Overview
Window cleaning quotes work by the pane, the floor, and the access method
Window cleaning splits into three different jobs that the customer rarely distinguishes. Domestic windows at ground and first-floor level are a per-property job at a sensible recurring price. Commercial frontage on a high street is a different schedule (often early morning, before the shop opens) and a different price. High-rise office windows are a specialist trade with cradles or abseil access, regulated, and quoted by the day with safety briefings on the page. A flat 'window cleaner, $40' price works for the first job and is wildly wrong for the third. The quote that gets accepted at each level shows the access method on the page.
QuoteGenio gives window cleaners a quoting shape for the three sub-trades. Domestic recurring rounds at the property rate with the frequency named, commercial shopfront work by visit with the time-of-day band, and high-access work by day with the access method (water-fed pole, cradle, abseil) and safety documentation referenced. Send via WhatsApp from the round, take card-on-file or invoice on terms for commercial, and the regular invoices for the round run automatically. The contractor stops mixing the round work with the specialist work and accidentally pricing one for the other.
Who it is for
Who uses QuoteGenio
Built for every type of window cleaning business, ground floor to skyscraper.
The problem
The quoting headaches every window cleaner knows
Window cleaning is easy to undersell. Quote vaguely once and you're cleaning 60 panes for the price of 40, every visit, for the next two years.
Counting windows in your head
Walking the property and quoting from memory means you forget skylights, transoms, and the conservatory every time.
Internal vs external isn't clear
Clients assume both are included for one price. Without a clear split on the quote, you're cleaning twice for one rate.
High-rise surcharges look like greed
Without a written line for abseil or cherry-picker work, the surcharge looks tacked on. With one, it looks professional.
The fix
QuoteGenio makes it simple
A clean workflow built around how window cleaners actually price work: per window, split internal and external, with high-rise as a transparent line.
The payoff
What you get with QuoteGenio
The everyday wins that add up across a year of quoting and invoicing.
Built for window work
Line items for panes, frames, sills, screens, and access surcharges. The structure window jobs actually need.
Count windows on your phone
Walk the property, tap each window into the quote, and send it before you climb back into the bakkie.
Quote in under 2 minutes
A structured workflow that gets you from walk-around to sent quote before the next job calls.
Recurring invoices made simple
Once a monthly window contract is signed, invoices generate from the same line items every month.
Built for your trade
Quoting calibrated to how window cleaners actually work
Pick your trade in Settings and the entire quote flow switches to fit. Line item presets, compliance fields, on-the-quote calculators, and per-m² / after-hours pricing all change to match your industry.
Trade-specific line items
Quick add picker pre-fills the common items your trade quotes. Skip the blank rows.
Brand-specific catalogues
Pylontech, Hikvision, Canadian Solar, Sunsynk and others pre-named. Pick the brand, the description writes itself.
Compliance fields built in
IOPSA, ECASA, PIRB, PSIRA, NHBRC, SAQCC. Set once. Every quote prints them under FROM.
Registration expiry alerts
Dashboard notification 60 days before your PSIRA, CoC or any dated registration lapses.
Per-m² / hour / day billing
Unit selector on every line item: m², hr, linear m, days. Stop doing the maths externally.
After-hours and emergency
1.5× and 2× multipliers as a one-tap toggle. Customer sees the breakdown on the quote.
Quote-flow calculators
Solar size, battery backup, cable run cost. Compute on the spot, drop straight onto the quote.
Staged payments
Deposit on acceptance + balance on completion as two separate amounts on the quote PDF.
Scope-of-work checklist
Structured Included / Not included lists. Client acceptance = signing the scope.
Site-survey mode
Log a location per line item: camera positions, fixtures by room, sensors by zone.
Regional rate hints
Pricing ranges per item per currency shown as you quote.
Free on every plan
All of the above included on the free plan. Premium is for capacity, not the trade tooling.
Why QuoteGenio
Why Window Cleaners choose QuoteGenio
The tools that matter most when you are quoting on-site, under pressure, and between jobs.
Quote from your phone
Most Window Cleaners build and send quotes directly from the job site. No laptop, no office, no delays.
Win more jobs, faster
The first professional quote a client receives usually wins. Respond in minutes, not hours.
Quote to invoice in one click
When the job is accepted, convert to an invoice instantly. No retyping, no double entry.
Pricing guide
Typical Window Cleaners job pricing
A rough guide to what window cleaners charge for common jobs. Pricing varies by region, access difficulty, frame condition, and whether the work is residential or commercial. Use these ranges to sanity-check your own per-pane and surcharge rates.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Standard window pane (external only) | R66 - R149 |
| Standard window pane (internal and external) | R116 - R264 |
| Sliding door (external only) | R198 - R463 |
| Skylight (accessible) | R297 - R744 |
| First and second floor surcharge | R1,240 - R2,479 |
| High-rise abseil surcharge (per session) | R7,437 - R29,749 |
| Cherry-picker hire pass-through | R4,628 - R14,048 |
Pricing converted from USD to ZAR at indicative rates. Rates vary significantly by country, region, currency, and market.
Call-out fees
Most window cleaners price per pane, with separate rates for external-only and internal-and-external. Build in a minimum job value (typically R1,570 to R2,479) to cover van time on small residential jobs. Show the pane count clearly so the client can verify the maths.
Hourly vs fixed pricing
Use per-pane fixed pricing for residential and standard commercial work where the count is known. Use hourly (R909 to R1,818 per cleaner-hour) for restoration work, post-build cleans, and unusual access. High-rise abseil work is always quoted as a daily rate per certified cleaner plus equipment.
See it in action
Example quote breakdown
Here's what a clean, itemised window cleaning quote looks like. Every pane, sliding door, and skylight is counted, the access surcharge is a separate line, and frames are a clear add-on. Transparent quotes win because the client can verify the count when you arrive.
Try it yourself
Job size
Region
Sample quote
Double-storey home, internal and external window clean
Standard panes, internal and external (28 panes)
Sliding doors, internal and external (3 panels)
Skylights (2, ladder accessible)
First-floor access surcharge
Frame and sill wipe-down (whole house)
| Description | Qty | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard panes, internal and external (28 panes) | 28 | R182 | R5,090 |
| Sliding doors, internal and external (3 panels) | 3 | R364 | R1,091 |
| Skylights (2, ladder accessible) | 2 | R529 | R1,058 |
| First-floor access surcharge | 1 | R1,818 | R1,818 |
| Frame and sill wipe-down (whole house) | 1 | R1,405 | R1,405 |
| Subtotal | R10,462 | ||
| Tax (10%) | R1,046 | ||
| Total incl. tax | R11,508 | ||
Totals recalculate as you change the controls above. Tax rate inferred from the sample quote.
Items often forgotten
Frame and sill wipe-down, fly-screen removal and reattachment, skylights you didn't see from the front, the conservatory, the access surcharge for the upstairs windows, and the trip back if the rain washed the job within 24 hours. Add them as standard lines on your template.
Peer snapshot
How Window Cleaners actually use QuoteGenio
Indicative activity for Window Cleaners on the platform. Use it as a benchmark for how often to quote and how fast to respond.
28
Quotes sent per month
52%
Average quote acceptance
4 min
Median time to send quote
R11,508
Typical quote value
Figures are indicative platform averages for this trade segment.
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Avoid these
Common quoting mistakes
We talk to a lot of window cleaners. The same pricing and scoping mistakes come up again and again. Fix these and you'll protect your margin, especially on recurring residential and small commercial contracts.
Mistake: Quoting one flat price for the whole house
Better: Itemise per pane. The client can count the windows themselves and verify your maths. A flat price always feels like a guess and gets negotiated down.
Mistake: Bundling internal and external as one rate
Better: Quote them as separate lines with separate rates. Many clients only want external. Splitting the quote lets them pick and protects you from doing both for one price.
Mistake: No high-rise surcharge in writing
Better: Quote abseil work as a daily rate per certified cleaner plus equipment. Putting it in writing makes the surcharge professional, not opportunistic.
Mistake: Forgetting the access surcharge
Better: First and second floor work needs ladders or extension poles. List a clear access surcharge for anything above ground level so the client doesn't expect it included.
Mistake: No minimum job value
Better: A 6-pane cottage doesn't cover your van time. State a minimum job value of around R1,570 to R2,479 on the quote so small jobs are still profitable.
Mistake: Ignoring frame and sill work
Better: Dirty frames make clean glass look bad. Quote frame and sill wipe-down as an optional line. About 1 in 3 clients adds it when they see it priced clearly.
Mistake: No rain guarantee terms
Better: State your rain policy clearly: free re-clean within 48 hours, or no guarantee against rain spotting. Get the choice in writing so there's no argument the next morning.
Mistake: No follow-up after sending the quote
Better: Most quotes that don't close, don't close because nobody followed up. Send a polite check-in 48 hours after the quote lands, and a second nudge at day 7. Two of every three accepted quotes get there because someone followed up.
Step by step
How to quote window cleaning jobs
Walk the full perimeter before you quote. Count every pane including the ones people forget: skylights, transoms above doors, conservatory glass, sliding door panels, and fly-screen windows that need the screen removed first. Note whether each window is ground floor, first floor or higher because access method changes the price dramatically (extension pole, ladder, cherry-picker, or rope abseil). Check frame and sill condition because dirty frames make clean glass look bad, and verify parking and hose access from the tap. On commercial sites, look at the glazing material, safety-film presence, atrium height, and scheduled cleaning windows. A proper pane count is what stops you cleaning 60 windows for the price of 40 every recurring visit.
Itemise per pane with separate rates for external-only and internal-and-external, and break out sliding doors, skylights, and fly-screens as their own lines with quantities. Show the first or second floor access surcharge as a visible line rather than hiding it inside the per-pane rate, and list any cherry-picker hire as a pass-through at cost plus 15 to 25 percent margin. Quote high-rise abseil work as a daily rate per certified cleaner plus equipment, with the certification number on the quote so it looks professional, not opportunistic. Include a frame and sill wipe-down as an optional line because about 1 in 3 clients adds it when it is listed clearly, and state a minimum job value ($ 95 to $ 150) so a six-pane cottage still covers your van time.
Set a 14 or 30 day validity on every window quote. Your abseil certification renewal, chemical costs and fuel all move, and a six-month-old quote at last year's pricing eats your margin. On high-rise abseil work require 30 percent deposit on acceptance to cover certified cleaner booking and gear hire, and carry liability cover with the policy number available for commercial clients. State your rain guarantee in writing before the job: typically 24 to 48 hours free re-clean against rain spotting, excluded in winter by many cleaners, and get the choice agreed before the work, not after. For recurring contracts, lock a 12 month term with monthly or bi-monthly billing.
Send the quote before you put the ladder back on the van. Residential clients compare two or three quotes the same week, and the cleaner whose branded document lands first usually books the recurring slot. Build the quote on your phone during the walk-around (tap each window into the line item as you go), share the link via WhatsApp before you leave, and follow up with a short friendly message if you have not heard back within two or three days. Any scope change found on-site (extra conservatory, fly-screens to remove, unexpected first-floor work) goes on a WhatsApp variation quote accepted online before you extend the pole.
FAQ
Common questions from window cleaners
Everything you need to know before getting started.
Yes. Each line item has its own description, quantity, and rate. Quote 28 panes external and 28 panes internal as separate lines with different rates.
Yes. Once the quote is ready, share it as a link via WhatsApp. The client opens a professional branded PDF on their phone instantly.
Add the surcharge as its own line item with a clear description (e.g. 'Abseil access surcharge, certified cleaner per day'). Clients accept it faster when it's listed transparently.
Yes. Every quote has a unique public link. The client opens it on their phone and accepts it online with one click. No signup required.
Yes. Convert the accepted quote into the first invoice in one click, then duplicate it each month or quarter. All line items and rates carry over.
Yes. The free plan gives you 5 quotes and 2 invoices per month with no credit card required. Upgrade to Premium for unlimited quotes, invoices, statements, and reports.
Per pane is the industry standard for residential and most commercial work because clients can count windows themselves. Per m² is used for very large glazed facades (atriums, glass shopfronts over 200 m²) where counting individual panes is impractical. Most window cleaners stick with per-pane and add per-m² only for unusual jobs.
High-rise abseil work is quoted as a daily rate per certified cleaner (R7,437 to R29,749 per day depending on certification level and rope-access difficulty) plus equipment and gear hire. Cherry-picker work is billed at hire cost plus 15 to 25 percent margin. Always carry liability cover and put the certification number on the quote.
Most professional window cleaners offer a 24 to 48 hour rain guarantee with a free re-clean if the windows spot from rain. State the policy clearly on the quote and on the invoice. Some cleaners exclude rain spotting from the guarantee in winter; either way, the choice should be in writing before the job, not after.
Slightly. Internal cleaning takes longer (moving furniture, removing screens, dust on sills) but doesn't need ladders, so the rate ends up similar. Most cleaners price internal at 80 to 100 percent of external per pane. Offer a discount when both are booked together to encourage the higher-value combined job.
Still have questions? We would rather answer them now than after you have signed up.
Pricing benchmark
What do window cleaners charge in 2026?
Hourly rates by region, common job prices, a worked sample quote, and the FAQs customers actually ask. The complete pricing reference for window cleaners.
Typical hourly
$35-$80/hr
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Reviews
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Real feedback from people who quote for a living.
"Solar is a long sales cycle. The quote activity tracking lets me see who has re-opened a quote so I know when to follow up. Very useful."
Hannah Clarke
Solar Installer · Manchester
"I used to delay sending quotes because it took too long. Now I do it straight after the job and get faster responses."
Warren Jacobs
Plumber · Geneva
"Emergency call-outs at 2am are the worst time to write a quote. Being able to send something formal from my phone in a minute has saved me more than once."
David Romano
Locksmith · Toronto
Guides
Guides for Window Cleaners
Practical advice to help you quote better, get paid faster, and grow your business.
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