Making Money On Storefronts From Day 1

I’ve been inhaling lots of great info on WCR forums now for several weeks, and my conversion to WCR is complete - I plan to start my own window cleaning business.

I’ve decided to work locally cleaning storefront windows, targeting specifically mom & pop shops. I know that residential is by far a more lucrative area of window cleaning, and possibly even easier to gain clients. But since I’m new to the business I think storefront cleaning is a good way for me to cut my teeth.

From what I’ve heard, residential cleaning takes more expertise than cleaning mom & pop shop windows. Plus I’ll be forced to step out and do storefront walk ins and be forced to perfect my marketing to deal with tougher competition. Thankfully where I live there are thousands of storefronts within a 5 mile radius. So I know I won’t be lacking in possible clients.

After substantial reading and research, I’ve come up with a list of all the prerequisites I think I need in order to get my business going. I’ve got the money prepared to make all my necessary purchases. But I know I’m not perfect and I’d be foolish not to tap into the wealth of experience here.

So I was wondering if anyone might be willing to give me advice on what a starter absolutely cannot do without in order to have a profitable business model from Day 1.

Sharing your story on how you started your window cleaning business would be really encouraging.

What equipment did you purchase when you started out?

What was your marketing strategy?

How did you go about pricing your services?

What would you do differently today?

Thanks in advance.

look for starter kits on here.

storefront is kinda bunk. I would start off with people you know… price low because your learning. By the time your ready to go out you’ll feel a little more solid on what your time for cleaning is worth.

use the search tool dont take it to serious. Just aim to please your customers and they will do most of the advertising for you.

If you go to a church you might start there too.

Welcome to the family.

Sharing your story on how you started your window cleaning business would be really encouraging.

I just started as a part time thing while going to school.

What equipment did you purchase when you started out?

I had the basics, Squeegee, bucket, scraper, some towels, and some soap… I would recommend one of our window cleaning starter kits: Starter kits, complete, business | Buy Window Cleaning Supplies, Tools, Equipment, Products

What was your marketing strategy?

[B]Fliers, fliers, and more fliers… I passed them out from dawn till dusk until I had lots of work.

That wont work to well for storefront though, and residential is dead this time of year… so it will be wasted effort. If you want store fronts, you simply need to walk into them and ask for them.[/B]

How did you go about pricing your services?

I just went off what the company I worked with before me charged… I got away from that pretty quickly though.

What would you do differently today?

I would have started sooner, and been more serious about it from the beginning.

What equipment did you purchase when you started out?

Bunch of Unger Home Depot stuff, still using it, but planning a massive overhaul / upgrade in the spring.

What was your marketing strategy?

Walked into every store I saw and introduced myself and my services. Sometimes you’ll find a nice downtown area with no WC’er, but more often than not I’ve noticed getting off the beaten path works wonders, as Bucket Bobs usually don’t straggle off to the “in between” areas.

This time of year is prime pickings! Other window cleaners tend to disappear because of the cold around here. The SF Bay Area might be a bit different though.

Also, no matter how much of a sh!tty day you may or may not be having, don’t let it get to you. Your attitude is EVERYTHING. People absolutely pick up on your… well for lack of better terms… vibe, the moment you walk in the door.

How did you go about pricing your services?

I set a goal of $25 an hour, initially (higher now). Once you have your feet wet and have a general idea of how long each project will take you, you’ll be able to feel out what a job should cost. Don’t let prospective clients push you into a low price either. Set a mininum price and stick to your guns with it. Its very easy to sell a $10 storefront for $6 just to get the cash in hand, but once your established, chasing that $6 storefront becomes a major hassle.

What would you do differently today?

I would have pursued storefront work more aggressively in the very beginning rather than let myself become a “hundred-dollar-millionaire” until my residential season started up. I would have set my (storefront) goals much higher than $25 an hour. I would have expanded my storefront service area greatly from the get=go rather than double and triple selling the same area.

All these things can and will be tweaked in the up-coming and here-now slow season.

There’s no doubt that you need to get out there and get known and be seen over and over again.
One thing I’ve done for years and years even if not from day one is dress consistently, you know how good logos can become the crowning symbol in marketing. When they see a guy with blue pants, red shirt and tan cap (just a for instance) they’ll know it’s Time2Clean in the neighborhood and he’s reliable and good etc…

I would really think twice or thrice about pricing low to enter into the business. What if you get a bunch of jobs priced low? Sure, you’ll probably half your time on each job eventually but do you want to have to try bringing every one up to a long-term profitable rate later? It’s not that easy. You may have read on some threads here already “fake it till you make it”. I’d suggest working up prices that will be pretty good right off the bat and name your price with cool confidence, just as easily as you could tell someone “it’s 12:27”(thank you KD).
Know what the end result of your work needs to be and with your great equipment and knowledge from reading, do what you gotta do.

Now take charge!

Great advice.

I’ve been reading a lot here about not setting low prices for services. Now getting it straight from you all has cemented it in my brain. In my mind I’ve set a minimum for my service, but honestly I was willing to compromise it if a prospective client pushed me hard enough. So thanks for reigning me in

I guess it’s normal for beginners to want to lower their prices because of the lack of confidence in our ability. But after spending enough time here, and also reading through Kevin Dubrosky’s goodies, I’ve realized that pricing is based entirely on the perceived value a customer attaches to the service provided. If a customer finds my service beneficial to him, he’ll be more than willing to pay the price I’m asking. Hopefully I can keep my cool and stick to my guns while I’m out doing walkins.

Thanks for the advice on the uniform, Dan. This is actually one area I had been debating. I didn’t know whether I should spend some extra cash to purchase apparel that gave me a uniform look. Now I know that I’ve got to keep a professional look at all times. Thanks again.

Boy, I’m pumped and feel like I can take on the world…ok, maybe not…but I feel like taking on some dirty windows

that’s one thing I’ve learned about pricing (I’m a newbie too) is to not get into the low/under pricing game. you need to set a min price per hour that you want/have to make in order to pay your bills.
then once you know what you need you can guess at the time it takes to do a job and estimate your selling price. now again, I’m new to the game also but this is what I read in just about every book I’ve seen. it goes for contractors to window cleaners to lawyers. doing the hour thing will help you see what jobs you lost money on and what jobs are worth your time after you pay your expenses.

these guys also turned me on to the E-Myth books. check them out they’re very good.
I also found another book I like it’s called “smart business for contractors” lots of good advise in it written by a lawyer who reps contractors.

and don’t be afraid of home owners. stores probably already know how much a window cleaning job is worth because they’ve had it done. they are usually known as the peanut payers.
resdential customers on the other hand are the cashews. most of them probably have no idea what window cleaning goes for and are willing to pay you what you want.

I think that is very smart. I got my first 3 residential customers while working storefronts. Find a friend or family member and do their place to get some more experience under your belt.

Plus I’ll be forced to step out and do storefront walk ins and be forced to perfect my marketing to deal with tougher competition.

Unless you have a business plan are doing a full SWOT analysis, don’t worry about your competition much. Just get out there and start selling yourself.

Thankfully where I live there are thousands of storefronts within a 5 mile radius. So I know I won’t be lacking in possible clients.

keep a good…no…keep a great database of business cards.

After substantial reading and research, I’ve come up with a list of all the prerequisites I think I need in order to get my business going. I’ve got the money prepared to make all my necessary purchases. But I know I’m not perfect and I’d be foolish not to tap into the wealth of experience here.

So I was wondering if anyone might be willing to give me advice on what a starter absolutely cannot do without in order to have a profitable business model from Day 1.

1. The most important tool is a good attitude.
2. Write the way you feel write now on paper and pin it to a bulletin board.
3. You’ll lose time, money and respect if you don’t have at least the basic window cleaning tools. The starter kits here on here on WCR are a must. A start kit with a 6 foot pole and a 4’ ladder will handle just about everything storefront.

Sharing your story on how you started your window cleaning business would be really encouraging.

I was in a shopping center and noticed liquor store with sparkling clean windows and the hair cut place right next to it was filthy. I asked the liquor gal behind the counter if they did their own windows and she told me a guy comes buy every week to do them. (I didn’t know this job existed!) I started noticing dirty and ‘clean’ windows all over town…an idea was born.

About a month later I put together my company, which now actually provides window cleaning service to all 12 of the salons and 12 of the same liquor stores. After that I was hooked!

What equipment did you purchase when you started out?

What was your marketing strategy?

Door to Door to Door to Door for commercial. I didn’t start building my residential until about 6 months into the biz.

How did you go about pricing your services?

I started cheap…real cheap. Now, I only have 2 commercial accounts below $18.65, most are over $30.

What would you do differently today?

I would have hired help sooner so I could focus more on sales.

This is a fun job and you can make a rather decent living. Don’t think about it to much. Just get out there. Introduce yourself and offer a better view.

1. I started cleaning windows because i am being medically retired from the military. I wanted independence, freedom, and something i could enjoy

2. I purchased a starter kit because I was a little overwhelmed with all the choices

3. When i first started out I went for storefront…got sick of it cause I was getting more calls for resi work.I also went to a bunch of networking events with my wife. I’ve been doing well with real estate agents. They are very demanding though… but the best clients I have

4. I tried everything. it seems like now im doing window count just to get an idea how long it’s gonna take me. I would say I price per job, per situation.

5. Kept the messages of people telling me it’s “doesn’t seem like it will work”

Just remember, starting out in anything can be overwhelming. Dont sweat this. You can do it. Window cleaning is the most liberating job Ive ever had!
I started out with a business card paperclipped to an info pricing sheet with some information about myself and what I wanted to do for my new client. One thing Ive learned is not to second guess myself about price when walking into to meet a business owner. Be confident. Know exactly what you want. Listen respectfully. Let them tell you how you can fulfill their needs. [I]Learn their name and NEVER forget it![/I] Youll run into them at a cafe and say Hello John! and the next day youll be cleaning his office windows and then his house and then his neighbors houses. After visiting 250 storefronts (takes me six months) I feel comfortable starting all over again and visiting them a second time… with the same (or a little higher) price. If I had low-balled it, and they didnt pick up on my services, then I might as well not return. I dont formally market while out working (although, [I]everything that you do, say, and act like is marketing [/I]when youre out there). I go in a nice suit without a tie. I have my marketing sheets in a black folder. Never go during lunch hour. When a potential client doesnt seem interested I reach into my breast pocket and pull out a nice black pen. I click it really loudly and say Actually, Ill write it down for you so you can think about it. That smooth gesture catches there attention and then suddenly their holding my info in their hands and are listening to everything I say. My work uniform isnt a uniform. Thats my look. I go in nice pants (dark coloured, so water doesnt show up well), leather shoes, and a sports coat. Something cheap and replacable but nice and presentable. I hear you look so good! every time I go out… and I empty my business card-holder everytime I go out. I want to be someone my client wants to come out and visit with while Im working. Dont worry if youre not diving into residential first. Learn the art of the squeegee and other equipment out on the street. Youre gauranteed to get your first resi client without even marketing to residential. Once a commercial client becomes loyal to you, he or she will hire you to do their home. From there they just keep coming. I have never marketed residential and Im doing a house a week. Dont forget, [I]your smile and polite demeanor is your best asset![/I]

Great stuff, guys. Thanks for the insight. I can assure you that I’m sucking all this in like a sea sponge, and I’ll definately put it to use in my own experience.

oh yeah get a real sea sponge also. They are money for cleaning tracks.

Old thread revived…

There is some good info about how people began their storefront routes and more.

It’s fun to read some old post from when some of you guys were new

Sent from my iPhone using Window Cleaning Resource mobile app

Ya we all start somewhere…