Having worked with window cleaning companies for years, Chris Stoness, CEO and Founder of Elite Window Cleaning knew the loopholes and shortfalls of the window cleaning industry. He observed that the service people received did not justify the money they paid. With a conviction that he could provide value for money and do better than other companies, Chris founded Elite Window Cleaning, a professional window cleaning service company in 2012. Launched as a commercial high-rise window cleaning company, Elite is renowned for offering a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every window attended.
As Chris entered the business world, within no time he realized that the entire residential market was under-serviced. Chris, after some brief market analysis, launched a low-rise division whose focus concentrated on the residential market. Elite started growing its traditional window cleaning operation alongside the already successful high-rise division. Having grown in leaps and bounds, today Elite has a widespread network of 21 locations across Ontario, Canada.
“Two years and ten models later Elite has the Job Pod, the most technologically advanced and efficient window cleaning tool available on the planet.”
The fall that led to the rise
It was 2015 when Chris Squires, best friend, and fellow window cleaner of CEO Chris moved from Vancouver to Kingston to help expand Elite towards the goal of $1 million in yearly revenue. This year Chris also saw his best friend Chris Squires slip and nearly fall from the top of a forty-foot ladder. Having survived an extremely close call, these best friends realized that cleaning with the help of a ladder was risky and needed change. This incident led them to consider the use of water fed poles. Eager to find something that was efficient and quick, the duo, in 2017, went to Phoenix, AZ, to the International Window Cleaning Association Convention to see if there was a way to get more out of the water fed pole systems. While on their pursuit, they bought a series of equipment from multiple manufacturers with the idea of putting together the perfect “Frankenstein” Water Fed Pole System. While loading the pieces of equipment in the compact rental car they realized that everything had fit into the car. This was the eureka moment they were waiting for. They further build a system that fits entirely into a small car. This is how the concept of ‘Job Pod’ was born. “Two years and ten models later Elite has the Job Pod, the most technologically advanced and efficient window cleaning tool available on the planet,” says Chris Stoness. Having achieved a major technological breakthrough, both the partners pushed harder towards their goal of $1 million in revenue. As a part of their business expansion plan, they started pushing the business to operate in multiple cities. Finally, by 2018 Elite was operating in eight markets across Ontario and BC and was on its way to finalizing its franchise system and business plan.
On a mission to provide the safest, cleanest, and most cost-effective window cleaning, Elite intends to create a safe work environment, where people get equal opportunities to thrive and succeed. “We believe that work should complement and empower you to have the freedom you want in your life and we are excited to show you the tools to get you there,” says Chris.
Realizing that the best cleaners are not accountants, receptionists, marketers, or schedulers, they came up with a system that handled all of these tasks, to enable their franchisees to concentrate on the skills, growing their business, and maintaining customer relationships. “We built a support system to handle all the details of the business we knew people would struggle with,” shares Chris. To ensure that the franchise focuses purely on business development, the back-office also provides marketing support in the forms of website management, digital advertising, online reviews, content creation, blogging, and consulting. “We take great pride in supporting our network of Franchise Partners and have full commitment to their success,” says Chris.
In this phase of financial uncertainty, Elite, through its franchise is giving all the aspiring entrepreneurs a chance to step into the business world, with less risks and more assurance of success.
Different actions, different results
March 2020 was the beginning of a disaster for the economy as businesses were asked to remain closed until further notice. The Elite team had no idea what their future was going to be like and how they were going to start again. Rather than allowing this setback to out shadow them, Elite was able to gain stability and emphasize the importance of having a diversified commercial window cleaning portfolio. Some examples of commercial window cleaning contract Elite took up are regular storefront cleaning, city contracts, and rental and property management companies. By focusing on larger commercial window cleaning contracts, Elite has converted this year of pain and adversity into success and triumph.
Why Elite franchise in 2021?
The year 2021 is going to be a crucial year where every business will try to bounce back. However, without businesses growing & flourishing, the state of the economy cannot show a promising uprise. Conventional businesses will become more complex and having suffered major losses, it is not the right domain to step in. In this phase of financial uncertainty, Elite, through its franchise is giving all the aspiring entrepreneurs a chance to step into the business world, with less risks and more assurance of success. Having survived the acid test of the business world, it understands how difficult it is to survive the mainstream business world and hence has laid an easy & straight path to success. All one needs to do is join hands with Elite and follow the tried and tested system.
Why one should opt for the Elite franchise in 2021? Primed areas with an existing client-base are available to purchase across Ontario, Elite offers a robust back-office support system, and no national competitor create significant increased chances of success.
With a clear vision for its franchisees, Elite looks forward to being a guiding force in Franchise Partner success.