How to Start a Window Cleaning Business in Texas (2026 Guide)
Window cleaning is one of the lowest-cost legitimate businesses you can start in Texas: no state license, modest equipment, and demand in every zip code. Here is the honest, complete path from “I have a squeegee” to “I invoice commercial accounts” — including the parts most guides skip.
Step 1 — Decide sole proprietor vs. LLC
You can legally start today as a sole proprietor: no filing, income goes on your personal taxes. The catch is liability — if a ladder goes through a $4,000 storefront pane, you personally are on the hook.
A Texas LLC costs about $300 (one-time, filed at the Secretary of State online, typically approved in a few business days) and separates business liabilities from your personal assets. The common-sense rule most window cleaners follow: sole prop while you’re testing the idea on residential jobs, LLC the moment you pursue commercial accounts or hire help. If you use a business name (like “Clear View Window Co”) rather than your legal name, register an assumed name (DBA) with the county — about $25.
Step 2 — Licenses and permits (shorter list than you fear)
- State window-cleaning license: none. Texas doesn’t license this trade.
- City/county business permit: some Texas cities require a simple general business registration — check your city’s website (usually under $100).
- Sales tax: in Texas, residential window cleaning is generally a taxable service — you’ll need a free sales tax permit from the Texas Comptroller and to collect tax on residential jobs. This is the step most new operators miss.
- Working at height: above 4 feet commercially, OSHA rules on ladders and fall protection apply — and they’re what your commercial clients’ insurers will ask about.
Step 3 — The gear that actually matters
A startup residential kit — squeegees, mops, poles, buckets, scrapers, pure-water pole system optional — runs $300–$2,000. The bigger cost is the vehicle you already own. Two practical notes: your personal auto policy excludes business use, so once the truck is a work truck, it needs commercial auto coverage; and tools stolen from a vehicle are typically covered by an inland-marine (“tools and equipment”) add-on, not by auto insurance.
Step 4 — Insurance: what’s required vs. what’s smart
Nobody buys insurance for fun; in this trade you buy it because commercial clients demand proof before you can work. The typical stack:
| Coverage | What it does | When it’s required |
|---|---|---|
| General liability | The broken pane, the tripped pedestrian, the scratched glass | Required by contract for nearly all commercial + many residential property managers |
| Commercial auto | The work truck | Required by Texas law once the vehicle is used for business |
| Workers’ comp | Employee injuries | Optional for most Texas private employers — but many commercial contracts require it |
| Tools & equipment | Gear theft/damage | Smart once your kit passes ~$1,000 |
The document that unlocks commercial work is the certificate of insurance (COI) — a one-page proof of coverage that property managers require before you’re allowed on site. Ask any insurer you consider: how fast can I get a COI, nights and weekends included? Slow certificates lose jobs.
Step 5 — First customers
Residential: door hangers in the neighborhoods you want, Google Business Profile, before/after photos. Commercial: walk in and ask who handles vendor services — then be the one who shows up with insurance paperwork ready while competitors are still “getting around to it.” That paperwork-readiness is a genuine competitive edge in this trade.
Startup math, all-in: LLC $300 + city permit ~$50 + gear $500 + first month of insurance ~$75 ≈ under $1,000 to be a legitimate, commercially insurable Texas window cleaning business.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a license to clean windows in Texas?
No. Texas has no state license for window cleaning. Some cities require a general business permit, and working above certain heights brings OSHA rules into play — but there is no exam or state window-cleaning license.
Do I need an LLC to start?
Legally, no — you can operate as a sole proprietor under your own name today. Most owners form an LLC (about $300 in Texas, filed online) once they take on commercial work, because it separates business liabilities from personal assets like your home and truck.
What insurance do commercial clients require?
Almost all property managers and commercial accounts require general liability coverage — commonly $1 million per occurrence — and proof of it via a certificate of insurance (COI) before you can start work. If you hire employees, Texas doesn't mandate workers' comp for most private employers, but many commercial contracts require it anyway.
What does window cleaning insurance cost in Texas?
For a one-person residential operation, general liability commonly runs in the range of $40–90 per month. Add a work vehicle, employees, or high-rise work and costs rise. Exact pricing depends on revenue, payroll, and the work you do.