Just thought I’d stop by and introduce myself. I graduated college a couple years ago and after working these past couple years, I’ve been coming to the realization that I can’t work like this for 40 more years, so I’ve been researching how to get into business for myself. The past few weeks I came across pressure washing, not even entirely sure where, but since then I’ve been hooked. I discovered this site not long into my journey and it’s helped a ton in learning the profession, even though I feel I’ve not even learned 1% of the knowledge available. Some YouTube channels have also giving me some good tutorials and insights into working in this field.
I am still working my regular job, roughly 5am-1pm Monday through Friday. This has given me a lot of time in my afternoons off to read about pressure washing and equipment necessary to get up and going. My (rough) business plan is to ease into this, learn the ropes, and make a little side income as I get comfortable and learn more about different jobs.
While I am all about starting my own business for myself and being self-employed, but I am very afraid of being sued in a worst case scenario situation. I have gotten my sole proprietorship for MO and am currently shopping around for general liability insurance. Some have suggested LLC while others have said if I’m really just going to be on my own, a sole prop and general liability insurance will cover me very similarly. On the note of being safe and avoiding any potential legal issues, I have decided I want to offer simple residential concrete cleanings for my foreseeable future. So I’m aiming to clean people’s driveways, sidewalks, walkways, and patios. Seeing as this can be done without chemicals and is generally tougher to damage property, it’s where I feel safest beginning my PW journey. As time goes on I’m open to doing sidings and houses as a whole, but I’m hoping this area I’m starting in has a viable market.
I still have not purchased a pressure washer, but the plan is to shoot for around 3000+ PSI and 3.5+ GPM, as well as a surface cleaner.
Sorry for rambling on, but just laying out my whole situation. I’m going to continue to read and absorb all the info I can since it’s not exactly busy season around here, but in my area in MO there are definitely warm days sprinkled throughout this time of year I could get some jobs in.
Thank y’all for reading and I’m open to answer any questions you have or advice/criticisms for me!
Just do it. You don’t know what will happen until you go out there and do it. I cleaned two hotels with a backpack sprayer, water hose, and scaffolding. Definitely not the right way!!! I didn’t know but I made 3900 in three days. You will mess up, and you will learn. Truth is must of us want someone to hold our hands and we want a risk free venture. That’s not life best of luck to you. I’m still green but keep reading through this site. These guys have years of knowledge and some specialize in certain things. Thought action thought action thought action. Oh yeah don’t forget to keep reading. Going into my 3rd year part time. Haven’t made a leap.
Thank you for your reply! And wow, congrats on that hotel project, that sounds fantastic. I do want to just dice in because I know I’ll just get analysis paralysis if I just sit online and read about every single possible negative. Are you insured? Sole prop or LLC?
I just want to make that money, but I have that paranoid part of my brain that’s saying “you’re gonna accidentally damage a little thing just doing driveways and the homeowner is gonna sue you for everything you’ve got”
Sole proprietor and yes I am insured. Honestly if you use good caution and low pressure on homes you want have much to worry about. Check electrical outlets and use painters tape to cover them. I’ve had a couple of scares but nothing serious. Of course there’s much more to it but it’s a lucrative business.
Did you just opt for the general liability insurance I see get suggested a lot?
Since I want a washer that can clean concrete well, I want the higher (3000ish) PSI and 3+ GPM. What’s the simplest way to clean things that aren’t concrete with that powerful of a machine? Just angled nozzles?
24 years of window cleaning here, but just completed a year of pressure washing.
I had a lot of trouble finding PW specific insurance, Hiscox wanted over a grand a month. We eventually found an agent that got us with Liberty. The other guys on here can elaborate, or you can figure out how to do a search on here.
Hey, one thing about self employment…you don’t have a pension. Set aside a little now while you’re young and you’ll be set later on.
I appreciate it man! How much did you end up paying with liberty?
Also if you don’t mind me asking, what type of pressure washing do you do? I’m trying to dip my feet in before I try to do it all. And is there a type of pressure washing you think is simple? Like siding, driveways, decks etc
Right now I primarily do residential as I don’t have hot water. Word of advice…if funds are limited just get a belt drive 4/4 machine then save up for a 8/3500. I fussed around with three different units before finally getting a real commercial one.
Thank you sir! Any idea how much I should be looking to pay for that 4000 psi and 4 gpm washer? I may go the used route if it’s a good savings
Also, do you think it’s feasible to make decent money doing just driveways and walkways for a while or do I really need to get comfortable doing siding work?
It takes money to make it. Buy a 5.5@3500 or 8@3500. If you’re going to go full time you will want a machine with a v twin. Unless you plan on only restoring decks.
You’re going to spend between $3500-$4500 on a cold water machine with a v twin Honda/Kohler/vanguard. With a real machine you will need a buffer tank and a trailer or skid.
You can build a good washing trailer for about 10k. And a real good one for 15.
Don’t buy a single axle trailer unless you plan on emptying your tank between jobs.
Here comes the sales pitch from @squidskc.
Truly though @TGServices , If you wanna do it right the first time and save yourself a butt ton of $ , Time and learn . Go do a sleep over @squidskc place , He will teach you everything you need to know and then some
I’ve seen belt drive 4/4 for about $1300. It’s a good starting point, will make you good money until you can afford that spiffy 8/3500.
Please don’t do what I did and get a direct drive. It doesn’t like pulling from a buffer tank. Oh and about that tank, if you have a 5.5gpm and less, 35 gallon size is just fine. I’ve yet to drop my 55gallon less than 2/3 full with my 5.5.
I wouldn’t worry about being sued. Just be sure to do things correctly and use common sense. You can’t be sued for anything and everything. Take pictures before every job so you have proof of what the property looked like before you started. If you damage anything and, it’s your fault, you need to take responsibility for it and fix it. Do the right thing and a homeowner won’t have any reason to sue you. If it’s a bogus case your insurance company should fight for you. Even still they won’t be able to take “everything you own” if they’re suing for the repair of their siding or a window. That’s one reason why you should always have insurance before stepping foot on a customer’s property.
I don’t think I’d solely concentrate on only residential concrete. I think you’ll have a hard time making decent money. A lot of people don’t even realize their driveway is dirty until you point it out to them so I’d be surprised if you got many calls for just the driveway. Even when you do some still don’t care enough to want it cleaned. If someone calls for a house wash are you going to tell them you only do driveways? If so they’ll likely call someone else who will do both the house and driveway because who wants to mess with hiring two separate pressure washing companies? You’ll get a lot more calls for house washing than anything else.
Be sure to keep researching on here. You’ll learn that you will actually need chemicals on concrete. Pressure alone won’t get rid of all stains including algae or mildew. I’m sure you’ve seen stains left by leaves on driveways. No amount of pressure will remove them so you’ll need some sh. Some customers might want rust or oil stains removed so you’ll need the proper chemicals to remove them. You’ll also learn you’re going to want a bigger machine than a 3.5 gpm and especially if you only focus on concrete. As mentioned above a 4 gpm is considered minimum on here but if you’re only going to do flat work I think that’s too small. You’ll be able to move much faster with more gpm. The more gpm the machine the faster you can clean. The faster you clean the more work you will get done per hour. The more work you get done per hour means a higher hourly wage. You’ll be able to complete more jobs per day.
This is just my opinion but I think starting off with house washing is the better option. I would offer concrete cleaning too. It doesn’t get much easier than house washing as long as you know what to look for. If you have any doubts about a house turn the job down. Pressure washing isn’t difficult. Spend the winter on here researching old threads and, come spring, you’ll feel comfortable offering a few different services. Start off doing some pro bono work for friends and family to get your feet wet and you’ll be fine. I think it’s a good idea only offering a few services at first but many of us just jumped right in and offered a variety of services. If we had any questions about a particular job we could usually find the correct way to clean it searching through old threads on here or by asking.
@marinegrunt gave good advice above. I will add as some of the others, keep researching and don’t buy any equipment until you have. You will regret that 3.5gpm machine I assure you. And more than likely the 3000 psi if your doing a lot of concrete. I started with a similar machine, then quickly moved to a 5.5 gpm and now an 8. It’s about efficiency and the more gpm’s the more efficient you will be. You will have to move so slow with that 3.5 but can move quickly with the 8. A lot of guys are using a 5.5/2500, but personally I wouldn’t go below 3500 psi. I never run at 3500, but by the time you take in account for psi loss due to length of hose and everything else, you will be lucky to get 2000psi out of that 2500psi machine. Just my two cents. A 5.5 is the smallest machine I would buy, but I would stick to 3500psi. However, if you compare prices, the difference between a 5.5 and an 8 @ 3500 is pretty small and worth the extra cost. You will need a few extra things with the 8, like a bigger buffer tank so you have to take all that into consideration as well.
And to answer your question, yes, you nozzle your machine down to run a lower psi for house washing. Most of us are downstreaming with a jrod so look that up. It’s low pressure and ideal for house washing. I soap and rinse with my soap nozzles so its low pressure and helps avoid damaging any surfaces. Do some reading on that. Same goes with concrete. I nozzle my surface cleaner down so I’m not running it at 3500psi either. Hope some of that helps. Just research downstreaming with a jrod and keep researching equipment before you buy.
Oh, and I will second what @marinegrunt said also. I would be hard pressed to stay busy only doing residential concrete. People will clean their houses, but most will overlook their driveways and sidewalks. Housewashing is more profitable and that is what most people are going to be looking for. I have better luck trying to upsell the concrete and rarely ever get called just for concrete. It does happen, but not that often.
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