How much cash should a window cleaning business keep?

A window cleaning business sells residential jobs, often in spring and fall, and commercial routes that repeat monthly or quarterly. Homeowners pay on the day. Commercial accounts pay on terms. Weather and season move the calendar.

Payroll per run, all-in $ How often you run payroll Fixed bills per month (rent, loans, insurance, software) $ Days your customers take to pay, on average days Cash in the bank today $

Minimum to keep

Two payroll runs plus one month of fixed bills

Comfortable level

Covers costs while you wait for customers to pay, plus one month

Weeks your cash covers

If no customer paid you

The starting numbers are an example. Replace them with yours.

How cash moves in a window cleaning business

Spring and fall bring the residential rush.
Commercial routes repeat and steady the year.
Rain and cold days cancel work, but crew wages and van payments continue.
Lifts and water-fed pole systems are large purchases.

Why the usual rule falls short

Two window cleaners each do $280,000 a year. One has storefront routes billed monthly. The other relies on spring and fall residential jobs. The second has two strong seasons and two thin ones.

How the calculator works

Result	Formula
Minimum to keep	2 × payroll per run + 1 month of fixed bills
Comfortable level	Monthly costs × (days to collect ÷ 30 + 1)
Weeks your cash covers	Cash ÷ weekly costs

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Also for window cleaning owners, see the window cleaning business monthly financial report.