How Much to Charge For Commercial Window Washing: Window Cleaning Pricing Guide

Is window washing a good business? Window cleaning can be a great way to start a business with minimal training or financial outlay. But before you get started, you need to know how much to charge for commercial window washing. 

Charging too little for your services can hurt your profit margins and make it difficult for you to grow. Charge too much and you’ll scare away potential customers. We’ve written this window washing guide to help you figure out how much to charge for window washing.

Proper pricing is essential to your success, but so is working more efficiently. SweepScrub offers a complete professional lineup of window cleaning equipment like IPC Eagle Hydro Cart Window Cleaning Systems. Work with us and watch your window cleaning business thrive!  

Typical Window Cleaning Prices

There are many variables when you’re determining how much to charge for commercial window washing. We’ve provided more information below as a window cleaning pricing guide to help you make informed decisions about your business. 

Average Rates Per Pane, Per Hour, or Per Square Foot

Window cleaning companies typically set window cleaning prices in one of three different ways. For smaller jobs, window cleaning companies generally charge by the hour. For the largest jobs, window cleaners generally quote a price per square foot.   

Pricing per pane is generally $2 to $8 each, but this can increase for more complex window styles like French panes. Cleaners generally charge a window cleaning price of $50 to $100+ per hour for post-construction projects, deep cleanings, or buildings with difficult access. 

For skyscrapers, hospitals or corporate campuses window cleaners will typically set prices of between $0.15 and $0.50 per square foot. The final price will depend on the required access equipment and the building’s facade. 

Price Ranges for Different Building Types

Single-story storefronts and restaurants frequently require regular window-cleaning services. You can earn a steady income providing weekly or biweekly cleaning services to small businesses at $50 to $150 per cleaning.

Low-rise and mid-rise office buildings often require ladders or water-fed poles. They may also need your services for washing interior glass partitions or atriums. Window cleaning prices on these jobs typically range between $400 and over $1,500. 

High-rise window cleaning involves significant risks and specialized equipment. Your workers will require extensive training, and you will need to have insurance policies in place. These jobs are also the most lucrative, as a comprehensive cleaning can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Inside vs Outside Window Pricing

Almost all commercial window cleaning jobs involve the outside windows. But interior windows can also get smeared with fingerprints, smudges, and dirt. 

Lobbies, conference rooms, and partitions require regular interior cleaning. This work is less intensive than exterior cleaning. But it can be time-consuming as you have to be careful to protect floors, furniture, and electronic equipment from water or cleaning solutions. 

Most window cleaning businesses offer an interior/exterior cleaning package. They will charge the full rate for the exterior work, then add 50% to 75% for interior cleaning. 

Add-On Services That Justify Higher Pricing

Hard water stains require special acidic cleaners or polishing compounds. Make a note of any milky or white mineral deposits you see on windows and adjust your price accordingly.

Jobs that require high-access equipment carry a much higher price tag. Renting or purchasing the equipment required for high-rise cleaning is expensive, as is the necessary liability insurance and training. 

How Much to Charge For Commercial Window Washing: Tips For Setting Your Window Cleaning Prices

Knowing how to start a window cleaning business starts with setting prices. These tips will teach you how much to charge for window washing. We teach you how to use data-driven methods to justify your window cleaning prices to yourself and to your clients. 

Start With Your Baseline Costs

What is your absolute minimum cost of doing business? No matter how many windows you clean, you will be responsible for marketing expenses, business insurance, equipment maintenance, and other sunk costs.

You also need to consider wages, payroll taxes, workers’ compensation insurance, and any benefits you provide your workers. If you’re a solo operator, you need to pay yourself a fair and consistent wage. You won’t be able to run a healthy business if you can’t cover your bills. 

Once you’ve calculated your total monthly overhead and labor costs, divide it by the number of billable hours you plan to work each month. That gives you the baseline hourly rate you must charge simply to break even. Any amount you charge above this rate is your profit.

Adjust for Job Complexity and Access

Simple large panes of glass on the ground floor are easy to clean. But removing, cleaning, and reinstalling storm windows requires more time and effort. You can price them at a higher per-pane rate or add a surcharge to your total, but additional work demands corresponding pay. 

If you are cleaning windows at height, on uneven terrain, or near power lines, you’re taking on additional risks - and that too deserves more compensation. Keep this in mind when you’re factoring how much to charge for window washing in more challenging situations. 

Consider Frequency and Contract Length

Acquiring new customers takes time and money. A client who signs up for regular service provides you with a steady source of income. Customer retention and long-term contracts are very important if you want to have a successful window washing business. 

Most commercial window cleaners offer discount prices for frequent customers. You might charge $200 for a one-time cleaning, while cleanings on a monthly schedule might cost $150 per visit. This gives customers an incentive to sign a service agreement.

Factor in Location and Local Market Rates

Call several competing businesses in your area for quotes on a typical commercial job. This will help you determine how much to charge for window washing in your location. 

Prices will be higher in major urban areas like New York and Los Angeles because insurance, fuel, and wages are higher than the national average. You may find average prices in smaller towns and suburbs are lower because there is less competition. 

Don’t Forget Seasonality

Spring and fall are typically busy periods for window cleaning businesses. In the spring, businesses need to wash away winter grime and spring pollen. In the fall, they want their properties to look sharp for the holidays. You can charge standard rates for these periods.

Winter brings slowdowns in window cleaning and other exterior work. You may want to offer seasonal promotions or expand your business operations. (Check out our guide on how much to charge for parking lot cleaning for a lucrative wintertime opportunity). 

Year-round commercial contracts are the best way to ensure a steady income during slow seasons. These contracts provide you with scheduled work and guaranteed revenue even when new business is down. 

More Advice on Winning Window-Washing Bids

You’ve calculated how much to charge for commercial window washing. Now you have to convince potential clients that you’re the right window washer for their job. We’ve provided these pointers to help you build your window washing business. 

How to Write a Simple, Professional Quote That Builds Trust

Always present your quotes on clean letterhead with your company’s logo, name, address, and phone number clearly visible. Provide a unique quote number for tracking and include the date of issuance. Make your quote easy to read and include all necessary information. 

Itemized quotes make it easier for your prospective client to see exactly what they are paying for. Line item quotes eliminate confusion about what services you are going to provide and justify your pricing. 

Set Expectations With Clear Scope of Work

“Scope creep” is a huge problem for many small business owners, as customers push for more work than you originally agreed on. A detailed description of the scope ensures everyone is on the same page before work begins. 

Your Scope of Work section describes in detail specifically what services are included in your quote. You explain exactly which windows you are cleaning and how you will clean them. A well-written Scope of Work also demonstrates your thoroughness and professionalism.

This section should also explain what is not included in the base price. If your client needs restorative work like removing hard water stains or paint, make it clear that these services come at an additional cost.

Add Value Without Undercutting Yourself

Value isn’t just about the lowest price. It takes into account work quality, reliability, and professionalism. Most businesses will happily pay a fair wage for superior window cleaning. Building a good professional reputation is more important than charging the lowest price.

Arriving on time in a clean, clearly marked vehicle with uniformed employees makes you look like a serious, reliable business. So does showing up with top-tier equipment like the lineup we have in store for you at SweepScrub.

Set Yourself Up For Success With the Right Equipment and Chemicals Today!

SweepScrub is a leading distributor of high-quality commercial and industrial cleaning equipment. We offer the best equipment at competitive prices and provide top-notch customer service and support for our customers. 

If you are just getting started, take a look at our IPC Eagle Hydrocart Compact 3 Stage Complete Kits and IPC Eagle Hydrocart 4 Stage Complete Kits. They have everything you need for window washing and offer options for 1-story to 5-story window cleaning. 

Do you already have poles and brushes? Check out our IPC Eagle Hydrocart Compact 3 Stage Poles and Brushes Sold Separately, IPC Eagle Hydrocart 4 Stage Poles and Brushes Sold Separately, and IPC Eagle Hydrocart 2X Pro Poles and Brushes Sold Separately.

Our IPC Eagle Hydrocart Junior Single Stage and IPC Eagle Hydrocart Junior 3 Stage are also great starter options. They come with a number of package options so you can choose the accessories that best suit your budget and your needs.

Whatever equipment you choose, you’re in good hands with SweepScrub. Call us today for one-on-one support choosing the right machine, and experience the SweepScrub difference!  

Wrapping Up Our Window Cleaning Pricing Guide

And that concludes our guide on how much to charge for commercial window washing. Now you know how to set prices that ensure you make a profit without pricing your business out of the market. You also know how to write bids that get customer attention and convert to contracts.

But you also need the best window cleaning equipment to do the best window cleaning job. Whether you’re cleaning local business fronts or working on massive commercial parks, SweepScrub has the equipment you need to do your job quickly, efficiently, and safely. 

We offer the best in cleaning equipment and the finest customer service team in the industry. Call ScrubSweep today and take your business to the next level!