Elite Window Cleaning INFO

Elite Window Cleaning, the innovative Canadian window cleaning franchise, has established itself as a category leader and prides itself on making window washing cleaner, safer and better. 

Formed in 2012 by Chris Stoness, Elite Window Cleaning was designed to bring some much needed updates to the window cleaning industry by using water fed pole technology, flat rate pricing and seamless online booking. The franchise, which is now under the Happinest Brands umbrella, is seeing explosive growth across Canada and is aiming to open 40 new units by 2025.

When Stoness created Elite Window Cleaning in 2012, he set out to take the window cleaning industry into the 21st century. With no significant technological updates since the patent of the squeegee in 1936, Stoness knew there was opportunity for innovation. By using highly-efficient water fed pole technology, flat rate pricing and a streamlined online booking model, Elite Window Cleaning franchisees have the opportunity to grow a highly profitable and scalable business in the $70 billion cleaning services market, while leveraging a support team with decades of experience. 

Coast to coast in Canada, there was really no national provider of window washing before Elite Window Cleaning. Now, on the heels of an acquisition by Happinest Brands, the parent franchisor behind home services brands including Lawn Doctor, Mosquito Hunters and ecomaids, Elite Window Cleaning is looking for hardworking franchisees to grow with across Canada. 

From a customer facing perspective, one of the biggest barriers for window cleaning has always been the cost. Everyone has windows in their home, and most people don't want to climb ladders to clean them, but services haven’t always been in reach. With Elite’s water fed pole technology, it is able to clean the standard home of about 3,000 square feet in under 45 minutes. This means that franchisees make a great margin on the job, while customers get a reduced price. Elite Window Cleaning’s flat rate pricing also allows people to shop 24/7 through an online booking platform. This is something that is very unusual in the home service space — especially in window cleaning. The brand has found that many customers like to book their services from the hours of 9 p.m. to midnight, so it wanted to position its services to be as easy to book as purchasing on Amazon. 

When it comes to window washing franchises, there’s never been a company who has looked at the industry as intentionally as Elite Window Cleaning. It is not only working to change the way window washing is done physically, but also to change the way it is sold, purchased and consumed.

By taking one look around outside, it is easy to recognize that windows are everywhere. In Canada alone, there are over 15 million residential buildings and over 480,000 commercial and institutional buildings — all with windows. And these windows need to be cleaned, again and again. This means that Elite Window Cleaning provides repeatable, revenue-based business. Additionally, the business model requires low employee numbers and no brick-and-mortar location, keeping overhead costs relatively low. 

Elite Window Cleaning is looking to open 40 new units by 2025 with driven and compassionate leaders who are curious, don’t mind a challenge and are adaptable enough to get through any situation. Additionally, with a very strong human connection element in the home services industry, strong communication and great customer service are essential. Whether it be forming relationships with customers or technicians, franchisees should be willing to get involved in their community to make strong connections. 

Additionally, Elite Window Cleaning is on a level playing field. It’s for franchisees of all backgrounds. Male, female, young, old — anyone can make this work for them if they’re willing to work hard. 

With over 20 years of experience in window cleaning, customer support and marketing, the Elite Window Cleaning team has created a training and support system of proven success. Franchisees can onboard in as little as five weeks. This process includes physical training, online training, equipment manuals, handling procedures and marketing and branding launches. 

When Stoness set out to create Elite Window Cleaning, he wanted to build out a support network that would have fast tracked his own success. He created what is called the BOSS system, which stands for back office support system and is designed to take away the things that would take a franchise owner out of revenue generating activities. 

The back office is a corporate-run facility that handles incoming calls and coaching, and offers in-house marketing and national brand awareness. The 24/7 call center not only picks up the phone for franchisees, but handles the sales, conversions, scheduling and putting jobs on a franchisee’s schedule. The same goes for post-appointment care when Elite Window Cleaning automatically sends the invoice out, as well as review requests and drip campaigns to put customers into a repeatable cycle. 

Franchisees also benefit from weekly all hands meetings once a week and bi-weekly one-on-one business performance coaching. Additionally, because of the seasonality of the window washing industry, franchise owners work a 35-week year, then take the winter off to enjoy the rewards of all their hard work.

The total initial investment necessary to start an Elite Window Cleaning franchise ranges from $113,261 - $143,161 including a $40,000 franchise fee. 

Global News, Business Insider, and BBC