Launch an Instant Business Washing Windows

The beauty of a window washing business is that if you suddenly find yourself jobless, you can launch this business instantly for $50 or less. It is not glamorous, but it will help pay the bills. You can also start this as a part-time business and keep it that way, or expand.

Getting Equipped

Head for Lowe's or Tru Value.

Recommended equipment are a couple of squeegees with flexible rubber blades, one a 6-incher, the other an 18-incher. You need a wooden pole to attach the squeegees to; you might keep an eye out for a telescoping aluminum pole. You need a brush, a bucket, other items you can probably get at home like a sponge, rags, plastic scouring pads which won't scratch glass. You also need a cleaning solution. Ask around for recommendations; do some Google searching. Vinegar is a workable option. See what your supplier offers in the way of window cleaners. Talk to the clerk. A chamois can be used to blot excess water at the bottom or sides of the window. An extendable ladder can be useful, even if you target only businesses and homes with ground-floor windows.

You also need invoices and a notebook to track your accounts. A T-shirt or uniform shirt with your business name, function ("window washers"), and phone number should go on your wish list.

Again, this can run about $50, depending on how much you find around the house and what you put off to add later.

Practice Makes Perfect

Try out your window-washing technique on your windows at home, on grandma's windows, your neighbors. You need to see what angle to use your squeegee to get the proper effect. Use the squeegee mounted on the pole.

Remember to wet down the window and dampen the squeegee blade with a sponge before wiping for the best effect. If the blade regularly leaves a streak, you may want to replace it at your earliest opportunity. Don't make yourself miserable.

Remember that these days there are some special window coatings which require you to use soft towels or cloth rather than brushes which might scratch the surface.

Getting Business

Practice should only take a few hours and you can start trying to line up customers. Your problem will be that someone may already be offering the service but there may be room for someone new who is actively looking for new customers who've become available since your competition made his rounds.

You can start in your neighborhood with residential homes. Even if there is competition, they may be ignoring this market. You can also begin hitting local businesses, especially if you know there is no competition out there yet.

Figure on $5.00 or so for a couple standard storefront windows facing the street. Add or subtract slightly based on size or difficulty. Arrange for weekly service. You should begin pulling in $20-$25 an hour.

Advertising

Business cards are an early expense. You really can't put this off. Try Vistaprint.com for 250 free business cards with just a postage and handling charge. I've gotten some nice cards from them. You can design your own, with artwork, colors, everything formatted by you.

Distribute them everywhere you go.

Write up an article announcing your business for the local papers. Do a feature using the soft-sell approach and offer window-cleaning tips while casually dropping your own name as a "professional window washer" somewhere in the article. A hard-sell will only get your masterpiece rebuffed as a blatant attempt to get free advertising. If you can't write, it's worth it to find someone who can, even if you need to contact a journalism instructor at the high school or college and hire someone. Other article ideas may occur to you in time. Be sure to capitalize on them.

In addition, you may offer a few business clients free window-washing in exchange for posting a sign in their window with a plug for your window washing service and your phone number.

Once established with money coming in, get an ad in the phone book.

Take your business on the road so you can hit nearby small towns where you'll least likely find competition. Line up regular clients for weekly window-cleaning visits. Work a different town each day. In no time, between private residences and businesses, you can have quite a going business dropping money in your lap.

Growth

In time, as your client list continues to grow, you may even decide to hire help at minimum wage or perhaps better and convert this to a sideline business you can oversee while pursuing another opportunity.