How did you get started in p/w?

[MARK W.]

I was wondering how the rest of you got started in this business. For me it was to make extra money while my wife was pregnant with our first child. It has grown into a full time job with making more money than I expected. I don't ever remember hearing someone say that he or she wants to grow up to become a pressure washer. What is your story?

 

[the_GUNN_man]

I worked for a masonry company and one day I over heard one of the guys I worked with ask the boss about washing the brick. I asked him about it and he said he would pay me $20 an hour to help. I went for it and decided it was something I liked doing and could make good money at. I first started out washing brick with a bucket and brush but quickly turned to washing with a pressure washer. I easily get $0.45 a sq ft. You can wash 250 sq ft an hour pretty easy. That is $112 an hour.
It is hard to get masonry companies to let you do it though. When you wash a house and ruin their siding they can replace it for under $10,000. If you ruin brick it can cost half a million or more to replace. That would be commercial brick of course i.e. schools, offices, stores. I can get the jobs easier becuse I know the ins and outs of masonry and that makes them more comfortable.

 

[Clean County PW]

My story is somewhat similiar to yours with my wife leaving her excellent paying job to give birth and be home with my first daughter.

We both agreed that we wanted her to stay home to care for our daughter and any other kids that we may have. So I started powerwashing to go along with my other job.

Today 7 yrs later I have 2 Beautiful girls and my wife is still at home and being very involved with there lives with school and all.

I at times make more money powerwashing then I do with my other job which pays pretty well. I have NO regrets starting this Business and I do appreciate the effort it takes to work hard to succeed.

I have 2 partimers, 2 trucks, 1 Trailer and 5 Powerwashers along with other assorted equipment to compliment my business.

I truly love this Business and one day I hope to expand enough to where I can retire from my other job and have this business grow to its full potential.