The business in one offer
Who it serves
Homeowners who want a clean, even roofline display but do not want to climb a ladder in November, including older residents and families with tight schedules. Many have bought lights before and fought tangled strands and dead bulbs. They pay for a tidy design, timers that just work, a service call if something goes dark and removal they do not have to think about.
What to sell first
Roofline and front-window lighting on one-story and standard two-story homes using your commercial LED inventory, with timers, one service call in December and January removal and storage. Excluded: tree wrapping above reach, rooftop displays, inflatables, electrical work and any design that needs new outlets.
Roofline-only design keeps measuring and pricing simple and avoids custom installs. Leasing your own lights each season creates a repeat client base, and storing labeled sets by home speeds next year's install.
What could it cost to start?
This is an original example budget for the limited pilot described above. It is not a researched market average or a complete quote for every location.
| Item to price | Example allowance |
|---|---|
| Commercial LED light inventory for five homes | $1,500.00 |
| Clips, timers and outdoor extension cords | $300.00 |
| Ladders with standoffs and levelers | $450.00 |
| Liability insurance quote allowance | $800.00 |
| Storage bins and labels | $150.00 |
| Example total | $3,200.00 |
What this assumes—and excludes
Assumes you have a vehicle that can carry ladders and storage space for light sets. It does not include buying a lift, workers' compensation, helper pay, electrical permits or owner pay. Get quotes for lights and insurance locally before you take deposits.
Collect actual supplier, insurance and local-authority information. Add a reserve for delays and unexpected costs; the example total is not a funding recommendation.
How the unit economics work
At an assumed $650.00 per home season and $220.00 in direct costs, contribution is $430.00 before monthly fixed costs, owner pay and taxes. With 7 all-in working hours per unit, that is $61.43 per delivery hour before those deductions. These inputs illustrate the arithmetic; they do not establish a market price or expected earnings.
The example also allows $200.00 in monthly fixed costs. Include unpaid acquisition and administrative time when deciding whether the offer is worthwhile.
Try your own numbers
These are editable planning assumptions, not prices we have verified. Calculations stay in your browser.
Operating result = (price − direct cost) × units − monthly fixed costs. Before owner pay, taxes, financing and startup recovery. At these inputs, delivery requires 70 hours per month, plus any work not included in your per-unit estimate. Sales volume is a scenario, not a forecast.
How to find the first customers
Test a small offer before scaling traffic. Record the source of each enquiry, whether it fits the offer, and whether the buyer pays.
- Offer a simple roofline package to neighbors and past clients in September, with photos of your own home lights, and take deposits to lock in install dates.
- Partner with a window cleaner or gutter service that sees homes in fall, and offer a referral fee with clear disclosure.
- Show a sample design on a printed photo of each client's home so they can approve before you install. Track which designs convert.
- Put a small sign on lit homes with the owner's permission, and record how many inquiries come from each sign.
What to validate before spending more
- Check local rules on electrical work and whether connecting lights to outdoor outlets is allowed without a license, and avoid any work that needs an electrician.
- Talk to an insurer about coverage for ladder work and damage to roofs, gutters and siding during installation.
- Run a pilot install on two homes and time measuring, install, service and removal, so your price covers all visits.
- Test each home's outdoor outlets and circuits before installing. Note load limits and GFCI trips.
The operational catch
Removal in January is often cold, icy and harder than installation, and clients may not want lights left up for weeks. If you book too many homes, takedown becomes a bottleneck. Schedule removal dates during sign-up, keep labeled bins for each home, and cap bookings based on how many takedowns you can safely do.
A practical way to fund the first step
Take a 50 percent deposit at booking to fund lights and clips, and start with a small number of homes. Pair the service with summer window or gutter work to keep cash coming the rest of the year.
Separate cash already available from money still to earn. Count only proceeds after direct expenses, and do not spend customer funds needed to fulfill their existing orders.
Questions before you start
Should I sell lights or lease them?
Leasing your own lights makes repeat business easier and lets you control quality, but it ties up money in inventory. Selling lights to clients reduces storage needs but often reduces rebooking. Test both on pilot clients.
How early should I start installing?
Many installers start in early November so they finish before Thanksgiving and avoid bad weather. Set install windows in advance and leave buffer days for rain or wind.
What summer service fits best?
Services that use the same ladders and client base fit well, such as window cleaning or gutter cleaning. Choose one that you can safely do and that keeps you in touch with lighting clients.
Source-backed checks
These references support the specific checks below. They do not endorse this business idea or substantiate the example prices, costs or demand.
OSHA's small business page directs small employers to free, confidential on-site consultation services. OSHA: Small Business.
SBA describes general liability insurance as coverage for claims of bodily injury and property damage. U.S. Small Business Administration: Get business insurance.
Google's Business Profile guidelines say a business must make in-person contact with customers during its stated hours to be eligible for a profile. Google Business Profile: Business eligibility and ownership guidelines.
- Small BusinessOSHA · Reference checked September 8, 2026
- Get business insuranceU.S. Small Business Administration · Reference checked September 8, 2026
- Business eligibility and ownership guidelinesGoogle Business Profile · Reference checked September 8, 2026
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