Business Licenses, and Membership Dues
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Prior to commencing your Business and when you join IWCA

FISH WINDOW CLEANING

Table of Content
1. Franchise Snapshot
2. Franchise Overview
3. Performance and Metrics
4. Our Take
5. Additional Resources

1. Franchise Snapshot

Franchise Status
Active
Basic Information
Industry
Home & Building Services
Category
Commercial Cleaning
Investment Range
$111,900 - $179,900
Total US Locations
276
Franchise Units
275
Founding Year
1978
Started Offering Franchises
1998
Management Capacity
Owner Operator
Job Count
7
Prior E2 Investors?
Yes
Prior Visa Franchise Clients?
No
Royalty Fee
5% to 8%
Marketing Fee
1%
Franchise Fee
$49,900 - $74,900
Headquarters (City, State)
Chesterfield, Missouri
Square Footage
N/A - N/A
Retail Location?
No
Agreement Term Length
10 years
Video

In these videos you will learn about the company firsthand. And they will also tell you in a short form about the financing of the enterprise.

*Information presented in these videos may change over time and may not reflect the most current franchise offering. Prospective franchisees should review the latest Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and consult directly with the franchisor for updated information.

2. Franchise Overview

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Overview

Fish Window Cleaning is the largest window cleaning franchise in the United States. They have been in the market for over 45 years and provide commercial and residential customers with professional window cleaning services for buildings up to three stories, as well as chandelier, mirror, skylight, screen, ceiling fan, and gutter cleaning. Fish Window Cleaning has developed a strong competitive advantage through a recurring service model, where many customers schedule routine cleanings throughout the year, creating high customer retention and residual income in a niche market with fragmented competition. In addition, they provide protected territories built around zip codes, a schedule with no nights, weekends, or holidays, structured onboarding, and ongoing operational, marketing, and national accounts support.

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Management team / founders

After seven years in banking, Mr. Mike Merrick decided it was time for a change and saw an opportunity in a service industry that required low overhead and could be scaled quickly. In January 1978, he founded the first Fish Window Cleaning in St. Louis, Missouri, becoming well known for reliability, quality, and customer service. As demand grew, he realized there was a need for this service in other markets and used his 20 years of experience to create the Fish Window Cleaning franchise system. The first FISH franchise opened in Tampa, Florida, in 1998, and the company has since grown into the world’s largest window cleaning company. Mike Merrick is still the CEO of the company, which maintains its core values of family, tradition, and customer service. The franchise development team includes John English, Director of Franchise Development since 2003, and Jon Mittleman, who has also operated a FISH franchise in Atlanta for nearly 10 years. With over 270 locations across 45 states, Fish Window Cleaning is dedicated to the continued success of franchisees. Franchise owners are assisted with every step prior to opening, as well as with continuous support from the headquarters team in operations, national accounts, HR, technology, and marketing.

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Focus of owner for daily business operations

As a Fish Window Cleaning franchise operator, the main facets of the business entail: 1. Managing your window cleaning staff, including hiring, training, scheduling, and safety compliance; 2. Attracting and retaining commercial and residential clients, with a focus on recurring service agreements; 3. Conducting local marketing and door-to-door business development efforts within the protected territory; 4. Review of financials, customer retention rates, and business metrics.

3. Performance & Metrics

Franchisor Fees | Item 6
Franchise Value
Industry Median
All Franchises Median
Royalty Fee
5% to 8%
6%
6%
Marketing Fee
1%
Franchise Fee
$49,900 - $74,900
$49,500
$40,000
Total Investment Cost | Item 7
Type of Expenditure
Low Amount
High Amount
When due
Initial Franchise Fee
$49,900
$74,900
Upon execution of Franchise Agreement
Travel and Living Expenses to Attend Training
$1,500
$2,500
Prior to and during training
Equipment Package
$9,000
$10,500
Prior to opening
Office Package
$11,000
$13,000
Prior to opening
Initial Business Development and Marketing
$10,500
$16,500
Prior to and during the first 12 weeks after opening
Vehicle
$1,000
$2,000
Varies under the circumstances
Vehicle Modification
$3,500
$3,500
Prior to opening
Attorneys’ Fees
$500
$2,000
Varies under the circumstances
Office Space – 3 Months
$4,500
$6,000
Usually monthly
Insurance Premiums
$2200
$5,000
Varies under the circumstances
Business Licenses, and Membership Dues
$100
$900
Prior to commencing your Business and when you join IWCA
Additional Funds - 3 Months
$18,200
$43,100
Before opening and as incurred
TOTAL
$111,900
$179,900
Outlets and Franchisee Information | Item 20
Outlet type
Year
Outlets at the start of the year
Outlets at the end of the year
Net change
N/A
2023
263
264
+1
Franchised
2024
264
269
+5
N/A
2025
269
275
+6
N/A
2023
1
1
0
Company-Owned
2024
1
1
0
N/A
2025
1
1
0
N/A
2023
264
265
+1
Total Outlets
2024
265
270
+5
N/A
2025
270
276
+6
Net Unit Growth (Recent year)
Net Unit Growth (Recent 3 years)
Franchise Health Metrics
Growth Rate
1 year / 3 years
Failure Rate
1 year / 3 years
Franchise for Sale Rate
1 year / 3 years
FISH WINDOW CLEANING
2.2% / 4.5%
2.5% / 9%
1.4% / 12.1%
Industry median
2% / 11%
4% / 12%
0% / 3%
Franchise Health Metrics
Franchise Historical Loan Metrics
10 Year Cumulative Charge Offs by $ of Loans
10 Year Cumulative Defaults
3 Year Predicted Default Rate
*Please note the information provided here is sourced from Lumos. We do not guarantee its accuracy or completeness. For verification, please refer to Lumos directly.
Item 19 – Financial Performance Representations
Historical financial performance representations
Franchise Financials
Franchisor company financial information, if disclosed by the franchisor.
Litigation & Bankruptcies
% of Franchisees Undergoing Litigation
% of Franchisees with Completed Litigation
Number of Bankruptcies Disclosed
*The litigation information displayed has been reviewed by our Product Development team. Franchises featured on this platform have been thoroughly assessed. However, Visa Franchise strongly recommends consulting with your own legal counsel for further guidance.

4. Our Take

Fish Window Cleaning provides a great opportunity for an investor looking to be an active owner-operator who focuses on business development rather than performing the service. The proven success of the recurring revenue model, the brand’s position as the largest window cleaning company in the country, and the founder’s more than 45 years of experience leading the business make the investment relatively safe. Additionally, the accessible total investment, protected territories, and availability of open markets across the U.S. provide potential investors with strong growth potential in a growing cleaning services industry.