As a pressure washing contractor, you're constantly looking for ways to enhance your business efficiency and profitability. One "add-on" or "bolt-on" service to consider is gutter cleaning.
Most contractors — quite rightly — worry about the safety of cleaning gutters the traditional way. Going up and down the ladder while carrying heavy equipment is asking for trouble.
An investment that might be on your radar is a high-reach gutter vacuum cleaning system. This system uses a high-powered vacuum and gutter cleaning poles, allowing you to provide gutter maintenance without having to use a ladder.
In the evaluation stage of your purchase, it's crucial to weigh the benefits against the costs. Let's dive into how a gutter vacuum system can be a game-changer for your pressure-washing business.
1. A Key to Increased Revenue is Time Efficiency
As you know, time is money — especially in the pressure washing industry.
Traditional gutter cleaning methods can be time-consuming and typically involve taking risks, such as climbing ladders and manually scooping out the debris.
Alternatively, you can clean gutters with a pressure washer that has an angled attachment or by using a leaf blower. Both of these methods have the added task of cleaning up the debris off the side of the house, off the patio, the driveway, or the garden area. In effect, they create more work.
A gutter vacuum system streamlines this process significantly, making it faster than the traditional methods. With the extended reach provided by the gutter poles (up to 3 stories) and the powerful suction of a commercial gutter vacuum, you can clean gutters more quickly and efficiently.
You will not be climbing up the ladder, scooping out the debris into a bag or bucket, climbing down the ladder, moving it, and then climbing the ladder to repeat the process over and over again. This time saving translates directly into the ability to take on more jobs in a day, boosting your revenue potential.
2. Reducing the Safety Risks and Insurance Costs
Working at heights is inherently risky. Using ladders for gutter cleaning not only poses a safety risk to you and your employees but can also impact your workers' comp and general liability insurance premiums.
A gutter vacuum system is designed for safety, allowing for operation from the ground. Therefore, it reduces the risk of falls and injuries to a minimum.
This safety aspect can lead to lower insurance costs and fewer days lost to injury, and, as a result, be a direct saving for your business.
3. Expanding Your Service Offering
Diversification is a key growth strategy for any small business owner. By adding gutter cleaning to your list of services, you can attract a broader customer base. Plus, you can tap into your existing customer base more efficiently.
Homeowners and commercial clients alike need gutter cleaning to preserve their investment, and being able to offer this service alongside pressure washing makes your business a convenient one-stop solution. It can lead to increased customer retention and referrals.
4. Quality of Service: Gaining a Competitive Edge
In a competitive market, offering something different can set you apart. Gutter vacuum systems often clean gutters more thoroughly than manual and traditional methods.
By offering gutter vacuuming to clean your customer's gutters you elevate your business' reputation. You will not leave the customer worried about the damage a ladder would cause to their gutters nor about liability when somebody is else risking their lives climbing the roof on their property.
All of it can result in invaluable word-of-mouth referrals and repeat business.
5. Durability and Maintenance Costs
When considering ROI, it's important to look at the lifespan and maintenance costs of the equipment. With gutter vacuums, there is little maintenance needed. The main concern is keeping the motors free from debris, which means making sure the filter is intact and clean.
That’s it. Gutter cleaning vacuum systems are generally robust and require minimal maintenance.
6. Environmental Considerations
Today's market values eco-friendly services. Gutter vacuum systems are inherently cleaner, collecting debris into the tank of the vacuum.
When you are done, you should end up with a black trash bag full of debris, which can be disposed of responsibly. Either haul it away or tip it into the homeowner's yard waste bin.
This eco-friendly aspect can be a selling point for environmentally conscious clients, potentially opening up new market segments.
7. Training and Ease of Use
The learning curve for operating a gutter vacuum system is relatively low compared to other specialized equipment. It takes probably 3 to 4 houses to get the hang of the equipment and get the technique down.
It means your team can be quickly trained, ensuring you get the most out of your investment without significant downtime or training costs.
8. Work All Year Round
The biggest advantage of offering gutter cleaning as a service is the fact that you can work all year long. At those times of the year when the pressure washing dries up, that time can be booked with gutter jobs.
Gutter cleaning can provide that much-needed cash flow boost in the winter months when business is normally quiet.
9. The Economics: ROI
In terms of how much you can make per job, you have to take into consideration two main variables.
- The average height of the house(s) you will be cleaning
- The amount of gutters they have at each level
Generally, gutter cleaners charge per linear foot. As a rule of thumb, it is acceptable to charge $1.95 per linear foot for the first-floor gutters, $2.95 per linear foot for the second floor, and $3.95 per linear foot for the third-floor (or whatever you can get from the client because nobody wants to clean third floors).
For an average 2-story house of about 2500 square feet, you should be quoting between $250 - $350 per house. With the average cost of a gutter vacuum system being $3000, you should be able to own the equipment "free and clear" after 8-10 houses. Then it is all gravy!
Summary: A Smart Investment for Long-Term Growth
Investing in a gutter cleaning vacuum system offers numerous benefits, from increased efficiency and safety to expanding your service range and enhancing service quality. These factors collectively contribute to a strong ROI, positioning your pressure-washing business for long-term success and growth.
As you contemplate this investment, consider not just the immediate cost but the long-term returns it can bring to your business in terms of revenue, safety, and reputation. And, of course, the fact that you can be making money all year long.
