How a Window Cleaning Business Survives During the Winter

In some parts of the country, window washers can clean commercial and residential windows all year long, regardless of the month, because the seasons in that part of the country are much milder and more consistent.

Well, that’s great for them, but what about the rest of us? It’s the sentiment I hear expressed most often on this subject. But I have good news for you. Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean your income has to die, it just means you have to adapt and expand the services you offer.

Before I begin to describe some of the many ways a window cleaner can make money during the winter, let me remind you that while the residential market may slow down during the winter months, the commercial market continues to provide steady income. Why? Because business companies need to keep storefronts and office spaces clean to make them attractive to customers. This means that they need your window cleaning services just as much or more during the winter than they do in the summer.

Now let’s look at some different ways you can keep your window cleaning business in profit during the slow winter months. I will share with you various services that you can offer, but do not limit yourself to only these services. Think outside the box and think about what your customers need during the winter months other than window cleaning.

Installation of Christmas lights

One of the most cost-effective services you can offer your current and potential customers in the winter is a Christmas light installation service. In this case, your customers would pay you to hang the Christmas lights, then come back at the end of the season and remove them. This can be extremely cost-effective if done right, charging the customer upfront for both installation and removal. This can generate a good amount of change in your hand just before Christmas. Installing Christmas lights has become such a big part of my winter income that I’ve started another company that only deals with holiday and special event lighting.

gutter cleaning

This may be a year-round service, but it is much more profitable during the fall and winter months. Gutter cleaning is essentially using your ladders to reach the gutters of clients’ homes and then cleaning out all the debris. This is an essential service for many homeowners who live in areas with a lot of deciduous vegetation, as leaves, dirt, twigs, and other debris can quickly clog a home’s gutter system. This debris is not only unsightly, it also creates a fire hazard and prevents the gutters from doing their primary job of flushing water out of the house. Water damage is a very expensive repair and many homeowners are happy to pay you to clean their gutters once or twice a year.

pressure washing

This is another service that can be offered year-round, but can also be very lucrative in the winter months. Water mixed with dust and dirt causes mud and sludge to get everywhere in winter. Especially in areas where the city’s transportation department spreads dirt over the roads to prevent people from sliding on the ice; that dirt has to go somewhere and a large percentage ends up in parking lots and against commercial businesses. These businesses get really excited when you offer a pressure washing service to clean their sidewalks and walkways.

The services described above are only a fraction of the services that a window cleaning company can offer to its clients during the winter months. This article is not meant to be exhaustive, but rather to help you think about what you can offer your clients to earn extra money in the off-season.