Oct 15, 2025
Step-by-step guide to launching a window treatment business. Learn about licensing, suppliers, pricing, marketing, and getting your first clients.
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Starting a window treatment business can be incredibly rewarding—both financially and personally. There's something satisfying about transforming a room with the perfect blinds, shutters, or drapes, and seeing the joy on your customer's face when they see the finished result.
I've helped dozens of entrepreneurs launch successful window treatment businesses over the years, and I can tell you that while it's not get-rich-quick, it's definitely a solid path to building a profitable local business. The best part? You don't need a massive upfront investment or years of specialized training to get started.
Here's exactly how to launch your window treatment business, step by step.
Before you invest a single dollar, you need to understand your local market inside and out. This isn't just about seeing if competitors exist—it's about finding your opportunity to stand out.
Start with these searches:
What you're looking for:
Competitor weaknesses you can exploit:
Market opportunities:
I once helped a client who discovered that every window treatment company in his area had terrible websites and took forever to return calls. He focused on fast response times and professional online presence—and booked $50,000 in revenue his first six months just by being more responsive than his competition.
Pro tip: Check Nextdoor, Facebook neighborhood groups, and local Facebook marketplace. See what people are asking for and complaining about regarding window treatments. This is pure market research gold.
This might not be the exciting part, but getting your legal structure right from day one saves you headaches and money down the road.
Form an LLC first. This protects your personal assets and makes you look professional to suppliers and customers. You can handle this yourself through your state's business portal, or use a service like Bizzee to streamline the process and make sure everything's filed correctly.
Get your resale certificate immediately. This is huge—it allows you to purchase products from suppliers without paying sales tax, then collect and remit the tax when you sell to customers. Depending on your state, this could save you 6-10% on every purchase. That adds up fast.
Check your local requirements. Some counties or cities require additional business licenses for home improvement contractors. A quick call to your city clerk's office will tell you what you need. Better to handle this upfront than get surprised during your first big project.
Consider general liability insurance. You'll be in customers' homes with tools and ladders. Accidents happen. Most suppliers also require proof of insurance before they'll set up dealer accounts with you.
Your supplier relationships will make or break your profitability, so choose carefully. You generally have two options:
National manufacturers
The downside? Longer lead times (often 3-4 weeks) and you're competing with every other dealer in your area.
Local manufacturers typically offer:
The trade-off is usually higher per-unit costs and less brand recognition.
My recommendation: Start with one solid local manufacturer for speed and margins, then add a national brand as you grow. This gives you the best of both worlds.
Before you commit to any supplier:
In today's market, your website is often the first impression potential customers get of your business. A professional online presence isn't optional—it's essential for competing.
Your website needs to accomplish three things:
Focus on local SEO from day one. When someone searches "plantation shutters near me," you want to be on that first page of results. This takes time to build, but it's the most cost-effective way to generate consistent leads.
Essential pages for your website:
Google Business Profile is critical. This free listing is your ticket to appearing in Google's "Map Pack"—those three businesses that show up with maps when people search locally. Complete your profile 100%, upload photos regularly, and actively collect reviews.
If you're not naturally tech-savvy, consider working with a specialist who understands the window treatment industry. They can help you avoid common mistakes and start ranking faster.
Nothing kills credibility faster than showing up to measure a customer's windows with a bent tape measure and a clipboard from the dollar store.
Essential measuring and installation tools:
Vehicle branding is incredibly powerful. A well-designed vehicle wrap costs $1,500-$3,500 but acts as a mobile billboard every time you drive. I've seen businesses get multiple calls per week just from their wrapped vehicles being seen around town.
Keep your branding consistent: Your vehicle, business cards, website, and uniforms should all look cohesive. This builds trust and recognition in your local market.
Here's where the rubber meets the road. You can have the perfect setup, but without customers, you don't have a business.
Farmers markets and community events are goldmines for window treatment businesses. People can see samples, ask questions, and get to know you personally. Bring a portfolio of before/after photos and some actual product samples they can touch.
Build relationships with realtors and contractors. These are your best sources of consistent referrals. Real estate agents are constantly dealing with buyers who want to update window treatments, and contractors often need someone they can recommend for the finishing touches.
Start with your network. Offer friends and family a discount in exchange for honest reviews and referrals. These first few projects will give you experience, photos for your portfolio, and hopefully some Google reviews to build credibility.
Join local Facebook groups and Nextdoor. Don't spam these groups, but participate genuinely. Answer questions, share helpful tips, and occasionally showcase a beautiful installation (with permission). People buy from people they know and trust.
The follow-up game matters. When someone inquires about your services, how quickly do you respond? If you're not getting back to people within a few hours during business hours, you're losing jobs to faster competitors.
Let's be realistic about timelines and expectations. Most successful window treatment businesses don't become profitable overnight, but they also don't take years to get going.
Months 1-3: Focus on setup, first customers, and learning your processes. Expect to make mistakes—that's normal. Document what works and what doesn't.
Months 3-6: You should start seeing word-of-mouth referrals and repeat business. This is when you'll know if your market positioning is working.
Months 6-12: With consistent marketing and good service, many window treatment businesses hit $10,000-$15,000 per month in revenue by their first anniversary.
The key is treating every single customer like they could refer you to ten more people—because they can.
Underpricing your work. New business owners often compete on price instead of value. Don't race to the bottom—focus on quality, service, and customer experience instead.
Overextending your service area. It's tempting to say you'll drive anywhere for work, but travel time eats into profits quickly. Define your primary service area and stick to it until you're established.
Neglecting the business side. You might love the installation work, but bookkeeping, marketing, and customer service are equally important. Set aside time each week for administrative tasks.
Not collecting reviews. Happy customers often forget to leave reviews unless you make it easy and remind them. Develop a system for requesting reviews after each successful project.
Starting a window treatment business isn't just about hanging blinds and shutters—you're helping people transform their homes and feel more comfortable in their spaces. It's detail-oriented work that requires good customer service skills, but the barrier to entry is lower than many other home improvement businesses.
The entrepreneurs who succeed in this industry are the ones who focus on professionalism, responsiveness, and building genuine relationships in their communities. If that sounds like you, then this could be exactly the business opportunity you've been looking for.
Take it one step at a time, don't skip the foundational work, and remember that every successful business started with someone taking that first step. Your first customer is out there right now, probably searching Google for window treatments in your area.
If you're serious about launching your window treatment business but want to make sure you're heading in the right direction, I'm offering new startups a completely free 20-minute strategy call—no pitch, no sales pressure, just practical guidance tailored to your specific market and situation.
During our call, we'll cover:
I've helped dozens of window treatment entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground, and I genuinely enjoy seeing people succeed in this industry. Whether you end up working with us or going it alone, you'll walk away with actionable insights you can implement immediately.
No strings attached. No follow-up calls unless you ask for them. Just 20 minutes of focused advice to help you start strong.
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