sorry, another startup question - Power Wash Network "The Power Wash Contractors Forum"

Medic442 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-06-04

I have been reading this message board for some time before I joined. I have digested a lot of information. I have been thinking about starting a power washing business. It seems that it is the perfect business with low start up cost, low overhead, and potentially a lot of jobs out there. However, when I started looking into it I must admit I thought it was just “wash on wash off” theory. Gee was I wrong! There is a lot of knowledge to acquire.

I like the thought of the low start up cost. Due to a recent bankruptcy
(Thank you Blue cross and Blue shield and your “preexisting clause that you never told anybody about”) I do not have a lot of startup capitol. I do have some credit cards to buy equipment and the drive to make it work. Can anybody tell me how much can be made on a part-time basis. I know there are a lot of variables. Just wondering about a ball park $$$$. Where can I get all the information on chemicals, equipment, and procedures? I think I would like to stick with decks, house washing, and maybe driveways. Where is the best place to buy chemicals and equipment??

I live in St. Louis and do not and will not “low ball”. I just want too be able to compete and dig myself out of this financial hole I seem to be in.

Thanks for the help

henrybockman · #2 (**permalink**) 08-07-04

There are hundreds of distributers on the net that will give you information or prices on anything you could ever want to know. My personal favorite is Tom Vogel with ACR products. He used to be a cleaner himself and he will honestly tell you what the best thing to use is. Even if someone else sells it!

Henry

Mathew Johnson · #3 (**permalink**) 08-07-04

I agree with Henry. I took the time to go meet Tom Vogel and look at his product. His pressure washing parts are reasonable and I just finished a few deck restorations with his Products and had excellent results. There are other providers, but he is a resource that is excellent.

the_GUNN_man · #4 (**permalink**) 08-10-04

It hurts to see people first starting out. You know they have the same mind set you did when they first start. You start thinking low start up, can get by with this, only need that. That is what I did. Took me buying 4 pressure washers before I got that right. I bought 3 trailers before I got that right. On my second truck and needing a third(got full-size half ton but need 3/4 or 1 ton). Bought countless crap chemicals. Took me buying 3 extension wands before I found the right one, by the way I now use extension wands very little. The biggest factor was money. I thought I could get by with the cheaper. Now I sit having spent a lot of money on upgrades. I could have saved this money by buying smart the first time. I understand that money is harder for others to come by. If anyone is serious about pressure washing you should consider this. When you get a truck get at least a 3/4 ton truck. You will be hauling more then you ever imagined. When getting trailer get a tandem axle enclosed trailer. My first trailer was a single axle enclosed trailer. Nice for protection from the elements but wasn't strong enough to carry heavy loads. My second was a tandem axle open trailer. Could handle the weight but took a beating from rain and other things. Also hard to prevent theft. I believe that the 2 most key things for pressure washing aren't even anything to do with pressure washing. What good is a nice hot water machine with water tanks, surface cleaner, extension poles, hose reels, tools, guns, ladders, chems, etc. If you have no place to put them or nothing to haul them. I just spent $1000 in repairs to my truck due to the fact I am carrying such a heavy load it caused damaged to my transmission. Truck and trailer are the most important things. I could never imagine not having water tanks. I once had to go back to hooking up straight to the faucet and it sucks. One you switch to water tanks you will love them. No more worrying about the pump overheating, dragging the machine around the house with you, and lifting the heavy sucker up into the trailer or truck. With tanks comes weight. Weight means better trailer, which means better truck. I know some people have to work within your budget. If all possible by right the first time so you don't throw money away. In this business you can grow fast. In 1 years time you can out grow your truck, trailer, and pressure washer. Just be smart if you have to make a lesser purchase. If needing to get a trailer and can't get a bigger one get something inexpensive with the thought you will be getting a new one very soon. I am not trying to confuse by saying buy big and then telling you to buy small. We will focus on a trailer. You could buy a decked out enclosed trailer 8x16 for $5,000 but instead you are looking at a single axle 7x12 enclosed for $2,500. The single axle has plenty of room for all your stuff. You think I will save the money and go this route. Then you want to add water tanks 6 months later. Now you are over you weight limit for that trailer. Now you start to think about a bigger trailer. You go and get the $5,000 trailer. Now you have spent or making payments on $7,500 worth of trailers. On top of that your smaller trailer can't handle the weight limits even if you were thinking of using that when your business expands. So instead of buying a medium trailer I would try and get something for only what you need now. Something small and inexpensive. Maybe just a Lawn mower trailer. Take that extra money and put it toward that nice trailer you will need when your business expands and you need to carry water. In my opinion these are things that are very hard to do if you can't carry water fleet washing, car lot washing, on site heavy equipment washing, houses that have well water sometimes have pumps that can't put out enough to supply your machine or the water is very dirty which can hurt your pump, and many other things. Any job that will require you to move your trailer often will be a pain if you have to constantly run a hose to your machine. I understand that you will need water sometime but you fill when you are in one spot and then it should last awhile for you to maneuver without getting all tangled up in hoses. I noticed you said you wanted to stick to decks and houses. I laugh a little when I read this. The reason is because a lot of guys in this biz thought that when they started. Then the phones starts to ring with other odd things you never thought of. You think to your self yeah I can do that. You go do that job and think to yourself I did it but it would have been easier if I had this. Then you go out and buy that and the next time it comes along you are prepared and it goes pretty easy. Then the phone rings for this, and it starts all over. Never limit yourself to just a certain area, it will grow quickly. Here is one thing I have learned about this biz. You said you thought it was a spary on spary off biz and that you were wrong. It seems easy when you see it and then you read and it gets hard but then as you find the right everything it becomes very easy again. Most of all the knowledge comes in the right chems. The right chem will make you seem like a genius. Right now I use over 7 different suppliers for chems. No one company has the best in all chems. You also said low overhaed. Don't forget about Mr.Overhead. He is waiting in the bushes just waiting for you to forget about him and he will jump up and bite you right on the butt. Soon you will see advertising is expensive. Yellow pgaes are a must if you want those big jobs. Construction companies, condo associations, truck co., schools, stores, churches, mini malls, etc. are looking in the Yellow Pages for their contractor. I am not trying to get you down. My whole goal is to get you to think. Any questions feel free to ask.

Mathew Johnson · #5 (**permalink**) 08-10-04

This is an excellent post and very accurate, I am in my second year of business and have made most of the same mistakes listed in the previous post. Yes... I have an extra trailer in my driveway and an extra pressure washer in the garage... both of which I purchased for the business... neither of which I use.

I have learned a lot of lessons and some have cost a bit of money. Read the boards (especially a post on "pricing jobs" by Cody) It will make you think of issues and concerns that you may be faced with. There is one thing I do clearly think benifitted me this year - I have contacted a few people who have been in business for years by phone and spoke with them directly. There input and advise has proven invaluable.

Good Luck, I am new to the business and these veterans on this board know what they are talking about. Do not reinvent the wheel... try thier suggestions and use what works for your business.

I am only a newbie... but I would gladly share my successes, failures and pitfalls with you. Email me with your Phone Number and info and I will be in touch.

sales@pwscleaning.com

Dan S · #6 (**permalink**) 08-10-04

great post Steve........................

How true it is............. I believe you nailed it on the head.

as for me I would like to down size

Most of my work is Fleets and restoration ( old brick )

I prob. had 4dozen calls on house washing and I turn all of them down.

It seems I buy just about everything related to this business and it sits in my
garage and collects dust. 3 extenda wands 2 of which I took to my camp to make a lean2 .the other one is still in plastic. 2 extra pressure washers (cold) and 1 extra hot machine with only 10 hours on it. numerous 100' of hose and tons of couplers and plugs.wands and more wands..........my point is .................. stick with what you want to to ....YES the jobs will flow in but it dosnt mean you have to go out and buy everything and let it sit around ......... find what you like to do the most and be the best at it .

ME well I just have this buying problem where if I like it I gots to have it!! and it has to be the best on the market at the time. I guess it's better then having a drinking problem.....LOL

henrybockman · #7 (**permalink**) 08-10-04

I try to stick with the services that make me the best money with the least amount of hard work. I've expanded the services I offer so I can do more work for the clients I allready have. Things like gutter cleaning, roofing work and other things pay well and keep my guys working all year round. As I have said in numerous posts in the past. Anyone is welcome to call me and ask me questions. I pretty much retired myself when I turned 35 so I like helping out the new guys and giving them suggestions on how they can expand their business and keep the clients they have.

And No, I don't charge anyone for these chats or consultations... but I can guarrantee that there isnt anyone out there that I can't help improve their company or income.

I'm not rich nor do I want to be but I do have 15 years of experiance and over 10,000 clients. That should tell you that I'm doing something right.

Medic442 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-11-04

Steve,

You have made some good points. I always love to buy gizmos and gadgets!!! I drive my wife nuts (short drive). Thanks for the advice. I have been reading my little butt off on the board and have cleared up a lot of my confusion about the biz.

However, when I think I got it somewhat figured out.. Then I find another subject that I have to research. I was thinking of trying to start out this summer but I do not think it would be in my best interest. I think I am going to wait until spring and do it right.

I love the part about the right truck… I just love telling the wife I need another new truck. She is going to kill me.. lol lol lol. Right not I have a 2002 Ram quad 4x4. I also have a large trailer but it is not enclosed. I never really thought about the enclosed trailer. I see your point with it. I also have the same ideas about buying the right tool for the job. I have bought cheap items in the past and use them one time and hate them. I now just spend a couple of extra $$$ and get the better product or tool. Have not regretted is since.

Thanks for all the help guys. Is there a guide that cam be purchased to do this biz??

henrybockman · #9 (**permalink**) 08-11-04

I'm sure there are guides out there on power washing and running a company but personally, I would reccomend talking with someone who's done it for a while and who is willing to have you come out and work with them a bit for free. That is the BEST training and experiance your going to get. You can learn some things from books but in my opinion, it's worthless if you don't have hands on experiance.

Come on over to Maryland, I'd be happy to help you out.

Dan Flynn · #10 (**permalink**) 08-11-04

That's great advise, also there is more information on this bulletin board than you will find in most books if any.

Plus it's interactive with some of the greatest people in the business. Use the search feature and put some time in reading and asking questions.