Millions of homes across the U.S. are adding solar panels, yet few homeowners realize those panels lose efficiency when dirty. Dust, pollen, and bird droppings can cut energy output by 15–25%. Cleaning them regularly keeps performance high, but most homeowners either forget or don’t know who to call. On the contractor side, local roofers and window washers often have the equipment and skills to clean solar panels but lack steady, qualified leads. The gap between homeowners and cleaners is wide — and that’s where this business fits perfectly.
The concept is simple: act as the middleman connecting solar homeowners with local cleaning contractors. The operation can be fully remote. You find homes with solar panels (via satellite view), run targeted mail or online campaigns offering solar cleaning, collect leads through a landing page, and forward jobs to partnered contractors for a commission. Over time, you can automate nearly everything — from identifying homes and sending flyers, to instant online quotes and payment processing. The long-term goal is a lightweight platform that automates lead generation, booking, and follow-ups for repeat cleanings.
You earn a margin or service fee on each job. Typical cleaning prices range from $150–$400 depending on roof size and accessibility. By charging homeowners directly and paying contractors after completion, you can keep 20–40% per order. Optionally, you can introduce a subscription model for biannual cleanings or upsell maintenance reminders. Contractors could also pay a small monthly fee for access to exclusive leads.
Begin with a $50 validation test. Identify 100 homes with solar panels using Google Maps, and send low-cost flyers through a direct mail campaign linking to a simple landing page. If you get at least one paid inquiry, you’ve validated demand. Next, reach out to local roofers, window washers, or handymen to handle the cleaning work on demand. Use a spreadsheet and messaging apps to manage early jobs before automating quotes and payments through a basic form system or lightweight CRM. Once you prove it works locally, scale region by region.
Source/inspiration: Reddit