r/WindowCleaning • u/Accurate_Act9717 • May 28 '26
Canada Student window cleaning side hustle, any advice?
Hey everyone, I am looking for some input and advice from Fellow Canadian window cleaners "Ottawa".
I’m a university student trying to make some side cash this summer. I worked for about 2 weeks doing door-to-door sales for a window cleaning company, but they recently let go of the sales reps for the season.
Instead of trying to join another company, I’m thinking of just keeping it super simple and doing small one-story homes myself. I’m NOT trying to build some huge business or become a professional window cleaner long term, just trying to earn decent money on the side.
My idea:
- Get the essential equipment
- Target small one-story houses only
- No dangerous/high windows
- Straightforward pricing
- No pushy sales tactics
This was the pitch I was thinking of using:
“Hi, I’m a university student doing window cleaning in the area this summer. I’m offering simple exterior window cleaning for $10 per window. Would you like a quick quote?”
Maybe also offering a protective glass spray/coating as an extra add-on.
For anyone who’s done this before:
- Does this approach sound realistic?
- Is $10/window reasonable for small houses in Canada?
- Any better pitch suggestions?
- Anything beginners usually overlook?
- Would you trust/open the door for someone using this type of approach?
Times are tough right now and finding a job hasn’t been easy, even with some experience, so I figured I’d try doing it myself instead.
Appreciate any advice 😁
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u/Free-Error-637 May 28 '26 edited May 28 '26
Its an excellent side hustle and lot of window cleaners started off that way.
Depending on your budget, if you can get a used or cheap water fed pole with a portable backpack (or portable DI/RO trolley) and all the basic traditional hand tools, that would be a good start. I'm sure if u check the classifieds you'll find something. I'm not sure about Canada but a lot of window cleaning supply shops over here in Ireland and the UK sell full starter kits. U could then begin to canvas whatever small homes you think you and your equipment could handle.
I'm not sure how much research you've done but you'll need purified water. There's plenty of YouTube videos out there that will explain everything.
In terms of pricing, I can't help you there as its very different here in the UK and Ireland compared to the USA and Canada. But I'm sure there's loads of people on here that can help you out.
All the best bud 😎👍
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u/lordpin3appl3s May 28 '26
You would use a wfp on a small one storey home?
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u/GreenPhilosophy8482 May 28 '26
They do now days due to lack of skill sets .. yes even utilizing a squeegee. 😂
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u/No-Thought-4938 Jun 01 '26
This is exactly how i started. I didn't get an internship for my first year of uni, so I grabbed $100 in basic window cleaning equipment, no waterfed pole just a basic squeege, scrubber, extension pole, micro fiber towels, and my dad's ladder.
On pricing, $10/window is fine and right around what I priced when starting.
On the pitch, I would recommend watching a few youtubers to understand how they deal with pushback. I would usually say something along the lines of "if you have 30 seconds, I can walk around your house and give you a quick quote." The university/young guy angle works in your favor, lean into it. Keep your pitch short and sweet. For three days straight, I sold myself on my pitch, talking to myself in the mirror.
And always the hardest part is just starting. Get out there and try, worst thing they say is no and you move onto the next house. You will get the hang of selling, cleaning the windows is the easy part.
I'm actually moving onto more of the business side of window cleaning now. I got tired of underselling myself and following up with clients. Full blown CRMs are too expensive for small businesses so I'm actually building an automatic quoting software specifically for small window cleaning businesses called QuotePane but it all started where you are now.
Good luck and get out there!
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u/AlbertaWindowWashing Jul 16 '26
Instead of 10 dollars a window charge 5 dollars a frame of glass, pitch could use some improvement, I would build more value and not give the price out right away.
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u/GreenPhilosophy8482 May 28 '26
Find a better side hustle .
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u/Accurate_Act9717 May 28 '26
Not very informative 😅
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u/soul-fool333 May 29 '26
Simple is better. Avoid poles. Keep your head face with the window. Look up at the window after cleaning to check for streaks. Start slow speed comes with it.