The Side Hustles Nobody Wants to Talk About
Browse any side hustle forum and the conversation is about apps, platforms, and passive income. Nobody is posting aesthetic photos of themselves cleaning windows or pressure washing driveways.
And that's exactly why these businesses are so good.
One window cleaning business profiled by Side Hustle Nation grew to $700,000 in annual revenue. Pressure washing operators routinely report $3,000-$4,000 per month working part-time hours. And because most people dismiss these as unglamorous, there's almost no competition in most markets.
The Numbers
Window Cleaning
Residential jobs price at $150-$400 per house. A single-story home with 15-20 windows is a $150-$200 job taking 1.5-2 hours. Two-story homes run $250-$400. That's $75-$120 per hour — and experienced operators batch jobs geographically, rarely driving more than 10-15 minutes between clients.
Pressure Washing
Driveways run $100-$250, decks $150-$350, house exteriors $200-$500. A half-day Saturday of two driveways and a deck cleans up $350-$800. Part-time operators commonly reach $1,500-$2,500/month. Serious part-timers hit $3,000-$4,000 within their first full season.
Why These Beat Delivery Gigs
No Platform Fees
DoorDash takes 25-30% and controls your pay. Your window cleaning customers are yours. Your pricing is yours. No algorithm decisions.
Repeat Customers
Delivery is transactional — the relationship ends after each order. Home service clients come back every 3-4 months without you finding them again. After 12-18 months, 60-75% of revenue comes from repeat clients requiring zero marketing.
Higher Margins
Cleaning solutions cost $2-$8 per job. On a $200 window cleaning job, your profit margin is 85-90%+ once equipment is paid off.
Startup Costs
Window Cleaning: $100-$200
- Quality squeegee set (12-inch and 18-inch): $30-$50
- Scrubber/applicator: $15-$25
- Bucket and microfiber cloths: $15-$25
- Cleaning solution: $10-$20
- Extendable pole for upper windows: $30-$60
Pressure Washing: $300-$800
- Electric pressure washer (starter): $100-$300
- Gas-powered 3,000-4,000 PSI (serious): $400-$800
- Surface cleaner attachment: $40-$80
- Nozzle kit and hose extension: $45-$80
Start generating income with a $400 electric unit. Upgrade to gas after your first 5-8 jobs have paid for it.
Getting First Clients (This Week)
Nextdoor
The single most effective channel for residential services. Post an introductory offer for the first 10 clients. You will get responses. Neighbors refer each other constantly.
Door Hangers
Print 200 at VistaPrint ($25-$50). Walk a neighborhood with dirty windows or grimy driveways. A 1-2% response rate on 200 hangers means 2-4 new clients — $400-$800 from a $50 investment.
Before-and-After Photos
Offer first clients a discount for allowing photos. A dirty driveway that looks like new is striking content. Post to Nextdoor, Facebook groups, and Instagram with a geotag. Within a month you'll have visual proof that sells for you.
Staying Busy Year-Round
- Spring (peak): Post-winter pressure washing, window cleaning. Highest demand.
- Summer: Consistent exterior cleaning, deck washing before entertaining season.
- Fall: Gutter cleaning is the anchor — high-demand, high-margin add-on.
- Winter: Interior window cleaning, commercial accounts, holiday light installation.
Scaling Beyond Solo
Adding Services
Every window client is a potential client for pressure washing, gutter cleaning, and roof washing. A base of 50 regular clients is a warm audience for $50,000-$100,000 in additional annual revenue without finding a single new customer.
Hiring Helpers
Pay helpers $15-$20/hour while charging $75-$100/hour for their labor. Keep 75-80% of revenue while doubling capacity.
Commercial Accounts
Office buildings, retail storefronts, and restaurants sign service contracts for monthly cleaning. A single commercial contract worth $800-$1,500/month is equivalent to 4-8 residential jobs booked automatically.
The Real Reason These Work
No app to download. No algorithm to optimize. You show up, do a job that produces a visible result, and a real human pays you on the spot. The effective hourly rate of $50-$100 beats almost every gig economy alternative. The startup costs let you begin this weekend. And the market is genuinely underserved — most areas have far more potential clients than reliable service providers.
It's not glamorous. But it pays, it scales, and it's yours.