How Do I Finance My Window Genie Franchise?

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Contents
What is Window Genie?..................................................................................... 1
The Window Genie Story................................................................................... 4
How Big is the Window Cleaning Industry?.......................................................... 6
How Are We Different from our Competitors?...................................................... 8
Why is our Culture So Much Fun?......................................................................10
What are the Start-up Costs?........................................................................... 12
What Do I Get for my Investment?.................................................................... 13
Who are my Customers?................................................................................. 15
Do We Offer Incentives for Veterans?................................................................ 16
Why Multiple Revenue Streams Are Important................................................... 18
What Experience Do I Need?............................................................................ 19
Who Makes a Good Window Genie Franchise Owner?......................................... 20
Meet the Management Team............................................................................ 22
How Do I Finance My Window Genie Franchise?................................................. 24
Window Genie Franchise Reviews..................................................................... 25
Window Genie Customer Reviews.................................................................... 27
FAQs............................................................................................................. 28
Next Steps..................................................................................................... 31
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What is Window Genie?
Window cleaning franchise owners
benefit from multiple revenue
streams
You probably already know that Window Genie
“cleans windows and a whole lot more.” While that
“whole lot more” does mean additional services, it’s
also about a culture 20 years in the making. The
Window Genie culture is deeply rooted in integrity,
ethics and a sincere desire to help our franchise
partners succeed. Franchise owners represent the
Window Genie
brand and culture
by running their
businesses based
on professionalism,
reliability, loyalty
and service. Our
trademark, purple
“Geniemobiles” are
a common sight in
communities we
serve.
Spending 20 years in the industry has its
advantages. Window Genie has been able to evolve
and grow into a nationally ranked leader in home
services over the past 20 years because we’re
constantly looking for ways to improve our services
and how we do business. Our goal as a franchisor
is to provide entrepreneurs the best opportunity
possible to establish and grow a successful
business. Window Genie’s “Big 3” services: window
cleaning, window tinting and pressure washing,
provide home and small business owners a
service that tackles the necessary maintenance
responsibilities that most people are unwilling or
unable to do themselves. With our commitments to
branding, professionalism and customer satisfaction,
our owners are able to stand out in their markets as
the go-to home service providers.
This simple twist to our business model gives us
the kind of flexibility that strengthens our alreadysolid position as a recession-resistant business.
A window cleaning, window tinting and pressure
washing business can thrive even in a down
economy.
At Window Genie, we’ve become a leader in our
field by providing an affordable way for people to
preserve and maintain their biggest investment.
And through two decades of testing and perfecting
our proven systems, we’ve created a great way for
investors to grow their own franchise businesses.
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The Big 3 – Window Genie’s Core
Services
Window Genie offers three core services:
Window cleaning. Our most popular service is
cleaning residential windows — windows in homes
owned by normal people. You might think that only
wealthy people have their windows cleaned, but you
would be surprised
at how many people
will purchase window
cleaning and, just
like cutting the grass,
how frequently they
will have you back.
We offer discounts
to make this easy on
all types of homes,
from condos to singlefamily homes to
large mansions. Our
customers love us
because we send out
clean-cut, professional
techs to make sure
their grimy, dusty, dirty windows shine.
Window tinting. We specialize in windows, and
a natural outgrowth of our business was window
tinting. Not car window tinting, but applying
specialized films to residential and commercial
window glass. Owners might need tinting that
reduces energy consumption, or they might want
to reduce harsh glare on the sunny side of their
home. They might even need a film that makes it
impossible for a burglar to break into a ground-floor
window. We’ve got that! Window tinting jobs are
a natural upsell for regular customers and have
potential to greatly increase sales and profit margins.
Pressure washing. An
interesting thing happens
when you clean someone’s
windows: they look outside
and notice how dirty
their decks, sidewalks,
driveways, porches, garage
doors, gutters and home
exteriors are. Many of our
customers hire us annually
to do these big cleaning
projects so their outside
living spaces are just as
clean as the windows, and
that can greatly increase
sales. You spend more
time cleaning and charging
and less time driving to the next appointment.
Washing the exterior spaces of a home increases its
value, and in today’s market that’s something every
homeowner thinks about.
In addition, many of our franchisees choose
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to offer additional services tailored to suit their
customer base. Some offer tile and grout cleaning.
Many perform routine maintenance like gutter
cleaning and — in colder markets — snow removal.
With Window Genie’s focus on entrepreneurialminded franchise owners, expansion of services is
always open for discussion.
Our “Window Care” program rewards customer
loyalty through discounts based on frequency of
cleanings. This has been universally effective in
increasing our number of repeat customers. We
believe that simply treating our customers right
and offering necessary, excellent services will
drive repeat business. We’re looking for franchise
partners with a desire to establish and maintain
relationships with potential life-long customers in
their communities.
Window Genie’s Growth & Recent
Awards
Industry associations and national business
publications have recognized Window Genie for
being among the best of the best in franchising.
We’re recognized for our rapid growth, culture,
business model and expertise in the industry. We’re
proud of our history, what we’ve accomplished along
the way and where we’re headed.
Consider these recent awards:
•With a ranking of No. 499 in the “Entrepreneur”
Top 500 Franchises list in 2011, we climbed 92
spots to hit No. 407 in 2012 and then soared to No.
190 in 2013. We remained in the top 200 at No.
195 in 2014.
•“Entrepreneur” magazine named Window Genie
as the 41st Fastest-Growing Franchise on their
HOT 100 list for 2012 and No. 72 for 2013.
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•“Franchise Business Review” ranked Window
Genie at No. 4 for franchisee satisfaction in 2013
for companies of our size and at No. 35 of all
franchises surveyed. In addition, FBR ranked us as
a Top Low-Cost Franchise and a Top Home-Based
Franchise.
•USA Today featured Window Genie in a 2013
article on top franchise opportunities for young
entrepreneurs.
•Both “Cleaning & Maintenance Management”
magazine and “Window Film” magazine have
featured our CEO, Rik Nonelle, as a guest industry
expert.
The Window Genie Story
Window Genie window cleaning,
window tinting and pressure
washing franchise is CEO’s ultimate
‘lifestyle business’
Car enthusiast Rik Nonelle figured out early on
that he wanted to be the guy behind the wheel.
Working for Chrysler subsidiary Ryan Insurance in
his 20s, he reached a point where he didn’t want to
work for someone else. He was 29.
• USA Today included Window Genie in its Top 50
Franchises for Veteran Support.
• Bond’s Franchise Guide ranked Window Genie
as a Top 100 franchise for 2013.
Why we might be right for you
One of the best reasons you might consider
opening a Window Genie franchise is that it is easy
to get started. Window Genie is a mobile, homebased service business, and that makes it a great
business in any economy. Our franchise fee starts
at just $32,000. Our v start-up package includes
everything our franchise partners need to get going.
A family friend had been highly successful
running a janitorial supply company; their family
was successful enough to retire to Vail, CO. Another
family friend ran a janitorial business and, with just
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a handful of accounts, was able to make more than
he could have in a job. Rik had already ruled out
food businesses — too complicated and costly —
and was already leaning toward a business in the
cleaning industry when a high school friend gave
him the piece of advice that would eventually create
a national brand: “You should focus on residential
window cleaning.” And like every prospect who has
ever looked at us, he asked, “What is that?”
Like so many
people today, Rik
didn’t realize how
large the market for
residential window
cleaning was. “I
never had a window
cleaner growing
up,” Rik says. “In
my eight years
living as an adult in Cincinnati, I never used one. I
wondered: Is that really a business? Who needs a
window cleaner besides a rich person?”
His research in the phone book and at the local
library indicated that window cleaning was a serious
business, and a booming one. There were 45
residential window cleaning companies in Cincinnati
in 1994. Rik wanted to be more than just No. 46.
Looking through phone books from across the
country, Rik called as many window cleaners as he
could, mystery shopping and taking notes on pricing,
marketing and size. “That was my validation,” he
says. “I was documenting how to build the business,
based on what we learned from existing businesses.
We were modeling the local business toward
franchising from Day 1.”
Windows and a whole lot more
In the beginning Rik was out in the field cleaning
windows, talking to customers and learning the
business from the ground up. It didn’t take him long
to figure out there was a lot more money to be made
— because people who pay to have their windows
cleaned love a tidy and clean home. They like their
gutters cleaned, their concrete pressure washed
and their exterior siding cleaned, among a variety
of other services. He began adding those services
at the request of
his customers, and
in 1998 he sold
his first Window
Genie franchise,
focused on cleaning
the windows
and exteriors of
homes. The kind
of forward thinking
that broadens the
moneymaking opportunity for franchise owners has
propelled Window Genie to the top of its field. Rik
began franchising Window Genie with a goal of
sharing with others the opportunity to find success
and happiness through business ownership.
It’s about more than the bottom line for Rik. He
has a built a successful company with more than
120 locations by operating with integrity and treating
everyone with respect. Rik’s strong belief in work-life
balance is what led him into entrepreneurship in the
first place, and he maintains that value today.
At Window Genie headquarters in suburban
Cincinnati, Rik buys lunch for the office staff on most
workdays. Sitting together in a Starbucks®-inspired
kitchen, they share a meal and chat about everything
from the local food scene to the company’s latest
success story.
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If you visit the headquarters for training or a
Discovery Day, you’ll notice something different
right away: the training room includes a game room.
Employees and franchisees are encouraged to blow
off some steam with arcade games, billiards, PingPong and darts.
Rik also believes in the power of giving back,
and through the company’s Windows 4 Wishes
program, dozens of charities across the country
have benefited from the generosity of Window
Genie franchisees. Window Genie owners work with
organizations of their choice, providing them with
money, manpower, services or promotion.
“One of the things that makes us unique is Rik
Nonelle,” says Debbie Owens, Window Genie’s
administrative coordinator, who has been with the
company since 1996. “He has such high morals. He
makes jokes about it, but he says he sleeps well
every night! We’ve treated our customers and our
franchise owners well. It’s a mutual respect kind of
thing. I think it comes through very loudly.”
“I wanted a lifestyle business from the beginning,
and that means I didn’t want to do food or retail or
some of the other service businesses that can create
crazy hours.” Rik says. “The definition of a lifestyle
business is really about what it’s about. A friend
of mine owns a stand-alone restaurant. He takes
one week off for Christmas, working seven days
a week, 90 hours a week. That’s what a lifestyle
business is not. When I was 29, I didn’t know what
life would look like when I was older, but I was sure
that I was not going to be in a business ever again
where I had to be there nights and weekends. As I’ve
always said, “People don’t need emergency window
cleaning or call on Christmas day for window film.”
How Big is the Window
Cleaning Industry?
With sector expected to grow,
Window Genie is a good hedge
against recession
Cleaning-related businesses make up a large
portion of service franchises. Start researching or
reading about franchise ownership, and you are sure
to come across an article explaining the reasons why
cleaning businesses are so popular.
Everything needs to be cleaned, and nobody
really likes cleaning. Nobody. Estimates for the total
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spent on cleaning are in excess of $40 billion a year
in the US. It’s big business.
Cleaning also is something that needs to be done
on a regular basis, so cleaning companies have
lots of repeat, long-term customers. In general,
businesses with such long-term customers and
residual income are valued higher, making a
cleaning franchise potentially worth more and easier
to sell.
Within the cleaning industry, there is fierce
competition. More than 50 franchise brands offer
office cleaning, home cleaning or carpet cleaning.
About the only segment of the popular cleaning
industry that isn’t crowded with franchise systems is
residential window cleaning. That’s where we shine!
Windows, decks, gutters and sidewalks get
dirty no matter what the economy does. People
who value a clean home continue to spend on
maintaining and caring for their largest investment.
Because of this, window cleaning can be a highly
recession-resistant business.
The real estate bubble subdued a lot of related
industries, but not ours. People are living in their
homes longer, and that means they’ve become much
more aware of the ongoing need for regular window
cleaning, pressure washing and other services that
help preserve and maintain the value of a home.
“Window cleaning is the huge business you don’t
realize is out there,” says company founder and
CEO Rik Nonelle. “People understand pressure
washing, they understand carpet cleaning and they
understand maid service. They can’t get their heads
around the idea that people really do pay to have
their windows cleaned.”
People are spending more to maintain
their homes
We benefit when busy homeowners increasingly
stay put. The remodeling industry, for instance, is
booming right now, a strong indicator that people
are staying in their homes longer and taking more
pride in where they live. A Metrostudy’s Residential
Remodeling Index and Forecast predicts the total
number of remodeling projects in the United States
will reach pre-recession levels in 2015 with an
estimated 12 million projects a year.
Such long-term housing trends are good news for
the window cleaning, window tinting and pressure
washing offer industry.
More time for everyone
The window cleaning, window tinting and pressure
washing industry offers other advantages. Unlike
commercial janitorial and carpet cleaning franchises
that require evening and weekend work, residential
cleaning is typically performed Monday through
Friday, 9 to 5. A set weekday schedule gives
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franchisees more
time to spend with
their families and
pursue their hobbies.
Customers
also value their
free time, which
benefits Window
Genie franchise
owners. Here’s what
FranchiseSolutions.
com had to say
about the trend:
“American society today: More single parents,
more families with two working parents, longer work
days, more toys to play with in our free time. What
does this all mean? It means we no longer have time
to cook, clean, take care of our lawns or care for
our older family members. It also means the home
services industry is needed more than ever before.”
why there are more
than 50 franchise
systems offering a
variety of cleaningrelated services.
The best-kept secret
might just be that
the window cleaning
segment has the
fewest competitors,
and for residential
window cleaning,
Window Genie is
just about the only game in town. Less competition
means you have the opportunity to create a popular
and thriving local business. What are you waiting
for?
How Are We Different from
our Competitors?
Jason Hatch bought his Window Genie franchise
in Des Moines, Iowa, six years ago. He definitely
appreciates the time he gets with his wife and two
sons as his business continues to grow.
From branding to background
checks, Window Genie is the
industry innovator
“Tonight I’ll do paperwork, but tomorrow night is
movie night,” he says. “I’ll watch movies with the
family or, on weekends, it’s Skylanders on Xbox
360 with my 5-year-old. We’ll go out and throw the
football around. I’m building value in my business
versus building up someone else’s asset. It’s job
security. You’ve can’t easily fire yourself. You can set
your own schedule, and you can create your own
destiny.”
An animated genie and purple lightning might be
the first things that come to mind when you think of
Window Genie. Our purple-wrapped vans make a
memorable statement, and they’re one great way
that Window Genie distinguishes itself.
Pick up a copy of “Entrepreneur” or “INC”
magazine and you’ll likely see a reference to why the
cleaning industry is such a robust industry. That’s
Our stand-out branding isn’t all you will notice if
you research franchise ownership with us; we’ve
crafted a business model that has proven successful
for more than 20 years in a variety of markets and
economic conditions.
Window Genie started franchising in 1998.
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Founder and CEO Rik Nonelle knew from the
beginning he wanted to create a national franchise,
and he developed systems that were designed to
generate revenue and be easy to replicate.
Our brand stands out
Quick, can you recall the name of the last
window cleaning company you saw in your market?
Chances are, you can’t. Most are small, mom-andpop businesses driving unmarked vans. They don’t
wear uniforms and have a tendency to fade into the
crowd.
If you saw a purple-wrapped Window Genie van
driving through your neighborhood, though, with our
genie and purple lightning in the background, you’d
remember it. That’s the idea behind all our services
— stand out and make a positive impression on our
customers.
We want customers to know they can rely on
us to clean their windows, pressure wash their
driveways, tint their windows for greater energy
efficiency or security — and we also want customers
to remember us. We created the genie as a way for
our brand to stand out, and the lightning seemed like
the most logical thing that would happen when you
let that cleaning genie out of the bottle.
Even our purple uniforms are designed to make
Window Genie easy to remember. In the cleaning
industry, most companies tend toward whites, blues
and greens. Purple makes Window Genie stand
out. When customers first use our WG-57 Glass
Cleaner, a multi-purpose cleaner that we sell, we like
to point out to them, “That’s what purple smells like.”
We often leave a bottle behind so when they want
to clean a mirror or countertop, they think of us. It’s
very effective.
A former Disney illustrator drew our genie; it’s no
accident that he’s appealing to kids. They notice
the vans driving by and point it out to mom. That’s
important because 95% of the time, moms are the
ones who call us to schedule a job.
CEO and founder Rik Nonelle knew, even all
those years ago, that it would be important for his
company to be distinct. “People either get it or
they don’t,” says Rik. “If they don’t get what the
Geniemobile symbolizes and why that’s so valuable,
well, I don’t think we’ve ever sold a franchise to
someone who doesn’t get it.”
We love our customers
Exceed a customer’s expectations and they’ll use
you the next time. Every time.
“What sets us apart is our marketing, our
branding, the way we approach our customers,” says
Ken Fisk, vice president of operations. “We want to
do everything to satisfy the customer within reason;
we all know they’re not always right, but we have to
please them. It doesn’t work for us if we don’t please
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them. We make sure this is our priority, from training
the people our franchisees hire, to the systems
we’ve put in place and the way the franchisees
execute those.”
We do background checks
When was the last time you heard about a
service provider who did background checks on
their employees? When our franchise owners
hire someone, we make sure they don’t have
anything dangerous or violent in their backgrounds,
or anything that would make our customers
uncomfortable.
We also make sure all field workers wear photo ID
badges, and we email the pictures to our customers
so they’ll know whom to expect at their front door.
This is almost unheard of in an industry populated
largely by single-operator businesses of sometimesdubious repute. It builds trust and sets us apart.
“People look for a company that is professional,”
says Bergen, N.J., franchisee Gil Moskovitz. “We
look cleaner, we wear uniforms, our trucks all have
logos on them and we do background checks;
many companies don’t have that. Our marketing
materials are nicer-looking and more professional,
and our online marketing is far better than theirs. If
I’m an individual owning a small business, I’m doing
everything myself. If you join with a corporate office,
you have so many hands working together doing
something that an individual can never achieve.”
Why is our Culture So
Much Fun?
Work hard, play hard and focus on
franchise owner success
Step into our home office in Cincinnati, Ohio, and
you don’t have to walk far before you get a really
good idea of what our culture is. The spacious, onelevel building includes contemporary workspaces,
training facilities and a warehouse. It exudes the
image of a stable, profitable company.
It isn’t stuffy; walk into our training room and
you’ll see a game room with an arcade golf game,
dartboards, a pool table and Ping-Pong table. We
have family-style group lunches in our break room
almost daily, where we talk about everything from
our latest strategies to what people are planning for
the weekend or with their hobbies. Drop in during
lunch and chances are you’ll join us.
We bring our dogs to the office, and we know how
to have a good time. That doesn’t mean we don’t
work hard. It does mean, however, that our founder,
Rik Nonelle, understands the importance of work-life
balance.
“All of us appreciate doing a good job,” says
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What’s the point of being your own boss if you
work 80-hour weeks? Rik intentionally moved away
from a formally structured corporate workplace when
he started this company in 1994, and he knew he
didn’t want an all-work, no-play kind of company.
Administrative Coordinator Debbie Owens, who has
worked for Rik since 1996. “We’re very much loyal to
Window Genie, and we’re very protective of it. Our
culture speaks of working hard and playing hard. We
have a lot of fun here, but we work very hard. Rik is
such a great person to work for, and he has such an
appreciation of the importance of work-life balance.”
What he wanted to create was an environment
where people would enjoy coming to work. He
wanted a franchise from the start, so he systemized
everything. Window Genie gives franchisees the
systems they need to succeed and also the ongoing
training and support to stay focused on growth.
“I’m in business for myself, not by myself,” says
Jason Hatch, a Window Genie franchisee in Des
Moines, Iowa. “I’ve got a lot of close friends in the
Window Genie family, and I do consider it a family.
If I’m having a down day, I can call them and they’ll
say, ‘Here, try this or try this.’”
Ken Fisk, vice president of operations, concurs.
“We don’t spend a lot; we’ve been in the black
forever,” Ken notes. “It is very fun. Rik is the best guy
I’ve ever worked for.”
Part of the reason for that, Ken adds, is Rik’s
emphasis on mutual respect. “If we have respect
for everybody — for ourselves, for our customers,
for our franchisees and for each other — that
breeds success. At the end of the day, that’s how
we live and how we run our business. We believe in
integrity, honesty, fun and hard work. We try to do
things right,” Ken says.
An entrepreneurial culture focused on
growth
Rik set out to create an entrepreneurial culture
that was fun to work hard in, that promoted work-life
balance and was free from nagging micro-managers.
Established franchisees like Jason can schedule
their jobs to accommodate work-life balance. The
Window Genie business model is set up so you
don’t have to work nights and weekends for the rest
of your life. Investors can establish a franchise in
which they’re working 9-5, giving them time to go to
their kids’ ball games and dance recitals. We want
Window Genie owners to have the opportunity to
build a business as large as they want while still
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having time outside of the
business to enjoy their
families, their communities
and their hobbies.
“If I want to work 16
hours a day, I work 16
hours a day. If I want to
work seven hours a day,
I can work seven and
still be successful,” says
Dragan Malesevic, a new
franchisee and father
of two in Jacksonville,
Fla. When he’s not busy
building his new Window
Genie business, Dragan
enjoys the beach, fishing
and playing traditional Bosnian music with his band.
Ultimately, a Window Genie franchise should
afford you the opportunity to create the kind of life
you’ve always wanted. You can build your own
business empire but still set your own hours.
We want all our franchisees to be a great fit for
our culture.
Finding the right fit when looking for a franchise
system should be high on your priority list if you are
going invest your money. If you want a rewarding
personal life in addition to a dynamic business,
Window Genie might just be the fit you are looking
for.
What are the Start-up
Costs?
Mobile, home-based franchise
offers low entry point for investors
There are thousands of options when it comes to
opening a franchise. Some require high investment,
some require large numbers of employees and some
are complex to operate.
Not Window Genie. Ours is a mobile, home-based
business with a low cost of entry. Our simple and
robust business model appeals to everyone from
experienced business owners to people who’ve
always had a dream to open their own business.
Our franchisees learned you don’t need to invest
in “bricks and mortar” locations or high capital
machinery to have a real business.
Our franchisees start out with training, equipment,
a marketing plan and one of our trademark
Geniemobiles. We typically suggest that you finance
your vehicle at a cost of $450 a month, which helps
keep your cash flow going in those early, crucial
months.
Here’s a look at the typical start-up costs as
outlined in Item 7 of our Franchise Disclosure
Document:
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What Do I Get for my
Investment?
Window Genie franchisees get
everything they need to start their
own business
On the surface, you wouldn’t think you’d need
much more than a bucket, a squeegee and some
soap to get going in the window cleaning business.
That’s right. Franchisees don’t need Window Genie
for this.
Franchisees count on Window Genie to craft a
system for creating a long term sustainable business
which makes money cleaning windows. The genius
is in the scalable marketing and operating systems,
not in the soap and water.
You won’t have to buy a warehouse full of
equipment or keep a lot of inventory on hand.
While ours is a simple business model, building a
successful business requires great systems and
marketing strategies.
From the beginning, the Window Genie staff
will walk you through every step you need to take
to open your own franchise. You’ll get ongoing
support once you open, including a tailor-made,
individualized marketing plan designed to be
effective in your community.
“Every franchisee has their own completed
website that’s fully customizable,” says Michael
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Grigery, director of franchise marketing. “We provide
all the major content — it’s a subdomain, and
franchisees can add pages if they’d like. It’s a fully
functional website that is search optimized to the
cities and state where the franchisee is providing
the service. The franchisee does all their own social
networking, and we provide best practices on how to
build your social media networks and acquire fans.”
custom van a Geniemobile, and it’s one of our most
successful marketing strategies. We get customers
from simply driving around town. Most cleaning
companies use blue or green in their branding
colors, but our signature purple genie and lightning
make a big — and unforgettable — statement.
In addition to the Geniemobile, franchisees invest
in a $25,000 start-up package that includes:
•Enough window cleaning equipment for two
technicians
•Ladders and ladder racks for the Geniemobile
•Squeegees, scrapers, buckets, lead levelers and
towels
•Pressure washing equipment
•Window Genie Glass Cleaner for promotion and
resale
•Proprietary Office GenieTM software
•Instructive training videos
We’ll also help you establish your own print and
direct-mail marketing campaigns, explain how to
increase your business through referrals and guide
you through the art of promotions.
How the Geniemobile helps you grow
your business
The most important way to promote your business
may surprise you: It’s the vehicle you’ll use to store
everything in. We take vans and custom-wrap them
with the distinctive Window Genie mascot and purple
lightning. Franchisees buy or lease the vans from
us, although we encourage them to finance the cost
of the vehicles rather than paying cash. Payments
are typically about $450 per month. We call this
•Discounts on equipment and supplies
•National product and equipment affiliations
•Complete training for you and your lead technician
at our in-house “window wall” training center
•Grand opening assistance
•Marketing and advertising programs, as well as
publicity and PR assistance
Franchisees also get ongoing field support from
Window Genie, as well as inclusion in monthly
conference calls with other franchisees. Every
franchisee can rest assured that their investment
also includes protected territory. If you buy two
50,000-household territories, they’re yours; you
don’t have to worry about three or four more
14
Window Genie franchisees opening up shop in your
territories.
Dick Stieren, who owns two territories with
130,000 total households in and around the Omaha,
Neb., area, likes that aspect about Window Genie.
“It’s kind of like Thanksgiving dinner — there’s more
on the table than you could possibly eat.”
Who are my Customers?
From simple homes to mega
mansions, Window Genie
franchisees have plenty of
customers to choose from
One of the hardest things for potential franchisees
to wrap their minds around is the fact that yes,
people really do pay to have their windows cleaned.
That’s a reality we’ve been banking on for 20
years.
Contrary to popular belief, our customers aren’t
just wealthy homeowners. Company founder
and CEO Rik Nonelle learned that not long after
launching his window cleaning business in 1994.
“When I started the business, I was as narrowminded as you could possibly get. I started the entire
business literally in one ZIP code in Cincinnati. It’s
a neighborhood called Indian Hills, and it’s full of
$1 million to $20 million homes. In my shallow little
mind, I thought the only market was the super-rich
people. I just didn’t get it,” Rik says.
Window Genie learned the market is broader than
the top 1% of income earners.. I quickly generated
business elsewhere around town.
Over the years, Rik perfected the Window Genie
business model to meet the demands of customers
who, after seeing what a great job Window Genie did
on their windows, started asking, “Wow, what else do
you guys do?”
Our perfect customer
Window Genie started adding in-demand home
services, which created great opportunities for
franchisees to boost their revenue. Window Genie
provides the Big Three core services:
•Window cleaning
•Window tinting
•Pressure washing
Under the Big Three umbrella of those services,
we also do things like clean gutters and seal
driveways. Our services roster is limited, though,
because we want to excel in everything we do.
“We’ve been very careful not to be the jack of all
trades,” Rik says.
Generally, customers call us because their
15
windows are dirty. When we get there, we can easily
see if the decks and gutters are dirty, if the sun is
pounding down on certain areas of the house and
raising their air conditioning electricity costs. We
point things out, our customers see what we see, we
get more business. Simple.
Since all our technicians get background
checks and arrive in professionally brand-wrapped
Geniemobiles, wearing our signature purple Window
Genie shirts and photo ID badges, our customers
have truly learned to trust the Window Genie brand.
The services our company provides appeal to
a broad range of
homeowners, from
families trying to sell
their homes and elderly
people who can no
longer safely perform
household chores,
to people who would
simply rather spend
their limited time off
doing something more
fun than cleaning
windows. We entice
customers to stay with Window Genie through a
program that offers discount pricing for cleanings
scheduled on an annual basis.
Today, our franchisees across the country clean
windows for homes of all sizes and values, from
simple homes to multi-million dollar mansions. We
sell territories in increments of 50,000 households,
and, on average, our franchisees achieve about 5%
penetration.
“The sweet spot is $200,000-$600,000 homes,
and there are a lot more of those than $10 million
homes,” Rik says.
Your customers will be in suburban subdivisions.
They won’t all be wealthy; most will be normal,
working families who are just too busy to get around
to cleaning the windows or pressure washing the
deck. You’ll also find that Realtors hire window
cleaners — homes sell much faster when the
windows are spotless.
Our franchisees also do 20% commercial work.
Small businesses, retail shops and even offices also
need window cleaning, especially when they are
near our core neighborhoods.
When it comes to window tinting, our customer
base is more varied. A
homeowner might seek
you out looking for an
energy-saving film, or
someone may want to
beef up home security
by adding a security tint.
Our customers come
from all walks of life and
have a wide range of
income levels. After all,
no one, no matter how
much money they make, really likes looking through
dirty windows.
Do We Offer Incentives for
Veterans?
Discounts, proven systems help
veterans get a foothold on a new
career
The first employee that franchisee Dick Stieren
hired when he opened his Window Genie franchise
16
in Omaha, Neb., was a veteran — and that was
no coincidence. In fact, Window Genie’s ongoing
commitment to helping veterans find jobs and
careers, whether as window technicians or franchise
owners, was one of the things that attracted Dick to
the company.
After a storied career with the Burger King
franchise, Dick was casting about for one more
business to build before retirement. He loved what
Window Genie was doing for our nation’s soldiers.
“In their Windows for Wishes, their pay-it-back
program, they are very focused on wounded warriors
and veterans of our country,” Dick says. Window
Genie’s Windows for Wishes program encourages
franchisees to give back to their favorite community
causes, and Dick noticed that many of them choose
programs that focus on veterans. As a patriot, that
was important to him.
His first window technician was Wade Jensen,
who had retired from the Marine Corps after 21
years and was looking to re-enter the workforce.
He was also actively seeking a mentor to help him
understand small business. That’s where Dick was
more than happy to step in.
“I put my flag up after 9/11, and it’s never come
down,” Dick says. “I intend to hire as many veterans
as I can.”
Window Genie works for veterans
Veterans have sacrificed their very lives for our
country, and that’s why Window Genie wants to give
back in whatever way we can. We proudly participate
in the International Franchise Association’s VetFran
program. The program offers discounts to veterans
who want to start a business. Window Genie offers
veterans a 15,000-household bump at no extra cost.
Our goal is to help military men and women make
a smooth and successful transition back into the
working world.
In addition, our established systems of running a
franchise make it easier for someone with a military
background to succeed.
We’re always ready to welcome veterans to the
Window Genie team.
We believe our company offers veterans an
excellent second career choice, and participating
in the IFA’s VetFran program is one small way we
can help them achieve their goals. We also believe
veterans have a lot to offer Window Genie, because
life in the military equips veterans with some of the
same traits that make for an excellent franchise
owner: leadership, the ability to work with a team,
problem-solving skills and the ability to follow proven
systems to achieve success.
“We’ve got a system in place, we have
procedures in place, and somebody coming from
the military appreciates that,” says Debbie Owens,
administrative coordinator. “Overall, franchises
17
are a good fit for veterans just because of the
structure and the system that comes behind it.
That’s something they’re very much accustomed to.
Window Genie is a great opportunity for someone,
whether it’s a veteran or my nephew.”
Why Multiple Revenue
Streams Are Important
Window Genie franchisees earn
more revenue when they ‘clean
windows and a whole lot more’
Rolland Williams of Franklin, Tenn., has gotten a
lot of business for his Window Genie franchise by
saying, “Yep, we can do that.”
“For example,” he says, “some guy called and
said, ‘Do you guys clean canvas awnings?’ I had
never cleaned canvas awnings before, but I said,
‘Yep, we can do it,’ and we did it. It was less than
$100, but he also had us clean his windows,
pressure wash his driveway, seal his driveway and
clean and pressure wash his fence. That $79 job
turned into a $1,700 job.”
Window Genie is, at its heart, is a residential
window cleaning business, but we knew early
on that offering a variety of home preservation
and maintenance services was the way to go. As
Rolland found out when he started his franchise in
2013, when you do a great job for a customer, they
frequently ask for quotes on all those other little
things that need doing around the house.
For franchisees, the multiple revenue streams
make a lot of difference. They allow Window
Genie to be flexible enough to adapt as the market
demands, without straying far from our values and
mission. At Window Genie, we offer three core
services:
•Window cleaning
•Pressure washing
•Window films
Under each of the core services, we can do a
variety of other jobs, which helps our franchisees
find a variety of ways to earn more money. And even
when something is a little off-list — like those canvas
awnings — our entrepreneurial culture encourages
franchisees to say “yes” more often. Our franchisees
perform services as diverse as gutter cleaning, tile
and grout cleaning, and even snow blowing in some
areas.
Window Genie concentrates on our Big 3 core
services, and we want our franchisees to feel a
sense of independence and autonomy when making
local decisions. At Window Genie, we work with
our franchisees to create localized marketing plans
based on their territories’ individual and regional
demographics. Within that framework, every
franchise owner knows that they are responsible for
their own destiny.
“It affects your revenues dramatically,” says Ken
18
Fisk, vice president
of operations.
“The more you
can cross-sell and
upsell services,
the more revenue
you’ll get and the
faster your sales
will grow.”
Offering
additional
services adds
to your bottom
line and satisfies
customers. That keeps them coming back season
after season, year after year. And that’s something
that’s hard to put a price on.
Finding and filling customer needs was why
founder and CEO Rik Nonelle branched out from
just cleaning windows to adding other services. Rik
learned soon after starting the business that when
people found out what a good job Window Genie did
on their windows, they would inevitably ask, “What
else do you do?” Soon, Window Genie owners were
able to answer with our trademark motto: “We clean
windows and a whole lot more!”
What Experience Do I
Need?
Window Genie teaches franchisees
everything they need to know
Our roster of owners includes people with such
diverse backgrounds as CPAs, engineers, sales
reps, veterinarians and even a former Burger King
franchisee. While their backgrounds are diverse, the
common thread
among them all is a
desire to succeed
at owning their own
businesses. Their
backgrounds are
diverse because
the business
allows for different
types of people to
be successful. You
don’t have to be
highly specialized.
This isn’t brain
surgery. If you start with some business smarts,
basic experience, high desire and drive, and you are
trainable and coachable, Window Genie can pour
the model into you and have you quickly performing
at a high level.
Jason Hatch had already soured somewhat on the
corporate world in his early 20s and was looking for
something low-skilled to do in Des Moines, Iowa. He
applied to be a window cleaner.
“I was looking for a manual labor job that didn’t
take too much thought,” he says. “I just didn’t want
to be physically and mentally exhausted at the end
of the day. I could not sit at a desk and stare at a
screen all day.” He was happy for the next two years
as a field technician, then he took over managing the
business for the next five.
“The day after my youngest was born, the owner
was on the phone and said, ‘I’m looking for another
venture; do you want to buy my Window Genie
franchise?’ I said, ‘Do you want the check today or
tomorrow?’”
Jason knew he’d found his niche. Now 35,
his Window Genie territories comprise the prime
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households in and around the Des Moines area. The
one-time aspiring architect loves the fact that owning
a Window Genie franchise didn’t require a specific
background in window cleaning, pressure washing or
window tinting.
“That’s the reason I bought the franchise. When
I decide to sell, the person I sell to doesn’t have to
know jack squat. You learn it all through the system,”
Jason says. “I’m an owner-operator. Steve Sarafin
is the most successful Window Genie owner in the
system. His franchise started four days after this
one. Neither of us knew how to clean a window
when we started, but now we aren’t afraid to do
whatever it takes to keep the business moving
forward.”
The Window Genie way
At Window Genie, our franchisees come from
diverse backgrounds. Some, like Jason Hatch,
learned the business from the ground up. Others,
like Dick Stieren of Omaha, Neb., came to us
after decades of success in another segment of
the franchise world. We train franchise owners
and their lead technicians at our headquarters in
Cincinnati. Utilizing 20 years of training knowledge,
we teach the latest tricks and technology using our
indoor “window wall” to help new owners and their
technicians learn as much as possible about the field
service part of our business. This includes basic and
advanced cleaning techniques, as well as the skills
required to effectively hang window film.
No computer experience? No problem. We
have people who can walk you through that. Never
managed a budget or your own business before?
Window Genie has systems in place for everything.
When founder and CEO Rik Nonelle started the
business in 1994, he already knew his ultimate plan
was to franchise, so all of his business systems were
documented from Day 1 to be easy to follow.
As for Rik, he didn’t exactly come from a home
services background himself. He worked in the
insurance industry, specializing in car dealerships,
before turning his attention to what he knew would
be a recession-resistant business with spectacular
potential for growth. So don’t worry if you’ve never
cleaned a window or run your own business. Bring
us your passion and your drive to succeed, and we’ll
teach you the rest.
Who Makes a Good
Window Genie Franchise
Owner?
Franchisees should have
entrepreneurial spirit and a love for
working with people
When you’ve gotten far enough along in your
20
research to join Window Genie for a Discovery Day,
here’s fair warning: CEO Rik Nonelle is going to be
paying attention to how you interact with others.
“This is a people business,” Rik says, “and
customers buy from people they like and trust.”
What Rik is getting at is this: If you’re most
comfortable in your own space with long,
uninterrupted stretches doing what you do best
at a computer keyboard, Window Genie is not the
franchise for you.
You may think, “To be successful, all I have to do
is keep to myself, climb a ladder, clean the windows,
swipe the customer’s credit card, get back into my
truck, and go to the next house.” If you are one who
likes to keep to himself, do the work, and go home,
this model isn’t for you. We are looking for owners
who build teams and like the Genie, become the
face of the brand in their community.
If you’re someone who thrives on interaction
with other people, if you’re outgoing and a natural
conversationalist, if you’re someone who has always
dreamed of owning your own business, then you’re
exactly who we’re looking for.
“An ideal Window Genie franchisee is someone
who likes being involved in different things, and
you’ve got to be a people person,” says Bergen,
N.J., franchisee Gil Moskovitz. “You’ve got to have
face-to-face interaction with someone. People take a
liking to someone immediately, and you’ve got to be
comfortable talking to people.”
Window Genie will never ask you to do the hard
sell. There’s no cold-calling or knocking on doors to
drum up business. In fact, we employ sophisticated
marketing strategies that are tailored to every
franchisee’s individual market. Ours is a simple,
scalable business that relies on multiple streams of
revenue and good word-of-mouth from customers
for success. Indeed, 90% of all new customers are
first-time customers, having never used a window
cleaning service before. That’s why it’s important to
provide great service and build a strong rapport with
each customer right out of the gate.
“If I put someone in front of a customer to sell a
$5,000 window tinting job, can they pull it off? You
can sell window cleaning if you present it correctly
with a competitive price, ” Rik says. “But you’re not
going to sell film if you’re not good with people and
haven’t taken the time to understand the product.
You’ve got to have people skills along with a good
personality.”
When Omaha, Neb., franchisee Dick Stieren was
training to open his own Window Genie, he did a
ride-along with veteran owner Jason Hatch of Des
Moines. Here’s how that went: “We made seven
or eight stops, did a window tinting estimate and a
couple of window cleaning estimates. We stopped
in the city on a contract for power washing a parking
21
garage downtown. In between, he stopped and did
a quick window cleaning on a condo because his
techs were in trucks across town and it fit into his
route. We moved on to a couple more bids. It was
all talking to people. You’re talking about window
cleaning, but you’re building relationships.”
Window Genie has a culture that values
motivation, competition and an entrepreneurial
mindset along with a work-life balance. We know
you want to be certain Window Genie is the right
investment for you, and by the same token we want
to be sure you’re the right investment for us.
Common Characteristics of a Successful
Window Genie Franchisee
“You have to be self-driven and follow the
playbook,” says franchisee Steve Sarafin of Sparta,
N.J. “But when everything falls into place, the sky’s
the limit.”
Other key criteria for Window Genie owners
include being a self-starter and being able to
balance the leadership skills you’ll need to be an
entrepreneur with the teamwork you’ll need to follow
the Window Genie systems. Cleaning experience or
window cleaning experience is not necessary; over
the years, we have found that experience in almost
any industry is helpful.
We encourage franchise candidates to talk to
other Window Genie owners before they sign the
franchise agreement. We want you to know the
ins and outs, the good points and the not-so-good.
Even though ours is
a low investment for
a new business, it’s
a big investment of
your time — and a
major change in your
life. Window Genie
franchise owners can
offer more valuable
feedback than
anyone about what
you can expect out of
your window cleaning
franchise, as well as
what we expect out of
you.
Meet the Management
Team
At our corporate offices in
Cincinnati, we work hard to make
sure our franchisees are successful
Rik Nonelle
Founder and CEO
Rik is an industry veteran with 20 years of
experience in
home services and
franchising. He started
the Window Genie
brand in 1994, began
franchising in 1998,
and has overseen the
development into 30
states and national
rankings in both system
growth and franchisee
satisfaction. His vision
is to build Window
Genie into THE brand
in the industry.
22
Debbie Owens
Administrative Coordinator
Debbie began working with Rik in 1996 so she
could assist him in starting to franchise the
company. Her focus today is to train and offer
support on the software the system uses, speak on
administrative duties for each business and handle
compliance items
in the franchise
agreement such as
revenue reports,
recording royalties
and all accounting/
administrative
duties for the
corporate office.
Ken Fisk
VP of Operations
Ken has more than 25 years of experience in
operations management and 12 years of experience
in the home services business and franchising. He
started with Window Genie in July 2002 and has
since successfully
opened 40
locations and
helped support
more than 65. His
goals are to help
add more franchise
partners and
to manage and
support the operations of the Window Genie system.
Michael Grigery
Marketing and Promotions
Michael started his career with Window Genie
working with a single franchise. Their success led to
his tenure with Window Genie. Michael’s role with
Window Genie is
to develop and
enhance the sales
and marketing
capabilities of the
franchise owners
through proven and
creative methods.
Erin McDermott
Communications Assistant
Erin joined the Window Genie team in January
2012. Her goal is to communicate and uphold
the Window Genie brand, reputation and culture
nationally and
locally. Her
responsibilities
are to facilitate
internal system
communications,
broker
communications
and external
consumer communications. She also focuses on
cause marketing and public relations within each
franchise’s local market.
Brook Whitton
Administrative
Assistant
Brook started at
Window Genie in
April 2011 as the
administrative
assistant. She helps
all the franchise
partners and regional developers with designing ads,
ordering clothing, directing phone calls and creating
23
territories for new partners. She also takes care of
general administrative duties.
Dr. Len Fulkerson
Launch Coach
Len purchased
a Window Genie
franchise that he
ran successfully for
almost four years in
Lafayette, Ind. After
selling the franchise
in 2013, Len wanted
to continue his association with Window Genie and
became the launch coach. He assists and consults
with new franchisees on the day-to-day activities that
help make a new business successful.
How Do I Finance My
Window Genie Franchise?
Window Genie calls for small
investment, offers big opportunity
Funding your own business is not as daunting
as you might think, and with a mobile home-based
franchise like Window Genie, you will have several
financing options. Among them, Window Genie
franchise owners have used conventional loans,
SBA loans, retirement loans and home equity loans,
as well as more unconventional funding sources.
Like most franchise systems, Window Genie
Kyle Toler
Field Training and Support
Kyle started at the local Cincinnati Window Genie
franchise as a technician in 2012 before coming on
board to corporate in late 2013. He helps provide
franchise training and support toward the continuing
growth and success of the partners within the
Window Genie system.
John O’Connor
Field Training and Support
John has 25 years of industry experience and has
trained 100-plus business owners and technicians
with Window Genie. John is a certified wood expert
and certified in rope descent rescue. He helps
provide franchise training and support toward the
continuing growth and success of the partners within
the Window Genie system.
has minimum financial requirements. We require
franchise candidates to have a net worth of at least
$150,000, as well as liquid assets — or available
cash — of $50,000 or more.
Our average investment is $85,000-$150,000, and
our franchise fee is between $32,000 and $57,000,
depending on how large the territory is. There’s a
start-up package of $25,000, and there is also the
separate purchase of our signature Geniemobile,
which costs around $25,000. To preserve capital, we
encourage new owners to finance their van at a cost
24
of about $450 a month rather than buying it outright.
penalties or interest rates.
Window Genie’s simple, scalable business
model offers investors a modest entry-level cost
into business ownership. Since our investment
opportunity is so accessible, we don’t have in-house
financing available.
Home refinance or equity line of credit. As the
housing market rebounds, you might have more
equity in your home. Often potential franchisees are
able to refinance their homes, thanks to low interest
rates, and pull enough capital out to purchase a
franchise. We often suggest that you check with
your local or community bank; often they are willing
to work with customers. You might also be able to
secure a line of credit based on a portion of your
home equity which can help with ramp-up costs.
Here’s a closer look at some of the ways you can
fund your Window Genie franchise:
Small Business Administration Loans. Window
Genie is included in the SBA Registry, a list of
franchises whose Financial Disclosure Documents
and operations have been vetted by the Small
Business Administration. Our inclusion in the SBA
Registry will allow franchisees to skip several steps
in the typical SBA lending process.
401(k) or IRA. Tapping into your retirement fund is a
popular way to fund a business. There are a number
of advantages, and there are no financial penalties
if you do it right. By creating a C corporation and
corporate retirement account and moving corporate
stocks, you can, in effect, loan money to yourself.
This is always a popular financing option.
Cash. While Window Genie only requires a minimum
liquidity of $50,000, you may have more capital you
could use to get started. If you have the liquidity,
cash is always a great way to invest. Your savings
could be the key to unlocking a richly rewarding
investment without the hassle of third parties, tax
Window Genie Franchise
Reviews
Find out what Window Genie
owners think of the franchise
experience
Franchise Testimonials:
“I don’t think there’s any other franchise that offers
the same exact bundle of services we offer. I know
others offer window cleaning and pressure washing,
but we offer much more than that. The organization
as a whole is greater than so many other businesses
out there. That puts us ahead.”
— Gil Moskovitz, Bergen, N.J.
25
“I wanted something where I could control my
own destiny and apply my skills and be successful.
I live in Omaha. Warren Buffet is here, and he never
invests in something he doesn’t understand. When
I started looking at these franchises, I thought, is it
something easy to understand? In the restaurant
business, if it snows and people don’t come to
Burger King that day, they don’t eat twice the next
day to make up for it. I was looking for something
where if the weather dampens your business, the
demand is built up. It doesn’t go away. I was looking
for a business that was renewable, not overly
complicated and very successful.
— Dick Stieren, longtime Burger King executive,
Omaha, Neb.
“I still continue to grow every year. I started initially
by hiring somebody right from the get-go, so there
were just two of us. We were running one guy to
a truck. Now, it’s two men per vehicle. Right now
I have seven vehicles. The sky is really the limit,
depending on the area you’re in and how aggressive
you want to get. I continue to grow; I’d like to be in
the $1.5 million to $2 million in growth sales.”
— Steve Sarafin, Sparta, N.J.
“I’m in business for myself, not by myself. I’ve got
a lot of close friends in the Window Genie family,
and I do consider it a family. If I’m having a down
day, I can call them and they’ll say, ‘Here, try this
or try this.’ If I’m going to ask someone else in the
business, they’re not going to give me full disclosure
because I’ll be competition for them.”
— Jason Hatch, Des Moines, Iowa
“The thing we like about a service-type business
like this is that the inventory levels are really low. I
don’t have to stock up on a whole lot of shirts and
ties and shoes or food or whatever to put on my
shelves to hope customers come in and buy it. I do
have to invest in equipment like vans and pressure
washers and so forth, but my inventory is low. That’s
just capital goods. What I sell is a service my guys
can perform.”
— Rolland Williams, Franklin, Tenn.
“I already have 40 customers. I’m already booked
for April and parts of May. Those people are already
repeat customers. It fits me. In my last job, I had a
lot of sales, and I always loved it. I love talking to
people. I like to go out and see what personality
does that person have and how do I approach this
person and that person. Talking to my customers —
it’s natural to me.”
— Dragan Malesevic, Jacksonville, Fla., after two
months of owning his franchise
“I told my techs, and I tell other potential owners
the same thing: One strong point is we do a lot of
things. One of the weak points is we do a lot of
things. Generally, it’s good when you’re starting up a
business. It’s a business where you generate cash
flow almost immediately, and you’re not out there
making cold calls, unlike Fish Window Cleaning.
I think that’s a plus. You’re not trying to establish
a restaurant or a B2B-type business. Your people
seek you out. It’s easier to generate cash flow with
a service business, and it’s not a 24-7 business. I
work on weekends a lot of times, but I don’t schedule
work on weekends. Some guys do, but you have that
flexibility.”
— Mike Boone, Raleigh, N.C.
26
Window Genie Customer
Reviews
We let customers do the talking on
Window Genie’s great services
You can talk to everyone from our franchisees to
our CEO, but sometimes, you get the best picture of
who we are from our customers.
To that end, we’ve culled a collection of
comments, some from public websites such as
Angie’s List, Yelp!, Yahoo, Kudzu, Google+ and
more, and some from internal customer service
surveys. Here’s what our customers had to say:
— Have already notified friends about the great work
Ben and his team did at our house and passed out
his cards. This is not a hard sell: people are looking
for someone who does good work and can be
trusted in their homes.
— They did a fantastic job — and I know what a
pain my chandelier is to clean. I love my sparkling
windows!!!!
— Difficult to improve on flawless workmanship and
great business ethic.
— Very professional crew. I will definitely use them
again!
— The window technician at our home was triple
AAA OUTSTANDING!!!!
— Wonderful Job!!! I had my gutters cleaned by
Window Genie and could not be happier. The
technicians showed me before and after pictures and
could not be more pleased with the work that was
done. I will definitely recommend Window Genie to
my neighbors. Thank you, Window Genie.
— Crystal Clear Windows. Wow, Wow, Wow!!! I am
so excited to finally have a new window cleaning
company I can trust and depend on. The guys were
so respectful and polite. My windows have never
looked this good in over 15 years. Window Genie
was easy to work with from my first phone call to
the office to the techs working at my house. Will
definitely be calling them again!
— Took Customer Service to a Whole New Level.
Window Genie cleaned my windows this past spring
and did a remarkable job. There was one minor
issue and they quickly resolved it — professionally.
They went above and beyond to ensure our
happiness. I can’t say enough positive things about
David, Jennifer and Sterling. Thank you!!
— Awesome Job! Sterling and Ronnie came this
morning to clean my windows. They were both
pleasant, professional and NEAT! For the first time
EVER I didn’t have to clean up after the window
cleaners! This is especially important to me as
someone who works and is having this done on
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a day off. They even removed the old, disgusting
screens and stored them in the unfinished part
of the basement for me. To top it all off, they did
an awesome job with the windows and they look
fantastic! Much appreciated — I will definitely
recommend to my neighbors!
— I Can See Clearly Now. My windows were grungy
and my office was hot. Window Genie cleaned the
windows perfectly. Their crew was on time, they did
their work without interrupting the flow of my office
and they cleaned up after themselves. No puddles
FAQs
Answers to common questions
about owning a Window Genie
franchise
Do people really pay to have their
windows cleaned?
Window Genie’s 60-plus franchise owners
would answer “yes.” In addition, customers choose
from our other two core services, window film and
pressure washing.
Why do people pay to have their
windows cleaned?
of dirty water on the window sills or floor when they
were done. I also had film installed in one of the
offices. The afternoon sun no longer makes the
office like an Easy Bake oven. I am without a doubt a
raving fan of Window Genie.
Since the real estate crash of 2008, more and
more people are choosing to stay in their homes
instead of selling them, and that means home
protection and maintenance has become more
important than ever. Most people would prefer to hire
a professional to get up on a ladder rather than risk
getting on one themselves. As we say, leave it to the
professionals!
Can you make any money doing this?
One goal for first-year franchisees is that they
will acquire 500 or more customers in their first year
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of business. Please see Item 19 in our Franchise
Disclosure Document for more detail on earnings
statements from Window Genie franchisees.
Why get into the residential window
cleaning business?
As our founder and CEO Rik Nonelle says,
“People don’t need emergency window services at
8 p.m. on a Thursday.” In other words, you can build
a solid business without having to sacrifice your
personal life. Demand is strong, and as a repeat
service, you will continue to serve your customers
year after year, building a residual income business.
Isn’t that what you’re working for, anyway?
What is Window Genie’s largest moneymaking opportunity?
Window film. We are the only national window film
company to offer the sales and installation of window
tinting. It’s a booming industry that will only grow
over the next 10 years as customers look to protect
their property and lower their utility bills.
What are the hours like?
One of the reasons Rik Nonelle started Window
Genie was because work-life balance was very
important to him. He intentionally stayed away from
businesses such as retail and restaurants that would
require grueling work weeks and lots of night and
weekend work. Although franchise owners inevitably
work harder when they start their new venture,
Window Genie allows franchisees the flexibility to
work 9-5, Monday through Friday.
Is Window Genie a year-round business?
Yes. Not only do people get their windows cleaned
in the colder months as part of our Window Care
program, but they still go to Window Genie for things
like chandelier cleaning and window film. Since
window film is applied to the interior of the glass,
Window Genie owners are able to take advantage
of winter glare to continue to acquire new customers
year round.
Who are Window Genie’s customers?
It’s true we’ve done work for some well-known
folks such as Dale Earnhardt Jr., Usher and Michael
Jordan, but we don’t focus solely on large, expensive
homes. People of all income levels maintain their
homes, and Window Genie makes it appealing
with competitive pricing and discounts for our
Window Care programs. We have found our sweetspot home value to be in the range of $200,000$600,000.
What are the minimum qualifications?
Franchisees should have a minimum net worth
of $150,000 and have minimum liquid assets of
$50,000.
How much does a franchise cost?
The typical total investment is between $80,000
and$150,000. Our franchise fee is $32,000-$57,000,
depending on the size of the territory. There’s a
start-up package of $25,000 that includes just about
everything you will need to get started. There is the
purchase of our signature Geniemobile, which costs
approximately $25,000 and can be financed for
about $450 a month.
Window Genie does not provide financing, but we
have secured third-party financing such as 401(k)
rollovers and SBA Expedited loans.
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Can I use any truck or vehicle for
my franchise?
Window Genie has special vans that you can
purchase through us. The vans are wrapped in
our signature animated genie and purple lightning
so they will really
stand out when you
or your techs are
driving through your
community. Most
franchisees finance
the vans at a cost
of about $450 a
month. You can also
purchase locally
in your market, we
even have owners
that have wrapped MINI Coopers, HUMMERS and
about everything else you can think of as personal
cars and estimating vehicles. If you can buy it, we
can wrap it!!
How do you define territories?
We award territories based on households,
and you can purchase as few as 50,000 up to
a maximum of 100,000. These include between
7,000 and 15,000 businesses to market to, as well.
Most franchise owners are looking for a 5% market
penetration.
How many employees do I need?
Depending on the size of your territory, you will
start out with only one technician and add more as
your business grows.
Do I need an office?
No. One of the great things about the Window
Genie business model is that we’re a mobile, homebased business. If you have room in your home for
a laptop and a cell phone, you have room to set up
a Window Genie franchise. You will need to confirm,
when applicable, that local zoning or HOAs allow
for the operation of a business from your home, as
well as a marked work
truck. For those owners
that either start out from
a commercial location
or move to one later, we
are looking for 750-1,500
square feet of office
space with storage.
How many
customers will I
need?
Window Genie awards territories that range in
size from 50,000 to 100,000 households. Your total
customer count will vary based on your marketing,
service mix and your own abilities. Most owners are
looking for a 5% penetration of total households.
How long will it take to open my Window
Genie franchise?
Some franchise owners get their businesses
up and running in 30 to 60 days after signing, but
the process could take longer depending on your
personal situation. Our supportive staff at Window
Genie headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, will guide
you through every step.
Why a Genie?
Our purple-suited genie, created by a former
Disney animator, helps Window Genie stand
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out from other cleaning companies. The genie
symbolizes the power of our brand, and he’s an
appealing mascot that draws people’s attention.
Those purple-wrapped Geniemobiles also capture
the attention of kids, who like to point them out to
their parents.
Next Steps
What the path to franchise
ownership looks like
If you’re ready to join the Window Genie family,
you’ve got an exciting journey ahead! We recognize
this is not only an important professional decision,
but also a personal one. From the time you sign the
franchise agreement to the time you officially open
for business, someone with Window Genie will be
guiding you every step of the way.
You’ll be in touch with your Development Team,
followed by conversations with as many current
Window Genie franchisees as you care to talk to
during the validation process. This lets you get to
know our company a little better from the perspective
of people who are already doing the job you hope to
do.
We’re eager to tell you more about life with
Window Genie and how 20 years in the business
has helped us pave your path to success. Window
Genie will provide you with a detailed checklist
that includes everything you need to know about
opening your franchise, such as how to obtain your
tax ID and whether your state requires any special
licensing.
We’ll help you sign up for one of our monthly
scheduled training sessions at our Cincinnati office.
You’ll hire your lead technician so that they can
come to our corporate headquarters for training,
too. You’ll learn about pricing, software, marketing,
communications and many other aspects of running
and managing your own business.
We’ll make sure you and your technician are
trained to effectively perform and execute the
Window Genie services, and we’ll help order all the
equipment you will need to be open for business.
You’ll receive another five days of training at your
location during your Grand Opening to make sure
everyone is up to speed on the services you will be
offering and that your lead technician is trained and
ready to go. By the time you and your technician
are trained, your grand opening is only three to four
weeks away.
We hope everything you’ve read about Window
Genie so far is enough to make you want to know
more. If you think Window Genie could be the right
opportunity for you, please fill out the form to the
right, and someone will be in touch with you soon.
Thank you for considering us, and we look forward to
talking to you!
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