Risk: Moderate

Starting a window cleaning side hustle from scratch can involve risks for beginners, especially if they can't afford to lose money. Potential losses include money for equipment, marketing, and transportation, time spent on building a client base, energy dedicated to physical work, and confidence if results are not as expected. It's common for beginners to spend money on equipment and marketing efforts without seeing immediate returns. While startup costs for window cleaning can range from $200 to $1,000, there's a possibility that these costs might not pay off if a steady client base isn't established. Online discussions often mention challenges with pricing strategies, competition, and acquiring repeat customers, leading to potential financial losses. I'd rate the risk a 3 out of 5 because beginners could face setbacks in recouping initial investments and building a profitable window cleaning business.