Abbey Window Cleaning

When it comes to running a successful business, trust and reputation mean everything, and for Abbey Window Cleaning in Chester, that’s exactly what has driven their success for more than four decades.

“Most of our work has come through word of mouth,” says owner Nic Milner. “We’ve built a solid reputation over the years and that’s something I really value. When people recommend us, it means they trust us — and that’s everything.”

With hundreds of glowing reviews and a loyal customer base, Abbey Window Cleaning has built a name that speaks for itself. “We’ve dabbled with social media,” Nic admits, “but I’m definitely better at cleaning than marketing. I’ve never really been into the hard sell — we’ve just always focused on doing great work and letting that speak for us.”

That simple but powerful approach has paid off. The business continues to grow, recently welcoming another member to the team, with even bigger plans on the horizon.

Abbey Window Cleaning is a team of four, with three vans on the road. It’s very much a family business, one built on decades of hard work and dedication.

“My dad has been involved up until recently,” Nic explains. “He’s been gradually easing into retirement for a number of years, but he retired this month when he turned 70. It’s amazing that he’s been going so long, but I think he’s finally ready to hang up his squeegee!”

Nic’s dad started the business back in 1981, and his legacy still shapes everything Abbey Window Cleaning stands for today.

“As we approach 45 years of external cleaning in Chester, I’m proud that I joined the family business and took the reins to continue building on what he started,” says Nic. “His legacy carries weight with lots of our customers. We’ve built trust over decades by doing things the right way.”

What makes Abbey Window Cleaning different?

“I think what really sets us apart is that we genuinely care,” Nic says. “We don’t cut corners, we use the best gear, and I always try to look after our team and stay on the ball with health and safety. I think this has all contributed to who we are.”

It’s a philosophy rooted in pride, professionalism and people.

“I’ve always believed that if you take pride in your work, people notice. It’s not just about turning up, making money, and moving on. I invest back into the business, whether that’s through training, new equipment or making sure our staff are paid fairly and enjoy what they do. That shows in the quality of our work and in how long many of our customers have been with us. We still clean for customers who’ve been with us since day one!”

“Our growth has always been through reputation and being present in the community. We support local charities and events to give back to the people who’ve supported us all these years. I think people appreciate that we’re not just a service — we’re part of the local community.”

Like many small business owners, Nic knows how hard it can be to juggle work, family and everything in between.

“I have a young family and my children mean everything to me, so finding the right balance was a challenge,” he says. “I’m always thinking about the future, because one day they might want to take over the business too. I want to build something that lasts for them.”

That balance became much easier after discovering Squeegee.

“I’ve been using Squeegee for about three or four years and it’s honestly been a total game changer,” says Nic. “Before that, I was spending around 18 hours a week on admin — working all day, then sitting up late at night at the laptop. Now, I can manage everything on my phone throughout the day.”

“Not only has Squeegee made the business run smoother — helping organise workflow and notify customers — but it’s also given me back valuable personal time with my kids. I get to be present for all the little moments that matter and that’s time I can’t get back. I’m really grateful for that.”

For Nic, the biggest impact has been how easy it is to stay organised.

“The biggest difference has been just having everything right there on my phone,” he says. “I’m quite a visual person, so being able to see the work colour-coded and laid out area-by-area helps massively with planning and keeping the team on track.”

Squeegee has also transformed how they handle quotes and customer information.

“Having photos of all our customers’ properties stored in the app has made quoting so much easier. We can look at roof pitches, guttering, fascia — everything — without needing to visit in person. That used to take up a lot of time. And being able to add notes to customer accounts means everyone in the team always has the info they need.”

“Overall, the organisational side of Squeegee is just excellent. It’s taken a lot of the stress out of planning and helped us maintain the professional, streamlined service we’re known for.”

It’s been an exciting time for Nic, who’s just launched a new venture — Nic’s Gutters, offering roof cleaning, render treatment, gutter clearance, drone surveys and UPVC cleaning.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while — to build something from the ground up — while continuing to run Abbey Window Cleaning. It’s a fresh challenge and I’m really looking forward to seeing where it takes me.”

As for Abbey Window Cleaning, the goal remains simple: grow the business while staying true to what’s made it special for the past 45 years. “We’re bringing in the right team members and expanding across Cheshire and Flintshire, but it’s so important not to lose what’s made us successful.I don’t just hire anyone; the people in our team have to genuinely care. Whether it’s a small terraced house or a huge luxury property, our customers can trust us to treat their homes with respect. Turning up when we say we will, doing a great job, and making everything easy for the customer — that’s what it’s all about.”

“At the end of the day, I want our legacy to be more than just clean windows,” Nic reflects. “I want people to remember that we cared about our customers, our team and our city.”

Follow Abbey Window Cleaning and Nic’s Gutterson social media to keep up with their journey and the beginning of an exciting new chapter.