Commercial Window Cleaning and Exterior Maintenance Company
This article explores the acquisition strategy for a commercial window cleaning and exterior building maintenance company specializing in multi-story office buildings, healthcare campuses, universities, government facilities, and Class A real estate portfolios. Services include interior and exterior window cleaning, pressure washing, facade restoration, waterproofing, and routine building envelope inspections. With route-based service schedules and long-term facility contracts, the business operates predictably and profitably across a broad service area.
The company generates $4.15 million in annual revenue with $885,000 in adjusted EBITDA. Roughly 82% of revenue is recurring through quarterly, semi-annual, or annual service agreements. The remainder includes special projects like post-construction cleaning, parking garage restoration, and emergency facade stabilization. The business operates from a centrally located warehouse and utilizes a fleet of boom-equipped trucks, ladders, swing stages, and rope descent systems (RDS), all compliant with OSHA and ANSI standards.
This business is ideal for acquisition via SBA 7(a) financing due to its recurring route-based revenue, high-margin service mix, safety-trained workforce, and moderate capital expenditure requirements. The buyer can scale operations through crew expansion, vertical cross-sells (e.g., window film, bird deterrents), and regional roll-ups of mom-and-pop outfits lacking OSHA compliance or fleet capacity.
Proposed SBA 7(a) Deal Structure
Given the predictable revenue and trained labor model, this deal is structured under standard SBA 7(a) terms:
Purchase Price: $3.54 million (4.0x EBITDA)
SBA Loan: $2.655 million (75%)
Buyer Equity Injection: $354,000 (10%)
Seller Financing (Subordinated): $531,000 (15%) amortized over 6 years with a 12-month interest-only period
Protective clauses:
20% clawback on seller note if recurring facility revenue declines >10% within the first 6 months
Seller receives a $50K performance bonus if buyer secures $350K in new MRR within 12 months
Seller to remain on as safety advisor and government contract liaison for 6 months post-close
Client Profile and Revenue Composition
Client breakdown:
Class A office buildings: 30%
Hospitals and healthcare campuses: 22%
Universities and colleges: 16%
Government and municipal buildings: 13%
Condo towers and HOAs: 10%
Hotels and resorts: 6%
Retail complexes and malls: 3%
Revenue segments:
Exterior window cleaning (contracted): $2.5M
Interior window cleaning and mirror services: $420K
Pressure washing and facade restoration: $615K
Waterproofing, caulking, and joint sealing: $330K
Post-construction cleanup and stabilization: $285K
Contracts span 12 to 36 months, typically auto-renewing with CPI adjustments. Most include fixed route schedules by season, allowing for efficient crew deployment. Some hospital and government contracts include bundled services for LEED certification or infection control protocols.
Top 60 clients comprise 68% of total revenue. No client exceeds 8.1% of total billing.
Fleet, Facility, and Equipment
Facility:
7,200 sq ft warehouse and dispatch center
Equipment cage for ropes, harnesses, and RDS
Water-fed pole systems and tank storage
Pressure washer bays and chemical storage
Admin office, locker room, and training wall
Lease: $5,500/month with 4 years remaining + 5-year extension option
Fleet:
6 service vehicles (4 vans, 2 boom lift trucks)
FMV: ~$290,000
Vehicles GPS-tracked and compliant with DOT rules
CapEx plan:
Replace 1 boom truck nearing end-of-life: $68K
Add CRM-integrated route optimization tool: $11K
Expand RDS wall with 3 new vertical testing lanes: $7K
Labor Force and Safety Compliance
Staffing:
8 field techs (OSHA- and SPRAT-certified)
2 swing-stage/RDS specialists
1 lead estimator and client liaison
2 dispatchers and safety compliance officers
1 general manager (non-owner)
Technicians are trained in OSHA 1910 Subpart D, fall protection, rope descent systems, and facade access equipment. Annual certifications and harness inspections are documented and audited. Technicians work in 2- to 3-person teams with field apps tracking job times, before/after photos, and safety checklists.
Post-close labor strategy:
Add 2 junior techs to increase route capacity
Establish quarterly bonus program tied to injury-free job sites and SLA adherence
Partner with local trades schools for RDS apprenticeship pipeline
Sales Model and Growth Strategy
Sales channels:
Direct RFP responses to REITs, hospitals, and municipalities
Referrals from general contractors and facility managers
SEO and ads for “window cleaning + hospital + [city]”
Outreach to LEED and green building certification consultants
Marketing budget: ~$38,000/year
Expansion opportunities:
Acquire local providers with strong crews but weak safety/compliance infrastructure
Offer full building envelope inspections as bundled upsell (caulking + sealant)
Add verticals like glass restoration, tinting, and solar film
Launch digital dashboards for client-facing job tracking and proof of performance
Target under-serviced tertiary cities with satellite crew and 2-van dispatch
Financial Overview
Revenue: $4.15M
COGS (labor, chemicals, maintenance, fleet): $2.0M
Gross Profit: $2.15M
SG&A: $1.265M
Adjusted EBITDA: $885K (21.3%)
Profit by service line:
Exterior cleaning (contract): 55–60%
Interior services: 60–65%
Power washing/restoration: 65–70%
Caulking/sealants: 70%+
Post-construction: 55%
Most clients billed monthly. Government contracts and post-construction work are billed net-30 via milestone invoices. Pressure washing and mirror work often prepaid in quarterly schedules.
Licensing, Insurance, and Regulatory Compliance
All RDS and swing stage work conducted under OSHA and ANSI guidelines
Monthly safety drills and PPE compliance audits
DOT-compliant fleet and CDL endorsements where applicable
Fully insured: $2M GL, $1M workers comp, $1M auto, $1M umbrella
No safety violations, insurance claims, or active litigation. Client-specific SLAs are embedded in 45+ contracts.
Working Capital and Transition Budget
Payroll float: $105K–$120K
Vehicle and RDS upgrades: $75K
CRM and dispatch software: $12K
Technician hiring and safety training: $20K
Seller consulting and government contract transfer: $30K
Ideal Buyer Profiles
B2B service operators (janitorial, HVAC, roofing) expanding into vertical maintenance
SBA buyers with compliance or construction operations background
Facility services roll-ups adding facade and glass specialization
Safety-certified operators seeking defensible, recurring routes
Post-Close Execution Plan
Deliver continuity packets to all key facility accounts with safety officer sign-off
Recruit 2 junior techs and cross-train existing crew leads
Launch compliance marketing campaign targeting LEED and hospital facilities
Identify two small commercial window outfits for tuck-in within 9 months
Pilot facade inspection program bundled with waterproofing and caulking audits
Conclusion
This commercial window and exterior maintenance company combines high route density, safety driven repeat business, and specialized labor in a compliance heavy niche. With recurring contracts, strong EBITDA margins, and cross sell opportunities in restoration, waterproofing, and envelope inspection, it presents an attractive SBA 7(a) acquisition for buyers seeking to scale in B2B building services. The buyer inherits not just a book of clients but a foundation of technician excellence and regulatory credibility ready for geographic and vertical growth.
