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Make every day more productive and profitable
Make every day more productive and profitable
When The Window Brothers launched in January 2025, founder Ollie was no stranger to running a successful service business. Having already built a strong reputation with his exterior cleaning company, Gutter Brothers, he recognised an opportunity to expand into window cleaning and create a dedicated business focused on delivering exceptional customer service.
What began as a complementary service has quickly grown into a thriving operation. Just over a year later, Window Brothers has five vans on the road, a growing team, and plans to add a sixth vehicle in the near future.
We caught up with Ollie to hear the story behind Window Brothers, the lessons he's learned while scaling the business, and how Squeegee has helped create the systems needed to support rapid growth without compromising on service quality.
From Firefighter to Business Owner Window Brothers was born out of the success of Gutter Brothers, a business Ollie originally started while working as a firefighter with the London Fire Brigade.
What began as a side business soon gained momentum.
"At some point, I had to make a decision," Ollie explains. "Do I stay with the Brigade and keep it as a side business, or do I go all in? I chose to go all in."
As Gutter Brothers expanded, he recognised an opportunity to build a complementary business that offered more consistent year-round demand.
"Building a business around rain isn't necessarily the smartest long-term strategy," he says. "We saw an opportunity to create a brand that shared the same DNA as Gutter Brothers while offering a service with more consistent demand throughout the year. That's where the Window Brothers came from." While the growth has been impressive, Ollie is most proud of the team behind it.
"We've got a great group of lads who work hard, support each other and genuinely care about doing a great job for our customers. The culture we've built is something I'm particularly proud of."
The power of branding and culture
Ask Ollie what sets Window Brothers apart, and he doesn't point to a single service or marketing tactic.
Instead, he highlights two key factors: branding and company culture.
"It's difficult to pinpoint one unique selling point, but I'd say it's a combination of our branding and our culture."
The Window Brothers brand is instantly recognisable, carrying over elements from Gutter Brothers while establishing its own identity.
"The original Gutter Brothers colours were purple, blue and gold. For Window Brothers, we kept the same palette but made gold the primary colour, blue the secondary colour and purple more of an accent."
Ollie believes it's the team's commitment to customer service that truly makes the difference.
"Everyone genuinely cares about delivering an exceptional customer experience, and that commitment shows in the quality of service we provide."
Growing through multiple marketing channels Like many successful service businesses, Window Brothers hasn't relied on a single source of leads.
The company has used a combination of:
Each channel has contributed to growth, but Ollie says customer referrals have become increasingly important as the business has expanded.
"Delivering a great service creates a snowball effect. Happy customers recommend us to friends, family and neighbours."
Why Google reviews matter
One area where Window Brothers has been particularly focused is generating Google reviews.They now have over 850 5 star Google reviews.
"Google reviews have been huge for us and we've made them a real priority from day one."
For potential customers comparing local service providers, reviews often become the deciding factor.
"When someone is choosing between several window cleaners, reviews often make the difference."
The benefits extend beyond lead generation too.
"They're also fantastic for team morale. When one of the lads receives a glowing review from a customer, it's genuine recognition for the effort they've put in and reinforces the standards we're trying to maintain."
Why Window Brothers chose Squeegee
Before moving to Squeegee, Window Brothers was using Jobber, a platform that had already worked well for Gutter Brothers.
However, as the business grew, Ollie knew they needed something more.
"We knew that having a direct integration with GoCardless was going to be non-negotiable, and Jobber didn't offer that functionality."
When evaluating alternatives, Squeegee stood out for more than just its features.
"Squeegee felt like a company that was genuinely ambitious and constantly trying to improve. That mindset aligned closely with our own values as a business."
While the GoCardless integration was the main driver behind the switch, partnering with a software company focused on innovation was equally important.
The Impact of Squeegee
The biggest operational improvement has come from simplifying payment collection.
"Without question, the GoCardless integration has had the biggest impact."
Before switching, customer and payment information had to be managed across separate systems.
"They didn't communicate with each other, which created unnecessary admin and increased the risk of mistakes."
Now, everything works together seamlessly.
"A job can be completed in Squeegee and payment is collected automatically. It's been a complete game changer for us."
The reduction in administration has allowed the team to focus more on customers and business growth rather than manual processes.
"The amount of admin we've been able to remove has been significant."
What's Next for Window Brothers?
Despite the rapid growth, Ollie and the team aren't rushing to expand into new areas.
Instead, their focus is on strengthening what they've already built.
"We're very happy with the geographical area we operate in. Over the next couple of years, the focus is on increasing density within our existing territory and continuing to improve the service we provide."
Once that foundation is even stronger, they'll look at the next stage of growth. For now, the mission remains simple: build a better business, support the team and continue delivering an exceptional customer experience.
With a strong brand, ambitious leadership and the right systems in place, Window Brothers looks set to continue its impressive growth journey.