Is window cleaning a good business to start?
Window cleaning is one of the simpler businesses to start. You can begin with modest kit, work your own hours, and every customer you win is regular work that comes back every few weeks.
The hard part isn't the cleaning. It's building enough customers close together, pricing so each hour is worth it, and making sure you get paid. Get those right early and the rest follows.
Register as self-employed
Most window cleaners start as sole traders. You'll need to register with HMRC as self-employed and file a Self Assessment tax return each year.
Keep a record of every payment you receive and everything you spend on the business from day one — fuel, kit, insurance, phone. It makes the tax return far easier and means you claim everything you're allowed to.
Get insured
Public liability insurance is the one most window cleaners treat as essential. It covers you if you damage someone's property or someone is hurt because of your work — a dropped ladder or a broken window.
If you use a van, make sure your vehicle insurance covers business use. If you take on staff later, you'll also need employer's liability insurance.
Choose your kit
Many cleaners now start with a water-fed pole system, which lets you clean upstairs windows from the ground. Others start with traditional tools and ladders, which cost less up front. Whichever you choose, you'll want:
- Squeegees, applicators and scrim for traditional cleaning, or a water-fed pole and pure water supply.
- A safe way to reach high windows — ladders or a pole.
- Buckets, cloths and a way to carry it all.
- A phone to keep track of your customers, your day and your payments.
Set your prices properly from the start
It's tempting to start cheap to win customers, but it's hard to raise prices later. Work out what you need to earn per hour once costs are paid, and build each house price back from that.
A price per house should cover the time to clean it and the travel to get there. Cheap houses spread out across town will keep you busy without paying the bills.
Find your first customers
Pick one area to start and stay focused on it. Knock on doors, deliver leaflets and talk to neighbours while you're working on a street. A small round of houses close together beats a big list spread out.
Make yourself easy to find: a Google Business Profile, a simple web page where people can ask for a quote, and your number on your van. If you want a head start, buying an existing round is another option.
Get organised before you get busy
Keep every customer's address, price, cleaning frequency and notes in one place from your first job. It's much easier to set up a system with ten customers than to sort out a paper book with a hundred.
Group customers into rounds by area and clean them on the same cycle, usually every four or eight weeks, so each round comes due together.
Get paid on time
Tell every new customer how and when to pay, invoice on the day of the clean and offer easy ways to pay, like card or Direct Debit. Chasing a few pounds from dozens of customers wastes hours every month if you leave it.
Common questions
Do I need a licence to be a window cleaner in the UK?
Most areas don't need a licence for window cleaning, but a few local councils have their own rules. Check with your council before you start.
How much does it cost to start a window cleaning business?
It depends mostly on your kit. Starting with traditional tools and ladders costs far less than a water-fed pole system. On top of kit, budget for insurance and getting around.
How long does it take to build a full-time round?
It varies with your area, your prices and how much time you spend finding customers. Focusing on one area and asking happy customers to recommend you are the quickest ways to fill your days.
Should I use a water-fed pole or ladders?
A water-fed pole lets you clean high windows from the ground and is often quicker on houses. Ladders cost less to start with. Plenty of cleaners use both.
How PanePal helps
Starting out? PanePal keeps your customers, rounds and payments in one app from your very first job. Mark a clean complete and the next one books itself, and the invoice goes out the same day.
Just starting out? PanePal is free for up to 25 customers — no card and no time limit.
See how Scheduling works →