Is a Window Cleaning Business Profitable? How Much Window Cleaners Make
Is a window cleaning business profitable? How much a window cleaning business can make, why margins are high, costs, solo vs crew income, residential vs…
In this article
Yes, a window cleaning business can be very profitable because startup costs and supply costs are low and most of the price is labour. Income depends on how many jobs you do per day, your pricing, route density, repeat customers and add-on services. Solo owners keep most of what they charge; owners with crews earn from multiple teams.
Why window cleaning has high margins
- Cheap supplies (water, soap, squeegee rubbers)
- No expensive shop or storefront needed
- Low equipment cost compared with other trades
- Recurring customers reduce marketing spend
- Short jobs can be stacked in one area
Where the money comes from
| Revenue source | Notes |
|---|---|
| Residential cleanings | Larger per-job tickets, seasonal peaks |
| Commercial storefront routes | Small but weekly or monthly, steady cash |
| Add-ons | Screens, tracks, hard-water removal |
| Related services | Gutters, pressure washing, solar panels |
| Post-construction cleans | Higher price, more labour |
| Maintenance plans | Quarterly or monthly recurring |
Costs to account for
Vehicle and fuel, insurance, equipment replacement, marketing, software, phone, taxes, and wages and workers' comp once you hire.
How much can a window cleaning business make?
It depends on:
- Billable hours per day (less driving = more income)
- Average job price and your minimum charge
- Percentage of repeat customers
- Season and climate
- Number of crews
A solo cleaner's income is limited by their own hours. Owners who build routes, hire cleaners and manage sales can earn far more, but take on payroll and supervision.
Ways to make more money cleaning windows
- Raise your minimum charge so small jobs are worth the drive.
- Sell recurring plans at the first visit.
- Group jobs by neighbourhood.
- Use a water-fed pole to clean faster and safer.
- Add gutter cleaning, screens and pressure washing.
- Win commercial contracts for off-season income.
- Collect reviews and use online booking to cut admin time.
To get started, read How to start a window cleaning business.
Frequently asked questions
Is a window cleaning business profitable?
Yes. Low costs and recurring customers make it one of the more profitable small service businesses.
Are window cleaning businesses profitable in winter?
Residential work slows in cold climates, so many owners rely on commercial routes, interior work and holiday light installs.
Can you make money cleaning windows part-time?
Yes; weekend residential jobs and morning storefront routes can produce solid side income.
How profitable is window cleaning compared to other cleaning?
Supply costs are lower than house cleaning, and jobs are fast, so per-hour profit can be higher.
How much does a window cleaning business make per year?
It varies with jobs per day, prices, repeat clients and how many crews you run.
What is the most profitable window cleaning service?
Recurring commercial routes give steady income; high-end residential and post-construction cleans give large single tickets.
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Start a conversationWritten by Sachin Rawat
AI & automation engineer · websites, apps and motion design
I build AI agents, automations, websites, apps and motion design for businesses. These guides answer the questions people actually search, written from hands-on experience building them.
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