Important Things to Know Before Starting a Pressure Washing Business

by Daniel Check |Published February 2025

 

Starting a pressure washing company can be a rewarding and profitable endeavor. Pressure washing is a service that every property owner needs at some point, and it is a service most often done best by a professional. The demand for pressure washing services means if you start a company, you can grow it. However, many contractors fail to run a successful pressure washing business, and this is often not due to their skill or work ethic. Even the best pressure washers can fail in this industry if they don’t take the right steps when starting their business. Don’t stumble out of the gate; here are a few tips to consider before starting a pressure washing company.

 

Job or Business?

For many professionals the act of power washing is a fulfilling experience. It is rewarding and fun work to do. The best professional pressure washers love going out to homes or businesses and doing the job. However, owning a business is more than just doing a job. First, you need to decide what you want to own. Do you want to own a job, or do you want to own a business? Knowing the answer to this question is essential to running a successful company because it helps you learn what business you want to run. If you love pressure washing and just want to find enough clients to pay the bills while you do the work by yourself, that means you want to own a job. If you are looking to grow your company, hire new people, and manage the day-to-day minutiae of running a successful company, then you want to own a business. Both options are fine, but you need to know which one you want to help you manage expectations for your company and your day-to-day job. If you love being in the field, then start a company that puts you out in the field. If you are a detail-oriented person who loves the grind of growing a business, then start creating those processes. Know the type of company you want to run, and then run that company. If you don’t manage those expectations, you will not enjoy your work, and your clients will see that in the final product.

 

Start an LLC

This seems like a simple task, but so many new people in the industry forget to properly designate their business. It is recommended that every person starting a new pressure washing company designate that property as an LLC over a sole proprietorship designation. The protection an LLC provides you is too great to pass up. A pressure washer is a powerful tool; running a business costs money. You don’t want to risk losing your house or other assets because you caused damage from a job or couldn’t afford to repay a loan. Start an LLC and create some separation between your assets and your business.

 

Know Your Worth

Pricing your services is one of the hardest things to do when starting out. You want to make money, but you have no name recognition, no referrals, and likely no experience running a pressure washing company.

It is rare to find pressure washers who charge too much for their services. They most often underbid themselves into oblivion. Know your worth and price yourself accordingly. One of the best pieces of advice someone gave me was, “If you never hear no, you are priced too low.” If you are priced right, some people will say no. Everyone wants to work with the lowest bid, so if you never hear no, you are probably the lowest bid.

You can work for less for a little bit just to get your foot in the door, but set expectations with customers that future work will be at a higher but reasonable rate. Once you build trust with some of your customers, you can throw in a good deal for long-term clients every now and again. If you set expectations about price increases, customers will understand. They know everyone is dealing with higher costs these days.

 

Find a Support System

Competition is an essential part of a healthy industry, but competition does not mean you have to avoid working with other contractors or pressure washers in your industry. Successful pressure-washing companies have a strong network of like-minded professionals to help refer them work or give them business advice. More prominent pressure-washing companies will refer work to smaller companies if they have a full schedule or don’t take on particular jobs. Other contractors need pressure-washing services, and building relationships with them means they will call you when they need that work done. Other industry professionals want to see their peers succeed. Don’t be afraid to reach out to them.

Starting a pressure washing company can be a fulfilling and profitable opportunity. If you start a pressure washing company, know the type of business you want to run, get the proper licensing, know your pricing, and find a support system to help you grow. Do these things, and you will grow your pressure washing business.

Daniel Check is the Owner of Double Check Pressure Washing, a commercial and residential pressure washing company in Wilmington, North Carolina.