How to start a pressure washing business

Say you bought a pressure washer for your own driveway, cleaned it on a Saturday, and by Sunday two neighbors had asked what you would charge to do theirs. That is how a lot of pressure washing businesses start. It is a trade with fast, visible results, customers who can see the "before and after" from the street, and work that comes back every year.

It is also a trade where the wrong equipment, the wrong chemicals or water going into the wrong drain can turn a good first season into an expensive one. This guide covers what to decide before you take paid jobs.

Step 1: decide what you will clean

"Pressure washing" covers very different jobs. Choose a starting focus:

Starting with flat surfaces and house washes for homeowners keeps the equipment list shorter. Commercial work can come once you know your production rates and costs.

Step 2: choose equipment for the jobs you picked

Buy for the work you will actually do in the first season, not for the business you hope to have in three years. The main decisions:

• Pressure and flow. For flat surfaces, water flow matters as much as pressure, because it decides how fast you can clean.
• Surface cleaner. For driveways and patios it cuts time and leaves an even finish without stripes.
• Soft wash setup. For siding and roofs, a low-pressure system that applies a cleaning solution, instead of blasting the surface.
• Hoses, reels and a way to carry it all. A trailer or truck setup that loads quickly saves time on every single job.

Write down what each piece costs and how many working hours you expect from it. That number goes straight into your prices, as the pressure washing pricing guide explains.

Step 3: plan where the water goes

This step is easy to miss. Wash water picks up detergent, oil, grease, dirt and paint flakes. The EPA explains that polluted stormwater runoff is commonly carried through municipal storm sewer systems and often discharged untreated into local lakes, rivers and streams.

Cities and counties operate those systems under EPA stormwater permits, which is why the rules for mobile washing are set locally and can differ from one place to the next. Before your first job, call your city or county stormwater or public works office and ask three questions:

1. Can wash water with or without detergent go into the storm drain?
2. Do I need a permit for mobile washing?
3. If water must be recovered, where can I legally dispose of it?

If recovery is required for some jobs, price in the equipment and the time.

Step 4: handle chemicals safely

Many house washes and stain treatments use cleaning solutions that need careful handling. If you have employees, OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard requires employers with hazardous chemicals in the workplace to have labels and safety data sheets for the products workers use and to train them to handle the chemicals appropriately.

Even working alone, keep the safety data sheet for every product in the truck, protect plants and pets before you spray, and never improvise mixtures.

Step 5: licenses and insurance

Licensing for pressure washing depends on where you work. The SBA explains that the licenses and permits you need from your state, county and city depend on your business activities and location, and recommends checking each level. Add the stormwater questions from Step 3 to that check.

A pressure washer can damage siding, windows, paint and landscaping in seconds, so general liability insurance matters from the first paid job. The SBA describes it as coverage for bodily injury, property damage, medical expenses and defending lawsuits. If you hire, the SBA lists workers' compensation, unemployment and disability insurance as required for businesses with employees.

The general setup steps, including business structure, EIN and taxes, are in the guide to starting a home service business.

Step 6: work safely at height

House washes and second-story work bring ladders and sometimes roofs into the job, and a fall from either can cause serious injury. Decide early which jobs you will do from the ground with extension wands and which ones you will turn down, and price the extra setup time for anything at height. If you have employees, plan fall protection before you send anyone up a ladder.

Step 7: set prices before the phone rings

Pressure washing customers often ask for a price per square foot or a price for "a normal driveway." Have your answers ready, built from your costs:

• your real cost per working hour, including equipment wear and fuel
• your production rate for each surface
• the setup, cleanup and travel time every job carries
• a minimum charge for small jobs

The pricing guide works through an 800-square-foot driveway from these numbers, and the complete pricing guide explains the method behind it.

Step 8: find the first customers

Pressure washing sells itself when people can see it. A few ways to use that:

• before-and-after photos from every job, with the customer's permission
• a clear first offer, such as a driveway plus front walkway package
• asking each customer for a review and whether a neighbor might be interested
• a follow-up message the next year, because surfaces get dirty again

What to do next

Call your city or county about wash water before you buy anything else, then list the equipment for the services you chose in Step 1. With those two answers you can work out your costs and your first prices.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to pressure wash?

It depends on your city, county and state. Ask your local stormwater or public works office about wash water, and check business licenses at each level, as the SBA recommends.

Can wash water go into the storm drain?

Ask first. The EPA explains that storm sewer systems often discharge untreated into local water bodies, and local governments operate them under stormwater permits with their own rules.

What insurance does a pressure washing business need?

General liability insurance is the policy most customers expect, since the work can damage property. With employees, the SBA lists workers' compensation, unemployment and disability insurance as required.