Why the market is growing
Australia has one of the highest rates of rooftop solar in the world. Dirty panels lose 15-25% of their efficiency. Most homeowners don't clean their panels regularly because they can't easily access the roof. This creates a large, recurring market for specialist cleaners. The business model is similar to window cleaning — recurring visits, geographic rounds, and predictable income.
Equipment and pricing
Solar panel cleaning requires purified water (a deionisation or reverse osmosis system), a water-fed pole, soft brushes, and a vehicle to carry everything. Startup cost: $3,000-8,000 for a basic setup. Pricing typically ranges from $5-10 per panel, with minimum call-out fees of $100-150. A standard 20-panel system costs the homeowner $100-200 per clean. Most clients want annual or biannual cleaning.
Building routes around solar density
Solar panel adoption varies by suburb. Newer housing estates often have 80-90% solar penetration. Target these areas for leaflet drops and door-knocking. Once you have a cluster of clients in an area, your route becomes very efficient — you might clean 8-12 systems per day with minimal driving. Use satellite imagery (Google Maps) to identify roofs with panels before you knock.
Combining with gutter cleaning and pressure washing
Many solar panel cleaning businesses offer gutter cleaning, roof cleaning, or pressure washing as add-on services. When you're already on the ladder or have the water-fed pole out, it's a natural upsell. A 'roof care package' (panels + gutters + roof wash) at a bundled price increases your average job value significantly and gives the client a reason to book all three services at once.
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