While you may think that a residential window washing business has no glamor, it can certainly add a lot of sparkle to your bank book! And don’t be fooled by this businesses low startup cost. The real asset in this business is you!
At one time or another, we all took out some glass cleaner & a cloth & tried to get the windows or our home sparkling clean. We all know how dirty our windows, glass doors & other glass surfaces get from the elements, our pets nose & paw prints & not to mention the sticky finger smudges left behind by the kids. While most homeowners will tidy up these areas as needed, the same homeowner will hardly if ever tackle the general window cleaning chores for the entire house.
Here are just a few of the many reasons why homeowners avoid this task as much as possible: a) Not enough time; b) Just too many windows: c) Can’t or won’t climb a ladder: d) Fear of heights; e) Believe it’s dangerous to work on glass surfaces; e) Makes too much of a mess inside the home; f) Foundation shrubs & plants in the way of the ladder; g) Don’t own the proper ladders or equipment. By now you get the idea. Now if you are the type of person that takes on the challenge of cleaning your own window, you might ask ” Why in the world would anyone pay to have their windows cleaned.” Well I think I just gave you several good reasons. And besides, it’s not about what you think, or how you feel about it. It’s about proving a service to a home owner who cannot do it for themselves.
The Window Washing business is one of my favorite Blue Collar home based businesses. What makes it attractive, is the low start up costs. Besides the basic equipment like ladders, buckets, squeegee’s & an assortment of cleaners, you may be able to avoid the expense of a van or pickup truck. I’ve seen window washing done in my area from a compact cartry these guys out.
At the very beginning of this article I said that the real asset in this business is you. You must like to, and be physically fit for the task at hand. Climbing ladders, working off the ground are all part of this business. So if you have any self doubts about being able to do the work, this may not be for you. But if you like outdoor work, as well as indoor work, and like to be left alone while you work, this could be just what you’ve been looking for. You will need to approach home owners, develop attractive sales & service plans & create a market strategy for the area you want to work in.
And you should also know that this business requires you to develop,the skills necessary to do a first rate job inside & out. Your customers will not appreciate seeing streaks on their just cleaned windows, or pools of dirty water sitting on their floors or running along the non glass surfaces of their windows, or window treatments like curtains & shades which you have somehow moved or dirtied in the process. To have a successful window cleaning business, you must build your business on repeat customers. And once you have proven to a customer the value of your services, you will have their repeat business over & over again. And keep in mind that it’s much easier to keep a customer happy than to find a replacement for a dissatisfied customer.
This is Gerald Lombardi, the author of this article. I have over twenty years of experience in owning & operating small home based businesses. With the current economic challenges we all are facing, small home based businesses that require personal effort & hard work, but minimum start up costs could be just what you are looking for or are willing to do. If you would like to learn how to get started in the Window Washing business, and get advice from a professional, then click on the link below.
Leave a Reply