How to Start a Pressure Washing Business: A Guide for Beginners

If you’re looking for a fresh new start and want to make money doing something that is both fun and rewarding, then starting a pressure washing business might be just the thing for you.

However, before we get into all of the details about how to start a pressure washing business, let’s discuss what it entails.

Pressure washing involves using high-pressure water to remove dirt or other contaminants from hard surfaces like sidewalks or buildings.

It may sound simple enough but there are many things that one needs in order to run a successful pressure washing business including licenses and insurance coverage.

It will also involve you knowing how to run a business, do sales & marketing, and many other stuff every entrepreneur needs to handle.

That’s why we have decided to create this guide for beginners, to help you make a more informed decision before starting a pressure washing business.

We will discuss the following topics in this article:

  • The licensing requirements for pressure washing businesses and what one needs to start a pressure washing company.
  • How to find customers and market your business as well as how much it costs or making a profit.
  • Tips and tricks to take into consideration before starting a pressure washing company.

We hope this article helps you figure out how to start a pressure washing business. If it does, please share with us your story!

We would love to hear about the experience of others who have done something like this as well.

Keep up the good work and we’ll see you on the other side!

Creating a Business Plan For a Pressure Washing Business

A business plan is an important aspect of starting any kind of new or existing company.

It will help you outline your goals for the future, as well as how to get there and what resources are needed in order to reach these objectives.

In this article we will not only discuss why it’s important to have a business plan for your pressure washing company, but also how to create one in the first place.

A few considerations before getting started:

Decide what kind of pressure washer you want and research what the options are. A good start-up size is around 4000 PSI with an electric motor (or gas engine).

You will also need to get a pressure washer gun, detergent tanks and hoses.

If you are unsure of what size equipment you will need for the future than it would be best to start with one that is too big rather than not enough room.

Consider how much money you have available upfront as well as in terms of monthly expenses.

If you don’t have much money to start a business, make sure you read our guide on how to start a business with no money.

Thoroughly research all of the costs and start-up time to see what is possible for you.

You will also need permits, licenses and insurance coverage as well so be sure to take that into account in your business plan!

Permits, Licenses & Insurance Policies

The licensing requirements for pressure washing businesses vary from state to state but they typically require a license to operate.

This license is usually issued by the state’s department of environmental protection or a similar regulatory agency, and it must be obtained before any service can begin.

Typically licenses come with insurance coverage but this will vary depending on your specific needs – for example if you want to use gas engines instead of electric motors then you would need to purchase a different type of insurance coverage.

You will also need permits to wash sidewalks at specific times or in certain areas, and it is best to research the regulations for your area before starting service there.

Here’s a great page that focuses on all aspects of registering a business.

Protecting Your Business From Liability

Before you start any pressure washing company, you should have enough liability protection so that if anything goes wrong you are covered.

How To Learn to Power Wash?

There are many ways to learn how to power wash, and there is no set or best way – but through a course is the most popular.

In these courses you will be able to typically use different types of washers so you can see which one suits your needs better as well as other equipment that might come in handy for your business.

Another way to learn is through YouTube videos, which are very informative and easy to follow.

For starters, you can rent or borrow equipment from others before deciding to purchase your own.

It will take some time before you become an expert at it, but as long as you are willing to put in the time and effort, you will be doing alright!

You can also go down the route of volunteering for other pressure washing companies.

Each of these would be happy to have a worker who’s going to do the job for free, and in exchange, you can get to know the business well.

Pressure Washing Equipment

The equipment needed for a pressure washing business varies depending on the specific needs of the individual.

Some examples:

  • Pressure washer gun (2000 PSI) – $200-$400
  • Detergent tank, hose and nozzle – around $500 to start out
  • 4000 PSI electric motor or gas engine – cost depends on the engine
  • Power washer – $800 to start out
  • Permits and licenses for different areas of operation, cost varies depending on the area.
  • Liability coverage. This is always needed!

It’s best to research all pressure washing equipment before deciding which one you want because there are many options available with a wide range of prices.

It is also important to take into account the cost of insurance coverage, permits and licenses as well because these are necessary in owning a pressure washing company.

Buying vs Renting

If you’re just starting out, renting equipment is always a great idea!

This way you can test it out to see if the pressure washing business suits your needs, and then once that’s been decided on either buy or rent different types of equipment.

Renting will also save money in terms of time-frame for start-up, which is a big factor to consider.

For example if you want to start out with gas engines instead of electric motors and need different types of insurance coverage then it would take more time before your business can begin operation – this could be avoided by renting at first!

If you are in need of more capital to fund your pressure washing business, make sure you look for some under the table jobs.

How To Maintain Pressure Washing Equipment

By following these guidelines, you can extend the life of your pressure washing equipment and have it ready for long-term use.

A few things to remember:

  • Always store in a cool dry place when not in use – hot sun will cause deterioration!
  • Keep all parts on hand that are needed for maintenance (hoses, nozzles)
  • Clean the equipment after use so it doesn’t rust or corrode (use a degreaser and then hose off).
  • Make sure all parts are working properly before starting up. If something is not functioning, replace as soon as possible!

When your power washer is broken, it can be a huge problem as this is the most crucial piece of machinery for any business – so make sure that you have back-up washers and are always ready with replacement parts!

How To Hire and Manage Employees For Your Pressure Washing Business?

It’s fairly obvious that one can’t manage and run the business on its own and is dependent on hiring staff.

This is a major factor to consider before taking the plunge and starting up because it’s not always an easy task.

There are many things that need to be considered when hiring employees for your pressure washing business: what type of work they will do, whether you want full time or part-time workers, if there will be any benefits, how much you want them to work, if they will need a car or not and so on.

It’s best to research what type of employees your company needs before hiring in order to save time from having the wrong person for the job!

There are many ways that you can go about hiring employees:

  • Ask friends or family if they know any good candidates. You will be able to make a more personal connection and get a feel for the person that way – before clicking “hire.”
  • Look at sites like Craigslist, Indeed, Career Builder etc., but do your research on each candidate!
  • Look for employees on a site that is specific to your industry – this will give you an idea of what the job entails and if their qualifications are enough.
  • Post jobs on sites like Indeed, Monster or any other site that is related to employment.

Related Read: How To Find Employees For Free

How To Get Customers For Your Pressure Washing Business?

Getting customers is the difficult part of owning a pressure washing business!

There are many ways that you can go about getting customers: word-of-mouth, advertising on social media sites like Facebook or Instagram, networking with other businesses or companies in your industry (e.g. power company) or sending out flyers to local families and residents that you are willing to work with.

Word-of-mouth is always the best way of getting customers because it’s free advertising!

It’s important not to underestimate this as a technique, especially if your business is new – customers will want referrals from people they know and trust.

It’s important to build relationships with people in your industry or field – it will make finding customers easier when you need them!

Target Market

It’s important to know who your target market is before you start a business in order to avoid wasting time and money.

Knowing what type of person will be looking for services like yours can help with marketing, advertising, customer service etc., because the needs vary from one group or individual to another!

The best way to find out who your target market is, is to survey current customers and potential clients on what they are looking for.

It’s also important not to make assumptions about the customer or target group of yours – this will result in a very niche business that won’t be profitable!

Because there are many different types of pressure washing businesses out there, it’s important to know that you are able to cater and adjust your business for each group.

Pricing

Pricing is one of the most important aspects of any business – it’s what will dictate whether or not you are successful.

It should be something that makes sense for both your target market and you, because if one side isn’t happy then they won’t buy from you!

There are many different pricing strategies to choose from: set-price, competitive pricing or value-based pricing.

It’s important to research what will work best for your market and the type of customer you are targeting in order to find the right strategy!

A set price is also known as a “sticker” price – this means that all customers pay one specific amount no matter their circumstances.

Competitive pricing is the most common pricing strategy.

This means that you will have a set price, but it’ll be lower than your competitors’.

The idea behind this type of business is to keep customers coming back and make them feel like they’re getting something great for their money!

Value-based pricing takes into consideration what the customer’s needs are and what they’re willing to pay.

This pricing strategy is also known as “value engineering.”

Marketing

Doing good marketing is what will make you stand out and get noticed!

To grow your pressure washing business, you’ll need to invest in marketing strategies and effective communication.

Advertising, networking with other businesses in your industry or sending flyers to residents are all marketing strategies one could employ.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

How Much to Charge for Pressure Washing?

The cost of pressure washing can vary from one industry to the next, and it’s important not to charge too little or too much.

It’ll depend on your target demographic – for example, if you’re targeting families with children that have pets then the price will be different than someone who just needs their driveway washed!

Research what your competitors are charging and try to get a feel for the market – you don’t want to be overpriced or underpriced!

How to Estimate Pressure Washing Jobs?

This will depend on the size of your project.

The first step is to research price ranges for your chosen service and compare them among significant competitors.

You can also create a quote based off the information from your own business – include how many square feet or areas you charge per job.

This quote should be broken down into three parts: the set-price for your service, a breakdown of what you are charging by square foot and an average time frame.

The last part is optional – it will depend on how long you think each job takes to complete.

If this section isn’t included then customers can assume you’re charging by the hour.

How to Get Pressure Washing Contracts?

It’s important to get as many customers for your business as possible!

The best way is through marketing and advertising, but you can also expand by word of mouth – tell people what type of services you offer and they’ll eventually recommend you to their friends or family members.

Another option is attending events in your area that are related to the type of service you offer.

This is a great way to get in front of potential customers that you wouldn’t have otherwise been able to reach.

You can also consider attending trade shows or conventions and talking with other businesses about your services!

How Much to Pressure Wash a Driveway?

The cost of pressure washing a driveway will vary depending on the size.

It’s recommended to charge by square foot for this project – find out how many feet your customer needs cleaned and multiply it by the price per square foot!

This is an easy way to make sure you’re charging them fairly no matter what their situation may be.

In Conclusion

With the right preparation and execution, owning a pressure washing business can not only be profitable but also rewarding.

Choose your niche wisely, establish clear goals for success, find a good location to service customers from- it all matters when starting out on this unconventional career path.

Keep reading our blog as we explore in detail how you can start different types of businesses that provides quality services at competitive prices!