How to start a window cleaning business in the UK

Do you need a licence?

In England and Wales, we found no national or council licence for window cleaners. In Scotland it is different: under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, most councils require window cleaners to hold a licence. Fees vary, for example £165 in Aberdeenshire and £397 for three years in Highland.

You must register with HMRC once your income goes over the £1,000 trading allowance in a tax year. Our guide to becoming self-employed covers the deadlines, tax and National Insurance.

Working at height safely

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 apply to the self-employed as well as employers. HSE’s guidance for window cleaners says to avoid working at height where you reasonably can, for example by using telescopic water-fed poles or cleaning windows from the inside. Where you cannot, use an existing safe place, then access equipment, then fall arrest equipment, in that order.

• Ladders are allowed for short jobs by a competent user. HSE’s rule of thumb is to use other equipment if you would be on a ladder for more than 30 minutes at a time. HSE says almost all falls from ladders happen because the ladder moves, so tie it or secure it.
• Water-fed poles reach up to 24 metres. HSE’s best practice guide, written with the Federation of Window Cleaners, highlights overhead power lines, trip hazards from hoses, slippery or icy paths, the strain of handling long poles, legionella in badly maintained systems and overloaded vans. Use the lightest pole that reaches the job.

Kit and startup costs

Many people start with traditional kit and a car, then add a van system once the round is big enough to pay for it. Supplier prices for complete van systems range from about £1,200 for a compact unit to £6,700 for a large fitted system.

Insurance

• Public liability: not legally required for a sole trader, but most customers and every commercial client will expect it. Simply Business reports that 10% of its window cleaning customers paid £79.65 a year or less in the first half of 2026, and 78% chose £1 million of cover. Check the maximum working height in the policy, because working above it can invalidate the cover.
• Employers’ liability: a legal requirement as soon as you employ someone outside your close family, with at least £5 million of cover. Fines are up to £2,500 for every day without it.
• Equipment and vehicle: your van insurance must cover business use, and a van system is worth insuring.

What to charge

Published UK prices vary a lot, mainly by how often you clean and whether it is a one-off.

Regular prices come from PureSeal’s 2025 UK guide and published round price lists; one-off prices from Checkatrade. Checkatrade’s 2026 guide puts an average window clean at £45, and it lists conservatory roofs at around £300 inside and out. Less frequent cleans cost more: PureSeal suggests 10% to 25% extra for 6 or 8 weekly visits and up to double for a one-off.

Building or buying a round

A round is your list of regular customers. You can build one from scratch or buy one from a window cleaner who is retiring or moving.

Industry sources value rounds at roughly 3 to 7 times their monthly takings, with very good rounds fetching more. Before you buy, ask to see the customer list, payment records and how long customers have been on the round, and go out with the seller for a day.

To build one:

1. Pick tight streets. Ten houses on one road earn more per hour than ten spread across town.
2. Leaflet and knock. Royal Mail Door to Door starts at £84 per 1,000 leaflets, or deliver them yourself on the streets you want.
3. Set up a Google Business Profile as a service-area business, hiding your address and listing the areas you cover.
4. Ask every customer for a Google review, and never offer a reward for one.
5. Get a simple website showing your areas, prices, insurance and a quote form. People who see your leaflet or van will look you up before they ring.

Registering, payments and software

Chasing payment on the doorstep takes time. Many window cleaners now take payment by direct debit or card after each clean. GoCardless charges 1% plus 20p per UK payment, capped at £4, plus VAT. Round management apps such as Squeegee (from about £15.83 a month plus VAT) and CleanerPlanner (from £19 a month) plan your route, send reminders and take payments.

If you hold customers’ names, addresses and phone numbers on a phone or computer for more than your own accounts and marketing, you probably need to pay the ICO data protection fee: £52 a year, or £47 by direct debit.