Pressure Washing Business Overview
A pressure washing business provides cleaning services using high-powered water spray equipment to remove dirt, grime, mold, and other substances from building surfaces. These businesses serve both residential and commercial customers, offering surface restoration and maintenance through specialized cleaning techniques.
Many pressure washing businesses start with a single operator and expand by adding equipment and staff as their customer base grows.
Related: Checklist To Start A Business
How Do Pressure Washing Businesses Make Money?
Pressure washing businesses generate income by charging customers for surface cleaning services using specialized equipment and cleaning solutions. The revenue comes from different customer types and service offerings such as.
- Residential Services: Homeowners pay for cleaning of driveways, decks, siding, fences, and patios. Services are typically priced by square footage or flat-rate packages for standard residential jobs.
- Commercial Property Maintenance: Regular cleaning contracts with property managers, shopping centers, and office buildings provide steady income through scheduled maintenance programs. These contracts often involve cleaning parking lots, building exteriors, and walkways.
- Industrial Cleaning: Manufacturing facilities and warehouses require specialized high-pressure cleaning of equipment, floors, and loading docks. These jobs typically command higher rates due to the required specialized equipment and cleaning solutions.
- Fleet Vehicle Cleaning: Transportation companies and businesses with vehicle fleets pay for regular cleaning of trucks, buses, and equipment.
- Construction Site Cleaning: Construction companies hire pressure washing services to clean equipment, vehicles, and newly completed structures. This includes removing paint overspray, concrete residue, and construction debris.
- Deck and Fence Restoration: Property owners pay for cleaning and restoration of wooden surfaces. This service often includes cleaning, brightening, and sealing wooden structures.
- Graffiti Removal: Municipalities and property owners pay for the removal of graffiti from buildings, walls, and other surfaces. This service requires specialized solutions and techniques beyond standard pressure washing.
Industry Statistics
Pressure washing services fall under NAICS code 561790 – Other Services to Buildings and Dwellings. A few stats about the pressure washing industry:
Pressure Washing Industry Size & Growth: The pressure washing industry generated $1.2 billion in revenue last year. The industry has shown an average annual growth of 0.6% over the previous five years. Growth projections indicate continued expansion in the coming years, driven by increasing demand from both residential and commercial property owners. The residential market has expanded significantly as more homeowners invest in property maintenance and improvement (IBISWorld).
Number of Pressure Washing Businesses: There are 32,193 pressure washing businesses operating across the country. The industry consists primarily of small, independently owned companies, with no single business controlling a significant portion of the market. Most operators are nonemployers, meaning they run their business without additional staff (IBISWorld).
Pressure Washing Profit Margin: The average pressure washing business maintains a net profit margin of 8.7% of revenue. Labor and equipment costs represent the largest expenses for these businesses (IBISWorld).
Startup Stories
Costs To Start a Pressure Washing Business
Starting a pressure washing business can generally cost between $3,000 and $12,000, plus a vehicle. The range varies based on equipment quality and business scale. Here are some of the common expenses when starting:
Equipment: A professional-grade pressure washer ranges from $1,000 to $5,000. Additional equipment like surface cleaners, extension wands, and specialized nozzles add another $500 to $2,000 to the total cost.
Vehicle: A reliable work vehicle capable of carrying equipment and supplies costs between $5,000 and $50,000. The vehicle needs space for water tanks, pressure washers, and cleaning supplies.
Insurance and Bonding: General liability insurance and bonding typically costs $500 to $2,000 annually, with initial payments required before starting operations.
Cleaning Supplies: Initial inventory of cleaning solutions, detergents, and surface treatments costs $200 to $500. These supplies include degreasers, mold removers, and environmentally safe cleaning agents.
These estimates provide a general idea of startup costs, but actual expenses will vary.
Also See: Ideas for Naming a Pressure Washing Business
Resources:
Power Washers of North America
Pressure Washers of America
United Association of Mobile Contract Cleaners