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Anyone do pressure washing as a side business?
Posted on 7/9/18 at 9:08 am
Posted on 7/9/18 at 9:08 am
I'll probably never do this, but it's one of those extra cash ideas after you do something yourself that seems so easy, but you know people pay for. I rented a pressure washer and surface cleaner this weekend to do my driveway. Probably took me an hour worth of actual work. My yard guy who does pressure washing on the side quoted me $250 to do what I did. Renting the machine and doing it myself was only $95. I'd only be interested in doing driveways, but I bet you could drum up a lot of work at $150 a pop for the standard driveway in my area. I'd be afraid to destroy a house 
I know when my FIL was looking for a job, he worked sometimes with a guy who had a serious pressure washing business and apparently was pulling in $200k in revenue a year. Granted this guy had corporate contracts in addition to residential stuff.
Seems like you could make several hundred a weekend by making a few appointments before lunch. Could probably easily knock out 2 or 3 each day and still enjoy your afternoon. It's unbelievably easy with the surface cleaner. And the startup cost wouldn't be astronomical, even for a higher end unit.
I know when my FIL was looking for a job, he worked sometimes with a guy who had a serious pressure washing business and apparently was pulling in $200k in revenue a year. Granted this guy had corporate contracts in addition to residential stuff.
Seems like you could make several hundred a weekend by making a few appointments before lunch. Could probably easily knock out 2 or 3 each day and still enjoy your afternoon. It's unbelievably easy with the surface cleaner. And the startup cost wouldn't be astronomical, even for a higher end unit.
7
Posted on 7/9/18 at 9:19 am to KG6
Sounds like a bad idea to me
Posted on 7/9/18 at 9:22 am to KG6
I wouldn't touch a house without liability insurance on the business. You aren't going to make enough revenue part time pressure washing someones siding or stucco worth the risk of damaging the house and them bitching and suing.
Posted on 7/9/18 at 9:56 am to KG6
I've done a lot of pressure washing over the years and have one in my shop right now to use when needed. I do my driveway, sidewalks, house at least once a year and have used it to hit my vehicle undercarriages from time to time.
You're right though, it is easy to do some damage to houses if you don't know what you're doing. My washer will cut through wood siding with the wrong nozzle on it or if getting even the proper tip too close to the woodwork.
You're right though, it is easy to do some damage to houses if you don't know what you're doing. My washer will cut through wood siding with the wrong nozzle on it or if getting even the proper tip too close to the woodwork.
Posted on 7/9/18 at 10:10 am to KG6
Me and a buddy used to do this during the summers in high school. Hit the fancy hoods, look for dirty houses. Plenty of wives tired of the old man putting it off. We made damn good money.
Posted on 7/9/18 at 10:16 am to KG6
I used to pressure wash concrete a lot working maintenance for a gas station company during the summer. I don't remember it fondly in the heat. frick people who chew gum.
That said I'd imagine it will depend on your ability to line up work, like any other side job whether it's yard work, carpentry, etc. Distance traveling to jobs and maintenance on equipment will eat away at that $100/hr you are envisioning, and it may turn out to be more trouble than it's worth, but if you're willing to put in the effort I'm sure you could put some cash in your pocket.
That said I'd imagine it will depend on your ability to line up work, like any other side job whether it's yard work, carpentry, etc. Distance traveling to jobs and maintenance on equipment will eat away at that $100/hr you are envisioning, and it may turn out to be more trouble than it's worth, but if you're willing to put in the effort I'm sure you could put some cash in your pocket.
Posted on 7/9/18 at 6:59 pm to KG6
It's what I do for a living. What do you want to know? There was a time when it was my "side business" like you're describing and then one thing lead to another and I went full time. I originally started right out of high school and did it all through college. Hung it up when I graduated, did the corporate thing and drifted back in.
It has become an extremely saturated industry. There's yard guys/handyman, the Craigslist clowns, the painters and then there's full blown services. All are very different.
There's a lot more to pressure washing than just going out there and blasting away.
It has become an extremely saturated industry. There's yard guys/handyman, the Craigslist clowns, the painters and then there's full blown services. All are very different.
There's a lot more to pressure washing than just going out there and blasting away.
Posted on 7/10/18 at 11:30 am to KG6
Such a saturated business. Even lawncare guys and businesses are offering power washing as an additional service. You have to have commerial-grade equipment to knock out the work fast enough to make a profit. I've seen a small crew do the yard while one guy powerwashed the sidewalk and driveway, all finished together and the yard probably had less sq. footage than the concrete. 4000psi/4gpm pressure washer with a surface attachment. You'd have to figure out a niche or find good equipment cheap. Pressure washers are very easy to repair, my eye is looking out for one that's pretty much busted except a good frame to rebuild with.
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