Key takeaway
To work out what to charge for window cleaning, start from the hourly income you need. Turn it into a per-pane price based on how fast you work, then add extras and a minimum job price.
1Step 1: Decide what an hour of your time is worth
Add up your monthly costs (vehicle, fuel, insurance, equipment, software and marketing) and the income you want to take home. Divide by the hours you can realistically bill each month. That gives you your target hourly rate.
2Step 2: Time yourself per pane
Time a few typical jobs and count the panes. If you clean about 20 exterior panes an hour, divide your hourly target by 20 to get your exterior price per pane. Do the same for interior glass, which is usually faster.
Example math: a $100 hourly target ÷ 20 panes per hour = $5 per exterior pane. Use your own numbers. Rates vary a lot by market.
Try the free price calculatorSee Good, Better and Best prices from a home's size.3Step 3: Add the extras you actually do
Time screens, tracks and hard-water removal the same way, and price them per unit. Add multipliers for upper floors and post-construction cleans.
4Step 4: Set a minimum and a travel fee
Your minimum job price should cover the drive, setup and at least the first hour. For far-away addresses, add a per-mile or per-minute travel fee.
5Step 5: Quote fast and follow up
Homeowners often hire the first business that sends a clear price. Send packaged options the same day, follow up on quotes that haven't been accepted, and make it easy to accept and book online.
6Common mistakes
- Copying a competitor's price without knowing your own costs
- Giving away screens and tracks for free
- Charging the same for one-story and three-story homes
- Having no minimum job price
- Waiting days to send a quote
Put this into practice
PaneBuddy applies your per-pane rates, add-ons and multipliers to every quote automatically. See how instant quotes work.
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