Glass Guru Franchise vs. Fish Window Cleaning

With a continuous annual growth rate of 1.6% projected through 2029, it’s a great time to invest in the window industry. Among other opportunities in the home services industry, window services stand out as a business venture that is low-cost to enter and easily adaptable to changing customer needs. You have a lot of choices when it comes to franchising in the window industry, including a Glass Guru franchise.

Understanding the finer points of investing in a Glass Guru franchise will help you make the right choice for your goals. Let’s look at the Glass Guru franchise and why franchising with Fish Window Cleaning ® might be a better opportunity.

Side-by-Side Comparison: Glass Guru Franchise and Fish Window Cleaning

First, some important figures. More information on the franchise costs for both Glass Guru and Fish Window Cleaning can be found under Item 7 of each brand’s franchise disclosure document (FDD).

	Glass Guru Franchise Cost	Fish Window Cleaning Cost
Franchisee Fee	$30,000 - $50,000*	$49,900 - $74,900*
Initial Investment	$126,305 - $219,530*	$106,800 - $171,500*
Net Worth Requirement	$350,000**	$150,000*
Liquid Capital Requirement	$150,000**	$100,000*
Royalty Fee	5%*	6-8%
Ad/Brand Development Fee	3%*	1%

**According to Glass Guru

Learn More About Glass Guru

Glass Guru was founded in 2004. They have been franchising since 2007, with 81 units opened in the United States and Canada since then. Fish Window Cleaning has been franchising since 1978 and has opened 270 locations nationwide.

Explore how the two franchises compare.

Services Offered

Unlike other opportunities in the window industry, Glass Guru franchises do not provide window cleaning services. Instead, they focus on window repair, installation, and replacement. They’re known for their foggy window repair services, which clear away moisture from multi-pane windows without replacing them.

As the nation’s largest window cleaning company, Fish Window Cleaning focuses on commercial and residential window cleaning. Ancillary cleaning services are available for hard-to-reach areas, like gutters and awnings.

Brand Culture

At Glass Guru, franchise owners are expected to follow the brand’s values-based business model, known as the Guru Way. This model prioritizes customer service, leadership, commitment, and best practices.

Fish Window Cleaning’s business model reflects a brand culture where work-life balance is key. In addition to emphasizing best-in-class service, attention to detail, and reliability, FISH recruits for character and invests in its people. FISH franchise owners never work nights, weekends, or holidays.

Owner Responsibilities

Glass Guru franchise owners may pursue an absentee ownership model, where someone else will do the work of operating their franchise location.

To start, FISH owners will need to work full-time in the business. Over time, they can step back and share their duties with an operations manager once their business is established and successful.

Glass Guru Franchise Cost

The Glass Guru franchise cost is roughly in line with industry standards, but their net worth and liquidity requirements are on the higher end. This may make it more difficult for newer investors to qualify financially.

Fish Window Cleaning’s net worth requirement is half of Glass Guru’s, making it a more accessible investment opportunity.

Both FISH and Glass Guru offer veterans a 10% discount off of the franchise fee.

 
Awards and Recognitions

Entrepreneur’s annual Franchise 500 list recognizes the all-around best franchise opportunities in the country. Glass Guru is not currently ranked on the Franchise 500.

Fish Window Cleaning is consistently ranked on the Franchise 500, coming in at #222 for 2025.

Your Franchise Opportunity with Fish Window Cleaning

Once you’ve considered each factor, it’s clear that Fish Window Cleaning is the right window industry investment. Unlike Glass Guru, which provides niche services that may be hard to scale, FISH delivers services that every home and business owner needs – and nobody does it better. We know what it takes to build a successful franchise.

Our commitment to service extends beyond our customers to every member of our franchise system. FISH isn’t just an outstanding investment; it’s an even better place to work. Experience the FISH difference for yourself! Request more information today to get started.