You want to sell your window cleaning company? Then it is good to know what the takeover market in the field of window cleaning companies looks like. Over 10% of all cleaning work consists of window cleaning. Despite the fact that it seems to be a relatively popular profession, "the window cleaner" is in danger of disappearing from the scene.
The number of acquisitions in the specialized branch of the cleaning industry has been relatively stable for many years.
There are many ways to value a business. A common method of expressing the value of a business is "a factor x gross annual profit." This factor is also called multiple and another designation for gross annual profit is EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation and Amortization).
In business services, to which a window cleaning company belongs, an indicative EBITDA multiple range of 4.6 to 5.5 is currently used, according to the Brookz Takeover Barometer. The average EBITDA multiple across all SME sectors is 4.90.
The valuation of a business is often the starting point for negotiations between buyer and seller. The outcome of these negotiations is the final sales price. So valuation and price are two different quantities. Besides valuation, the price is also determined by possible scarcity in the market, bargaining power of the parties, the strategic value of the business for the buyer and possible synergy effects for the buyer (cost savings, purchasing advantages).
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Do you want to buy a business or sell a business in the business services sector? With this Brookz Sector Monitor, we want to present buyers and sellers with facts, figures and an outlook that provide insight into the number of transactions, the value development of businesses and the latest trends and developments in the business services sector. Because in every buying or selling process, thorough preparation gives peace of mind, overview and structure.
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There are many start-ups in the industry every year, which also makes many businesses with only one person working visible. Last year, the number of window cleaning companies increased by about 5%.
In figures, the number of window cleaning companies in 2024 looked as follows(CBS):
With this online training from Brookz you are optimally prepared to largely sell your business yourself: 25 Powerpoint videos, a comprehensive valuation report, legal model contracts, handy templates, checklists and expert support. Plus 50% discount on listing your business on Brookz!
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A number of trends and developments will inevitably cause changes over the next few years, but also offer window cleaning companies many growth and acquisition opportunities:
Although the demand for window cleaners is growing, the window cleaner is in danger of disappearing from the scene. This is because cleaning companies are increasingly expanding their services so that the customer can purchase the entire facilities package at once according to the well-known one-stop-shop principle, according to Rabobank.
Administration, safety and expertise is desired in a window cleaning business. By choosing a specialist with the OSB seal of approval, the customer is assured of quality.
There is plenty of innovation in the cleaning industry. Think of the development of cleaning robots or the application of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is also being used with window cleaners, so that the windows are not only cleaned but also dirt- and scratch-resistant, according to Rabobank.
Pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals and using sustainable cleaning products: paying attention to people and the environment is also a way to differentiate in this sector.
