Welcome Ed! Good to have you join in. There is a ton of information about the things you just mentioned from types of machines to marketing. Spend some time perusing the forum and join into any thread that catches your attention, even if it’s an older one. Don’t be shy about posting in it and bumping it up again.
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I made the mistake of buying a yellow pole. I made the mistake of buying a 4gpm machine and about a month later bought a 5.5 when I realized the 4 was inefficient. Within a couple of months of starting I had an 8gpm. Don’t make the mistake of starting out with sub standard equipment. Buy today what you think he will need 5 years down the road
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Buy today what you think you will need 5 years down the road
I translated this from redneck to English for Ed. lol
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I completely understood the first time , now not so much 
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Well both translations are still available… 
Hey Ed! What was left out from the comments above is that the best way to learn is to use the search bar on this site. This forum is filled with everything you need to know and then some. When you search for something, you’ll learn why a process is done a certain way, and you’ll learn things you had no idea you needed to know while in the process. GPM is king is something to search. You’ll learn softwashing is the proper way to wash a home and that you don’t ever want to take more than 3000psi to concrete. If you stick around and do lots of research, you will learn a ton.
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This should be pinned right at the top of the forum. Everybody in this industry will outgrow a 4gpm do the right thing, make life easier and buy a high gpm machine. If you can’t afford it save a bit longer till you can.
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Fat fingers
Hi everyone, My name is Evan. I will be starting a presser / soft washing business in Dallas, tx, within the next week or two. This site has been an awesome resource. I am completely new to the industry. I thought I would wash some driveways in my spare time, for a little extra income, but I am learning a lot! The industry has changed a lot from when my dad used to hire people to blast and sand the decks back in the 80’s!
Right now I’m looking at buying a 4000psi 4gpm pressure-pro (because that’s in my $2,000
Price range) with a Honda motor and a cat pump, A down stream injector with appreciate soaft wash nozzles, and a 16 to 18 inch surface Cleaner.
Later, we will include window cleaning (my wife has about 15 years experience in new construction cleaning and window washing), and I will create a mobile welding subsidiary company under a different name (I have 12 years in that trade).
At first I had know Idea I was going to have to learn. It’s been an exciting experience, and I’m looking forward to getting some work done.
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Hi Evan, welcome. Glad to have you.
Welcome. Find someone near you who started last spring with a 4gpm and buy it at 1/3 the price of new. Take the leftover cash you have budgeted and either save it for 8GPM or spend it on GOOD advertising. You’ll be happy you did.
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Hey folks - I’m Jeff, a weekend warrior in Raleigh, NC. Been doing gutters for a few years now and moving into the soft and pressure wash in order to save my back a bit. I was using the gutter vacuum for a while and it was just too taxing on me for the money (I spent more in chiro than I care to divulge). I’m doing this work in conjunction with my parents business down near Wilmington and running back and forth on weekends for beer money. I’m running an electric booster pump setup out of the truck of my bed. No frills at all, except my homemade electric hose reel. I’m an engineer by trade so I like to tinker with stuff and this sure is an industry to do so with! I’m hoping to learn lots here!
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Hi Evan, I am new also and am about to buy a surface cleaner. It was suggested to me that you want there to be a 4 to 1 ratio for surface cleaner size to gmp. Which would put you at a 16 inch surface cleaner for maximum efficiency with a 4gpm machine. Say hi to Texas for me, I grew up in Greenville and Odessa!
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Welcome Jeff!
What gutter vacuum were you using? I’m considering buying the one but the price tag makes me think, is it worth buying to replace all ladder work?
Welcome Kiran, good to see young guys with some hustle!
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Hello Jeff. I’m in Wilson if you every need anything hit me up. The name of my company is grays pressure washing. You can check us out on Facebook.
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Hi guys,
I’m from central Kansas, got the idea to get into the power washing business from washing fiberglass dog pools. We used to do em with a scrub brush but talk about a pita. Anyways started with a $300 sams club special and I’ve been reading many forums over the last couple years and I’m looking to get into this as a side gig but would like it to be my ace in the hole. I’m only doing residential for the time being but if need be would like to be able step up to serving commercial as well. I currently have a Simpson 4gpm 4400max machine but am working on setting up a small trailer. Is there anyone in the business with any agricultural experience or selling this service in that department?
Thanks,
Freddy
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Welcome Freddy, good to have you.
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I had the skyvac. It was powerful and good for a time. Definitely made money with it, but like i said it wasn’t real good on my back. Residential days i could make up to 600, a grand or so if you have a good day at a condo complex, and that’s as a single person. Good beer money for sure.
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