Locally owned. Coast born.

In October 2025, my partner Finnley Ryan and I quit our restaurant jobs to start a window washing company. I was 20, Finn was 17, and neither of us really knew what we were doing yet. Today, Coastal Clear is a full-time business serving Laguna Beach, but the road here is worth telling.

Before all this, I was working at Ahba, a local restaurant in Laguna Beach. I knew I wanted more, but had no idea what or how. In April 2025, my brother, who works in real estate, sent me a video breaking down a window washing company called Pink's that had hit seven figures in a single year. It lit something in me. I spent $100 on equipment from Amazon, watched a few YouTube videos, and landed my first client almost immediately. Problem was, I had no idea what I was doing. I did a poor job, gave up halfway, apologized to the homeowner on my way out, and went back to shifts at Ahba.

In August 2025, Finn was hired at Ahba and we hit it off right away. He's sharp, charismatic, and thinks the way I think. I'd never let go of the window washing idea. I just thought I needed the right person. Turns out I'd already found him.

One night in October, mid-shift, I turned to Finn and asked if he wanted to quit and do something else. He said yes without hesitation, then asked what we'd be doing. "Wash windows." The next day we were at Home Depot. We practiced on my house, my uncle's house, and my grandma's house, and quickly realized this wasn't just about putting a mop to glass. It was about running a business. For months we took jobs, mostly for free, and built it piece by piece. One of our earliest paying customers was Trey Dewey, who my brother referred us to. In exchange for the work, he bought us a pressure washer. That's how we learned pressure washing isn't as easy as it looks either.

From December through January, we struggled to keep work consistent and stayed on at Ahba for income. By February, we had enough experience and a clear enough plan to commit fully. We both quit, went all-in, started running Meta ads, posted consistently on social media, and in May we hit our first five-figure month. All of this while still in school. Finn finishing high school, me studying business in college.

What sets us apart is simple: we actually show up and do the work ourselves. Most companies in this space outsource to day laborers. We're a two-man team, top to bottom, and we take pride in the trade. We care about doing excellent work and building real relationships with the people whose homes we're trusted with.

We don't have a specific number we're chasing. We just want to keep growing and one day be the premier window washing company in Laguna Beach. This is a warm community, and we feel genuinely lucky to live here and serve the people who've made this town their home.