Business Plan - Right Track?

Newbie Questions
1

Hello everyone,

I have been on this forum for only a few days and have been reading up on suggestions and using the search function. I still have A LOT to learn obviously. I have always wanted to start pressure washing/house washing for some extra money to start with and maybe turn it into a career if things took off. I never knew it went into so much depth! I applaud you guys and all of your knowledge. I currently have a really good full time job with excellent benefits that I would never be able to afford for myself…at least not unless I was very successful going full time with pressure washing. So for now I am wanting to just get into it in my evenings after work, Saturday, Sunday, and Mondays.

I have compiled a check list of sorts, of the things needed to start up. I am just wanting to run what I have by everyone to make sure I am not missing anything really important. I have not bought the equipment yet or done advertising or anything. I have been reading and researching, trying to get my ducks in a row before I just jump head first. I have the money saved for my investment in equipment, chemicals, and advertisement. It is a finite amount, but enough to get me started and I can pick up more things along the way. Here is my checklist:

  • From PressureWashersDirect.com
    BE Professional 4000 PSI (Gas-Cold Water) Start Your Own Pressure Washing Business Kit w/ CAT Pump, Honda Engine & SS Frame - $1,899.99
    (INCLUDES)
    Honda GX390 13 HP Direct Drive, CAT Triplex Plunger Pump 4,000PSI 4GPM, Durable Stainless Steel Frame With 13" Tires
    Professional Style Spray Gun & Wand
    Two 50-foot 3/8" steel braid reinforced hose - Quick Connect
    Quick connect nozzles in 0°, 15°, 40°, and soap nozzle
    20" Whirl-A-Way Surface Cleaner
    18 Foot Fiberglass Telescoping Spray Wand
    Ball Valve Kit
  • M5DS TWIST DOWNSTREAM NOZZLE / $60.00(PressureTek)
  • DOWNSTREAM CHEMICAL INJECTOR KIT / $27.79(PressureTek)
    or SUPER DOWNSTREAM CHEMICAL INJECTOR KIT / $30.78(Powerwash.com)
    Suggestions on one or the other?
  • JROD KIT FOR 4 GPM / $34.03(PressureTek)
  • 3/8" 2-WIRE WHIP HOSE 5800 PSI 8FT / $26.80(PressureTek)
  • 3/4" HEAVY DUTY RED SUPPLY HOSE - 50FT / $95.00 (Powerwash.com)
    I know I will need more supply and pressure hose eventually but for now since I am not going to static mount to my truck bed or a trailer/pallet. I hope it will do until I can make some money to buy the extra.
  • ELEMONATOR 1 GAL / $23.25
  • Found a local chem place right down the road who has 55 gal drums of 12.5% sodium hypochlorite for $175 before taxes. They will not sell less, something about their permit does not allow them to break it down. Has to be sold as is. This is just the first company I have found to have SH around me(none of the pool places carried it). I will be checking to see if I can find better pricing. But it is right down the road for $3.18 a gallon before taxes.

I plan to also make use of VistaPrint and get door hangars, magnets I can put on mailboxes, business cards, newspaper ads, social media, and allllll the rest of that marketing stuff.

I am working on a pricing structure but I really wont have that down until I have jobs under my belt. I know if I were to advertise $150 for a one story house wash base price…it could come back and shoot me in the foot if its a 5,000 square foot 1 story as opposed to just a 1,500 square foot 1 story, lol. So I will have to work out kinks on that. Decks, driveways, and sidewalks I am thinking somewhere around $0.10-$0.20 per square foot depending on what the market will bear. I have seen other companies in the area charging $0.25/sq. ft.

I have also called my local county and city municipality to check on a business license. My state of Alabama does not require a license for this kind of service work, but said they would still issue one for $2. My city municipality where I live and would be the business address requires me to pay $110/year business tax or something. I don’t think it would be a license per say.

And then there is General Liability insurance, which I still have to call and get a quote on. Should $1,000,000.00 in coverage suffice? Too much? I am thinking of Hiscox, anyone familiar?

I am sorry for the really long post. I just wanted some feedback on what I have gathered together for somewhat of a plan so far. Does anyone have anything to add, change, suggest, criticize? lol

Thanks for your time,

Brandon

2 Likes
2

Didn’t read it all… only got to your washer of choice:

Don’t buy that kit… but your self a 5.5 gpm @ 2500 psi .belt drive . or go the route of building your own gear drive for around $1200. Use the rest of your $ and grab a 16 in eagle wash.
You’ll spend the same money but have decent equipment

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I agree with 'Don’t buy that kit". You’ll never need that pole. Get a belt drive or at least a gear drive machine. The Pressure Pro 4gpm 4000psi machine with the Cat pump and belt drive is a great little machine that you can get for about $1400. Plus will make a great little backup machine if you ever expand. all Pressure Pros come with wand, hose and nozzles. You can find a decent surface cleaner for $350 or if you can stand it get a Whisper Wash classic for $600.

Get a 100 ft water hose

Other than that, everything else looks pretty good.

You’re doing good to get your research done in advance. I studied the industry for a year before I got into it.

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Here are a couple random things I wish I knew when I started:
Buy a few extra quick connects and have back up downstream injectors ready to go.
I really like a ball valve to make changing things around easy, I used to have to shut the machine off each time.
Pump up sprayers come in handy, when I get really bad steps or just need to post treat something small a 50/50 mix in a pump up is really helpful.
For a 4gpm/4000 psi machine my favorite two tips were a 0540 and 1530. I just turned my soap off because allowing the 2510 and 0010 nozzles to shut your soap down are too strong to rinse for me, that’s just me though.
I would install drain lines on your machine as soon as possible, make changing the oil way, way easier so you are more inclined to do it.
Squid has a couple good post on 5 arounds - that is super helpful (a lot of bang for your buck) starting out.
That is all I can think of at the moment - How it goes well for you.
Joe

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Thanks for your time Patriot, Racer and bubbad2u. I will take in all you have suggested.

Racer, I found this pump Pressure-Pro EB4040HC Professional 4000 PSI Gas-Cold Water Belt-Drive Aluminum Frame Pressure Washer w/ CAT Pump & Honda GX390 Engine 49-State Compliant

I’m thinking that is more along the lines of what you suggested?

And Patriot, I was looking at the 5.5gpm but I think for now those are just a tad out of my range financially. Most of the ones I’ve seen were in the $2,000-$2,500 range starting out before I spent any money on anything else. Just not in the bank like that at the moment lol.

I will make sure to get some extra quick connects and the 100’ supply hose. And I’ll need more pressure hose with that one in the link above. Only comes with 50’.

And none of you would go with the 20" whirl a way? 16" eagle wash better? The whisper wash might be a stretch. Price wise.

I will have to get back to the drawing board on my equipment picks and get back with y’all on my next batch of items I put together that match the advice y’all have given me and match my budget. Bed time for now lol. 11pm, gotta be up at 3.

Thanks so much.

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If at all possible get 200’ of pressure hose. Getting that pressure washer out of and back into a PU, SUV, or car will be a pain in the behind! Also avoid the Simpson hose. It’s junk.

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Eh, I dunno…there’s something ‘romantic’ about starting with lesser equipment and learning to use it. I don’t regret what I have right now, helps me learn the basics after three months in. Rolling 50’ hoses, tugging my machine out of the trailer, learning the Xjet M5, using a $100 surface cleaner etc. I’m not full time PW like most on here, less than 1/4 really.

It’s like window cleaning, anyone can run out and buy a super fancy deionized water fed pole system and start washing atrium storefronts, but there’s something to be said for a basic bucket, squeegee, scrubber and elbow grease.

He’s not looking to do this more than a few hours each week. Maybe he could just start with the basics…sidewalks, 1 story softwash, whatever.

Just my beginner .02.

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Couldn’t agree more about buying extra quick connects and the heavy duty ball valve does make life a lot easier.

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Yes that 4/4 cat pump will put out over 5 gpm.

Great machine, I have one and love it

11

Patriot, that link sent me to an empty shopping cart lol. I’ll have more time to look further into it later today. Currently at my full time job till 4pm cst. Will be off Saturday, Sunday, and Monday though.

Any reason for the eagle 16" sc as opposed to the larger sized one I posted? Quality, I’m guessing?

12

Roll Tide. A rule of thumb is 4" of surface cleaners per 1 GPM. I know there used to be several good local dealers in Montgomery. Look into them first when buying a machine. The other items buy online but if you have no experience on how washers work and have issues down the road a local dealer is nice. I bought my first real washer in Montgomery but that’s been 30+ years ago. There used to be several around Maxwell AFB area. There’s also TSC in Tuscaloosa. Danny is the owner. He’s a straight up guy. He had a washing business about thirty years ago. I met him while up there cleaning McDonald’s and Sonic’s. I had been up all night and he told me that I could crash on his couch before driving back to Selma so I didn’t have to worry about falling asleep behind the wheel. It may be worth the trip over there. I’m not sure what all he sells

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I have a 16 inch Eagle Wash that I used with a 4/4 and still use with my 5.6 pump. The quality is there. Whirl away is fine but will give you problems down the road. I have a friend in FL that has the BE 20 inch one and he’s replaced almost everything on it now.

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There it is! I like that one actually. I can’t find where it says if it’s direct, belt, it gear drive. I’m guessing direct judging from the price. That looks like a winner winner chicken dinner unless I find something similar local.

16

It’s a belt drive

17

Ok. I saw that website but didn’t search it as much as the others. Thank you. With the gpm I’ll be pushing it without a tank though won’t I? Since most homes run 4-6gpm at the faucet. And I can forget about using a faucet on a well.

18

You can tell if it’s belt drive by the sheet metal housing coming off the motor.

image

One thing to keep in mind, these machines are very heavy. My direct drive 4000/4gpm weighs 85 pounds, belt drives are well over 100#. If you plan to load and unload these beasts, something to consider.

19

65 gallon buffer tank will suffice.

Do yourself a favor and get a hose reel and 200 ft of pressure hose.

If your planning on pushing around the house then just go cheap and buy a Home Depot.

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Exactly why I suggested 200’ of pressure hose. :+1: