With First Major Industry Innovation in Nearly 100 Years, the Sparkle Squad Franchise System is Poised to Take the U.S. Window Cleaning Market by Storm

Newly launched in the U.S., Sparkle Squad pairs decades of experience with the flexibility and excitement of a brand new concept, all within the high-demand $70 billion cleaning services segment. With water-fed carbon poles that remove the need for ladders, buckets and lifts, making the entire process more efficient, Sparkle Squad offers window washing, pressure washing, soft washing, gutter cleaning and other home-related services. But its history is much richer than just that of a newly launched home services franchise — it stems from over a decade of passion and tech-forward business model development. 

“There's never been anyone who has looked at this industry as intentionally as us,” said Chris Stoness, founder and CEO. “We are not only working to grow our system and disrupt our industry and its traditional processes but also change the way it is sold, purchased and consumed.” 

After working in the window washing industry for about six years, learning as much as he could, Stoness was certain that things could be done differently — done better. In 2012, he had a borrowed car, a bucket and a plan to change the industry for good. He founded Elite Window Cleaning and spent the first few years of its existence testing out new equipment and processes. After taking a hint from UK window washers, who had moved on from the squeegee to ultra-light water-fed poles, the franchise quickly exploded in the Canadian market. Thanks to its emphasis on innovation, easy booking process and, perhaps most importantly, the first major update to the industry since the 1936 patenting of the squeegee, Elite Window Cleaning became a leading provider.

After navigating early growth hurdles on his own and refining the business model, growing Elite Window Cleaning to eight thriving units across Canada, Stoness has partnered with Happinest Brands, the 850-plus-unit multi-brand home services franchisor, to further hone the model and bring a new and improved version, Sparkle Squad, to the U.S. with uncapped potential.

The partnership incorporates a larger team of marketing and operations professionals into the mix, meaning franchisees will start from day one with a model that has already solved for the hurdles Stoness faced throughout years of development. This support, paired with a business model that allowed one franchisee to earn over $50,000 in a single month, means franchisees will be ready to take the nation by storm.

“With Sparkle Squad, U.S. franchisees have access to a business model that was built on the foundation of Elite Window Cleaning, the remarkably successful Canadian window washing franchise,” said Stoness. “We bring the resources and strategy of an institutional leader, but currently, the U.S. is an open canvas — a pairing that is hard to find in the larger franchise space. Every market is a target market, and we are not limiting ourselves with a specific unit-count goal in the early months.”

Sparkle Squad presents a standout opportunity thanks to the combination of leadership expertise and brand novelty in the new market. While Sparkle Squad itself is new to the U.S. market, and territories are wide open, it does not carry the same limiting factors as other new franchises.

“The intersection of Happinest Brands and Elite Window Cleaning to create Sparkle Squad is rare and powerful,” said Eric Martin, senior vice president of franchise development at Happinest. “There is a ton of institutional knowledge throughout the system, and we’re growing massive networks of franchisees. At the same time, Elite Window Cleaning has been incubating in Canada. The Elite Window Cleaning and Happinest teams met at the perfect inflection point, and with our combined knowledge, we’ve been able to create the absolute best business scenario for U.S. franchisees.”

Sparkle Squad Says Goodbye to Outdated Industry Standards

No more squeegee-only cleaning, harsh chemicals, convoluted booking processes or brute force requirements. It is these key differentiators that allow Sparkle Squad to stand out.

While the majority of window cleaning services continue to use ladders, ropes, buckets and squeegees, which can pose a safety risk and elongate the service window due to complex set-up and break-down processes, Sparkle Squad’s vans, affectionately known as “job pods” by the leadership team, house everything the team needs for a full day of service on four wheels. The Squad is able to roll out in the morning and be entirely self-sufficient as it checks off its list of to-dos quickly and efficiently.

The industry relies largely on outdated processes, but Sparkle Squad offers highly efficient water-fed pole technology, flat-rate pricing and a streamlined online booking system to provide a modernized experience, which lends itself to both a better customer experience and a smoother labor model.

“We’ve reformed the front end in a more technical way replacing lifts and ladders with carbon fiber poles and high-powered vacuums that can reach up to six stories high — double what our competitors can reach,” explained Stoness. “We’re also better on the service delivery side. We intentionally built the back end of the business to offset the inhibitors to growth that I personally experienced in the beginning with Elite Window Cleaning.”

Sparkle Squad has centralized marketing efforts and a call center to convert inquiries and schedule jobs for all owners. Further, an online booking engine allows customers to schedule an appointment whenever they want. Prospective customers can go online, browse a-la-carte offerings with clear, transparent pricing, and book whatever services they require. From there, they will receive a confirmation and reminder, and the Sparkle Squad will show up at the designated time to tackle the job.

“Any complexity in the consumer process is going to get in the way of the transaction happening,” said Martin. “This booking process allows customers to schedule service from bed at 9 p.m. if that’s what’s convenient for them. From how we acquire customers to how we remind them and complete the job, it’s all a frictionless opportunity that keeps them in the loop.”

With Sparkle Squad, customers can “order” window cleaning services just as easily as they can place an Amazon order. By “Amazonifying” the business model in a largely traditional space, Sparkle Squad sets itself up to be more accessible to customers when they need, easily capturing more of the market demand.

“Chris [Stoness] is always looking for how to do the job bigger, better and wiser,” said Sharon Cupach, vice president of franchise development at Happinest. “That’s where he really shines — putting efficiency to processes. That’s how Elite Window Cleaning became so successful, and that’s what will drive Sparkle Squad forward.”

With Wide-Open Space and Capacity for Hundreds of Territories Nationwide, Sparkle Squad Is Ready to Dominate the Industry

As the franchise launches in the U.S. market, the leadership team is interested in hearing from prospective owners from all markets. Because it is all white space, and the demand for window cleaning and other exterior beautification services is everywhere, there is no suboptimal market for Sparkle Squad.

“Window cleaning isn’t the only service we offer, but it is a key revenue driver,” said Stoness. “I encourage anyone who might be interested in the business to go take a drive… Realize how many windows there are to be cleaned, then try to think of a single window cleaning company in your area.”

With window cleaning and all of the other services Sparkle Squad offers, the potential customer base is huge. Serving those who aren’t able to and those who simply don’t want to complete the work allows owners to build a large pool of customers quickly. For millennials, who now represent over 40% of homebuyers, home services are best outsourced. The group is willing to pay to get their time back, and this most frequently comes in the form of outsourcing work around the home. On the flip side, aging clients are often faced with the choice of either paying for a service or simply leaving the work undone. In both cases, Sparkle Squad’s easy booking process and top-notch customer service help it stand out, enticing customers to schedule their first service appointment and leaving them pleased with the experience, encouraging repeat business. 

Further, because windows, homes and gutters are consistently getting dirty or worn, there is a year-round demand for Sparkle Squad services.

“We’re not affected by the economy,” said Stoness. “People need the services we offer, and we just keep growing each year, regardless of outside circumstances.”

Because Sparkle Squad offers both commercial and residential services, franchisees can cast a wide net, securing a range of clients who need recurring services. Rather than focusing on the “where” in early development stages, because the opportunity is a great fit for just about anywhere, the team is focused on the “who.”

Client-Focused Disruptors and Early Adopters Are a Great Fit for the Model

Sparkle Squad is bringing a fresh take to a proven, but largely antiquated, market segment. The franchise offers a more modernized experience with cleaner, more efficient work and an intent focus on customer service.

“It’s like an orchestrated event when the Sparkle Squad shows up to a job,” said Martin. “The team hops out of the branded van ready to get to work. We’re done with one side of the home in the amount of time it takes one of our more standard competitors to get their ladders set up. We’re creating those ‘Wow’ moments for clients, and it’s important that local owners are committed to this image and level of service.”

While the Sparkle Squad business model is growing with the context of lessons learned over the past decade-plus with Elite Window Cleaning, it is looking to do things bigger and better, even further disrupting the status quo in U.S. window cleaning and exterior beautification services.

“Early adopters will certainly be key players as we grow in the U.S.,” said Cupach. “It’s important that interested franchisees begin their research soon to get in on the markets they want. This is a great opportunity, and we don’t want entrepreneurs to think, ‘Maybe later’ and circle back to the opportunity when it’s too late.”

With a robust training and support network, a range of services that serve to create multiple streams of revenue year-round and a labor model that positions franchisees to focus on the customer experience over sheer physical strength, the Sparkle Squad franchise opportunity is primed for anyone looking to disrupt the industry with the backing of an experienced, quickly growing franchisor.

To support the growth of a robust, diverse franchise system, Sparkle Squad is offering a $10,000 discount to the franchise fee for veterans, first responders and minorities, as well as discounted fees for each subsequent location a franchisee opens after the first.

The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Sparkle Squad franchise is $133,767-$146,667. To find more information about costs to buy this franchise, please visit 1851franchise.com/sparkle-squad/info.