I have a small window cleaning operation that I started this year. It is part time right now, but next Spring I will quit my full time job and focus on my business full time. I am slightly worried about what my business will bring during the winter months. I live in Colorado Springs, CO. Although our winters are not as brutal as the midwest, we still get a few months of very cold weather. My question to Luke and everyone else here is, What does business look like for window cleaners during the winter? Are there ever any residential cleans? Is it strictly commercial work? Does work ever completely stop for about significant amount of time? I’m interested to hear everyone’s experience.
Residential, at least in my area comes to an end in late December, back at it in late March. When we did commercial it was year round for us, some days you couldn’t work because of the weather, but otherwise you just worked through the cold. We did that for over 10 years and gave up the route work and do mostly residential now for the past 14 years. We still do some commercial, but pretty picky on what we take, usually once or twice a year cleanings, no strip malls or restaurants. You will probably need to try to get some commercial accounts until you get your residential route really established then decide whether you want to continue doing commercial year round. Starting out, I took everything, I mean everything to get my foot in the door. Hope the best for you. Take care.
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Congrats on your new venture and I hope we can help! It all depends on your business model and of course where you live. Storefronts and commercial never has a slow season for us. Now residential slows down and almost stops around mid December to February. Depending on the weather it will begin in March and follow through June. July & August usually are slow and then September through November early December is busy. If you offer gutter cleaning this would be a great add on to help build sales in those months as well.
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Thanks for the info! Every bit of information helps. You take care as well.
Thank’s for the info! I will definitely offer gutters also. This group is very helpful!
Up here in Wisconsin, winters can be brutal. I do some commercial work during winter, but not nearly enough to keep busy. Some winters I snow plowed, which sounds like an option for you in Colorado. Others I’ve worked for UPS, which is their peak season. Their peak season plus my off season equaled the perfect marriage. Lastly, after my 3rd year, I’ve made enough, fortunately, to not have to work winters.
Yeah our winters are definitely not as brutal as Wisconsin, only if you live in the Rockies. Then you can get 10 feet of snow in a day lol. That’s not a bad idea with UPS. I really want to build my clientele to the point where I’m busy year round. But I’m sure it’s easier said than done. Thanks for the advice!
@KJWindows
I am in Canada and it is the same here. As Luke said, it depends on your business model. If you are primarily focusing on Storefronts and Commercial, you should be just as busy as at all other times of the year.
Now, here is a golden tip:
WINTER IS THE BEST TIME TO CANVASS. PERIOD.
I shouldn’t even be telling you that, but you are far enough away from me to be safe. 
There are a lot of window cleaners that fall apart when the weather gets really cold, and the wind, snow and salt make the windows super dirty super quick.
If you have a bit of a slow down in the winter, Canvass your brains out! Look for dirty windows, canvass them.
Do you see a “No Soliciting” sign in the window. Go solicit them.
Have your quote pre-written, introduce yourself, be soft, be relaxed. And, follow up whenever you see that their windows remain dirty.
I have built entire routes in the winter, because of the neglect of other window cleaners.
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If you’re looking for year-round commercial work, definitely heed the canvasing advice. My focus is on primarily residential.
Definitely will do. Thanks!
I have cleaned windows in 4 different regions of the US. Every region has about the same slow season just usually about a month or two different. Spring and fall will always be the busiest for residential and the hot summer and cold winter months will be the slowest. If you decide to model your business as a residential window cleaner then focus on marketing during the slow times. Realtors or people who stage homes to sale and builders can be good jobs in the slow months. Houses sale year round. You also may want to offer add on services like dryer duck cleaning or wall washing or snow plowing. Until you build your client list you may need to take a part time job in the winter months
Thank you for the response!
@DanTheWindowMan that’s what I’m talking about Dan. I’m going to be REALLY focusing on commercial store fronts this winter. I’m hoping to carry a bunch of new clients into the spring.
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The winter is an excellent time to go after them!
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Solid advice from everyone. This is gonna be my 1st winter season also. Idaho isnt too bad with too many cold days, but it seems that alot of them dislike the cold. I am Alaska Native so I hope the tough skin will work to my advantage here this winter. Everyone is helpful here. Keep it up everyone
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O man coming from Alaska you’re going be like …winter what??? Lol
I wish you all the best. If I can help just let me know. We have already started on going after more storefronts. I wish we could find better help so we could do this all year. 
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Hey just saw your comment on our yt channel.
Always cool to know who you guys are on both 
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Actually Luke and Reanna. Idaho has its cold spells. But for most parts being in the mountain west, it isnt that bad.I think last winter we had 2 inches of snow. We shall see though…2 winters ago we had 2 feet of snow and it kept falling. You two have a great weekend.
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@Cashman I totally understand. Kc can have some tough winters too.
Hope you have a good weekend too buddy!
Great advice, I am going to do exactly that this winter. Thanks