Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Brandon Downer and Carter Smith got hit with every corporate worker’s worst nightmare—they were laid off. No paycheck, no security, and no clue what was next. But instead of sitting around, they did something most people wouldn’t even consider: they started a window cleaning business.
Launched in 2020, their business didn’t stay small for long. Thanks to a mix of clever marketing, vintage work uniforms, and a no-BS approach to customer service, their company blew up on social media. Fast forward a few years, and they’ve turned a once-boring, blue-collar gig into a multi-million-pound franchise spreading across the US.
Their Story
With time to spare and a need for income, Brandon and Carter came up with the idea of window cleaning whilst out on a walk together. The now seemingly ingenious decision to pick an industry such as window cleaning, initially came because it was something they could start straight away without any qualifications. Funnily enough, Carter had already been toying with the idea after spotting a window cleaner outside his house during a brutal 60-person layoff call on Zoom!
Frustrated by personal experiences—plumbers arriving hours late, ghosting technicians, and shoddy workmanship—they recognized a glaring gap in customer experience. Why was the standard so low? Determined to flip the script, they aimed to create a seamless, reliable, and dignified service. They wanted customers to feel valued and respected, and they wanted to elevate the perception of blue-collar work, which they believed was the backbone of the town.
Drawing inspiration from the entrepreneurial spirit that permeates Austin and brands like Yeti Coolers—known for overengineering their product, telling a compelling story, and building a strong brand—Brandon and Carter saw an opportunity. They realized no one in the service industry was bringing that level of care and branding to a simple business like window cleaning. By transforming an overlooked trade with a fresh look, a strong brand, and an obsession with quality, Pink’s Window Cleaning didn’t just clean windows; they cleaned up the industry’s image—building a $1 million business in the process.
Their Partnership
When discussing their partnership, Carter describes the ‘Ying & Yang’ differentiation of both of their skills and how it combines to make the business what it is, with Carter being the mind behind the marketing and brand of Pink’s whilst Brandon is more focused on the processes, finances and operations of the company.
“If I were to have started it (without Brandon) we would just be wearing random shit, we would have never followed anything, there wouldn’t be any process” – Carter Smith
In the early days, they were ‘everything’ people—handling quotes, scheduling jobs, and cleaning windows themselves. It worked at first, but as the business grew, the cracks started to show. Realizing how inefficient this approach was, they divided and conquered. Brandon took charge of commercial quoting while Carter focused on residential. And when the business really took off and Pink’s began franchising, their roles expanded even more. Carter took the reins of Pink’s Austin and doubled down on marketing, while Brandon focused on scaling the franchise side of the business.
Scott Galloway once said, ‘Pick a business partner who complements your skill set. You don’t want someone who’s just like you. You want someone who can fill in the gaps.’ Carter and Brandon’s story is a perfect example of this. Their partnership highlights the power of having complementary skills—The ‘Yin & Yang’ balance between them was key to the creation of Pink’s Windows Cleaning.
Franchising
Pink’s Window Cleaning went from strength to strength, eventually reaching a monthly recurring revenue of $62,000, which led to Carter and Brandon to want to scale this business even more through franchising.
This was not their primary motivation for wanting to franchise Pink’s, speaking on Johnny & Sergio’s podcast, Brandon stated that due to their corporate backgrounds leaving them feeling unutilized, they wanted to provide an opportunity for others to follow in their footsteps and have a chance at escaping the American rat race.
“At month one, both of us were like this is way better than any job we’ve had in the past and both of our lives were changed for the better. Our thought was we can grow this thing out and change other peoples lives as well.” – Brandon Downer
The decision became clear to them after multiple people reached out to them saying that they wanted to bring Pink’s to their city. Carter and Brandon then teamed up with Rezy’s agency, who saw a trend with people leaving their corporate roles to move into their own blue collar business, which then led into Pink’s Window Cleaning surging into the renown franchise that it has now become.
Summary
Pink’s Window Services has grown from a small startup to a thriving business, currently generating over $1 million in annual revenue. With the addition of franchising, Pink’s has expanded rapidly, with over 150 franchises awarded, and continues to impact both their clients and their team in meaningful ways. This impressive achievement reflects not only their business acumen but also the genuine intention behind the company.
The takeaway? Even the most unglamorous industries can turn into goldmines if you add some personality, hustle, and a fresh spin. Brandon and Carter didn’t just clean windows—they built a brand that made people pay attention. And that’s where the real money is.