Step by step guide on how to open a pressure washing business - make $2k a week with $2k startup cost

[613jono]

@novitativa You definitely shouldn’t charge by the square footage of the home. It’s going to take less time to clean a 3,500 sqft 1 story home than a 2000 sqft 2 story home. Doing this is how you get yourself into situations where you have underbid the project.

 

[crocodilehuricane]

@613jono Agreed. Should be a multiplier for multi-story.

 

[froggyjones]

@crocodilehuricane Definitely. But also include a maximum height. Otherwise you might end up scaling the Burj Kalifa.

 

[crocodilehuricane]

@froggyjones Very true!

 

[justiceisblind]

@613jono So easy to charge by sq Ft of a home. Soooo easy. You can pull sq footage from the internet and check with Google maps to see if you need to change pricing based on siding type or ease of access or other variables.

Idk where you’re seeing 3500 sq ft 1 story homes dude, but if you live in an area with weird architecture then you can take that into account.

Automation and streamlining processes is very important. You don’t want to be out looking at every house in person. I have customers put their house information into a tool that gives them a house wash price. If I need to adjust I can, but I almost never do.

 

[likedrivin36]

@justiceisblind We’re dud u find that calculator is it a widget

 

[wini]

@justiceisblind What inputs are you using for that calculator?

 

[justiceisblind]

@wini Square footage, number of stories, and primary siding type are the primary inputs.

 

[deshon1996]

@justiceisblind The stuff I've seen from guys who have been doing it awhile is minimums. 1 story less than 1500 sq/ft is one price, then 2 story less than 1500 sq/ft is another price, etc.

 

[johnnythebaptist]

@novitativa Do people scale their pressure washing business ever? Or do you just start to cap out?

 

[novitativa]

@johnnythebaptist People do, but it's highly location dependent. Areas of high algae and mold require MUCH higher washing. I'm from the midwest, so at best I'm getting once a year washes. Living somewhere like Florida you'd have much higher potential to scale. There's a guy on youtube who opened a pressure washing business who does over a million a year.

 

[johnnythebaptist]

@novitativa Makes sense. Did he hire people hourly?

 

[novitativa]

@johnnythebaptist

I believe he did, I think he only offered incentives for his manager IIRC. Really good video.

 

[johnnythebaptist]

@novitativa Ah seems like he does soft washing and not pressure in his scaling. This is a good video though thanks for the link.

 

[tasinee]

@novitativa what city or state are you in? i feel like in my area charging .14 cents per sq footage is a little low

 

[alex17791]

@novitativa That’s awesome, keep it up. And I’d say if you want to double your calls then you should definitely invest in online marketing. Unless you have the actual time to learn it, which sounds like you don’t, you should invest in your business.

 

[billi123]

@novitativa How many yard signs did you put out and how long did it take you to get your first call?

 

[613jono]

@novitativa how is it going now?! thanks for all this information. im considering this as a side hustle

 

[wonderdove]

@novitativa Awesome! Thanks for sharing.

 

[sonofmatthew]

@novitativa Great share