of repeat clients.

Residential vs commercial window cleaning

Many owners start with storefront routes for steady weekly cash and add residential jobs for bigger tickets.

Step-by-step setup

1. Pick a name and register the business (sole proprietorship or LLC).
2. Get a business licence if your city requires one (see Do you need a license to wash windows?).
3. Buy general liability insurance; add workers' comp when you hire.
4. Buy equipment (below).
5. Set prices and a simple quote method.
6. Set up booking, invoicing and reminders.
7. Market locally and build a route.

Equipment you need

• Squeegees (several sizes) and channels with rubbers
• Strip washers (applicators) and buckets
• Scrapers and microfibre towels
• Extension poles and a safe ladder with stabilisers
• Water-fed pole system with a pure water filter (for upper windows without ladders)
• Screen-cleaning supplies and track brushes
• Safety gear

Starting with hand tools keeps costs low; a water-fed pole is the biggest upgrade and makes two-storey homes faster and safer.

Startup costs

Pricing your jobs

Window cleaners usually price per pane, per window, or per job with a minimum charge. Add for inside cleaning, screens, tracks, hard-water stains, high windows and post-construction cleanup. For a full guide, read How to bid window cleaning jobs.

How to sell window cleaning services

• Storefronts: walk in, offer a free first clean or a simple weekly price.
• Homes: door hangers in neighbourhoods where you already have a job.
• Before-and-after photos on Google Business Profile and social media.
• Bundle services: gutter cleaning, screen repair, pressure washing, solar panel cleaning.
• Recurring plans: discounts for quarterly or monthly service.
• Website with online quotes so homeowners can book at night.

Growing the business

Build dense routes, raise prices as you get busy, hire and train a helper, add commercial contracts, and track customers' next due dates so you can re-book them automatically. Read Is a window cleaning business profitable? for the numbers behind growth.

Frequently asked questions

How do I start a window washing business?

Register the business, get insurance, buy squeegees, poles and a ladder, set prices, and find customers through storefront visits, flyers and reviews.

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

It is one of the cheapest service businesses to start; hand tools, insurance and marketing are the main costs, with a water-fed pole system as an optional larger purchase.

Can I start a window cleaning business with no money?

You can start very lean with basic hand tools and free marketing (door-to-door and Google Business Profile), then reinvest early income into better equipment.

Is residential or commercial window cleaning better?

Commercial storefronts give steady weekly income; residential gives larger jobs. Many businesses do both.

Can window cleaning be a side hustle?

Yes; evening and weekend residential jobs and early-morning storefront routes fit around a day job.

What do I need to start a window cleaning business?

A registered business, insurance, cleaning equipment, a safe ladder or water-fed pole, pricing, and a way to take bookings.