What Is My Window Cleaning Company Worth?

TLDR: Window cleaning companies typically sell at 2.5x to 3.5x EBITDA or 1.5x to 2.5x SDE. Recurring residential and commercial contracts, low owner dependency, and strong route density push values toward the top of these ranges. One-off or heavily owner-dependent operations land closer to the bottom.

Understanding SDE (Seller Discretionary Earnings)

If you've talked to a business broker, you've probably heard the term SDE—Seller Discretionary Earnings. It's the most common starting point for valuing a small service business, and for good reason: it reflects the total financial benefit the owner takes out of the business each year.

SDE is calculated by taking your net profit and adding back: - Your owner salary and any personal benefits run through the business - Depreciation and amortization - Interest on business debt - One-time or non-recurring expenses

For a window cleaning company doing $800,000 in revenue where the owner pays themselves $120,000, SDE might land somewhere around $180,000 to $220,000 once those add-backs are accounted for. That number becomes the basis for a multiple-based valuation.

SDE is widely used by brokers and familiar to most small business sellers. It's a practical, accessible metric—especially for businesses where the owner plays an active role and their compensation is a meaningful chunk of the profit picture. The important thing to know is that SDE is a bridge: it helps you, as the seller, understand the economic value of what you've built. But sophisticated buyers and their lenders often want to look at a slightly different number.

Understanding EBITDA

EBITDA—Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization—is the metric serious buyers and lenders use to evaluate businesses. It measures operating profitability before financing and accounting decisions, giving buyers a cleaner view of what the business actually produces.

The key difference from SDE: EBITDA does not add back the owner's salary. Instead, it assumes a market-rate manager would be hired to replace the owner's day-to-day role. For a window cleaning company, that might mean modeling a $60,000–$80,000 operations manager in place of the owner. That adjustment typically makes EBITDA lower than SDE for the same business—which is why SDE multiples and EBITDA multiples exist in different ranges.

If your business generates $200,000 in SDE and you pay yourself $120,000, a buyer might calculate EBITDA closer to $120,000–$140,000 after plugging in a management replacement cost. That's the number that gets multiplied.

For window cleaning companies above roughly $300,000 in EBITDA, institutional buyers and search fund acquirers will almost exclusively work from EBITDA. For smaller operators, SDE remains the more common framework—which is why both metrics matter when you're preparing to sell.

Window Cleaning Company EBITDA Valuation Range

Based on current market data, window cleaning companies trade at 2.5x to 3.5x EBITDA. Businesses with strong recurring contract revenue, documented systems, and low owner involvement consistently achieve the higher end of this range. — Regalis Capital

These are illustrative ranges. Your actual valuation will depend on factors specific to your business, your market, and deal structure.

Disclaimer: These ranges are based on publicly available market data and are not a formal appraisal. Actual valuations depend on financial performance, market conditions, deal structure, and buyer competition. This content is informational only and does not constitute financial or legal advice.

Window Cleaning Company SDE Valuation Range

For owner-operated window cleaning businesses—particularly those under $1M in revenue—SDE-based valuations remain common in the market.

Window cleaning companies typically sell at 1.5x to 2.5x SDE, with the higher end reserved for businesses that have moved beyond owner-as-primary-technician operations and built repeatable systems. — Regalis Capital

SDE multiples for window cleaning companies are lower than EBITDA multiples on a number-to-number comparison, but that doesn't mean SDE is the wrong tool—it's simply calibrated for a different version of the same business. As revenue and systems scale, the conversation usually shifts to EBITDA.

Disclaimer: These ranges are based on publicly available market data and are not a formal appraisal. Actual valuations depend on financial performance, market conditions, deal structure, and buyer competition. This content is informational only and does not constitute financial or legal advice.

What Drives Value Up or Down in Window Cleaning Companies

Not all window cleaning businesses command the same multiple. Here's what moves the needle in this specific industry:

Value drivers that push multiples higher: - Recurring contract revenue. Commercial accounts on annual or multi-year service agreements are far more valuable than one-off residential jobs. A business with 70%+ recurring revenue looks fundamentally different to a buyer than one dependent on repeat-but-uncontracted customers. - Route density and geographic efficiency. Tight, logistically efficient service areas reduce labor and travel costs, improving margins and making the business easier to scale. - Documented systems and trained crews. If the business can operate—and grow—without the owner on the ladder, that's a premium characteristic. Standard operating procedures, training materials, and crew management infrastructure matter. - Low customer concentration. A commercial portfolio where no single account exceeds 15–20% of revenue is far more attractive than a business where one property management company represents 40% of billings. - Clean, maintained equipment. Water-fed pole systems, lift equipment, and vehicles that are well-documented and recently serviced reduce buyer risk and minimize post-close capital requirements. - Digital presence and lead generation. A business with consistent inbound leads from SEO, Google reviews, and an established local reputation commands more confidence than one reliant entirely on word of mouth.

Value drivers that push multiples lower: - Heavy owner dependency (owner is primary salesperson AND primary technician) - Seasonal revenue concentration without offsetting commercial contracts - Aging or poorly maintained equipment fleet - Informal customer relationships with no written service agreements - High employee turnover or reliance on one key crew leader - No financial records beyond bank statements

How Buyers Evaluate Window Cleaning Companies

When a buyer—or their lender—looks at your window cleaning company, they're running a specific mental model. Understanding it helps you prepare.

Revenue quality comes first. Buyers will categorize your revenue: Is it contracted or uncontracted? Commercial or residential? Recurring or episodic? They want to understand how much of your revenue they can count on Day 91 after closing, not just Day 1.

Owner role is scrutinized heavily. Buyers will ask: what happens if the owner leaves? If you're the one maintaining key commercial relationships, generating new business, and doing quality control walk-throughs, that's a risk factor. Be ready to articulate what systems and staff are already in place—or what you'd help transition.

Financials need to be clean and consistent. Three years of tax returns, a current P&L, and a clear add-back schedule are table stakes. Buyers will want to see consistent or growing revenue trends. Unexplained spikes or drops will trigger questions.

Equipment and vehicle condition matters more than sellers expect. A buyer using SBA financing will need an appraisal of hard assets. Deferred maintenance on trucks or equipment creates deal friction. Know what you have, what it's worth, and what its remaining useful life looks like.

Employees and licenses. In states or municipalities that require licensing for window cleaning (particularly high-rise or pressure washing operations), buyers will verify transferability. Crew stability is also scrutinized—a business where two key technicians might walk if the owner leaves is a different risk profile than one with long-tenured employees.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average sale price for a window cleaning company? Most window cleaning companies sell in the $200,000–$1,000,000 range, depending on revenue, profitability, and how the business is structured. High-margin commercial-heavy operations with recurring contracts and documented systems will push toward—and sometimes beyond—the upper end of that range.

Do recurring commercial contracts really affect my valuation? Significantly. A window cleaning company with 60–70% recurring contract revenue might command a 3.0x–3.5x EBITDA multiple. A comparable business with mostly one-time or call-in residential work might land at 2.5x or below, even with similar total revenue.

Is my window cleaning company sellable if I'm the main technician? Yes, but it limits your multiple and your buyer pool. Buyers will model the cost of replacing you and adjust their offer accordingly. Before going to market, even a few steps toward documenting your processes and cross-training crew can meaningfully improve your valuation.

What's the difference between what a broker quotes me and what I'll actually receive? Broker valuations and asking prices often reflect optimistic scenarios. The actual sale price depends on buyer competition, deal structure, due diligence findings, and whether financing is involved. Working with an advisor who presents buyer-realistic numbers from the start leads to smoother processes and fewer deals falling through.

How long does it take to sell a window cleaning company? Typically six to twelve months from initial preparation to close. Businesses that are well-prepared—clean books, documented operations, clear add-backs—tend to close faster and with fewer price reductions during due diligence.

Get an Accurate Assessment of What Your Window Cleaning Company Is Worth

Multiples and ranges give you a framework. A real valuation requires looking at your specific financials, your customer mix, your operations, and what the buyer market looks like right now.

Ready to understand what your business is actually worth to a qualified buyer? Use our seller valuation calculator for a preliminary estimate, or connect with our team at Regalis Capital for a no-obligation assessment. You can also explore our complete guide to selling a window cleaning company for everything you need to know about the process from start to close.

Disclaimer: These ranges are based on publicly available market data and are not a formal appraisal. Actual valuations depend on financial performance, market conditions, deal structure, and buyer competition. This content is informational only and does not constitute financial or legal advice.