How a College Student Built a $10k/Month Window Washing Side Hustle

This episode’s guest is about to start his sophomore year in college, but he’s already making around $10k a month from his side hustle window washing side hustle.

And it all started with a $200 window cleaning kit from Amazon.

Let’s break down how Jack Leimbach (@jackexteriorcleaning) is doing it, all while balancing school.

Tune into Episode 630 of the Side Hustle Show:

to build a $10,000/month window washing side hustle
learn how to use simple online ads to drive serious business growth
to get tips on balancing school, work, and a successful side hustle

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The $200 Window Washing Side Hustle

Jack’s brother was already working for a professional window cleaning company, and that’s where the idea came from.

He then borrowed $200 from his dad to buy a cleaning kit off of Amazon that came with the basics — a squeegee, strip washer, bucket, and soaps.

Add in some towels and borrowing a buddy’s ladder, and he was ready to go knocking on doors.

Incredibly, the very first door Jack knocked on resulted in a $220 job. Within three hours of starting the business, he’d already paid back his startup costs (plus 10% interest to dad!).

Jack’s pricing strategy was simple: $5 per window pane, with a quick 30-second walk around the house to provide an estimate.

Using Social Media for Leads

But this was short-lived because the next 50 doors he knocked on resulted in zero takers. Not one “yes.”

So he got creative. He posted on Nextdoor, introducing himself as a high schooler looking for work.

That post landed him a few more jobs, totaling $750—a massive sum compared to his lifeguarding gig, which paid $12 an hour.

The Breakthrough: April’s $10,000 Month

Fast forward to April, and Jack’s window washing side hustle hit its first major milestone: $10,000 in a single month. So, what changed? How did he go from struggling to land clients to pulling in five figures?

The answer came in two parts: upgraded equipment and a better sales pitch.

Upgraded Equipment: The Water-Fed Pole System

Jack found a used Tucker USA water-fed pole system on Facebook Marketplace for $1,900 (new ones go for about $2,400). It uses purified water with zero particles per million.

This let him clean windows as high as 40 feet without even having to leave the ground and a squeegee — just spray and let it dry crystal clear.

This not only saved him time but also led to bigger, more profitable gigs in richer neighborhoods.

The New Pitch: Humor and Rapport

Why reinvent the wheel when it’s already perfected?

The second key to his success came from a pair of TikTok brothers, Josh and Oliver Lester. Jack saw how these guys used humor to land door-to-door sales, so he decided to try their approach.

@oliverlestersells
Replying to @John Secret To Making $3,000/Day Profit

♬ original sound – Oliver Lester

Instead of the straightforward “Hi, I’m Jack. Would you like your windows cleaned?” (which rarely worked), Jack started breaking the ice with jokes. “Are those your guard dogs? They’re terrifying!” he’d say, and the homeowners would laugh. It built rapport, and they were more than willing to hear his pitch.

Jack then saw his close rate skyrocket. In fact, the first three doors he knocked on with his new pitch all said “yes.”

Marketing and Sales Strategies

Door-to-Door Sales: This still remained a core part of his strategy. Jack learned to tailor his approach, even ditching the company polo shirts which he found turns off potential customers.

Social Media Advertising: Jack found success with Instagram boosted posts. With just $600 in ad spend, he generated $10,000 in sales. He uses location-specific video ads with attention-grabbing openings like “Hey Auburn, there’s a huge epidemic of dirty windows…” and include a clear call-to-action to message him.

Referrals and Reviews: Jack actively collects Google and Facebook reviews, understanding their importance in building trust with potential customers. He’s experimenting with a “Dot card” that allows customers to easily leave reviews by tapping their phones, and plans to use QR code business cards for the same purpose.

Add-on Services: To increase his average ticket size, Jack offers add-on services like gutter cleaning ($225-250), screen cleaning, interior window cleaning, and recently, pressure washing (charged at $0.25 per square foot).

Tech/Tools

Jack uses a few key tools to run his window washing side hustle efficiently:

SalesRabbit – allows him to pin houses that don’t answer so he can come back another day.
Jobber – for sending professional quotes and invoices.
Nextdoor – posting as a high school student offering window cleaning services landed him 2-3 clients and $500-$750 in revenue.
TimeTree – for managing his personal schedule.
General Liability Insurance ~ $1,000 a year for peace of mind and extra trust with clients.

These tools help Jack keep his business efficient, professional, and scalable.

Building a Team

Jack now has a small team, paying them around 20% commission. This includes their door-to-door sales salary.

Having a team allows him to take on more jobs and even generate revenue while he’s away. For example, during a 10-day vacation in Mexico, his team was able to generate almost $12,000 in revenue.

A Day in the Life

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Jack’s life is how he balances his window cleaning business with his studies.

As a full-time college student, Jack starts his day at 7:30 AM with early classes, finishing around noon.

He then shifts to his business, either marketing or tackling the first house of the day. After work, he goes to the gym, studies, and gets ready to do it all over again the next day.

Even with all the craziness of running his business, Jack’s maintained a 4.0 GPA. He sees his education as crucial for his long-term goals, which include breaking into investment banking and eventually building even larger businesses.

He says, “If you are really trying to be efficient with your time and you know you’re not like dilly-dallying on your phone while you’re studying…you’d really be surprised how much time you actually have.”

Any Mistakes or Surprises Along the Way?

When asked what surprised him most, he said, “Just how easy it is.”

The work itself isn’t easy, but the steps to grow are simpler than most people think.

Many people assume that earning $12,000 per month requires years of hard work and millions of steps to take.

But in reality, if you have the right knowledge and skills (and the willingness to do the work), it’s possible to achieve this level of income much faster.

What’s Next for Jack?

Jack recently invested $9,000 in pressure washing equipment to offer additional high-ticket services. His goal is to hit $20,000/month in revenue by the end of the year while maintaining his studies.

Long-term, he’s aiming to use this business experience to break into investment banking, gain more business knowledge, and eventually build “maybe a seven-figure, eight-figure, or nine-figure business, rather than just six-figure business.”

Give him a follow on Instagram and see his business in action.

101 Service Business Ideas

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Enter your email to download the full list now:

You'll also receive my best side hustle tips and weekly-ish newsletter. Opt-out anytime.

Jack’s #1 Tip for Side Hustle Nation

“You already have enough knowledge, take that first step.”

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