Starting a Pressure Washing Business
One word that sums up our humble beginnings is simple. It was easy enough to handle a call or two during the day. Wash a house or two and maybe a driveway per week. Keep maintenance up on one truck and one machine. I was even able to learn basic web design and marketing. I was stepping out into the risky world of local business. It was a wonderful time of personal growth in my life. Subsequently, I was transforming into a small business owner with drive and fortitude. I had no education. Like most that find themselves within the crushing gears of the home service sector. There was no business degree on my office wall. No mentor to teach me about starting a pressure washing business. Nothing to look to at all except for the wisdom of YouTube.
Once things finally started to take off, I was able to quit my truck driving career of 15 years. The side hustle I started in 2014 was now a full-time pressure washing business. It was a pivotal moment in my business and personal life alike. I now had to make decisions with three hungry children, my wife, and a mortgage weighing on every thought. Therefore, every decision I made was to bring in more business. I quickly found myself working seven days a week out in the field and 3 to 5 hours/per day on the computer and phone. I looked for my first employee, realizing that in no way could this be healthy. Nor was it sustainable.
Transitioning into a business
I had to turn down many jobs when I was working by myself. A person by themself should not do certain things. Roof cleaning is one of them. There is a ton of risk associated with not only being on a roof but using strong chemicals while not being able to see what’s happening below. A second person is needed to hold the ladder, spray the plants with pure water to protect them, and watch out for people walking unknowingly into the dangerous cleaning area. Our first employee breathed new life into an already fast-growing local company. We could keep up with the growing demand and perform our duties more safely. Our first employee evolved within a year into two teams of 2. As a bonus, my wife came on full-time to answer the phone.
Now we are more than a guy working for himself. We are a legit company. There are multiple trucks and trailers on the road—each equipped to clean the exterior of any house or commercial building in the area. We carry chemicals to clean every surface. If equipment malfunctions, we have backups to finish the job. We are all highly trained and knowledgeable. We all have families to feed.
Pressure washing company vs a person with a pressure washer
I would never speak ill towards anyone starting a pressure washing business as a single operator. After all, that’s how I started. The following paragraph is only a depiction of my experience. There are limitations in services that a single operator with a pick-up truck and a Lowes pressure washer can provide. They usually cannot afford professional equipment. Due to the imitation of inferior equipment and safety issues, it is significantly harder to grow. They can become overwhelmed and not provide the level of service that a customer deserves. A single operator may miss calls regularly. And even worse, appointments are missed without giving a heads-up to the customer. The cheaper company is not always the better choice. They may not have the proper insurance and state-mandated worker’s comp. Can you imagine what can go wrong? Shingles knocked off your roof—permanent damage to vinyl siding. Broken window seals, paint stripped away, or someone falling off your roof, and you are liable?
No longer starting a pressure washing business, we are one
Treating our team members like they are vital to the operation’s heartbeat correlates with phenomenal customer service. The one-person show may easily miss the little things that we focus on. We are professional in every possible way. Our members are uniformed, and our trucks are well-kept with logos, so we can easily be identified when we show up at your home or business. Of course, we have $ 2,000,000 in general liability insurance and worker’s compensation. Our equipment is of the best commercial brands and is maintained in-house by the owner. ProClean builds its soft wash machines in-house with ease of maintenance in mind. Our soft wash machines are unique. No other company can purchase them.
Many web resources help anyone who wants to start a pressure washing business.
We may not be perfect, but we always strive to grow and to let our very best shine daily.
We may not be perfect, but we always strive to grow and to let our very best shine daily.
