Why stop in Winter? Are we wimps, or do customers like dirty winter windows?

Hi everyone,

I’m wanting to start my business, today. well… when I wake up it’s 4 in the morning right now,

But… it’s winter, and i’m in nevada, winter is pretty short here, only like 2 months, but I’m wondering why everyone says Window cleaning is a seasonal business. it Does not make any sense to me.

Windows still get dirty in the winter. They still need to be cleaned. So why in the world does everyone stop? or… complain about winter? Do the customers tell you “don’t clean my windows because it’s winter”? or “we don’t want to hire you because its winter”?

I’m seriously baffled, and It doesn’t make any sense. to me it just seems like a Window washers choice because they don’t like cold hands. is that all it is?

I do see businesses that continue through the winter, and videos with strategies for winter cleaning in below freezing temperatures.

So why do they do it, and you don’t? Please let me know.

I work all year and I am in Indiana. I rarely get a request for residential work in the winter but I do storefront work all year.

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It’s 28º out and snowing- it’s Sunday… and I’m heading off to work.

Define “wimp.”

Yes windows get dirty year round. Selling window cleaning for residential in the winter is much harder. Many people (customers) just can’t wrap their head around it. Commercial is another story. Many companies will build a commecial route that helps bring in money year round regardless of seasons. Other companies prefer to work longer hours and more days a week during peak season so they can take some time off in the winter to rest, vacation, spend time with family, etc.

believe me, I’m sure most window cleaners wished there was no such thing as seasonality to our business. Heck, I’m already having clients checking to see if I’m still cleaning windows or will they have to wait for spring? This is THEIR line of thought, not the professional window cleaner.

here in the UK theres no let up year round , maybe more demand in the winter when the also-rans cannot hack it and hibernate.

its tough in Winter of course with cold hands etc but hey,no pain,no gain -as they say :slight_smile:

Id say its more the fact that work slows down. Commercial building contracts in our area are April-nov. Resi work dosent really happen ,besides the holidays, and storefront is alot of footwork to be chasing around $10 bills when it’s 10 degrees out. Nevada, I could see plenty of opportunities with add ons to supplement the 2 month winter. I do have to say, up here in Minnesota , we are not so lucky to have a mild 2 month winter. The off time up here is more forced upon us, as opposed to us being “wimps” of the cold.

I don’t see it as a “wimp” scenario, I see it as a “welcome rest” situation lol

Honestly though, I started my business in January 2010 in the midst of snow hell. Alll the other bucket bobs (and yes, i was a bucket bob then) had gone into hibernation mode for the winter, and scoring storefront jobs was simple because of that.

Now, since Im 100% residential, its more of a customer interest thing in the winter. Last winter was decent, and even if its cold and snowy i expect this winter to be relatively busy (2 homes a week is cool by me).

Go ahead and start in the winter, a little bit of creative marketing and you’ll do just fine :slight_smile:

Last winter was my first winter in the business. Last year was also the mildest winter in like 10 years here, so this will be a real test of what happens in winter for my business. I do mostly residential and I can already see the phones are slowing down. Im busy till the end of Nov but fewer calls are coming in. I have no problem working all winter if the work is there and I have no problem taking some much needed rest. Either way I’m ready for work if the work is there, but I’m not going out hunting for it till spring. AM I a whimp? I don’t think so.

I start storefront marketing once snow flies because many of the other companies just stop coming. My marketing is just walking by… they come out and ask for my services.

I live in an area where storefront windows get way dirtier in the winter if there is a lot of snow, sleet, freezing rain. Obviously due to salting, cindering, sanding, and then plowing and splashing.
As far as residential- are you in a vacation area where people want clean windows to look out at the slopes? That may be a regional advantage for winters for you.

We don’t stop. We just crank up the methanol…

Never stop I wanna try pushing homes still good up sell in some areas roof snow removal

Explain this to be please, I might want to do that during the winter!!

We do window cleaning in Plano, Tx so we get to work all year long which is nice. I don’t think I could stand cleaning them in the snow! :slight_smile:
bcleanwindows.com/

John winter is a great opportunity to pick up store front work… Other cleaners stop showing up when its cold.

How cold does it get in Plano? I am on the outskirts of Memphis TN and it rarely ever snows here. Occassionally it gets below freezing. Im curious if this area is seasonal when it comes to residential. Thanks

It’s more about what the window cleaner/business owner wants. It seems a lot of window cleaning businesses have this attitude on business is slow. How about go market and advertise more instead of sitting around waiting. I clean only Residential currently and still have new added customers booking this december. Commercial though will always be the best for rain/wind/snow days. I just prefer to build on residential and eventually I’ll do Store Fronts.

The topic got me thinking, we slow by choice from mid December to March 1st for a few reasons.

Personally I enjoy the time off but do maintain a few things here and there but very minimal.

Employees don’t really want to work in our winters once temps get below 30 degrees. Since they choose not to I have no pressure to solicite work for those harder to fill months.

Another issue is it costs more with adding alcohol for temps -10 to 30 degrees, jobs take longer due to cold temps and more breaks but still charge the same, no thanks. A customer won’t pay more to schedule in winter.

We choose to make great money while the demand is there and enjoy some well needed time off after. Allowing us to revisit our past season and make plans to improve where needed to be more efficient and increasing our profits for the upcoming season.

I do recieve the same pay 12 months a year so there’s no issue there. Seasonal work shouldn’t mean you don’t pay yourself in the off season.

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