Some people solely clean gutters while others use it as an add-on service to their existing window cleaning, landscaping, pressure washing, handyman or pest control business. The hours are flexible, there are customers year-round and you can work at your own pace.
Traditionally armed with a ladder, blower, garden hose, and basic transportation that will take you from one job to the next, it is possible to earn up to $800 per day cleaning leaves and other debris from rain gutters. Because some houses are more challenging than others, most gutter cleaners work in pairs.
Traditional gutter cleaners carry long ladders and do not fear climbing on roofs to blow leaves, pine needles, sticks and dirt out of the gutters with a handheld or backpack blower. Traditional gutter cleaning is very physical.
Property Maintenance Experts
Traditional gutter cleaners may climb a ladder up and down while moving around the structure or climb up to the roof on a ladder and blow the gutters out with a backpack blower while standing on the roof. Both of these methods are hazardous and there are United States laws that require certain safety procedures and cautions to be taken.
This is typically a speedy process but VERY DANGEROUS. Approximately 90, 000 people are hospitalized annually in the USA due to falling off ladders. The number one reason?...carrying something up or down the ladder like a leaf blower or paint can.
Time is money and inevitably gutter cleaners look to speed up the cleaning process or try to get a job done quickly so they can move on to the next job. So we find that risk proportionally increases for a period of time as someone moves from beginner to novice and from novice to expert.
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These professionals need specific insurance policies to cover gutter cleaning (which aren't cheap) and no matter how experienced the gutter cleaner, one mis-step or slip and it could wreck the business. Let's reiterate....a gutter cleaner can work for 1 year, 5 years, 10 years or more but one mis-step can wreck the business and no one is immune.
Here's what happened to a gutter cleaning business we personally know (in the USA). This company employed 30 people for lawn care and hds two teams for gutter cleaning.
One day a less-experienced employee decides to jump from a 3rd story to 2 story roof while on a residential gutter cleaning, slips and falls and shatters his ankle. Quite frankly he's lucky the injury wasn't worse. Come to find out the companies policy has a gutter cleaning exclusion in their insurance policy. Everyone was sued including the homeowner. The insurance company dropped their policy and they were unable to get another policy. This put them out of the gutter cleaning business altogether.
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Workers' compensation for small business is a form of employer insurance coverage that pays benefits to workers who are injured or become disabled as a result of their job. By accepting workers' compensation benefits, the employee waives the right to sue their employer for damages. This is paid for by the employer. Every state has its own workers' compensation laws.
Workers' compensation for self-employed individuals is an optional but often recommended coverage. Buying a policy provides you medical and partial wage coverage if you aren't able to work after an injury.
General liability insurance is something you should consider for your business. This type of policy typically covers you and your company for claims involving bodily injury and property damage resulting from your service.
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Alternatively, SkyVac is a safer method for cleaning gutters....by vacuuming gutters unto 40 feet high safely from the ground. Click here to compare the various gutter vacuum systems.
Aside from the actual physical work, one of the most important aspects of the gutter cleaning business is pricing, marketing, earning new customers and retaining existing customers. We find that many people in this industry are good at doing the actual cleaning but less experienced or enthusiastic about getting the business.
It's important that you use a good CRM (Customer Relationship Management Software) to help easily track all communications and nurture customer relationships. You are likely to need software to manage your business with the back-and-forth interactions, estimates, quotes, scheduling, invoicing and payments aspect of the business.
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Optionally, you could join us for a SkyVac Training Day (typically offered once per month in our Sanford NC, USA facility) where we train new start-ups and existing companies who want to add other services to their portfolio. We charge $75 for this full day workshop. It includes up to 2 people from your group and lunch. This fee is deducted from any purchase you make during your visit.Gutters are excellent at collecting water from roofs and directing it down specific channels, but they also do a great job of collecting other debris. While homeowners can clear out this debris themselves, many prefer not to, aren’t comfortable on a ladder, or don’t have the time. Instead, they have a gutter cleaning business remove the leaves, branches, and other stuff that collects in their gutters over time.
Gutter cleaning is part of the ”building exterior cleaning industry” , a $9 billion industry that’s seen 5 percent annual growth over the past five years. The industry at large, and gutter cleaning, in particular, present many promising opportunities for prospective business owners.
There is more to starting a business than just registering it with the state. We have put together this simple guide to starting your gutter cleaning business . These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.
Gutter Cleaning Flyer Editable Canva Template Us Letter Size.
A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:
A gutter cleaning business can be started for less than $2, 000 , especially if business owners already have some equipment. Business owners need:
Business owners may also want a pressure washer for quickly cleaning downspouts, and a leaf blower for quickly cleaning dry debris. These aren’t absolutely necessary.
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Those who don’t have a vehicle that can carry a ladder can start out renting a truck whenever they have a job. Once the business generates enough income to purchase a larger vehicle, business owners can get something that will hold a ladder.
The primary market for a gutter cleaning business is homeowners who can afford to contract out at least some home maintenance. These tend to be middle, upper-middle, and upper class homeowners.
A gutter cleaning business charges homeowners for cleaning out their home’s gutters. Business owners will frequently base their fees on how many linear feet of gutters a home has, although they may calculate a flat rate for the whole job. It’s also common to charge more for second-story gutters than first-story ones.
Gutter Cleaning Cost Guide
As an example, assume a business owner charges $1.00 per linear foot for first-story gutters and $1.50 per foot for second-story gutters. On a two-story house with 80 feet of first-story gutters and 45 feet of second-story gutters, the price would come to $147.50 (80 ft. x $1.00 + 45 ft. $1.50). The business owner may quote $150 to the customer for this job.
Gutter cleaning costs vary quite a bit. The Roofer’s Helper mentions charging $75 for a typical ranch house and $100 for a standard two-story home. Shoestring Profits gives an example of $45 for a garage and $120 for a two-story home, or $165 for both. Some businesses charge even more than this.
The best way to determine how much to charge is by simply requesting quotes from competitors. Business owners should price themselves similar to or slightly below other companies in their area.
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Business owners might earn between $200 and $300 in a full day, but this doesn’t necessarily translate to a $75, 000 annual income. Work is seasonal, with most customers wanting their gutters cleaned in the fall. It can be difficult to schedule a full day of work the rest of the year.
There are many ways that business owners can increase their revenue. Many business owners offer to make minor gutter repairs while working, and some offer gutter guards. It’s also common for gutter cleaners to offer leaf removal, window washing, and skylight cleaning services.
Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Gutter Cleaning Business Name Generator
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If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.
Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your gutter cleaning business is sued.
You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee.
Best Gutter Cleaning Contractors Insurance
Recommended: You will need to elect a registered agent for your LLC. LLC formation packages usually include a free year of registered agent services. You can choose to hire a registered agent or act as your own.
You can acquire your
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