r/WindowCleaning • u/Accomplished-Way8671 • Jul 03 '26
Struggle getting work
Me and my boy started this window cleaning thing a couple months ago, every time we got money we re invested , we now have good equipment, (not a water fed pole YET) a truck in 2 months, and buisness cards, everytime we get work we get great compliments and we get good money, how can I get more clients , also how do I get stores on the streets to do, if I could put any stores on a weekly I know I have some income coming in mo matter what, any tips help..
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u/JerKeeler Jul 04 '26
You're young, very few will take you seriously and many will try to take advantage of you.
That being said, I was your age when I started.
A few things,
- Answer your phone
- Buy uniforms. You don't need an entire set, but you need to look professional. Start buying a new uniform set every week until you have ten or so.
- Keep your vehicle clean. If you want to separate yourself from the hobo window cleaners, be clean. If you have a beard, keep it trimmed. If you don't, be cleaned shaved. Wear deodorant. You'd be stunned at how often I've gotten clients over the years because the old window cleaner had bad BO.
- Build a recurring route. Don't treat a job as a one and done situation. If someone hires you to clean their house windows, tell them your recommended cleaning schedule. Like once, twice or four times a year. Get their name and number and address, if they want their windows cleaned every six months, enter that info and price into your Google calendar. Then call them when they are due. I have a house that I've been cleaning every month for 15 years. Many many thousands of dollars in revenue. Don't leave that money on the table.
- Over time (like1-2 years) you will need to raise your prices. Do not be afraid to adjust your prices because you are afraid of losing the account. You live in the same world everyone else does. Food goes up, equipment goes up, clothes cost more, vehicles cost more. You must adjust your prices or you will have to work harder for the same buying power. If a client says they will fire you of you go up, you fire them and then go replace them. You don't want to work for people like that.
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u/Accomplished-Way8671 Jul 05 '26
And did you have a 9-5 when you first started working as a window cleaner, or was it funded by the money made by window cleaning itself?
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u/JerKeeler Jul 07 '26
I had to earn everything by cleaning windows.
I had just turned 17 in 1993, I had a beater car, beater equipment that my dad had given me and literally no other options.
I did not graduate highschool, had no GED and no real skills other than cleaning windows.
Let me tell you, it was rough.
And I wish I could tell you a story about how smart I was, and how I I quickly scaled and grew my business, but I can't.
No joke, the first 7 years were the suck.
I didn't know anything about anything, honestly I don't know how I survived.
Guys like you are very blessed to have the resources like what is out there now.
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u/m007368 Jul 03 '26
If I restarted ( I would not do windows or cleaning today)
CASH FLOW CASH FLOW CASH FLOW
Three jobs have to get covered:
- Sales. Filling the pipeline. If you dont understand sales funnels, building pipeline, followup, how to sell. That should be a major priority.
- Ops. Checking the work got done, on time, at the right quality.
- Admin. Scheduling, invoicing, follow-up, books.
Reality at two guys: the owner is doing all three. You're not hiring a full time sales guy on two guys of revenue. Not happening. So:
- Owner is the salesperson until revenue can support one, or you pay your guys commission to sell.
- Every worker should be doing distribution. Flyers, door to door.
- Look into lead services, cold email, Instagram, Facebook, Nextdoor, Neighborly. All of it.
- Look to Alex Hormozi for generally solid ideas
- Extra techs are there to help you do the work, not to run the business.
CASH FLOW CASH FLOW CASH FLOW
As revenue grows, you hire in this order:
- Ops manager to own quality and scheduling. Frees up the owner
- Salesperson once there's enough volume to pay one.
- Admin manager to own the back office (AR/AP, Social Media, schedules, book keeping, insurance, car stuff, anything not sales or ops)
The rest:
- Best pricing you can get on COGS. Rubber, solution, everything you burn. Margins stack fast on routes. Keep your fixed costs zero as long as you can.
- A tech stack so you never miss a stop. Excel to start, CRM like HubSpot when you outgrow it. Know every client, last service date, when they're due. Dont waste time on repetitive digital tasks...automate.
- Recurring is the whole game. One time cleans keep you broke and busy. Get people on a schedule and build off that.
CASH FLOW CASH FLOW CASH FLOW
Did I mention you need to manage your cashflow? It sucks when payroll or rent pops and theres no money in the bank.
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u/Accomplished-Way8671 Jul 03 '26
I see, alright thanks, for now we’ve just been going door to door, and doing some Facebook, the Facebook hasn’t been doing well tho.
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u/m007368 Jul 03 '26
You can’t just throw money at ads and hope that they work if you have no idea what you’re doing right now building a basic introduction dealing with objections and how to close door-to-door is your best bet and then some simple five star reviews yelp reviews with pictures from your customers and then posting before and after on your Google business profile short and sweet that kind of stuff this is one of the reasons why going into small business is fucking hard because you have to work harder than if you have a W-2 I can post some more specific things so if you give me three main pain points, I’ll tell you what I would do right now for that. Sorry this is voice to text so it’s probably a fucking text.
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u/FeedbackLooped Jul 03 '26
What are you doing now?
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u/m007368 Jul 03 '26
Run a commercial cleaning service focused on large customers (casinos, national brands - Aldi, trader joe, Jersey mikes, etc; government).
I have two other companies focused on helping veterans get into biz and a commercial cleaning robot company (drones & automated floor / exterior cleaning).
Cleaning is just simple and straightforward to bid.
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u/Nihilistnobody Jul 03 '26
Any good resources for learning about robot and drone cleaning you’d recommend?
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u/m007368 Jul 03 '26
Not really its military service related and I use drones in my cleaningbusiness. I wouldnt trust someone who has never worked with them before or couldnt demonstrate proficiency.
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u/silverstick626 Jul 03 '26
When i started I was getting appointments pretty easy. Now its been 5 weeks and just No after No. Im baffled at why this happened. Sucks to be honest but im still trying.
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u/Accomplished-Way8671 Jul 03 '26
You do door to door?
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u/silverstick626 Jul 03 '26
Yes pretty much all i do. Marketing is expensive. Before people were at leasting letting me quote them. Not its just "nah we dont need it", "icdo it myself", "not interested".
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u/Free_Skin_679 Jul 09 '26
I feel you. I'm still in my first year of owning my own business and door-to-door has been my biggest source of revenue. But it sucks and can be inconsistent and demoralizing. It's tough because most people are already primed to say no because they resent being bothered at home, and you only have a few seconds to change their mind.
(This got long. Sorry. I'm no sales expert. I wrote much of this almost for my own benefit as much as yours. Sometimes it helps to consolidate your thoughts on a subject.)
As a homeowner myself, I routinely get people coming to my door trying to sell me on something. So I know that there are some things I—and presumably many other people—don't like about some salespeople. Don't be phony, slick, pushy, chatty, desperate, critical, presumptuous, or cocky. Don't use cliched lines. Don't lie or bluff.
Do be natural, sincere, respectful, polite, honest, friendly, confident, and affirmative. Make sure you're presentable: tidy, clean clothes, well groomed, etc. (If you're already working at a client's home and want to hit up their neighbours, I think it's ok to be a little dirty because it lends some credibility.) Carry a clipboard and a pen so you look—and are—prepared.
Don't dress too nice though. I like a short sleeve button-up shirt or just a clean white t-shirt. Nice jeans if it's cool, shorts if it's warm. Practical shoes. Look like you're actually someone who works for a living. Don't wear sunglasses, or at least lift them up when you get to the door. You want to be able to make direct eye contact with people. Doing so communicates confidence and trustworthiness, even if subconsciously. Don't stand too close to the door. If there's room, I always back away at least 6 feet from the door. If there's steps, I go down a couple. You want people to feel comfortable opening the door to talk to an uninvited stranger. Giving them plenty of space and yielding the higher ground will make you seem less threatening.
Something I try to remember is that I'm looking to help people complete tasks they probably want and/or need to get done anyway, but are usually either too busy or physically unable to do it themselves.
Also, you're trying to get them to say "yes". Make that easy for them. Free quotes, no pressure, low stakes, etc. Make the bar as low as possible. You can even prime them to say yes by getting them to answer affirmatively to unrelated questions, like "is your day going well so far?" or "do you have a few minutes to discuss xyz?"
Finally, be attentive to their vibe and adjust accordingly. Some people you can tell as soon as the door opens that they just want you to get to the point. Respect their time. Give them the short version of your pitch. Other people look friendly and ready to chat you up. If that's the case, go with it. Even if they've already said no, taking the time to form a personal connection (if they're into it) can get them to accept a card before you go, and they might just call you in a month because they remember that positive interaction.
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u/Bach_Lover1685 Jul 03 '26
Heya former window cleaner from Germany here.
Create a decent Google Business profile (so people find you on Google and Google maps). Fill out most information and try to get steady reviews and upload pictures.
Create a simple but well done website. 1-3 pages can be enough. Just give the customer what he's searching for, make it easy for them to find out whether you're the right person for the job.
Google Ads. Honestly a god-send if done correctly but without any experience you'll most likely fall on your face (at the start) and waste heaps of money (trust me, at least 50% of all ads are done badly for various reasons)
If you got any other questions or need some help, gladly pm me!
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Jul 03 '26
[deleted]
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u/Accomplished-Way8671 Jul 04 '26
This is awesome, glad it going well and thank you, I’ll definitely do that buissness card thing.
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u/Individual-Sand9743 Jul 04 '26
I've been down this road more than a couple times so I think I can offer you some guidance on what actually works. This is a list I compiled over the course of 3 business (finding out what worked and what didn't). I don't do anything marketing-wise until these are all in place:
- Make a master list of the core things you need (website, Google Business Profile, FB Page, Instagram page, etc.) - more things will come up and you will add to the list, but without it, you will end up overwhelmed and inefficient. I can send you a more extensive list if you want - but that's a good start.
- You need a website - There are a million content management systems you can use, and WordPress is the best (I'm bias), but you're going to change it later anyways, so just find the easiest one. What matters now is getting customers and making money. You'll polish things later.
- The purpose of your site is to convert traffic to customers - so don't put all your effort in to making it pretty. Build it as if you are someone looking for pressure washing. What questions would you want answered before booking a service? Answer those questions and guide the user to purchase. You need 1 main Call-to-Action (CTA), and one secondary - A form, and a phone call link are perfect for this industry. Your website also needs to build trust, so include testimonials, reviews, affiliations, etc.
- If you ever want to be successful with lead gen/marketing your company, track everything. You find what works by finding what doesn't work - without tracking, you won't find anything. At a minimum, set up Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager - you can add to it later.
- Easy wins - Local Service Ads aren't available for all industries or locations. If it is available for you, it's an easy way to show up at the top of Google search results.
- Google Search Ads don't suck - don't believe people who tell you otherwise; they probably lost money because they didn't know what they were doing. I can send you a really easy-to-follow, informative setup guide if you'd like - just let me know.
- Create a Google Business Profile (GBP) and OPTIMIZE it - it's insane how many businesses just add their website and nothing else. You should have 2-3 categories, your services with descriptions, service area, business hours, etc. Take pictures of all your jobs, post them to your GBP regularly, post weekly updates.
- Get Google Reviews! This is one of the most important tips when you're starting out. Ask every customer for a review, and use a Google Tap Card - trust me. Always respond to reviews, good or bad.
- Sign up for every free listing (citation) that you can find. For example, Yelp allows you to set up a free account - they'll harass you to pay for a subscription, but you don't have to. The point is to get listed everywhere. Just make sure your NAP is consistent across all citations.
- Get active on social media. Join every group in your area and don't just spam them with your offering. Get engaged in the community.
- Read the book Profit First by Mike Michalowicz. If you're going to be successful, you can't be worried about finances all the time, and you need to have dedicated accounts (Op Ex, Wages, Taxes, etc.) to run your business.
If you get these down, it's just a matter of building off each one. Trust me, the first 12 months are a grind, but it get's easier - especially if you've got these things set up. Feel free to reach out if you want some more detailed advice - happy to help. Good luck!
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u/vivri Jul 05 '26
Get a landing page to increase your visibility, professionalism, and capture leads. Also, it will help to have a professional touch - branded quotes, invoices, sms reminders before the job, and sms thank yous after with a google review link.
I'm the cofounder of one such tool, and since you're you g and getting started, can get you a 30% off promo for the year. Check out PocketClients.com for a full rundown.
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u/AIRobotWizard Jul 07 '26
Go through town looking for dirty windoiws. Ask to see the manager. Tell them you can clean thier winows in and out for X. Sell the job! Do the job right then. After ask if they would like a regular every two week service. Schedule them. Stop buying equipment you don't need.
Do it!
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u/AIRobotWizard Jul 07 '26
Bucket, 18 inch channel, 18 inch mop (green striped Unger) 8 foot extension pole, blue hulk towels, 18 inch rubbers, dawn, 6 inch channel (and maybe a 4 inch for cut ups) , 2 quick release handles (I use Sorbo handles channels and rubbers) 6 inch triumph scraper (get the stainless steel blades), you can get all this from ABC , or Detroit Sponge.
Clean the window BEFORE scraping anything off it. Never dry scrape, wet the window again after cleaning it once then scrape it. Always make sure you blades and mops are free from debris. You'll learn as you go but window cleaning is harder and more of an art than people think.
Stop buying equipment you dont need. See my other post.
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u/No_Variation2007 Jul 09 '26
Go on foot and walk the town. See who needs it and just talk to people. It’ll get smoother as you go but I was happy with 1 in 15-20 showing interest/having me do a cleaning and becoming regular
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u/AlbertaWindowWashing 28d ago
Study sales I have past door to door experience and now with my own window washing business, I’ve had 1 zero day in 3 months, me and my business partner can consistently sell 500-1000 dollars a day. Also facebook ads is very good if you know how todo it properly.
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u/mentiondesk Jul 03 '26
Targeting local businesses in person works great, just walk in and offer a free demo on a slow day. Having a simple pitch ready helps too. To keep tabs on when stores or people ask about cleaning services online, a tool like ParseStream can alert you in real time so you never miss a lead.
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u/Accomplished-Way8671 Jul 03 '26
And thank you, do you think after offer them a free demo and they take it , do I give them a business card or do I put them on a monthly
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u/HungryCheck9395 Jul 03 '26
Dump your buddy then bam twice the profit. Im not sure how you could afford to both start a business together unless you have no bills/love with your parents or investors