Need help starting up

Hey guys I’m new here. I’m a struggling online entrepreneur that wants physical work. I’m in NNJ and not sure what to do while I wait for spring. Do people stop working during the winter months?

I need help with setting up. I have about $3K to invest and I have a toyota tacoma (2001).

Should I get a business license and insurance?

Kind of lost and would appreciate any/all help. Thanks in advance.

Think of the magnifying glass in the upper right hand corner as a magic 8ball. Ask it a question and it will answer.

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X2 what @Thenewbie said… read read read… use youtube… use google…

And to answer your question no some of us work through the winter but then again in nc its not below freezing consistently at least where im at.

Also yes, insurance is an absolute must. Dont drive a car on the road without it so dont wash someone elses property without it. Its a must !

Thanks @CCS , reading up now. Do you recommend this kit? Pressure-Pro E4040HG-HTQBS 4000PSI Deluxe Start Your Own Pressure Washing Business Kit w/ Aluminum Frame, General Pump & Honda GX390 Engine 49-State Compliant

No, not particularly. But honestly what you need an what i need may be two completely different things.

What are you goin to be cleaning ? Residential, Commercial, Kitchen Hoods, Concrete

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@CCS I’m starting with residential, mostly driveways, sidewalks, concrete. I’m gonna work my way to the side panels of homes later. Baby steps

I thought I was going to be doing a lot of driveways starting out and that was one of my biggest mistakes I made. It’s hard for me to even sell a driveway as a bundle deal. I spent $300 more than I needed on a surface cleaner. I am not sure about your area, but it may be significantly more profitable to get started with doing houses and skipping the driveways at first.

I think your best bet would be to file an LLC, Get a business banking account, get insurance and quickbooks online. Buy an m5 x-jet and rent a machine from homedepot until you get your money back and then spend the 3k on a 5.5gpm@2500psi machine and set it up correctly. This should leave you with a decent amount in your bank account and require minimal investment up front in case you decide you don’t want to, or can’t do the work.

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You will also need a marketing budget. This is just as important as your machine.

I’d hit up @Monsterpowerwashing and offer to work for free as an apprentice and see what kind of business he’s running right around the corner and it might dissuade you from starting without a proper investment.

Disclaimer: I started with a smaller budget than you and had to deliver pizzas 4 nights a week while I built momentum so I didn’t touch savings. In retrospect, I would’ve put more time and money into training and marketing AND equipment upfront now that I know what kind of return is available with the right stuff.

You’re smarter than I am because I tried to do too much on my own and when I finally found this forum it helped catapult my business.

I’m not speaking for Jimmy (Monster Power Washing) because I don’t know if he has the time or even wants to take on an apprentice, but I will say his initial investment and the business he’s building because of it has been impressive to say the least.

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You’ve spent 18 minutes on this forum reading. When you’ve read about 20 hours then ask your questions, though a hundred would be better for you and us. Take @Thenewbie 's advice, which you obviously haven’t yet. Then if you’re smart enough, you’ll take @squidsk seriously. Otherwise you’re just going to be another hack out there… You really need about another grand or 2 to do it right.

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Go to your local county courthouse/ administrative building. Get your “DBA” it should be relatively cheap…in my area $10 for 5 years. This will get you started, take that to your bank and open a business checking account, your tax id # is your SSN ( if your bank isn’t smart and already knows that). Insurance is great, and needed…but you may be better off trying to do residential for a month or two to save money and see if this is a business you actually want to do before you spend $1500 on an insurance policy.

equipment wise, just getting started go find a used Honda GX motor on Craigslist for $100 and buy a pump offline. You can have a good pressure washer right around $500. Add reels and hoses if you have the $$. Take it slow, invest as you go. You dont have to start out with $3,000 in equipment. Save your money, take it slow and invest in equipment when needed. After a year or two you will have everything you need with zero debt.

Why would he get a DBA opposed to an LLC? He should protect his personal assets at all costs. You are also suggesting that he does not need insurance. If he runs his DBA without insurance his personal assests will be at risk.

He is better off starting his business right and having money for marketing. The pressure washer can come a few weeks down the road if he decides to continue.

He could take the cost of the rental machine from home depot or lowes up front. This way he is not risking much. Save up 5k like this, get a trailer setup and then have another 1k put aside for marketing.

This is the epitome of stupidity and ignorance. The industry is already flooded with people like this and now they are giving asinine advice to other new people.

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I’m not saying to run your business like this for years…he’s asking about starting up with a 3k budget. Why is it bad to test the market, see if your service is needed, what’s the competition? Who knows, you might absolutely hate it. After a month or two, if it’s something you really want to do for a business. save up money to get insurance and slowly build your business. Start slow and learn. If you have the $$ then yes get insurance off the bat.

To get started DBA is easy, cost very little. Same day walk in walk out…yes down the road a few months in if it’s something you are going to do then switch over to LLC.

No, that is stupid advice. You don’t start a business to see if you like it then get insurance. If you are here to just troll and spout foolishness please go away. We have enough craziness outside the forum, we don’t need to bring it here. You don’t test the market by starting a business to see if it is needed. You test and study the market, then start a business based on your research. Please either quit posting and read or just be gone.

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You are forgetting about liabilities. Also have to switch your bank account from a DBA to and LLC will can make your accounting a bit more confusing if he is going to do it himself.

There are basics to starting a business. Insurance, Separating yourself legally, among other things. Please consult with a small business lawyer in your area. The price wont be that bad for an hour of advice.

Yes, follow this guys advice. Spend 66% of your start up cost on insurance before you have any jobs lined up…then in two months when your out of money and need to pay the bills then you can shut the business down to get a normal job. Like 80% of other small businesses.

You will most likely not need to spend 66% of your startup cost on insurance.

He could get a quote for the insurance, line up 10 jobs a few weeks in advance, take a percentage up front, buy the insurance and go do the jobs. Start thinking outside the box.

If it takes you two months to run out of money and need a job you have bigger problems then your business failing.