How to Make a Career Change With a Window Cleaning Franchise

If you’re looking to make a dynamic and profitable career change, why not consider running a window cleaning franchise? The cleaning sector has been booming in 2021 and by franchising, you could enjoy that boom as a business owner while benefiting from oodles of expert training and support.

Whatever the shape of your career right now, making a career change in the world of franchising could enable you to start and sustain a successful window washing business. Whether you have years of cleaning experience or a full career in a completely different sector behind you, you can become a window cleaner.

Why start a window cleaning franchise?

As of 2020, 450,000 people were working in cleaning and hygiene, with specialist window cleaners making up 7% of the workforce [Office for National Statistics]. Though window washing franchises up and down the country struggled at the start of the pandemic (with almost all of their work disappearing overnight), these businesses are now bouncing back, regaining all that lost custom and more. Beyond demand, there are many advantages to starting a window cleaning business, including:

• The chance to work in a local operational area, improving your community
• The ability to work for commercial and domestic clients, maximising revenue
• The opportunity to see the results of your hard work
• The ability to work largely outdoors and actively, staying healthy in the fresh air
• The chance to enhance the appearance of every location you work on
• The availability of affordable investment opportunities 
• The benefits of the franchise model (flexible hours, comprehensive training, etc.)

Some people choose to become window cleaners because the working hours are flexible and allow them to meet other commitments. Some because it’s a straightforward business in which it’s possible to earn a very good salary. Others choose window cleaning because they are tired of stressful working conditions.
– British Window Cleaning Academy

How to make a career change with a window washing franchise

Knowing all the reasons that investing in a window cleaning franchise is a great idea, it’s time to tackle exactly how to make a career change and how to become a successful franchisee in the world of window washing. Regardless of the job that you’re currently in, follow these four steps, and you’ll be well on your way to making a successful career change.

1. Assess the suitability of your skills

If you’re going to make a career change with a cleaning franchise, particularly in a specialist niche like window cleaning, you’ll need to be sure you have the skills and abilities to succeed. In a physical sense, you’d benefit from a good level of fitness and an ability to work at height (although this might not be strictly necessary - read on to find out why).

You’d also be in a better position if you had a driving licence, as window cleaners travel to different sites every day. Beyond this, the following transferable soft skills would serve you well and set you up for success:

• Attention to detail and thoroughness
• Initiative and drive
• Patience
• Communication
• Customer service
• Digital proficiency and computer literacy
• Desire to succeed and willingness to learn

2. Research the window cleaning industry

Having ascertained that you’re the right fit for the industry, you’ll then need to dive into it headfirst with some comprehensive research, getting to grips with the latest trends and developments. Things that will impact your working life once you’ve made an investment and started to perform your new role.

For instance, you might not know that window cleaning has evolved a huge amount in recent years, and for many window cleaners, working at heights isn’t a part of the job anymore. Water-fed extending poles and other specialist items of equipment allow window washers to reach heights of up to 60 feet from a safe vantage point on the ground. For those places that are most difficult for humans to reach, some companies are even now developing window cleaning drones [Aerones]!

3. Narrow it down (and pay attention to the finances)

So, you’ve assessed your own skills and researched the industry. Now, it’s time to look at available investment opportunities. Assess the window cleaning franchises that you could invest in based on a number of factors like cost, available territories and experience of existing franchisees, and narrow down your list of options until you find the one that’s right for you. 

Cost should be a particular focus for you, because the last thing you want is to overinvest. The average cost of starting a franchise in 2018 was £42,200 [British Franchise Association], but this figure will change from franchise to franchise and sector to sector, depending on many different factors. Here are a couple of cost examples from window cleaning franchises, to give you a better idea of what you can expect:

• My Window Cleaner - To become a My Window Cleaner franchisee, you’ll need to make a minimum initial investment of £8,000, with a total investment cost of £15,500.
• WindowPayne Local - To become a WindowPayne Local franchisee, you’ll need to make a minimum initial investment of £10,495, with monthly fees of £250 for advertising and £350 for royalties (after the first six months).

4. Do your due diligence before signing the franchise agreement

Before you sign on the dotted line and commit to a fixed term, be sure you know exactly what you’re getting into. Like any investment, a franchise investment is a big deal, and doing your due diligence will ensure that you’re actually going to receive what you paid for. Review financial disclosures, get answers to all your questions, and be sure that you’re able to communicate openly with your franchisor.

Start running your own business in the window cleaning sector

If you can cover the four bases described above, you’ll have set yourself up and navigated your career transition perfectly, ensuring every step of the way that you’re making the right moves for your professional self. As you step into your role as a franchisee, be sure to keep investing in the process and seizing all the development opportunities that come your way.

This article has equipped you with all you need to start your window cleaning journey, and if you’re ready, don’t hesitate to jump in. If, on the other hand, you’d like to deepen your industry research, stay on Point Franchise. Look into the wider world of cleaning and read all about a day in the life of a cleaning franchise owner, or discover the top cleaning trends of 2021.