Thinking about starting your own window cleaning business? You’re in luck! “How to start a window cleaning business” was not a course offered when Andy Paz was going to college for small business. In fact, most college students aren’t even thinking about window cleaning as a career path, let alone starting their own successful window cleaning business. But that’s because most college students aren’t like Andy Paz. So, when a friend in Pasadena, California asked Andy what he was going to do after college, Andy’s response was simple, “window cleaning.”
Andy started Paz Window Cleaning LLC, emphasizing the importance of mastering basic tools, overcoming early challenges, and leveraging online platforms like Yelp, Google, and Instagram to attract clients. Read on to get top-notch business advice directly from Andy himself!
Why Window Cleaning?
Andy says he chose window cleaning because he saw firsthand how lucrative and flexible this business could be from a friend in Houston, Texas, who owned a successful cleaning business. “The ability to make my own schedule was particularly appealing,” states Andy, who loves traveling, snowboarding, and surfing. This flexibility, combined with the business potential, sparked the creation of Paz Window Cleaning LLC.
Getting Started
Learning how to start a window cleaning business can be overwhelming at first, so Andy recommends starting with the basics. “Visit a local hardware store to get basic tools like a mop and squeegee.” Andy advises, “Practice at home where you can make mistakes without worry. Once you’re confident, you can start cleaning others’ homes.” This initial practice builds confidence, allowing you to tackle your first professional job with ease.
Overcoming Early Challenges
Andy Paz told us, “It’s no secret that the first year or two of owning your own business are the hardest.” A big first challenge is getting your name out there and finding your first customers. Along with many other small business owners in the home services field, Andy started out going door to door to find work, which is very hard work because it can feel like you’re being rejected at every door.
When Andy was venting to a friend about his frustration with door-to-door sales, his friend recommended that Paz Window Cleaning create an online profile on Yelp. “After refining my sales pitch through all those door-to-door attempts, my phone started to ring off the hook thanks to my Yelp account. These customers were genuinely interested in window cleaning, and I was confident in my pitch. Eventually, I had to reject work because my schedule was fully booked.”
Marketing and Growth
Because his Window Cleaning Yelp profile kept Andy occupied with an overwhelming amount of calls, Andy thought that he didn’t need to do anything else to spread the word about his business. Things were good and as the old saying goes, “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.”
“Initially, I relied solely on my Yelp profile for an online presence, which was a mistake. After a couple of years, I opened a Google Business profile, which significantly boosted my business.”
From there, Paz Window Cleaning also opened an Instagram account where Andy began to inspire others and demonstrate how satisfying window cleaning can be. Instagram also shows their process of cleaning windows which helps potential customers understand that, to get those windows sparkling clean, it’s best to call a professional.
In addition to Yelp and Instagram, Paz Window Cleaning created a YouTube channel where Andy (and sometimes his wife too) are currently documenting a weekly series about making $100k in one year. Be sure to subscribe so you can follow their journey and see the new posts released every Saturday!
Advice for New Window Cleaning Business Owners
Take it from a pro, you’ll make mistakes, but here’s some advice to help keep you on the path to success.
- Start with the basics: Andy says, “Don’t buy all the fancy equipment right away. Get the basic tools and learn with them because you might realize window cleaning isn’t for you.”
- Capture your work: People love to see what work you’ve done. Take a bunch of pictures and videos while you work. You can use these as content and post it on all your online profiles.
- Don’t compare yourself with others: While other businesses may be in the same industry, their path and your path will be different. “Enjoy your business, and you’ll develop your own way of doing things. Always keep learning,” Andy says.
- You don’t have to take every job: “Once, a potential client yelled at me because I didn’t offer a service he wanted. I politely told him to have a nice day and that I couldn’t do the job, which helped maintain peace.” Don’t hesitate to walk away from disrespectful clients. Your well-being matters!
Tips to Keep Your Window Cleaning Business Thriving
Running a successful business is all about learning and adapting. If you stay in the same spot too long, you’ll find yourself falling behind. Here’s some great tips to stay on top:
- Self-Improvement: “Always look for ways to improve your work,” Andy recommends. Try out different techniques and find ways to perfect the skills you already have.
- Expand Services: “Investigate offering other like services like pressure washing,” says Andy. One of the best ways to build your business is by offering similar services that help you take on bigger jobs to turn a larger profit.
- Learn New Tools: “When your confidence with mop and squeegee build, start learning about water fed. It’s, in my opinion, the best tool to have when doing window cleaning,” Andy advises. “And that will make your life so much easier. I personally use water fed every day.”
- Enhance Online Presence: Open a variety of online business profiles. This will help expand your online reach because people have different ways of searching things online. “I personally use Google, Yelp, and Instagram,” Andy states. “To help generate reviews, I use Project 2 Payment, which sends a receipt and a review link after each job is completed.”
Starting anything worthwhile from scratch takes a lot of work and determination, but take it from Andy, it’s worth it! If you are looking to start a window cleaning business or already own a window cleaning business and have questions, Andy Paz would be happy to help you out! Andy is excited to share what he has learned, and truly wants to see others succeed. You can watch Andy on his YouTube channel or you can contact him directly through his website, pazwindowcleaning.com.
