Need advice Power Washing Business (liability insurance, profit, organization, pay)

[MomOfToo]

I am not sure if I am posting this on the correct board but I need some advice on starting a small Power Washing Business. My husband want's to do this but part time. He has a full time job so it has to be that way!We aren't trying to make a ton of money, just side money to boost our savings since its so hard to save anything now a days. We are looking to make about $1200-1500 a month (more would be great!) but we are just being realistic. We won't be actually doing anything until the spring though since winter is about to begin....he isn't looking to do gutters or roofs, only siding, patios and decks. Do you think there is a chance with this? He was thinking of hiring college kids if needed to help him out with jobs. How do we go about getting clients? I was thinking of putting an ad in the local Pennysaver and sending out flyers and maybe posting some pull tab flyers in grocery stores and such. Are we being realistic with our goal? We plan on being competitive with other companies and maybe offering discounts as well. Do we need to get insurance in case there is damage?Anyone familiar with this sort of business? My husband drives limos on the weekends but we were thinking for how much he can make in an entire weekend he could probably make in a couple of hours which means more time with the family. The limo business has been some what dry but the tips areeven drier. Ever since the price of gas increasing this past year people aren't tipping as much so he isn't making the money he used too. Any info or advice will be aprreciated! THanks!

[harry chickpea]

Yes, you need insurance. Siding can be destroyed and matching siding impossible to find. Plants can be damaged, concrete pitted, etc.. One aspect of any such business is a hold-harmless or limited liability proposal form and contract. You don't want to work on a job for an opportunist, who sees minor damage and inflates the cost of repairs or uses it to get new siding or landscaping.

Power washing with the little units available at home stores won't generate much business. If the area doesn't have a steam power washing service, then there is a good market. Restaurants have to have their hoods and equipment cleaned of built-up grease, and about the only way to do it is with a high pressure jet of steam. The equipment runs at least a couple grand, but can sometimes be picked up used.

[UpperPeninsulaRon]

Originally Posted by MomOfToo

I am not sure if I am posting this on the correct board but I need some advice on starting a small Power Washing Business. My husband want's to do this but part time. He has a full time job so it has to be that way!We aren't trying to make a ton of money, just side money to boost our savings since its so hard to save anything now a days. We are looking to make about $1200-1500 a month (more would be great!) but we are just being realistic. We won't be actually doing anything until the spring though since winter is about to begin....he isn't looking to do gutters or roofs, only siding, patios and decks. Do you think there is a chance with this? He was thinking of hiring college kids if needed to help him out with jobs. How do we go about getting clients? I was thinking of putting an ad in the local Pennysaver and sending out flyers and maybe posting some pull tab flyers in grocery stores and such. Are we being realistic with our goal? We plan on being competitive with other companies and maybe offering discounts as well. Do we need to get insurance in case there is damage?Anyone familiar with this sort of business? My husband drives limos on the weekends but we were thinking for how much he can make in an entire weekend he could probably make in a couple of hours which means more time with the family. The limo business has been some what dry but the tips areeven drier. Ever since the price of gas increasing this past year people aren't tipping as much so he isn't making the money he used too. Any info or advice will be aprreciated! THanks!

Start with the revenue side. If you want to make $1,500 a month and charge $50 per hour, that's 30 hours of billable hours per month. Even if you can get $50 an hour, that's a lot more hours than a couple on the weekends. Next the expense side.

As the prior poster commented, do will need business liability insurance. Unless you have the proper equipment, the will be a capital expenditure in your near future. What about transportation costs? If it is really a for profit business and not a hobby, fuel, depreciation costs must be considered. Hire some people? Unless you want to pay them under the table, and one of you likes bookkeeping, you need someone there. Advertising will cost something, even if it is just handing out flyers.

All said, these are not negatives - just reality. So be prepared and make extra sure that you have captured all the costs involved with the business venture.

[trottler]

business is good keep it honest try to get 80 per hour w/hot water unit and flat work is easiast (surfacesprayer)3 grand for pw 500/1200.00 for surface sprayer.put unit skidmount on a trailor and mobile it with tank 200 g at least.houses /drive thru/resturants walks/drives patios/storefronts and much much much more...houses.chemical knowledge is crucial and will be worth learning

[texdav]

I see part times doing thsi all teh time especailly house washing with $400.00 units.You really don't want a high pressure unit unless you want to remove all loose paint or damage older vinyl. Let the detergent do the work is the key to house cleaning. Prep for repainting is quite different but most pressure units will do it since you don't want to damage the surface itself.

[HIF]

Originally Posted by MomOfToo

I am not sure if I am posting this on the correct board but I need some advice on starting a small Power Washing Business. My husband want's to do this but part time. He has a full time job so it has to be that way!We aren't trying to make a ton of money, just side money to boost our savings since its so hard to save anything now a days. We are looking to make about $1200-1500 a month (more would be great!) but we are just being realistic. We won't be actually doing anything until the spring though since winter is about to begin....he isn't looking to do gutters or roofs, only siding, patios and decks. Do you think there is a chance with this? He was thinking of hiring college kids if needed to help him out with jobs. How do we go about getting clients? I was thinking of putting an ad in the local Pennysaver and sending out flyers and maybe posting some pull tab flyers in grocery stores and such. Are we being realistic with our goal? We plan on being competitive with other companies and maybe offering discounts as well. Do we need to get insurance in case there is damage?Anyone familiar with this sort of business? My husband drives limos on the weekends but we were thinking for how much he can make in an entire weekend he could probably make in a couple of hours which means more time with the family. The limo business has been some what dry but the tips areeven drier. Ever since the price of gas increasing this past year people aren't tipping as much so he isn't making the money he used too. Any info or advice will be aprreciated! THanks!

You should def get insurance- liability and workers comp. And if using casual labor, they should be well supervised.

I would spend the fall and winter gathering a mailing list of homeower associations in your area and prepare a mailing. Offer a price break for X number of jobs within the community. Single family and townhome owners within association receive notices if their homes are in need of pressure washing. There may be an organization of these groups that you could connect with now so that they will know you by spring.

Also, advertising in HOA newsletters, with a coupon, might be a good foot in the door. I know that in my neighborhood, when someone is having their place pressure washed, the company puts a bandit sign in the yard and gets calls for more business as other owners drive by and see the work being done.

We even had one guy who volunteered at our annual neighborhood work day. He pressure washed our fence for free, working along side owners. He joined us at our end of the day cookout and got a number of jobs.

Not sure about others, but I am loyal to the company that I use. I have used them for four years, always have the same guy and he is very careful, especially when getting up on my roof. I'm sure that I could shop around and find someone less expensive, but it's worth it to me to know what kind of service I will be getting each year.

I agree with much of what the previous poster has stated. Especially "do an exceptional job and ask for referrals". Any moron can rent a pressure washer and put out flyers. What you want, IMO, is for your clients to tell their neighbors how happy they were with your work. If your hubby is in the limo biz, he propbably has the customer service skills that, added to the actual work of pressure washing, make for success.

Good luck to you!