Gutter Cleaning & Guards
Six jobs a day, six months a year — the numbers work
Gutter cleaning is one of the most underrated service businesses. It takes 30-60 minutes per house, charges $150-$350 per visit, and books itself on an annual cycle. The real money is the upsell: gutter guard installations at $1,500-$4,000 per home. Solo operators regularly earn $150K+ working alone, and the business scales easily with a second crew.
Avg Revenue
$150K
Profit Margin
50%
Acquisition Multiple
1.5x - 2.5x
Startup Cost
$3K - $20K
Difficulty
1/5
How It Works
Customers book annually, usually in fall and spring. You clean debris from gutters, flush downspouts, and check for damage. Each house takes 30-60 minutes at $150-$350. Upsell gutter guard systems ($1,500-$4,000) to eliminate the need for future cleaning — high-margin installation jobs.
Revenue Range
Real Acquisitions in This Category
SBA 7(a) change-of-ownership loans · NAICS 561790 · Other Services to Buildings and Dwellings
Deal Size Distribution
Deal Flow Over Time
Financing Profile
Recent Comparable Deals
| Closed | State | Loan | Implied deal | Jobs | Franchise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2025 | IL | $3.0M | $3.5M | 24 | — |
| Nov 2025 | MN | $75K | $88K | 2 | — |
| Nov 2025 | OH | $3.2M | $3.8M | 21 | — |
| Nov 2025 | OH | $125K | $147K | 21 | — |
| Sep 2025 | FL | $285K | $335K | 4 | — |
| Sep 2025 | MA | $250K | $294K | — | — |
| Aug 2025 | TN | $305K | $359K | 2 | — |
| Aug 2025 | OH | $865K | $1.0M | 4 | — |
| Aug 2025 | UT | $350K | $412K | 4 | Painter1 |
| Jul 2025 | WI | $1.3M | $1.5M | 25 | — |
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA dataset, filtered to acquisitions (loans where business age is "Change of Ownership"). Implied deal size assumes an 85% loan-to-purchase ratio, a common SBA change-of-ownership structure. Charge-off rate shown only when 10+ loans have resolved (paid in full or charged off). Interest rates reflect last 24 months only. Actual deal values vary with equity injections, seller financing, and working capital terms.
Pros
- +Under $5K to start — ladder, blower, and truck
- +Built-in annual rebook cycle — customers call you every year
- +Gutter guard installs are $1,500-$4,000 per home at 50% margins
- +Easy to market — neighbors see you on the ladder
Cons
- -Height and ladder safety are real risks
- -Seasonal peaks in fall (leaves) and spring (debris)
- -Low barrier to entry — easy to undercut on price
Best For
Entry-level entrepreneurs who want to start earning this weekend with almost no capital
Operating Costs
Costs are minimal: ladder, safety harness, blower or wet-vac, truck, insurance (critical), and marketing. Owner-operators keep most revenue. Gutter guard materials cost 30-40% of installation revenue.
SBA Financing Estimator
Adjust the deal — see if it cash flows after debt service
Estimates only. Excludes owner compensation, capex, working capital draws, and taxes. Margin assumes average occupancy and volume. Actual SBA terms vary by lender and borrower profile.
Where to Buy
Find gutter and exterior cleaning businesses for sale
Browse home exterior service businesses
Acquisition Score
Scores margin (30), entry multiple (25), SBA market depth (20), category risk (15), and deal momentum (10). Higher = better acquisition candidate.
Quick Facts
- Category
- service
- Difficulty
- 1/5
- Buy price
- $225K–$375K
Buyer's Toolkit
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