Starting a window-cleaning business can be a challenge. It will take a little bit of hard work, but owning your own business can prove to be lucrative and satisfying. Following the lead of some of the most successful national home improvement corporations can be a wise place to start. We’ve rounded up some top tips from successful home improvement companies in the nation.
Having a professional and strong online appearance will make a huge difference when you are trying to generate leads. Most people look to the internet when conducting research about services in their area, so having a website will help make you searchable.
You’ll want to create a website for your window cleaning business, or have a web designer create one for you. Be sure to include detailed information about your business, including the key benefits of using your window cleaning service vs. a competitor. Along with having a visually appealing website, you’ll want to make sure that you are adding value and fresh content to your site as well. One way to do this is by adding a blog to your website. By partaking in content marketing, you will not only look like a thought leader, but you can distribute this content across your social media sites, make your presence stronger across the web.
Take a look at System Pavers’ website, “the leaders in outdoor living.” This national company has a visually appealing website with a strong emphasis on content marketing. You’ll notice that the blog is one of their top header items on their menu. System Pavers also users their articles to enhance their social media presence, as they push out articles on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
If you are just starting out and looking to generate more leads, consider starting a referral program. Referrals are one of the strongest tools that contractors have for generation new business. Neighbors, family, and friends, and much more likely to receive information from a trusted source, over a print or digital advertisement.
The referral process should start even before any work does. As you meet with a homeowner, let them know how important your reputation and referrals are to you. Letting a homeowner know about your referral program sooner, rather than later, will help trigger conversations with neighbors, family, and friends. This way, when you happen to be in the neighborhood cleaning windows, you’ll happen
Consider incentivizing referrals by offering your clients a small sum of money or gift card to a local restaurant. By rewarding homeowners for giving you a positive recommendation, you are more likely to receive a referral and earn new business. You can scale the amount and incentive to fit your business model. For example, Leaf Filter, a national gutter protection company, offers homeowners $50 for every successful referral that is made.
After you have completed your project with a homeowner, you can circle back a few weeks later and ask for any feedback they may have in order to ensure that your client is completely satisfied. This may require a bit more work, however, it can be worth a good referral. At this point, you can politely remind your client that they can participate in your referral program.
In order to improve your chances of a successful window cleaning business, consider the efficiencies that are gained when you franchise your business. When you franchise a business, your work is instantly multiplied.
You may think that this tip is only for more established window cleaning businesses. However, it can be helpful to think about franchising from the beginning. Lots of businesses start with just one brand, service, or brick-and-mortar store, and down the road, they think about franchising. At this point, they have to rethink all of their processes, which may negatively affect quality and profit. If you think about franchising from the beginning, systems and processes should get stronger as time goes on.
If you are starting to think about a franchise system for your business, consider taking notes from CertaPro Painters. CertaPro Painters is a successful interior and exterior painting service that provides services for both residences and businesses. They have effectively implemented training, ongoing support, and marketing support, to build 475 locations across the US and Canada. Most notably, they offer a Quality Callback program to follow up with customers to hear about their experience.
By following the lead of successful national home improvement corporations, you can learn a few tips and tricks in order to turn your window cleaning business into a successful venture. If you would like to learn more, download Window Academy’s all inclusive guide to starting your own window cleaning business.