Looking to start your own pressure washing business? The good news is, this can be a highly lucrative entrepreneurial endeavor, or simply put, you can make some major coin.
But how do you get started?
First things first, read this complete guide on how to start your very own pressure washing business.
Starting a Pressure Washing Business: 101
Freedom, control, flexibility, and fresh air, the reasons for starting your own pressure washing business are pretty near endless.
But building a solid foundation for your new business is vital. Missing any of these steps when you’re getting started could land you in hot water and set you back big time as far as growth is concerned.
1. Get Legit Training
Any old fool with a pressure washer is not equipped for starting and managing their own business. Pressure washing is actually much more complex than you may think unless you’ve done it before and are aware of the skills it takes.
You need to become adept at the following:
- Know how to clean delicate materials and areas around structures
- Know how to avoid damaging vegetation/gardens/plants
- Know how to clean hard-to-reach areas while avoiding physical danger
- Be adept at book-keeping and tax documentation
- Know how to market yourself and your business
- Know how to hire right and interview potential employees
- Know what is soft washing and pressure washing, and be aware of the differences
These are just a few of the necessary skills you need to acquire before getting started. Fortunately, if you’ve got a little experience with a pressure washer, you can Youtube how-tos on just about every aspect of their use.
You can also rent or borrow a pressure washer to get a little real-life practice in before purchasing one of your own.
2. Purchase the Right Gear
Once you’ve got a handle (see what we did there?), on how to use a pressure washer properly, the next step is getting out and buying a good one.
Starting your company will take some investing before you start turning a profit. You’ll have to purchase all your own marketing materials (flyers, social media ads, car decals, etc), vehicles, branding (i.e. photography or logo design), goggles, gloves, the pressure washer itself, and accounting software… just to name a few.
3. Take Care of the Legal Ends
This is an essential step to remember. Before you start any business you need to ensure you have all the right business licenses and permits.
The best way to know what is required is to Google it and search based on your location. Laws about licensing and permits vary from state to state. Also, be sure to find out how you need to pay taxes as a new business owner in your state.
4. Buy Your Domain Name and Market
You can’t make money if no one knows you exist. Before you being marketing your new pressure washing business, find a great domain name and purchase it.
Once your website is up and running, start marketing. You can begin with free marketing tools like social media campaigns. Word of mouth is generally one of the top methods when it comes to businesses like pressure washing so don’t hesitate to ask for reviews.
5. Get to Work
Craigslist, Google, the city bulletin, there are plenty of ways to start booking jobs.
The important thing is to remember that you are never going to be through promoting your business so just remember to continue looking for more clients even when you’re busy working.
Becoming the Entrepreneur of Your Dreams
Starting your own pressure washing business can be both exciting and feel daunting. But with the right know-how, you can set yourself up for some major success.
The more you educate yourself on the ins and outs of marketing, business management, and quality customer service, the more competitive your new business will be. Best of luck, and happy washing!
