Window Cleaning – Making Money on My Schedule

Starting a window cleaning business was one of the best decisions I ever made. Actually, I’ve been off and on with this business for the past 18 years and have never really run it full-time. Though there is no doubt in my mind that I’d be able to make a decent living working only 8 months out of the year.

I should point out that I do strictly residential windows. The commercial market is too cut-throat and the profits are meager. In fact, I refine my residential service to include only certain neighbourhoods and houses. I prefer to concentrate on the newer homes because the jobs go much quicker. With the newer style thermal windows, my “per hour” rate is usually around $30 – $40.

I also love the fact that I have total control over the business and my work day. I don’t have to accept every job (I turn down jobs that are sure to be a PITA). I can work when I want, and I can book jobs to accommodate my own schedule.

I suppose this might be a slack way of looking at things, but I have no intention of doing this full-time anyway. It has always been for extra cash, and nothing more.

What I really like about residential window cleaning is that I can quickly create money on-demand. If I find that I need a few extra bucks to buy something, I can print up a couple hundred fliers and distribute them in any upper-middle class neighbourhood.

Before I left my job, I did this part-time and I would usually get 1-2 calls per hundred fliers – landing 70% of my quotes. If that seems low, you’ve obviously not done much flier marketing. In fact, 1-2 percent is average. I tried to deliver 200 fliers after work a few nights a week. I would receive 4-8 calls and then land 3-6 jobs. The average job was around $75, so I could easily make $200 on a Saturday and up to $500 working all weekend and a weeknight if necessary.

Nowadays, I spend most of my time doing online marketing. Again, I create my own schedule, so I have complete freedom to schedule my window cleaning jobs during the week. Window cleaning on the weekend can be hectic because the whole family is home. This is especially true if I am doing inside and outside windows. I prefer scheduling jobs on a weekday morning, if possible.

Obviously, my rates have gone up over the years and I now average over a hundred dollars a job. I can easily make $300 in one day, and still have time to spend on my other ventures.

Residential window cleaning keeps me fit, pays well, and is a reliable source of extra cash – You’ve gotta love it!