Home window cleaning round

Homeowners, especially busy families, older residents and people with tall or hard-to-reach windows.

Price per house or per pane, often as a spring and fall clean or a seasonal subscription. Repeat customers on the same streets make each hour more productive.

• Comfortable with ladders and physical work
• Attention to detail for streak-free results
• Reliable scheduling and friendly customer service

• Commercial general liability insurance, and check what it covers for work at height
• Check with your municipality whether you need a business licence
• Winter shutdown in many regions, so plan for seasonal income gaps
• Falls from ladders are a real risk, so check provincial rules on working at heights and WCB/WSIB coverage if you hire help

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $400 to $3,000, depending on whether you use squeegees and ladders or a water-fed pole, plus insurance. Compare quotes before buying equipment.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $600 to $4,000, depending on how many homes are on your round and how often you clean them. Many regions have a winter shutdown, so plan for seasonal gaps.

Things to check: commercial general liability insurance and what it covers for work at height, whether your municipality requires a business licence, and provincial rules on working at heights. Also check WCB/WSIB coverage if you hire help.