How to Start a Gutter Cleaning Business in 9 Steps

By 2027, the global commercial cleaning market will generate $468.2B in revenue.

If you’re ready to start a gutter-cleaning business, now is the time. With more than 82 million homeowners in the US having single-story homes with gutters that are 150-200 linear feet long, there’s a strong demand for gutter cleaning services.

But if you want to make your business stand out from all the rest, you need to offer something that the other companies don’t—something worthwhile.

That’s where FieldCamp comes in! 

FieldCamp is a job scheduling tool that helps you schedule and dispatch jobs, track your workers’ schedules and completion status, and receive payments online. It’s easy to keep things running smoothly, so you can focus on what matters: ensuring your customers have great experiences with your business!

In this article, we have provided a simple guide to help you how to start a gutter cleaning business.

9 Steps to Start a Gutter Cleaning Business 

Starting a new gutter cleaning business is more complex than filing some forms with your city or state. To help you get started on the right path, here are 9 practical steps for beginning a gutter cleaning company.

1. Plan your gutter cleaning business

When you start a business, it’s always a good idea to have a clear business plan to go ahead. That way, you can map out your company’s specifics and identify some unknowns before launching.

Before launching a gutter cleaning service, make sure to draft a business plan keeping these things in mind:

• What will the initial and continuing expenses be?
• Who is your intended audience?
• How much are clients required to pay?
• What will the name of your company be?
• Do you already have a business bank account, or do you have to get one opened?

2. Register your business

You must register your own business with the state and the IRS before claiming income and paying taxes. To operate as a sole proprietor, you must choose a business name, register your company, and obtain all essential licenses and permissions from your state. 

You should establish your business entity—LLC, corporation, or other business entity. Remember that as a limited liability company (LLC) to receive liability protection if you intend to hire staff.

3. Purchase gutter cleaning tools

You can’t afford to waste time or money as a gutter-cleaning business owner. So you need to be equipped with the right gutter cleaning tools—basic and advanced both. When you choose the right equipment, you can focus on serving your target market. 

4. Establish accounting for your gutter cleaning company

As a business owner, you’re probably thinking about everything you need to do to keep your business running smoothly. But one thing that many forget is how important it is to keep track of your expenses and sources of revenue.

It’s crucial to understand the financial performance of your business. Keeping complete and accurate records also makes it easier to file your taxes each year.

5. Obtain the necessary permits & licenses for your gutter cleaning business

If you don’t have the correct paperwork, things are likely to go wrong.

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines or even the closure of your business. It’s essential to be aware of all the requirements for operating a company to avoid penalties and keep your doors open.

6. Get insurance for your business

As a business owner, you have to consider a lot of things. You have to ensure the safety of your employees and that they adhere to the law. You also need to keep your finances in good order.

Business insurance like general liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, and more are one of the most important things your company needs. It protects your financial stability, guards against property damage, third-party claims, and lawsuits, and ensures that all of your employees are safe at work.

7. Build a website for business

See, if you want to be known and make money, you have to get online—it’s that straightforward.

Creating a website is one of the most important things you can do for your business. It’s how people will find out about you and how you’ll reach out to potential customers and keep them updated on your offerings. It’s also a great way to market yourself and build brand recognition.

8. Create a marketing strategy

Business is booming for gutter cleaning services with a low entrance barrier. A strategic marketing strategy will help you increase awareness of your company online, build a social media following and register with Google. 

Additionally, your website should be user-friendly to give visitors a positive impression and make them inclined to hire you.

9. Offer additional gutter-related services

Have you ever considered expanding your business beyond gutter cleaning? 

The season for gutter cleaning businesses is often short, and there’s always a chance that your company will need more revenue to pay for ongoing expenses like marketing costs, insurance premiums, and salaries in the off-season.

Offering additional cleaning services congruent with gutter cleaning, such as minor gutter repairs, oil tank cleaning services, chemical cleaning services, window washing,  and more, will help.

Pros and Cons of a Gutter Cleaning Business

It’s essential to understand the risks associated with starting a successful gutter cleaning business. You can manage them if you’re wise and careful.

You must weigh the pros and cons of your small business before investing. By doing this, you can prepare for any challenges that may arise in the future.

Pros:

You can earn a lot of money as a small business owner

Most people hire employees to clean their gutters. It’s a dirty job, and people don’t want to do it themselves. The good news is that you can start your own gutter-cleaning business and make money from it.

Both the initial and recurrent costs are reasonably cheap

The fundamental tools cost around $550 if you already have a vehicle. While regular expenses include gas, car maintenance, and insurance charges. These are not insignificant costs, especially when compared to the start-up costs of other types of enterprises.

The company is mainly recession-proof

It is not an expensive service that you’re selling. Gutter cleaning will always be necessary, but many people won’t do it themselves out of concern for their safety.

Cons

Injury Is Possible

If you’re doing this activity, you must always be on the lookout and cautious. Additionally, confirm that you and your staff are using appropriate safety tools, taking safety precautions, and having proper insurance.

Seasonality

There’s a gutter cleaning season, and that’s when most work comes in. So, as a seasonal business, try to pair this service with other services to keep your business afloat during the off-season.

High levels of competition

Since there are few hurdles to entry in this industry, you should be aware of the fierce competition. Your best defense is to provide excellent service at a competitive price and become an expert marketer.

Equipment to Use for Gutter Cleaning Business

To provide competent service and satisfy consumers, as gutter cleaners, you must make the appropriate investment in gutter cleaning equipment. Instead of paying for them later after cheaper ones have worn out or broken, it’s preferable to pay upfront for high-quality instruments. The following are the necessities for starting a gutter-cleaning business:

• Van or another vehicle for getting around. 
• Leaf blower
• Scoop 
• Extension pole 
• Refuse bags 
• Buckets and tarps 
• Heavy-duty rubber gloves and boots 
• Safety helmet
• Light rubber shoes
• Long extension ladder and ladder stabilizer
• Strong safety rope

How Much Does Gutter Cleaning Business Cost?

If you are considering starting a gutter cleaning service, you might have some questions. How much will it cost? What equipment do I need to buy? How much time will it take?

There’s good news: starting a gutter cleaning service shouldn’t cost more than $2,000; you can also use the equipment you need for other tasks.

• The first thing you’ll need is a pressure washer for cleaning downspouts rapidly and a leaf blower for clearing away dry debris swiftly. These are not essential, but they will save you time and money in the long run.
• Once your business is up and running, there are still some things to sort out. You’ll want to consider how to manage your staff, how much it will cost to pay them, and how to ensure they’re doing their jobs well.

That’s where FieldCamp comes in! 

FieldCamp is an easy-to-use job scheduling software that makes managing your service business a breeze. With features for job management, job scheduling and dispatching, job time tracking, job completion, invoicing, and online payments, FieldCamp is the only service management software you’ll need!

Conclusion

As a gutter business service provider, you must stay on top of your job. The next most important step after starting your business is to find a way to manage your projects and keep track of your workflow.

FieldCamp is the cleaning business software that makes this possible. With FieldCamp, you can easily manage every job’s details from a distance. The software allows you to keep track of your workflows and manage them efficiently.

So, if you’re looking for a tool that makes job scheduling and dispatching, invoicing and payments, and work status tracking like a breeze, FieldCamp is just what you need! Sign up for the free trial today.