Nathan Cameron started with the brand as a technician. Now, he continues to grow his very own territory in Belleville, Ontario. 

Elite Window Cleaning, the innovative window washing franchise under the Happinest Brands umbrella, gives franchisees from all backgrounds 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. 

Nathan Cameron, for example, first discovered Elite Window Cleaning when he was on the hunt for a job that provided better work-life balance. As a professional cook for over 14 years, Cameron was growing tired of unpredictable hours and hectic schedules. During his search for something new, he was introduced to Elite Window Cleaning by his friend Greg Przada, who is now a Franchise Business Advisor at the brand. Cameron ended up taking a job with the company as a technician. Eventually, CEO Chris Stoness was looking for his first franchisees and thought Cameron would be a great fit for the job. 

“I spent most of my first year developing the Belleville region, which I ultimately purchased,” said Cameron. “Elite had grown quite big in the area and at the end of that year, Stoness approached me with the franchise opportunity. And I decided to go for it.”  

Cameron was a part of the brand’s successful first group of franchisees and has continued to grow the Belleville territory. 

Why the Model Sets Cameron Up for Success

The way that we strategize how we route the vehicles helps us optimize the revenue capability for that vehicle for the day,” said Cameron.  “And it's something that Elite has worked on from day one, ever since we launched these vehicles in multiple regions.”

The Elite Window Cleaning model lowers the barrier of entry to window cleaning for consumers, giving franchise owners access to a bigger pool of clientele. Additionally, owners have the opportunity to grow a highly profitable and scalable business in a 35-week working year, then take the winter off to enjoy the rewards of all their hard work.

“We are experiencing explosive growth in new markets,” said Stoness. “And we are attracting customers in a way that no one in our space does. We do flat rate pricing, which allows people to shop 24/7 through our online booking system. This is something that is very unusual in the home services space — especially for window cleaning.” 

The franchise has found that many customers like to do their booking online, from the hours of 9 p.m. to midnight from the comfort of their homes. That’s why the brand introduced an online booking model where customers can book services whenever they need to. 

“It's been nothing but an ongoing process on how to optimize the model,” Cameron added. “Whether it's the technician hours, the labor hours or the route, we’re set up for success every single day, every single week and every single month. We continue to get better and better at that and it's evidenced year after year.”

The Support from Corporate

Cameron noted how the support from corporate makes the franchise experience even better. With over 20 years of experience in window cleaning, customer support and marketing, the Elite Window Cleaning team has created a system of proven success that allows franchisees to onboard in as little as five weeks. This process includes physical training, online training, equipment manuals, handling procedures and marketing and branding launches. 

“When I set out to create this franchise, I wanted to build out a support network that would have fast tracked my success when I was starting to build my company,” said Stoness. “So we have what we call the BOSS system, which is the back office support system. The idea is to take on a lot of the things that would take a franchise owner out of revenue generating activities.”

The corporate-run back office handles incoming calls and coaching, and offers in-house marketing services for national brand awareness. The 24/7 call center also handles the sales, conversions, scheduling and putting jobs on a franchisee’s schedule. And post-appointment, the back office sends the invoice out, in addition to review requests and drip campaigns to put customers into a repeatable cycle. 

“Support is fantastic,” Cameron said. “I feel comfortable going to the corporate team anytime I need something. They're always available anytime I have a question, and they always make you feel smart. They're an amazing support network. We’re all colleagues, and we’re all very proud of each other and the work we put in.” 

Why Belleville Has Been a Good Fit for the Brand

Elite franchisees can thrive wherever there are windows, and Belleville has been a particularly good match for this business. 

“The response from the community and to everybody that we market to has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Cameron. “People knew their windows were dirty, that their gutters were full or that they needed something done in the beautification process of their home, and when they saw us, they knew they immediately wanted us.” 

Belleville is often viewed as a “little brother” to Kingston, where the brand originated, and Cameron says that the positive brand recognition has spilled over across Ontario. “I think Kingston and Elite have kind of grown together,” he said. “It's a well respected business here in the community, and it shows.” 

Additionally, the franchisee believes that his success in Belleville is a testament to how Elite Window Cleaning has been able to standardize the business of window cleaning in a way that consumers know and love. 

“It doesn’t matter if you were getting it in Calgary, Halifax or Belleville,” said Cameron. “You know you’ve got Elite and it is going to be standardized. We have the same uniforms. We had the same great work ethic and the same great support.”

Looking ahead, Elite Window Cleaning is looking to add 40 units by 2025. And with territories expected to sell quickly, now is the time to invest. 

The total initial investment necessary to start an Elite Window Cleaning franchise ranges from $113,261–$143,161, including a $40,000 franchise fee. For more information on franchising with Elite Window Cleaning, visit https://elitewindowcleaning.ca/franchise/.