17/05/2026
Weeks of flyers through doors- one lovely customer, then nothing. A post in a local group- three customers, then nothing. One post like this- 100+ likes and real customers.
I could've posted about my work before and after but I kept forgetting to ask permission to take photos, the weeks I spent researching equipment and methods, practising on my own windows over and over, instead, I posted what I knew would get views.
I appreciate all the support and the genuine customers who contacted me and booked me. I do cringe sometimes at how I got those views- like a bad joke you still think about years later. But I'm proud of the work I do for every customer who booked me through that post.
Window cleaning is exhausting and not a glamorous job. If you do it full-time, you need regular customers, and that takes years to build. Let's face it-most people probably only have their windows cleaned once a year. That's fine with me because I only do it as a side hustle, and I don't mind spending over an hour on a £20 job. It's my workout. At worst, I break even.
But if you're looking to start a small business without the big initial investment for a proper setup, it's a long and tiring journey. Here's what I bought to start mine, and it cost just under £1,000:
-A carbon fibre water-fed pole with 30ft reach, so I won't need a ladder for the jobs I take
-A few brush heads—one for sills, one for panes
-A backpack
-A few 25-litre plastic water cans
-Pure water (from my local filling station)
I designed my own logo and flyer on Canva for free. Around £30 for 250 flyers from VistaPrint. £40 for public liability insurance. I don't need software to track my schedule or payments because jobs are sparse enough to record on Excel, but they are available and cheap enough.
It's basically a free workout- my main job is sitting in front of a computer most of the time. It's also therapeutic-just cleaning, sweating, enjoying the outdoors, meeting different customers. If you're lucky enough, you get a customer three minutes away from your kid's cello class. Instead of waiting around, you clean windows.
Don't let the start put you off. It's like anything- just don't second-guess your intentions and purpose.