Is there anyone here who’s added pressure/soft washing to their business, and Hated it? Eventually removed it from your services?
Attempting to get into it this year and I’m remembering why I quit it last year. Miserable with it. Maybe it’s because I don’t have a helper or proper equipment. I’d like to hear about your start up with these services
Choice of equipment will make or break you in power washing.
My first year or two dabbling in power washing, I just used a small rental unit (but it was the biggest machine they had - 3.5 gpm). I almost didn’t make the leap to a better setup, because of how cumbersome it was to work with. But I had just enough right going for me, that I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. Looking back, I’m soooo glad I didn’t throw in the towel, and went “all in”, instead. Oh, and I work solo 98% of the time.
There’s a ton of great info on the pwr forum. Like, an absolute information goldmine. But just like mining for gold, it’s a big investment of time and energy finding the nuggets.
That said, I suppose power washing won’t be for everyone. Different strokes, and all that. But I struggle to comprehend why anyone wouldn’t like it, if done properly 
I know this doesn’t answer your question, but I love pressure washing! However, having the right equipment and setup makes all the difference in the world.
Since I built my trailer it is easy to just pull out the hoses, wash a house and get paid extremely well.
I just went all in !! I can’t contain myself I feel excited , but scared too 
almost feeling like I want to puke too
I love power washing more than window cleaning, but there is a lot to learn .
An I agree with Alex an Dan equipment is king , but you don’t need the biggest an the best starting out especially as an add on to winfow cleaning. You won’t be doing it everyday to start. I used 2 - 4gpm direct drive one used, an one brand new both Honda’s . For 8 years before taking the plunge.
Yes spraying soap on a house an rinsing it off is easy , but learning about equipment , chemicals the do’s an don’ts is extensive, but if I can do it anyone can. I’m the most insecure person you’ll ever meet. Still to the day I get nervous with every job.
BTW I still don’t know everything you’ll always be learning something
I would love to help you with the second one.
That basically describes me, afraid to make the jump into purchasing what I would
Need to make it easier, thank you for the response. Just enough motivation to keep me from quitting
Very nice set up, but how much monies did you invest in that?
Can I see your trailer?
All you gotta do is research what people typically invest in starting up a company. Average startup costs are in the hundreds of thousands. I think you need a million to open a McDonald’s. Power washing pales in comparison, and the profit margins are really good.
Nice little set-up Dan !
Thanks man, I am happy with it. Fantastic add-on, and I love doing house washing.
That’s the feeling you get when something is worth it. Remember, the majority of people get that feeling JUST THINKING about it, and don’t bother trying. You push through that and get the reward at the end.
Fear is interesting, I recommend this: When you get fear, acknowledge it, but recognize it for what it is, a primal reactive instinct. View it from the side, know it is there and move forward anyway. After the job, we don’t even know why we were afraid at the start.
But, the great thing about fear is that it is the reason why entrepreneurs like us can make a great living. While the investment and barrier to entry in window cleaning and pressure washing is incredibly low, the majority of people are too proud or scared to try.
You should be around $100/hr window cleaning (imo) and AT LEAST $150/hr pressure washing.
Go tell that to everyone you know that is employed and see how many quit their $25/hr job and start their own company. Bet you that you don’t know enough people to see even one person do that.
It was costly 
, but to start out this way would be crazy for a window cleaner adding on the service. Unless you have a lot of commercial jobs you’ll be servicing on a continuous basis. As a add on service you won’t be so many houses per week , so build it up make some money , then if it’s going well think about getting better equipment.
My suggesting for any window cleaner looking to add it on as a service is. Just get yourself a 4gpm with either a trailer if you don’t mind pulling one, or a pick up truck
I started with a pick up truck , if I had to do it all over again I’d skip the reels ( Not needed ). I was a crazy an stupid for driving around with stacked reels in the pick up. But I did !!! 
I could of just used 50’ length hoses , an one 150’ supply hose. “Yes “ rolling them up would of been some work , but so what !!
Make some money first before you drop the mother load. You can still make good money with a 4gpm.
Agreed. I built up my little utility trailer slowly; 5.5gpm @ 2500 psi belt drive, 55 gal drum for a buffer, 10 gal drum for house wash, cheap reels with 100 of garden hose and 200’ of pressure hose. When I had more than a couple pw jobs per week, then I upgraded to the flatbed setup I have now.
I have two of my best friends who both started with window cleaning businesses…and then added pressure washing and roof/soft washing. We all grew up in the same neighborhood 1 street apart back in 1992-- flash forward to 2020 we all are in the field now. They have no regrets on adding that to their business. In fact, it is what propelled their businesses to double and triple their income yearly.
From what they tell me, yes it is more expensive initially and keeping up on the tools and engines is never ending…I do not pressure wash (I have helped them over the years on the side), but I can’t begin to tell you how many customers I service that ask if the company I work for “pressure washes”-- hundreds over the years. Here’s the thing…YOU ARE ALREADY AT THE HOUSE. They already know YOU. People don’t want to have to call 3 different places to get 3 different jobs done. They WANT you, they just don’t know it because you haven’t TOLD THEM. It’s found money if you have a decent residential window cleaning business already. There is no way around it. It will make you money. It might piss you off and kick the shit out of your body, but the money you can make will put that pain aside.
Hell, they prefer the PW and soft washing now over cleaning windows due to the massive amount that each ticket can bring outperforms window cleaning sometimes 3-5x to 1. But remember this, every job is different…just like window cleaning. You have to find the right mix of chemicals, extensive research (this is what the internet is for btw, we have access to EVERYTHING we can think of…). You have to be mindful of your surroundings and the plantlife below. Things break. A 160 hose busts open and you have to run to grab a backup. The engine blows. The pump stops working. But the prices you can charge will cover this and then some. No way around it. Pressure washing is a lot more detailed than window cleaning in terms of there are just about zero “MOVING PARTS” required for window cleaning. Just like vehicles, they require maintenance. But do not be confused…this is NOT rocket science. It’s merely chemistry at it’s basic form.
I am going to do this soon, because it makes no sense for me not to. Do not think you need the best of the best tools to start out. A 4gpm machine is more than enough to tackle just about any residential job you may run into. My friend has a 8gpm machine as well as a 4. My other friend uses a 5.5 and a 4-- they have done hundreds if not thousands of jobs and my buddy with the 8 will tell me he is glad he got the 8 to start off, but in reality the 4 does almost 95 percent of what he’s ever needed to do.
Sure, it might be a couple thousand to get your nose into the PW business-- but when you think of it, a good WFP pole and pure water system, all tools and ladders that you would need for a window cleaning business is going to run you 3-10k as well. And hey, nobody said you have to be Johnnie Hustle-- you can do very well just doing concrete work like patios and driveways-- hundreds can be added to your window cleaning job and the customer will appreciate how great you make their home look…next thing you know you are doing a 160 driveway H.O.A 2x a year.
I’d also like to say just like window cleaning, if you build your own rig (I don’t mean building your own trailer) you will save thousands. No different than putting together your own RO/DI system for window cleaning and comparing that price to say the Tucker RO/DI or the Xero Pure-- if you are a do it yourselfer and handy, you can rig an entire enclosed trailer with fittings and be well on your way. It’s a good investment if you WANT to take your business that route. Food for thought, I only clean windows and my employer never was interested in pressure washing. I am seeing first hand through many examples (I also know another window cleaner who pressure washes in my area, he is on this forum I think-- BRIAN what’s up man!)…if you want to add-on a service, pressure washing is a no-brainer-- IF you are up to the task.
Dan your rig is great man. You don’t have to have a huge rig to start. I would bet you can handle just about any job within reason. Nice rig!
It’s small, but I love it, and it is perfect for house washing as an add-on to my resi window cleaning. Just 4/4,000 but I only run it one day a week in the spring, summer and fall. The tank on the front holds the HW mix, and I have 200’ of pressure hose and 130’ of supply hose. For the vast majority of houses in my area, I can pull up curbside, pull hose, spray SH and Elemonator (finally got some, Canada), roll up hoses, bang the windows out with my WFP in a few minutes, get paid and on to the next one.
I am limited, but, I prefer specialization in my business model anyway. I am a one man crew so I have to cherry pick what I want to do.
I know it’s not on topic, but I wanted to show you guys my WFP system that is designed to be used the same way my trailer is. Pull up to curb, pull hose, clean windows, reel up, get paid, NEXT!
They basically go hand in hand. I don’t do house washing without cleaning the windows too.
Here it is:
That’s exactly what I’m looking to do. What % SH? Do you only do siding or do you do roofs or concrete
