Many people ask me how they can start a window cleaning business because they are drawn to the apparent simplicity of the job. However, to be successful in this line of work, you need to treat it like any other business venture by writing a good business plan. Now, don’t be scared off by the ‘business language’ – all we’re talking about here is getting a realistic view of some pretty fundamental but vital issues:
Under what type of legal entity will you operate? This topic could form the basis of an article in its own right. The options in the UK are:
- Sole trader (much less red tape, but your personal assets could be at risk if you are sued).
- Limited Liability Company (as it says ‘on the can’, it limits you for any financial claims against the company, but costs money and time to set up).
- Limited Liability Company (as above) You can of course start as a sole trader and move to one of the other legal entities at a later date.
How much will it cost to start your window cleaning business?
- Vehicle
- stairs
- special equipment
- Recruitment of staff (if applicable)
- Insurance (these can be expensive)
- Locals (this probably won’t be a problem to begin with)
- Stationery (receipts or customer invoices, etc.)
- Marketing (brochures, signage, etc.)
- Etc
What are the ongoing monthly costs?
- Staff costs (if applicable)
- Consumables or Vehicle costs (fuel, maintenance, road tax)
- Your drawings out of business
- Advertising
- bank charges
- phone
- Etc
What are your income projections (month to month)? This is very important because if you don’t set goals, how are you going to motivate yourself and make sure your business is on track? How long will it be before I’m in profit? This is a key issue if you are applying for any type of loan or overdraft to start a window cleaning business.
How are you going to price jobs (per hour, per window, job per job)? You want to be competitive but don’t make the mistake of confusing quality with cost. If your service is better than your competitors, your customers won’t mind paying a premium.
How will you market your company to win business? Ask yourself why people would use you over your competitors: what is your unique selling point? For example, you may be offering to clean windows the old-fashioned way, while your competitors use a water-fed pole system. Alternatively, maybe you are going to exploit a hidden niche in the market?
Are you going to operate in the residential and/or commercial market (business to business)? There are probably more profits in the commercial sector, but it will require different skill sets to win and retain business. My advice would be to play to your strengths. Perhaps start with the residential sector and branch out into the more lucrative commercial contracts when you have established a track record and gained trust.
All of this can seem a bit daunting and feel like a drudgery when you really want to start, but trust me, if you don’t pay attention to these issues when you start, there is a real danger that your company will not survive because you are not making enough profit. and/or underestimate costs. Lack of proper planning could cause you serious cash flow problems, which is very bad news, so do some planning before starting a window cleaning business. A well-thought-out business plan will also impress potential lenders if you’re looking for a start-up loan.
An alternative to starting a window cleaning business from scratch would be to purchase a round of window cleaning for sale, which will be covered in a separate article. In essence, purchasing an existing window round removes much of the risk because likely revenue is known in advance; however, this advantage must be offset by the additional cost of purchasing the business.
In conclusion, my advice is to not rush into starting a window cleaning business until you have put together your business plan.