Everyone thinks that the pressure washing business is a cheap and easy way to start a successful company. You just purchase a machine, and the next day, you have dozens of customers lined up, right?
Well, perhaps you should continue reading because there is so much more to it than just buying a pressure washing machine and cleaning your neighbors’ driveways for $150.
You should be aware that numerous factors might determine the success or failure of your company. Therefore, if you are wondering how to start a pressure washing business, then we are going to break down some facts and help you make the right decision.
Review your skills
Getting into this business takes a bit more time and expertise than just purchasing the right equipment and spraying someone’s driveway. In fact, there are different things you have to learn, such as how to wash with this machine without causing the damage of the surface, or how to clean fragile and hardly accessible areas.
If you want to master this technique, then you should borrow a machine from a friend because this might be the best way to learn everything. Of course, you can watch countless YouTube videos, but nothing beats hands-on experience.
While you learn, watch, and practice, don’t neglect safety precautions, since someone might get hurt. You can also learn the pressure washing by start working in this filed, and not as a business owner. Find a pressure washing job and look for reliable services because you will learn the most things from them.
Find suitable equipment
To launch a successful business, you will require proper equipment. Right from the start, you could rent the machine; however, later on, it will make more sense to buy one.
So, here is the list of things you will need:
- A pressure washer, nozzles, surface cleaners, and chemicals
- A truck where you will load all the equipment
- Suite, or work shirts for you and your employees, if you have any
- Decals that go one side of the truck or the van
- A computer equipped with a matching software that will deal with scheduling, payments, and client information
License
To set your business right, you will require proper licenses, permits, and insurance. However, they all depend on your regulation and local law.
Therefore, it would be wise to get in touch with a local licensing office to get familiar with the latest legal requirements.
The next step would be to name your business since you will need a website with the matching domain name. To run a legitimate company, you will need a license, as well as tax submission. Make sure to study all the taxes you will need to pay before you even start selling your pressure washing services.
Last but not least is insurance. There are a couple of insurance policies to choose from, but in this case, we recommend buying workers’ compensation, liability insurance, and equipment insurance. In this way, even if you get hurt, or damage property or equipment while you are working, everything will be covered.
Promote your business online
With your business set and equipment in place, it’s time to promote your company online. While you can take an old fashion approach and start sharing fliers around the neighborhood, you might get better results by putting your services on the web. In this case, you can reach a lot more people than just your hometown.
It takes only a couple of hours to set up a website; therefore, it might be a wise decision to hire a professional who will do the job instead of you.
