Verify recurring revenue, crew retention risk, and equipment condition before you commit to any window cleaning acquisition.
Find Window Cleaning Acquisition TargetsWindow cleaning businesses trade at 2.5–4x SDE and attract SBA financing, but recurring revenue quality and owner dependency are the two variables that move price most. Rigorous due diligence separates a durable route-based business from a glorified solo operator.
Confirm that reported SDE is real, recurring, and not dependent on a handful of large accounts that could walk after closing.
Cross-reference tax returns, profit and loss statements, and bank deposits to identify unreported cash, add-backs, or co-mingled personal expenses that distort true SDE.
Request a job-by-job revenue report segmented by recurring commercial contracts, residential routes, and one-time calls to validate the percentage of predictable revenue.
List the top 10 accounts by revenue. If any single client exceeds 15% of total revenue, flag it for earnout structuring or purchase price adjustment.
Evaluate whether the business can run without the owner and whether the crew, equipment, and systems will survive a transition.
Verify that all crew members hold required certifications, that general liability and workers comp policies are current, and that OSHA safety logs are documented.
Review age, mileage, and maintenance records for all work vans and water-fed pole systems. Budget replacement capital for any asset within 12–18 months of end-of-life.
Confirm the business uses route management or scheduling software with complete customer records. A paper-based operation adds transition risk and integration cost.
Assess owner dependency, validate that key relationships transfer, and align deal structure to identified risks before issuing a final LOI.
Determine what percentage of revenue the owner personally services or sells. High owner dependency justifies a longer training period and seller note tied to retention milestones.
Read every recurring commercial contract for assignment clauses, cancellation windows, and auto-renewal terms before assuming revenue will survive closing.
Verify the business meets SBA 7(a) eligibility — clean financials, no outstanding tax liens, and sufficient SDE to cover debt service at 1.25x DSCR minimum.
Verify the Window Cleaning acquisition qualifies for SBA financing, the purchase price is supportable by the verified cash flow, and the deal structure protects the buyer's downside.
Confirm the Window Cleaning meets SBA 7(a) eligibility requirements: the business is for-profit, U.S.-based, within SBA size standards, and the buyer meets personal financial requirements. Some industries have specific SBA restrictions — verify before LOI.
Model verified normalized EBITDA against projected SBA loan payments at current rates. A $1M SBA 7(a) loan at 10.5% over 10 years costs approximately $13,000/month. The Window Cleaning must generate at least 1.25x debt service coverage after a market-rate manager salary to pass underwriting.
Confirm the seller note is properly subordinated to the SBA loan and goes on 24-month standby as required by SBA rules. If an earnout is included, define exact measurement metrics, time period, and dispute resolution process before signing the purchase agreement.
Before signing a Letter of Intent, request these documents from the seller. Missing or incomplete items are a red flag — not a reason to proceed without them.
Most window cleaning businesses trade at 2.5–4x SDE. Businesses with high recurring commercial contract revenue, low owner dependency, and diversified customers command the upper end of that range.
Request a contract register with renewal dates and cancellation terms, then cross-reference against actual invoiced revenue. Follow up directly with top commercial accounts during late-stage due diligence.
Yes. Window cleaning businesses are SBA 7(a) eligible. Expect to inject 10% equity, with the loan covering 80–90% of the purchase price, assuming clean financials and sufficient SDE to service debt.
Owner dependency combined with customer concentration. If the owner personally services the top three accounts representing 40%+ of revenue, you face compounding transition risk that no earnout fully mitigates.
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