Home services Side hustleOutdoorsRepeat customers

How to start a window cleaning business in California

Everything you need: what it costs, what you can make, what California asks for, and every step from your first idea to your tenth customer.

Start this business with PressUp

Checked October 2026 In US dollars 12-minute read

To start$915–8.2kLean to full setup

Per month$4.5k–11kOnce established

Profit margin75–85%Before paying yourself, after supplies, fuel and insurance

First customer1–4 weeksFrom today

DifficultyLearn it in weeks

From homeYesOr you go to them

01Is it right for you?

A good fit if you like visible results and working outdoors

Window cleaning costs little to start: a few squeegees, a pole and a good ladder will do your first jobs. Most homes are cleaned twice a year, so every happy customer can become a booking you repeat each spring and fall.

You'll like it if

You're comfortable on a ladder
You like seeing a clear before and after
You enjoy working outdoors most of the year
You're tidy and careful in people's homes

Think twice if

You're afraid of heights
You can't carry a ladder or work on your feet all day
You need the same income every month of the year
You don't have a way to carry a ladder

02What it costs

From $915 to start

Start lean with the essentials and upgrade as customers come, or set up fully from day one.

Total to start$915

What	Cost
Squeegees, scrubbers and polesA starter kit to a pro kit with a carbon pole	$170
Ladders and safety gearA multi-position ladder, then an extension ladder and stabilizer	$280
Water-fed pole systemClean upper windows from the ground with pure water	$0
Registering your businessThe state's fee to form an LLC in California	$70
Soap, towels and spare rubbersPlus resin for a water-fed system	$55
InsuranceFirst three months: liability, plus commercial auto with a work van	$170
Website and marketingWebsite, booking, cards and door hangers	$170
Total	$915

Once you're running: about $220 a month, plus about 15% of what you earn. Insurance, phone and scheduling software every month, plus soap, towels, fuel and card fees on each job.

03What you can make

Work out your own numbers

Move the sliders to match your plans. The chart shows a first year that builds up as word gets around.

Average price per home $300 $85$1,100

Homes a week 6 120

Monthly costs $220 $0$880

Typical in California: $170–$550 per home, 2–10 homes a week once established.

Revenue a month—

Profit a month—

Pays back in—

Your first yearTotal: —

Money inCosts

Side hustle$1.1k–2.8k

Weekends, 2–3 homes a week

Full-time, on your own$4.5k–7.8k

5–8 homes a week, quieter in winter

With a helper$6.7k–11k

Two people on bigger homes and storefronts

04Step by step

12 steps to your first customers

Each step says what it costs and how long it takes. Most owners get through them in a few weeks.

1
Check the demand near you
2–3 days Free

Before you spend anything, find out who already cleans windows near you and what they charge.
- Search "window cleaning near me"
- Note 5 competitors and their prices
- Ask neighbors when they last had it done
2
Choose your name
1 day Free

Pick a name that says what you do and where. Make sure no one in California has it.
- 3–5 name ideas
- Check no one else uses it
- Check the domain
Get name ideas, then check yours with CaliforniaFind a name
3
Form your LLC in California
1–2 weeks $70 state fee

An LLC keeps your personal savings separate from the business. You file Articles of Organization with the California Secretary of State.
- Articles of Organization
- A registered agent
- An operating agreement
PressUp can file your LLC with the state for youForm your LLC
4
Get your EIN
Same day Free

The IRS's tax number for your business. You'll need it for a business bank account.
- Apply online with the IRS
- Open a business bank account
Apply for it along with your LLC filingAdd your EIN
5
Sort out sales tax in California
1–3 days Free

California's sales tax is 7.25%, and cities and counties add their own. Ask the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration whether what you sell is taxable.
- Check if your services are taxable
- Register for sales tax if needed
- Set money aside for income tax
6
Get insured
1–2 days Quotes are free

Insurance protects you if something goes wrong on a job. Get quotes from two or three insurers.
- General liability
- Commercial auto, if you use a work van
- Workers' comp, once you hire
7
Buy your equipment
1 week $500–6k

Hand tools and a good ladder cover most homes. Add a water-fed pole later to reach upper windows from the ground and work faster.
- Starter squeegee kit
- Extension pole and scraper
- A sturdy ladder
8
Practice and work safely
1–2 weeks Free

Practice on your own windows and a few friends' homes first. Set every ladder on firm, level ground and inspect it before each use.
- Squeegee technique
- Ladder setup and checks
- Know when to turn down a job
9
Set your prices
1 day Free

Price by the window or by the home, with a minimum charge. Three choices are easy to sell. See the prices below.
- Outside only, inside and out, full shine
- Add-ons: screens, tracks, sills
- A twice-yearly plan
10
Put your business online
1 day Included

A site with your prices, photos and online booking lets customers book you without a phone call.
- Website with your prices
- Online booking
- Google Business Profile
Describe your business and PressUp builds your websiteBuild your website
11
Get your first 10 customers
2–4 weeks Up to $220

Start on your own street: door hangers, neighbors and local groups, then reviews.
- Door hangers near each job
- Neighborhood groups
- Ask every customer for a review
Ask your customers for reviews by email with PressUpSee how
12
Keep track as you grow
Ongoing Included

Know who your customers are and when they're due again, so spring and fall fill up early.
- Customer list
- Invoices
- Reminders for repeat cleans
Keep your customers and invoices in one place with PressUpSee how

05Licenses in CA

What California asks for

Registering, taxes, and what this business needs. Check the details with each authority: rules change.

Articles of Organization (LLC)

Registers your business with the state.

The California Secretary of State$70once

Annual report

Keeps your LLC in good standing with the state.

The California Secretary of State$20a year

Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Your business's tax number, for banking and taxes.

IRSFree

Sales tax registration

Only if what you sell is taxable where you are: ask the state.

The California Department of Tax and Fee AdministrationFree

Ladder and height safety

Safe ladder use is your job. Once you hire, workplace safety rules on ladders and fall protection apply to your crew.

Your workplace safety regulatorFree

OSHA ladder rules

OSHA's walking-working surfaces rules cover ladders and fall protection for employees, such as inspecting ladders before each shift.

OSHAFree

06Equipment

What to buy first

Buy the "must haves" to start. Add the rest when customers pay for them.

Starter tool kitSqueegee, strip washer, bucket and spares

$120–$370Must have

Bucket on a beltKeeps your tools at your hip

$13–$55Must have

Extension poleReaches upper windows without a ladder

$45–$390Must have

Glass scraper and bladesFor paint specks and stuck-on dirt

$4–$25Must have

TowelsMicrofiber and lint-free surgical towels

$35–$65Must have

Multi-position ladderWorks as a stepladder, extension or on stairs

$280–$600Must have

Extension ladderAbout 28 feet (8.5 meters) for second stories

$460–$520Later

Ladder stabilizer or levelerSteadier footing on uneven ground

$110–$220Later

Water-fed pole systemPole plus pure-water filter

$890–$3,550Later

Pure-water resin refillsFor a water-fed system

$100–$200Later

07Pricing

3 packages that sell

Simple choices make it easy to say yes. Most customers pick the middle one.

Outside only

$190 per visit · 1–2 hours

All exterior glass
Frames wiped
Hard-water spots checked

Inside and out

$330 per visit · 2–4 hours

Everything in Outside only
All interior glass
Sills wiped

Full shine

$420 per visit · 3–5 hours

Everything in Inside and out
Screens washed
Tracks cleaned

Inside-and-out prices for a house in CaliforniaTypical: $170–$660

Average $290

$0$220$440$660$880

08First customers

How to get your first customers

You don't need an ad budget. These work for new owners almost everywhere.

Google Business Profile

Most customers search "window cleaning near me". A free profile with photos puts you on the map.

Free

Door hangers near each job

Neighbors see your work the same day. Leave a hanger on the houses around every job.

Low cost

Twice-yearly plans

Most homes need windows done in spring and fall. A small plan discount fills your calendar ahead.

Repeat income

Storefront routes

Shops want clean glass every few weeks. A route of storefronts keeps money coming in through winter.

Partnership

Reviews

Ask every customer. Photos and reviews make strangers trust you on their ladders.

With PressUp Reviews

09Your first 30 days

A month from now, you could be open

Week 1

Set up

Choose your name
Register your business
Get insurance quotes

Week 2

Get equipped

Buy a starter kit and ladder
Practice on your own windows
Clean 3 friends' homes

Week 3

Go live

Website with booking
Google Business Profile
Set your prices

Week 4

First customers

Door hangers on your street
Aim for 10 homes
Offer a twice-yearly plan

10Questions

Common questions

Do I need a license to clean windows in California?

Usually there's no special license for window cleaning. You'll register your business, and once you hire, workplace safety rules for ladders and heights apply.

Can I start part-time?

Yes. Many window cleaners start on weekends with two or three homes, then go full-time once spring and fall bookings fill up.

Do I need a water-fed pole?

Not to start. Hand tools and a good ladder handle most homes. A water-fed pole lets you clean upper outside windows from the ground, which is faster and safer.

How often do customers book?

Most homes are cleaned twice a year, in spring and fall, and some every quarter. A plan with a small discount keeps them coming back.

What about winter?

It's quieter, especially in cold places. Many window cleaners save during the busy months and add storefronts, gutters or holiday work.

Costs and earnings are estimates from the sources below, checked October 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the authorities named in this guide. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.

Sources