Pressure washing is more than an oddly satisfying household chore.
It is a low-cost, low-risk local service business.
According toAngi,you might earn an average of $195 to $417 to pressure wash a house.
You can rent all sorts of heavy duty equipment to do dirty jobs.Learn more.
When he started pressure washing, Joel Justice was just trying to start a little side hustle.
Ive turned this into a six-figure business, Justice said.
How Much Does It Cost to Start a Pressure Washing Business?
No Interest Til Almost 2027?
(Or a power washer, which uses heated water.)
Pressure washers cost anywhere from $50 to $5,000.
How much do you oughta spend to start your business?
I started out with a four-gallon, 4,000 PSI, push-around pressure washer, Justice said.
It is also small enough to throw in the trunk of a car no trailer required.
A best-selling model with these specifications costs about$2,000new.
Did your eyes just pop out of your head?
Look for used pressure washers, which often sell forless than halfthe price.
Or you could rent for about$100per day.
A hundred bucks still out of reach?
Cheaper models can handle some residential jobs, like cleaning vinyl siding.
As you make more money, you could upgrade, Justice said.
Jets, hoses and fuel cans, oh my!
One of these not-so-optional options is a rotary cleaner, which starts around$40.
This pressure washer attachment makes cleaning flat surfaces much, much easier.
The power of plain old water is truly awesome.
The power of water with a little bit of bleach is kind of scary.
Bleach, ammonia and sodium hydroxide are all commonly used in pressure washing.
For most residential pressure washing jobs, everything you need can fit in the trunk of your car.
As you grow your pressure washing business, a trailer, truck or van will come in handy.
Either way, confirm to factor in fuel costs before you take a job two hours away!
You dont think you need insurance until you strip the fresh paint off a million-dollar house.
Services likeThimbleoffer cheap liability insurance for the side-hustlers of the world.
Compare more insurance options on oursister site.
In others, the process is a little more involved.
Californians, this means you.
Most applicants also have to pass twoexams.
All together, the costs could be$650.
you’ve got the option to read more about the requirements on theCSLBwebsite.
The bottom line: Check your local laws before you get going your business.
How Do You Find Clients for Your Pressure Washing Business?
Every slippery deck and mildewed sidewalk is a potential pressure washing job.
Things always get dirty, said Justice.
The amount of work is endless.
The demand is there, but how do you help customers find you?
Google Business Profile
Setting up a Google Business Profile is a no-brainer for a small business.
It makes you show up when people Google pressure washer near me.
And once its set up, clients can leave you five-star reviews.
Yard Signs
Invest $50 in 5 yard signs.
Put one in your yard.
Offer them a discount to display the sign in their yard for one week.
Door-to-Door Sales
Pressure washing is one of those tasks homeowners put off.
How Do You Learn to Pressure Wash?
People think anyone can pressure wash, Justice said.
Then they get out there and do it.
What is the right PSI to spray vinyl siding?
Which chemicals are safe to use on new brick?
How do you avoid a visible pattern on concrete?
As a newbie, you may not know the answer to every question.
Thankfully, there is a wealth of information about pressure washing online.
If you find yourself unsure of how to tackle a job, Google it.
Chances are, anews outlet,WikiHow articleor even awashing forumwill have the answer.
Here are a few rules of thumb to get you started.
Doing your homework pays off.
The job Im most proud of is a local museum here in Clarksville, Tennessee.
Its a 122-year-old building made of ornamental terracotta, Justice said.
It took me three months of prep.
The museum looks as beautiful as ever and remains one of the mostphotographedbuildings in Tennessee.
How Do You Make a Pressure Washing Business Profitable?
Big or small, a pressure washing business is just that a business.
To make money, treat it like one.
Think about pricing and efficiency.
Pricing
Pricing for power washing varies by location and job category.
$.10 to $.75 per square foot istypical.
If that sounds like a wide range, thats because it is.
Efficiency
Efficiency is of the essence, said Justice.
Efficiency might mean taking one big-ticket job over five small ones.
It might mean having a minimum price.
It might even mean saving up for an extra piece of equipment.
The best way to know is to pay attention and track your numbers.
Justices average residential ticket was $250.
With inflation, it has crept up to $400.
In a good month, I have 45 jobs on the schedule, Justice said.
OK, well do it for you.
Thats $18,000 in one month.
I keep up with my data.
Those numbers show me how Im doing, one year to the next, said Justice.
This year, Ive done less jobs, but Ive made more money… Thats a win-win.
Contributor Ciara McLaren is a freelance writer with work in HuffPost, Insider and The Penny Hoarder.
it’s possible for you to find her on Substack (@camclaren).
