Awning Cleaning Business Start-Up

Hello Everyone,
I’m considering starting a commercial awning cleaning business on the side while possibly expanding into concrete cleaning if all goes well. My ideal target is independent store owners with vinyl and/or fabric awnings that need cleaning with hopes to up sell them on gum removal and concrete cleaning in front of their establishment. I’ve got an good idea on what to use to clean the different types of awnings depending on material and wear but need help deciding on what equipment set-up would be best (as all of the newbies say “I’m on a slight budget”). I seen posts that highlight 12V systems and others that support pressure washers if you adjust the tips. As I will be working out of my minivan for now, I am limited on set-up space assuming that a 100 gallon tank would take up the most space and should be enough water in cleaning most awnings. Please let me know what systems ya’ll think would work best and the more detail the better if time allows you.

Thanks in Advance!

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I think it would be a tough market to crack as a full time awning cleaning business if that’s where your goals are. Have you crunched your numbers?

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I’m doing this purely as a side hustle, I have a F/T job.

I would forget about it and do houses or concrete on the side. Way too many negatives involved for a bit of beer money. Few issues I see spraying chemicals around busy public storefronts, you would have to clean windows/furniture afterwards, expensive cars parked kerb side, foot traffic in and out of storefronts, water supply, parking, ladders, the list goes on and on when the public is involved.

Hey man, I’m new myself and I don’t know anything about awnings. I watched a really interesting video made by a member of this forum a few years ago @squidskc
It may help you decide on what equipment you really need to get started with the awnings side of things.

Clean Awnings in 30 minutes

Service #4 that was added to the “don’t do” list years ago…

Awnings

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I agree with everything @MuscleMyHustle said. I just don’t see you making much off of awnings alone. Keep in mind that a lot of commercial businesses require a 2 million dollar insurance policy before you can clean their property. That’ll cost you a little more than a 1 mil policy that you should have for residential.

I agree with starting off with houses. They’re by far the easiest and the most profitable. Once you get into the commercial side of things down the road you can then add awnings if you’re interested.

Very interesting, didn’t know awnings were such a hassle (service, insurance etc… I live in a large city with what seems like an endless amount of awnings to clean with most of the work being done late night and early mornings. Will definitely reevaluate my plans after reading these posts.

They aren’t really a hassle there’s just easier money to be made. You really need to be insured regardless if another business requires you to be before working on their property. Even if you just do residential you should have insurance. It not only protects you but also the homeowner.

My cousin has focused on awnings for the last 16 years and makes a good living doing it. With that said, I wouldn’t touch it after what he’s told me. Most companies require 2M GL and WC, and then the cost of awnings is ridonculous if you tear one up or discolor it. He apprenticed for years before he went out on his own and, if you really want to focus in that area, I would recommend you start by learning under someone else for a couple of years first.

You know, here’s the thing. Is there easier money to be made? Sure! But you’ll have a ton if competition for those jobs and profit margins drop when you have to advertise all the time.

I do screen repair. Hardly anyone does it, and certainly not ‘on site’. It isn’t always easy and I have to turn down the really bad ones, but I have a steady stream of customers that love me to pieces when their porch no longer has tape and patches all over it.

You may be on to something here. If you can ‘corner’ the market on awning cleaning, and do it really well, I say go for it!

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How come you don’t offer awning cleaning? You have the idea what’s the roadblock to start advertising for it tomorrow? And will you?

I’m too busy with everything else dude. Come on.

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It seems lucrative! Get amongst it lol

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Ever hear the saying, see a need/fill a need? If he’s noticing nobody else there is doing awnings and there are a ton of dirty ones, heck go for it.

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Is there a need? I don’t see too many threads on awnings. This forum overall is a pretty good indicator of money making services, plenty of other unrelated services like sealing and staining no awnings though. I can’t even learn if I wanted to on here, anything awning related just sounds like a guess from what I’ve read on here. I’m getting the feeling there’s no demand :thinking:

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I used to live in Northern Virginia. Tons of upscale storefronts and the guy I worked with back in the day did a lot of awnings. If you have a high-end gentleman’s shoe shop in Alexandria you don’t have a dirty awning.

do you know what kinds of equipment he had, did her have a 12V sysytem or a pressure washer (hot or cold).

Feeling like I’m going to add that to mine as well…

He just used a pump sprayer, pole, brush and scraper for the lichens. Basically what Squid’s video shows.

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