Beginner’s Guide on Starting a Window Cleaning Business in the United Kingdom
Starting a window cleaning business is an excellent idea for new entrepreneurs, especially for those with limited capital who prefer no lengthy training or expensive equipment. You would have regular clients since people are hiring home and office cleaning services now more than ever. If you put the business in sound strategy and hardworking people, then it will undoubtedly become profitable.
Still, cleaning services are not just plain buckets and step ladders. This sector had a reputation for dangerous work in the past, and there are some prospective business questions to ask yourself as an owner. After all, starting a window cleaning business requires extensive research and legal work, which could be confusing to first-timers. Thus, we recommend you seek company incorporation services in United Kingdom to ensure that the foundation of your business is firm and legal.
To lessen your worries, we’ve prepared a practical guide to help you with establishing your window cleaning business in the UK. With this information, you can generate a decent income as a return on your initial investment. But first off, let’s venture into the industry.
What is a Window Cleaning Business?
A window cleaning business offers washing or cleaning external glass services. The cleaning is usually performed at above-ground levels by surface cleaning experts with detergent and base applicators. There are different types of window cleaning businesses as well as the customer base that may require the service.
- Residential or domestic window cleaning covers homes and properties such as villas, units, flats, and townhouses. The target client base of this type is usually easier to contact if you want to start small since residential areas have lower window placement.
- On the other hand, commercial window cleaning focuses on businesses and companies, mainly on on-site infrastructures, tall buildings, or skyscrapers. It requires higher investment in equipment and modern technology, considering its expansion.
Why Window Cleaning Business?
Window cleaning is widely demanded. It is conventional and would never really go out of style. Commercial buildings and homeowners would love to have clean and sparkling windows with no hassle. Which means you would regularly be called on. But in order to succeed, proper equipment and a team of professional cleaners are needed in your business structure. You would also need a corporate service provider in the United Kingdom to fully establish your business scale in the application of forms and industry-specific regulations.
What Window Cleaning Equipment Do I Need for My Business?
Traditional window equipment or kit comprises cleaning buckets, scrapers, blades, squeegees, microfiber cloth, steel wool or scouring pads, bucket belt, first aid, and applicator. You could also add ladders and a scissor lift to access high windows and clean them simultaneously.
A basic cleaning kit is recommended for startups with limited funds. But owners with higher capital could invest in more high-tech and expensive equipment. Modern tools allow cleaners to work on commercial properties with high-maintenance exteriors and lesser risks.
What are the Types of Window Cleaning Services in Demand?
Window cleaning services are not stagnant. You have to extend your range in order to cater to your customer base with one-stop solutions and a hands-on approach. With that said, you could offer different types of cleaning services, and here we gather the most common and in-demand in residential and commercial facilities.
- Interior and exterior windows. Although some homeowners assume they can get the dust off by simply wiping it off, two-story (and higher) houses or offices require professional window washers since the job might seem laborious and harder to reach.
- Comprehensive screen cleaning. You do not just focus on the windows but the screens as well. Some special solutions are needed since it contains debris, leaves, and other substances stuck in holes. Clients usually overlook screens since it is placed in-between frames and external components.
- Hard water stains are among the particular stuff that homeowners can’t get off. It’s hard to wash off entirely. Hence, windows cleaning companies apply their procedure and use a specific product to prevent the build-up of stains in the future.
How to Achieve a Wide Customer Base?
Propose an ideal location centrally located to the busiest and most populated community with a large number of infrastructures. Most people wouldn’t have time to clean their households and offices, and then they would have to contact the nearest and most accessible window cleaning agency in the area. This includes districts with commercial buildings, factories, retail stores, malls, and so on.
You could also try approaching potential customers with the services you could provide them. But learn the basics and ethics of communicating with potential clients. There are times when residents can get discouraged by poor persuasion skills.
How Much Should I Charge Clients with my Window Cleaning Service?
On average, windows cleaning businesses charge clients a rate of £35 – £75 per hour. The price largely depends on the type of property you’re contacted to wash off. Although there is no definite amount you could offer, consider the factors included in the price guide. This consists of the materials, preparation, window size, and added services.
You could also size up the pricing of your competition to know your range. Some window cleaning services charge their clients based on the type of windows and the number of panes. Consider looking through cleaning service brochures, advertisements, and websites to have a realistic idea. Notice that some agencies offer packages with discounts to entice customers where both parties could benefit.
Registration Process and Requirements of a Window Cleaning Business
Not only do you need to prepare for the services and extent of your window cleaning business, but you’re also required to do some paperwork. Among the prerequisites for starting a window cleaning business is undergoing the process of company registration in UK.
Here are the steps in registering your company. Note that some businesses have different processes depending on the (added) approval they need to obtain (consider location, authority, and services).
- Secure the documents and details of your business. Note that your forecasted financials and long-term plans are determining factors in the succeeding steps.
- Determine your business structure. You could wish to register as a sole trader, private or public limited company. You might want to come up with a unique name since having the same identities as existing companies would get you into legal issues.
- Appoint the directors and shareholders of your business. Then, you would have to submit the Articles of Association (AA) and the Memorandum of Association (MA).
- All businesses in the UK are required to register with the Companies House. And then submit requirements to the Corporation Tax with HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) and Customs Authority.
- Finally, secure your bank accounts and other taxation matters. Obtain permits and needed certificates related to the nature of your work.
Most business people prefer seeking assistance from 3E Accounting since the steps are perplexing within the legalities of registration. After all, the business landscape is fast-evolving and sometimes may be hard to keep up with. And as entrepreneurs, we want to keep track of the regulations while seizing the opportunities in sight. Fortunately, we’re here to help you with the technicalities and achieve your business’s objectives with a customized service.
Licenses and Permits Needed for Starting a Window Cleaning Business
You don’t need a license to clean anywhere in the UK except Scotland – you ought to comply with your local council and have a criminal record check. Note that you will also need to register as an upper-tier waste carrier if you plan to include the disposal of the client’s waste in your services.
Nevertheless, it is recommended to present certifications and accreditation to appear more professional and reliable than your competitors. You might want to check on the following.
- Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
- British Window Cleaning Academy
- Federation of Window Cleaners
- High-rise Window Cleaning Insurance
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
- HSE publication Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Independent Training Standards Scheme and Register (ITSSAR)
Starting a window cleaning business requires research, time, and commitment. If planned well, you’ll get ahead of the industry and receive a lot of opportunities to grow. Ready to set off? Contact us if you need further assistance in incorporating your company. We’re a team of experts on the business scale. Get in touch!
