Start a Fish Window Cleaning Franchise in 2025

2025 Franchise 500 Rank: #222 Ranked #242 last year

Initial investment: $107K - $174K

Units as of 2025: 274 1.1% over 3 years

Fish Window Cleaning is a premier window cleaning franchise founded by Mike Merrick in 1978. He created Fish Window Cleaning in order to fill the gap for window cleaning services. Merrick applied his experience that spanned over two decades to establish a top-notch cleaning brand. The first Fish Window Cleaning franchise was opened in 1998. There are now more than 275 franchisees across the U.S.

Sound like a perfect fit for you? Let's go through the basics of starting your own Fish Window Cleaning franchise.

Why You May Want to Start a Fish Window Cleaning Franchise

By becoming a Fish Window Cleaning franchisee, you will gain access to proprietary software, training, marketing tools, and online tools that are continuously accessible. The training on window cleaning services is comprehensive, and you will learn how to provide quality services to your clients. Franchisees may also be able to grow their business through the national accounts program.

In addition to this, you have the chance to operate in protected territories, allowing you to work in exclusivity. Fish Window Cleaning can be known as a top window cleaner and one of the most sought-after in the industry due to its reliable and professional services. Customers have come to love the brand, and by opening your store, you may also be one of their top picks when they need to get their windows cleaned.

What Might Make a Fish Window Cleaning Franchise a Good Choice?

To be part of the Fish Window Cleaning team, you should make sure you’re financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. In addition, you should prepare yourself for ongoing fees, including advertising, royalty, and renewal fees. Franchisees will also need to meet the company's set net worth and liquid capital requirements. It may be a good idea to reach out to an attorney or financial advisor when deciding if opening a Fish Window Cleaning franchise is financially viable for you.

You don't need to be an expert at window cleaning to own a Fish Window Cleaning franchise. Fish Window Cleaning will provide you with most of the training and tools, so you and your team will learn all the basics of how to window wash.

How to Open a Fish Window Cleaning Franchise

As you decide if a Fish Window Cleaning franchise is the right decision for you, make sure you take time to explore the opportunity. Research the brand and your local area to see if a Fish Window Cleaning franchise would do well in your community. If there are multiple other window washing franchises in your area, you may want to reconsider your desired location.

To get started with the franchise, submit an inquiry form. If you are seen as a good fit, a franchise representative may reach out to you with the first steps towards becoming a Fish Window Cleaning franchisee.

Once approved, you'll have the freedom to operate independently in a protected area while providing specialty window care services. Because of you and your franchise location, your customers can enjoy a better view.

Company Overview

About Fish Window Cleaning

Industry	Maintenance
Related Categories	Window Cleaning, Miscellaneous Maintenance Businesses, Cleaning/Restoration
Founded	1978
Leadership	Randy Cross, President
Corporate Address	217 Chesterfield Towne Centre Chesterfield, MO 63005
Social	Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok

Business Overview

Franchising Since	1998 (27 years)
# of employees at HQ	30
Where seeking	This company is offering new franchises throughout the US.
# of Units	274 (as of 2025)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Fish Window Cleaning franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Definition: The initial fee paid to a franchisor to join their system What you need to know: Found in Item 5 of the FDD, this may be a flat fee, or may vary based on territory size, experience, or other factors.The franchise fee is an up-front (one-time) cost that a new franchisee pays to the franchisor. This fee is usually due at the signing of the franchise agreement and covers the right to use the franchisor's trademarks, name, and related business systems.	$49,900 - $74,900
Initial Investment Definition: The total amount necessary to begin operation of the franchise What you need to know: The initial investment includes the franchise fee, along with other startup expenses such as real estate, equipment, supplies, business licenses, and working capital. This is outlined in a chart in Item 7 of the FDD, showing a range of possible costs from low to high.	$107,200 - $173,700
Net Worth Requirement Definition: The minimum net worth you must have in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company What you need to know: Net worth is the value of a person's assets minus liabilities. Assets include cash, stocks, retirement accounts, and real estate. Liabilities include items like mortgages, car payments, and credit card debt.	$150,000
Cash Requirement Definition: The minimum liquid capital you must have available in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company.	$100,000
Veteran Incentives Definition: A discount or other incentive offered to military veterans who buy a franchise with this company.	10% off franchise fee
Royalty Fee Definition: A ongoing fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis. What you need to know: Most franchisors require franchisees to pay an ongoing royalty fee, which is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD. This fee is typically a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales, but may also be a flat weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	5%-8%
Ad Royalty Fee Definition: An going fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis to support advertising or marketing efforts. What you need to know: This may also be called advertising fee, marketing fee, brand fund fee, and more, but the basic purpose is the same-- to support promotion of the brand systemwide. As with the royalty fee, it is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD, and can be a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales or a weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	1%
Term of Agreement Definition: The length of time your franchise agreement will last. What you need to know: Franchise terms are typically anywhere from 5 to 20 years in length, but are sometimes instead dependent on factors such as the term of your lease. Once your term is up, you may have the option to renew your agreement, typically for a smaller fee than the original franchise fee.	10 years
Is franchise term renewable?	Yes

Financing Options

Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.

Third Party Financing	Fish Window Cleaning has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

On-The-Job Training	47 hours
Classroom Training	43 hours
Ongoing Support	Newsletter Meetings & Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security & Safety Procedures Lease Negotiation Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support	Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social Media SEO Website Development Email Marketing

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed?	Yes
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Definition: The business can be run from your home and/or a vehicle, and it is not necessary to have a retail facility, office space, or warehouse.	No
Can this franchise be run part time? Definition: This business can be run by the owner on a part-time basis (less than 40 hours per week) and/or as a side business; it is not necessary for the business to be open/run full-time.	Yes
# of employees required to run	5
Are exclusive territories available? Definition: An exclusive territory is a fixed area in which you are given the right to operate and in which no other units of the same franchise may be opened. What you need to know: Territory size may be based on factors such as radius, population size, zip codes, and more. Details can be found in Item 12 of the FDD.	Yes