How much money can be made in pressure washing.

Scott

New member
Hello Everyone,

I love pressure washing!

I am a newbie.As a school teacher I was looking for a summer job. I bought a 3600 psi cold water pressure washer , three ladders, gloves,boots,chemicals,etc... All from Home Depot.-
I washed my driveway and house, got business cards, put flyers in mailboxes and have completed four jobs.My company name is AFFORDABLE PRESSURE WASH

Do these prices seem in line?
1- I pressure washed a vinyl sided two story house and driveway/sidewalk. Charged $250.
2.- Cleaned cobwebs, windows, mildew, sidewalk on a large house. Charged $200.
3. - Pressure washed the soffits, facia, windows , siding on a large brick house with much mold and mildew. Charged $250
4.- Driveway,sidewalk,patio,foyer,courtyard-charged $175

I would love to grow into commercial accounts and then into contracting. The big "if" is giving up the $35,000 teaching job with summers off and benefits.I have the mortgage, wife and child to consider as well.Don't we all!

All suggestions and comments would be welcome. I am sure there are many others who would benefit from your answers.

Thanks,
Scott
 
Keep your "day job"

sure there are alot of pro's to being on your own .................. But @ least you have something to fall back on .Most of us are for the most part "full timers" .And if I had A job making 35,000 I would keep that and do p/washing on the side.Heck you got your summers off>>> Enjoy it and spend time with the family.........Work will always be there Your kids will grow up and say " boy I wish daddy was home.

 
The question I raise, is do you want to work for the man or be the man! As a school teacher you have insurance and benefits.
Being self-employed you have to pay all yourself and double your social security.:mad: You can also save money by being incorporated. As a father you could show your kids a way of living. Give a man a fish example.
My dad didn't pay for my college, but showed me how to clean windows. My wife can stay home with the kids and we have a house. I work mainly Mon. thru Friday. I have been getting up earlier doing the power wash thing, but that's ok! I sometimes do the all-nighter or weekend thing, but that's ok to because I try to make up time with my family during the next week.
$35,000 a year is not much to raise a family, with all you want to do for your family. If people are really making $45 to $85 an hour doing power washing, thats between 75 to 150,000 a year!(-supplies). If it really takes off for you, I say go full time! Have something to give your next of kin that will benefit them for a life time!;)
 
SCOTT,

MY WIFE IS A SCHOOL TEACHER! IN TEXAS ONLY MY WIFE HAS INSURANCE , FROM THE SCHOOL , THE COST FOR ME AND MY 2 KIDS IS ABOUT $500 PER MO.

I WORKED FULL TIME FOR 8 YEARS AT THE BOMMER PLANT FOR GENERAL DYNAMICS, PART TIME POWER WASHING, GROSSED $35,000 P/Wing ,GOT LAYED OFF 8 YEARS AGO , FULL TIME POWER WASHER FOR 8 YEARS NOW!

MY WIFE ONLY WORKES 183 DAYS A YEAR PLUS A FEW WORKS SHOPS THAT LEAVERS HER 175 DAYS , FOR SHOPPING!LOL

I SAY PART TIME , BECAUSE YOU HAVE SIGNED YOUR CONTRACT TO TEACH ANOTHER YEAR ANYWAY !;)
 
I would suggest that you keep it as a part-time profession until you are comfortable and competent in both the industry techniques and business in general (marketing, accounting, compliance, etc).

In time, you will know whether or not it will work for you. Make your decision then.
 
Rod was part time for a while. I worked full time elsewhere. Year two he was pretty much full time. I still worked full time, but started to feel the pull, since I worked evenings and weekends. Year three we had several crews and were exhausted. This is year four. I'm half time there and half time at my formerly full time job.

Don't put all the eggs in one basket. See if you can transition, start with part time.

Beth
 
I too did the same thing you are doing, going on five years now. I just now started thinking of going full time next spring.You will know when its the right time but first you have to pay your dues. There is a lot of things that can go wrong. That's when you ask your self is this the right move. I have left some jobs and said there is know way in hell that I'm going to do this every day. You sleep on it and it's not so bad the next day. I would do it part time and work your way up to knowing all there is about this business. There is a lot to learn!!

Good luck! it can be done.
 
Thanks everyone for the responses! I am going to stay
part time and continue to pursue business. I might research investing in a hot water pressure washer.

I washed a long driveway today. It took many hours using the green nozzle.The client was very pleased.

I took a break to go home, take a shower and bring my 41/2 year old son to a kiddie music class. He told me I smelled like a pressure washer!

While he was in class I went to Northern Tool Supply. I bought the "water broom". Later on I returned to finish the driveway. I tried the"water broom" . It was terrible. This particular driveway
was mildewy and had approximately twelve years of waether exposure. I am going to return it tomorow.

My question:
When cleaning driveways, is there a faster method than the traditional "back and forth/wand waving" power washing
technique. Is there any device that speeds up the process?

Thanks again for the generous responses.

Scott
 
You might want to buy a surface cleaner.
 
Since you got a Northern nearby, they have a desent surface cleaner that is not to expensive. I bought one two years ago and it's still going. It will save you alot of time.
 
Scott,

Definitely look into a flat surface cleaner if you are going to be doing any significant concrete cleaning. Also, look at Cleaning Systems of the Carolinas out on 74E. They are out past the Harris Teeter distribution center on the right. You can get some pro equipment and chemicals there. If you have any questions, give me a call or you can try Tim Hayes at Charlotte Pressure Washing since he is more on your side of town. I live and work in the Lake Norman/Mooresville area. Best of luck and be sure to get liability insurance!
 
How much money???
It all depends on your are, and what you want to specialize in. there are a few rules to follow though. If you specialize you will after a time make more than if you are the one stop shop that cleans everything. That is unless you are Dave Olson and live in a small market. In my opinion he is probably one of the best operations in the business, although I would bet that there are a lot that make more money than him though, not that he does not deserve it.
Now what kind of money is to be made. there are a few contractors on this board that make an easy six figures. I know of quite a few that make in the low to mid 7 figure range. They are the exception and not the rule. In my opinion, most of the contractors on these boards make around 40 to 50 K a year. That is purely conjecture on my part, but I think that it is close.

Scott Stone
 
I don't post much these days but had to jump in on this one and agree with you about Dave Olson. Been admiring that guys operation for months, he does it right. As for the money part, I've never met a pressure washing contractor who made 7 figure money and would probably have to keep at least 5 crews real busy year round to generate that kind of income and they're probably working in more than one state. If you want to make a decent steady income try to get a good commercial account or two.
 
7 figure incomes---
Fleetwash, Owned by Vito Somebody in New Jersey. Multiple states 600 units
Ducts Unlimited, Daryl Mirza, Illinois Venthoods 80 units
Propowerwash, Ron Musgrave, Arizona, Flatwork ( just Kidding)
Those are two that I am sure of, and I suspect many others. I did not say that there were a lot of them, just some.

Scott
 
Hi Guys,

You mean we're supposed to make money not just spent it! :)

Thanks for the kind words about my company. :cool:

Scott is correct. We do a lot of things and have big equipment but there are many others that make much much more. I'm really small time in comparision.

Keep in mind there are more contractors that are in this business and not on the internet than there is represented on these boards!

There is a fellow up in Ontario Canada that has some equipment that makes mind look like toys! Last I heard he had 14 trucks. He also makes environmental containment equipment. I am certain that Doug Latimer's business grosses many millions!

Dave Olson
 
Hello Everyone.
Iam wondering which surface cleaner to buy. I know you get what you pay for (i.e. stripping,slow). Landa makes a unit that sells for $1600 retail. I was told I could get it for $1300. What are some other units that work with a 3600 psi p/w, are reliable, sturdy, no stripes,will handle abuse, pay your mortgage payment
and do the dishes at night?

This is a great community and thank for your insights.

Scott
 
OK,

Each unit could make you 9200.00 per shift. A low average would be 7500.00 per shift.

This is base on a monthly figure…..


The low average puts a guy in around 90,000 gross per year.


I believe some may make way less and other may make way more.

I try to achieve the minimums each and everyday. Sometimes we make it and sometimes we don’t.

I think and individual running his company should average more money if he is in the owner-operating mode. It’s a little more difficult when you’re not on the end of the wand. (Employees can be difficult to work with)
 
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