How to Power Wash for Profit
After power washing the siding of your house, your neighbor offers to pay you to do his house as well. He tells a friend at work about your work on his house and that person calls you and offers to pay you wash his deck. You begin to wonder if this could be a business on the side or even a full-time venture. Before jumping into business for yourself as a power washer, spend time examining several factors so you can build your business gradually.
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Instructions
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Research the need for power washing in your area. Look through the yellow pages to see if there are other power-washing businesses and find out what they charge. Drive around your community and observe homes and businesses. Determine if you live in an area that has enough sites that could make a power-washing business profitable.
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Inventory what equipment you will need for a power-washing business. If you do not own your own power washer, research what a quality unit would cost. Include ladders, water hoses, gas tanks and cleaning chemicals in your inventory.
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Make a list of items you could power wash, such as decks, house siding, driveways and sidewalks. Power washing parking lots, windows and drive-through lanes at businesses also is an option.
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Determine what you will charge for your services. Find out what others in your area charge for similar services. Research the Internet for rates. Review a project site and determine the time it will take to complete. This might be difficult at first, but estimating time should become routine. Factor in the cost of materials for each project. Chemicals, gas used and other costs for specific projects should be included in your asking price.
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Familiarize yourself with all legal issues associated with starting your own business. This includes registering your name, securing a business license, obtaining liability insurance and understanding tax considerations. Consult with a fellow business owner you know or a business accountant.
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Develop an advertising plan. Start slow and tell friends at work, church and the neighborhood about your new venture. As you learn the craft, encourage word-of-mouth promotion. Get your name in the Yellow Pages or on the Internet. Consider a newspaper or radio ad, or signage on your car or truck.
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Tips & Warnings
If you lose a bid to a potential customer, ask them who they chose, what that person charged, and why they didn't select you. Modify your price and services if needed.
Always ask customers how they found out about you.
References
- Photo Credit Pressure Washing York Stone image by T^i^ from Fotolia.com
