This article was updated on November 30, 2022
Power washing offers plenty of opportunities for entrepreneurs of any expertise. Local communities have a high demand for pressure washing services, plus it requires low start-up costs for maximum profit potential. But if you're wondering how to start a power washing business, you've come to the right place.
With this handy guide to walk you through how to start a successful pressure washing business, you'll have your power washing company up and running in no time.
The global pressure washing industry is a substantial business. It's currently valued at over $1.8 billion and is expected to continue to grow. This means you're likely to find people in your neighborhood who would take advantage of your pressure washing services.
Many surfaces benefit from a good, powerful cleaning regularly, including:
You're not limited to residential areas. The commercial districts in your town or city also need a good pressure cleaning. The key is to establish how many cleaning businesses already exist. This can help you determine if there's room in the market for you. If you believe that space exists for another cleaning business, ask yourself the following questions to ensure that you can grab your share of the available clients:
The answers to these questions can help guide you as you develop your pressure washing business plan and practices.
Before even naming your business, it's important to understand the economics of the pressure washing industry to ensure your venture has the potential to provide the profits needed. To determine how quickly your cleaning service can become profitable first list out anticipated expenditures such as:
Next, consider the rate you will charge for each service. Estimate the number of service calls you can realistically respond to in a given time period and determine the total revenue. To calculate the profitability potential, subtract your expenditures from your anticipated revenues. This important exercise will highlight the number of customers needed to be profitable and even areas where expenses could be reduced.
The next thing you must do is establish a legal business. This involves some fun and some tedious work. However, once you have everything in order, you'll be able to start gathering customers.
Your business needs a name to put on all of the legal paperwork and on your marketing materials. When choosing a name for your business, Forbes recommends :
You want a catchy name, one that people will easily understand and remember the next time they have a pressure washing job.
Once you have workshopped your name ideas and settled on the perfect option, it's time to make everything legal and official. You'll need:
Once you've completed your business paperwork, you'll have to open a bank account to handle all of your business finances. As a small business owner, it's important to keep these separate from your personal affairs for legal and tax purposes. Some banks offer special benefits for business accounts, so don't hesitate to ask questions when you set up your account.
Third on our pressure washing business tips: power washing equipment. There are three key categories of equipment you must have to run a power washing business. These include:
The cost of all of this equipment can vary widely. In total, the initial investment for transportation, initial marketing, power washer equipment, and insurance is around $10,000. It'll be more expensive to purchase all of these materials new rather than rent or buy used items. You may be able to find used pressure washers and vehicles in good working order. You might even find someone local who's trying to unload extra equipment that you could use on Nextdoor, where local community members can buy or sell items from their neighbors.
Now it's time to decide how much you want to charge for your services. Your rates might vary based on:
As you sit down to determine your fees, ask how much money you need to make to:
Now that you've established your business and financial structure, it's time to start reeling in customers. There are many methods you can use to get the word out. One thing to keep in mind is that a power washing business is a local company. A successful pressure washing business starts with connecting with your community, so aim to reach people who are near you, not hundreds of miles away.
You should strive to focus your marketing budget on local crowds for the best results:
A new business needs a village to help it succeed — that's especially true for a pressure washing business. Offer your services at a price reduction to other local businesses that may uniquely benefit from having a trusted partner in the pressure washing business. That can include:
So, where do you find these potential new partners in your business venture? Right on Nextdoor. Nextdoor offers a digital space for your real-life local businesses to connect and build each other up. You can search for nearby small businesses in the categories above and make connections directly through the app.
From there, a mutually beneficial relationship can result in increased profit margins and a deeper connection to your community for both you and your partnering businesses.
When starting your power washing business, there are plenty of resources out there to help you master the craft.
Lastly, as your business grows, keep in mind that your customer service is the key to keeping and gaining clients. Some ways you can keep your customers happy as a small business owner include:
When you create a business that your customers can trust and use a hyperlocal platform like Nextdoor, you'll find that your business can grow and thrive quickly.
A power washing business is a frequently in-demand entity. Many residential and commercial surfaces require regular cleaning by a skilled individual. If you're ready to fill that void in your neighborhood, then following our six tips can help you get started.
Nextdoor for business can take you from newcomer to neighborhood go-to with our easy-to-use tools. We have simple solutions to help you connect with your neighbors. Our top-notch marketing tools will make targeting your ideal potential customer.