Fish Window Cleaning Opens in Stow Friday

Wish your windows were streak-free and sparkling, but can’t face the hassle of cleaning them? Fish Window Cleaning will do it – along with cleaning your screens, sills, gutters, awnings, outdoor lights, indoor chandeliers and more.

And the work will be done by uniformed professionals who are licensed, bonded, and insured.

A private grand opening attracted officials from the city and the Stow-Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce to the company’s new business at 3869 Darrow Rd. Mayor Karen Fritschel cut the ceremonial ribbon marking the company’s foray into Stow.

Owner Peter Hays is one of the national firm’s newest franchisees, serving the north Akron territory. Hays said he chose Stow to set up shop “mainly because it’s a nice community, centrally located for my territory. Previously there was a franchisee in Kent who did not renew, so I thought the Fish name would be well branded around here.”

"It's always a good thing to have a new business choose your community to open its doors," said Chamber Executive Director Doris Stewart. "It really made sense for him to join the Stow-Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce. With 360 members in our chamber, we will be able to provide many opportunities for Mr. Hays to quickly get connected with other local businesses."

Fish Window Cleaning specializes in low-rise commercial and residential window cleaning. “We can go up to three stories; four in special circumstances,” said Hays, 31.

Prices for the service vary, as no two jobs are the same.

“We’ll do any kind of window, but each job is priced accordingly. That’s why we give free, no-obligation estimates for both commercial and residential,” said Hays. “Customers don’t even need to be there to get an estimate.”

Whether windows need cleaned annually or weekly, Fish can customize a cleaning program to meet customers’ needs, schedule and budget. No written contracts are involved.

Right now Hays has only two employees, but he’s confident that number will grow “once the residential season comes around.” Employees are drug-free and have undergone criminal background checks, he added.

In ads Hays has posted for job openings, he stresses that the company is “looking for courteous, self-motivated and friendly individuals that pay attention to detail.”

He said that type of person fits the employee profile that has made St. Louis-based Fish Window Cleaning into “the largest window cleaning company in the world.”

The company’s solid reputation is what got Hays into the window-cleaning business in the first place. After working for AT&T for seven years – first in sales, then in project management – Hays said he “just felt like I needed to do something bigger. I didn’t think it was going to take me to window cleaning, but it was a great opportunity, so I took it.”

He started researching franchising, which led him to attend the International Franchise Expo last year in Washington, D.C. There, he connected with a franchise advising company.

“They presented me with three franchises, and Fish was the best. They have great franchise support, and they’re great people. They give you the blueprint to be successful and it’s up to you to follow it and make it work,” said the Cleveland resident who grew up in Bainbridge.

For more information or to obtain a free estimate call 330-688-4700. The store is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.