Comment and question

[TWRPW]

First off this is a great website with lots of information and the folks on here seem very nice.
I am thinking of starting part time residential power washing business,I have power washed a parking lots, some buildings,trucks and some heavy equipment where I worked.Did it a few times.
It wasn't as easy as I thought it would be matter a fact it was kind off hard work to get everything looking clean but enjoyed it.
I read on another forum like this one where they were going to use a car to haul there equipment around.
Sounds kind of unprofessional but I don't have a truck so maybe that's what I will do,I have a 1999 chevy cavalier,back seat folds down with no rust.
I know the power washer will fit in the car or buy a little trailer to tow for my equipment.
Looking at buying a new truck next any way wheather I get into this business or not.
Would this be the wrong way to start out?
TW

 

[RogerG]

This is not meant to be discouraging in any way - I try really hard to offer the best advise (in my opinion and of course we all know what opinions can be like) to folks starting out.

The pressure washing industry is struggling to become a more recognized industry - we are unfortunately often looked upon as the guys who can't get a "real" job, uneducated or unskilled. As you have already indicated, the actual work is harder than it looks. The learning of the processes, chemicals, their interactions and reactions is even harder. Pressure washing is more than waving a big squirtgun around. That being said.......

If this is an industry / profession that you are serious about entering and making your livelihood in, you have to consider some very obvious factors in starting up your business. Appearance is one of them. I'm pretty sure that the post you referred to may have been one that I responded to (I will not link to the other board out of respect for this one) and if it's not, here's my response to someone wanting to work out of their car:

"This one is going to come down to more personal opinions than anything I'm betting. Nothing posted below is meant to be mean, just frank.

Think of what a customer is looking for:

Company A is hauling their pressure washer in the trunk of the car. (Mind you, this mode is a common subject of laughter in conversations amongst contractors) Within the trunk and back seat, are also various jugs of chemicals (none of which I would personally want riding inside a vehicle with me), an assortment of wands, and extension wand likely poking out of a window, hoses that will inevitably be all tangly and spastic and obviously no water tank - you get the picture. Charge for this customers home $150 for a house wash.

Company B is a fully self contained vehicle, logo'd looking like a rolling billboard, equipment safely stored in an appropriate place, chemicals secured properly, hoses probably on mounted hose reels, etc... Charge for this customers home $150 for a house wash or more (which they could probably get the extra because of the appearance)

Who would you call? Being in the business notwithstanding, as a housewife, I would no more hire Company A than the bum on the corner. As a housewife/consumer, I want any company that I hire to appear as professional as possible. I'm gonna ask for their certificates of insurance, references, pictures - anything to convince me that they're the best for me. When that contractor pulls up to my house - I want to see someone that looks like a pressure washing COMPANY, not a guy looking to make some fast cash. With a full blown rig operation, you will continue to "crank" out business and then some.

Again, this is a personal opinion. From our business perspective, we have gotten jobs because of our image and presentation rather than other companies in our area - and our prices are higher."

Next step on my soapbox - I don't think anyone goes out intentionally to do damage to an industry....however, it happens ALL THE TIME in pressure washing. This is a feast or famine business in most areas if you are ill prepared. If you start out with equipment that is not going to allow you to literally MAKE money doing the work, you may need to wait until you can properly set yourself up. It's not a cheap business. Chemicals are not inexpensive, equipment is not inexpensive, INSURANCE is not inexpensive - they all pay for themselves faster than the cheap stuff believe it or not, but they must be factored into your business plan nonetheless. One of the most hurtful things to this business is companies that are not ready to actually handle the work they want to get and poof - they're out of business. It makes the entire industry look like a bunch of fly-by-night beer money folk. When a customer sees you in a professional light - clean logo'd apparel, business card in hand, well equipped, not only do you project a good light as a professional, you also make the impression that you are in this business for the long haul because you are invested in the business.

Off my soap box.....someone else jump in here This ain't just my novel!

Celeste

 

[TWRPW]

Thanks Celeste;

After reading your reply then rereading my post I would have looked very bad out there.
More than likely wouldn't have gotten any jobs no matter how clean cut(me) and what kind of uniforms I was wearing. What was I thinking when I wrote that post.
After reading it sounds like a stupid question.
Guess I will stick with the family power washer and keep doing there places.Power wash at my new work.

 

[RogerG]

There is no such thing as a stupid question unless it goes unasked. Again, my reply was not meant to discourage you from pursuing pressure washing. We do this full time to support our family so I am probably hypersensitive to guys that want to just sideline for extra money. That can be found in plenty of other industries as well.

As far as what you were thinking, you were in the early thinking stages of starting up a business - NOTHING wrong with that. If my husband had not THOUGHT of starting our business, we wouldn't be doing it and I admire him for making the leap (even though he scared 10 years from my life in doing so)

I guess the biggest point I was trying to make was that this is truly a profession and if you want to get into it, do it right - it will serve you well in the long run.

Celeste

 

[CCPC]

I'd like to ad a few things as well. First off, I agree with Celeste 100%, but only in theory. The are many contractors on this site and some of the others that started up in shall I say "a not so professional" manner, including myself.

Image is very important, but industry reasearch, good business practice, and a drive to succed will get you there despite that. Things to keep in mind are: with your current limitations in transportation and such, can you operate a successful business, with the proper equipment/supplies, in a effecient enough manner to cover your expenses and make a decent profit.

It would be difficult. Most in that postion (assuming they have done the reasearch and know somwhat what they are doing) can very easily find themselves with little work and out of desperation, low balling estimates just to keep the ball rolling.

On the other hand, despite increased odds in selling bids because of the image flaw, if you remain stedfast in your persuit and maintain a high standard of quailty the work will come. A lot will judge you intially, but if you have all your other ducks in a row and the quality of your work is pristine, they will become life long customers no matter what. And before you know it, you will have plenty of money to upgrade your business, and in the process, upgrade your image.
But, all of that aside, it is still advisable to follow Celeste's recommendations on doing it right from the get go. If anything you'll find the selling part much easier because your image will do half the work for you.
I started out part time towing a 6' trailer behind my Camery. I had most of what was neccessary to do quality work, but I definetely had a much harder time selling it.
For reasons that Celeste stated above, many can take someone starting out in such a limited capacity as a threat to their choosen profession and their personal livelyhood, but if you plan to do it right, I say go for it. It's that, which makes America great.

 

[RogerG]

More great advise [flag]

 

[smittie1984]

Put a hitch on that B.....

Starting out it is going to be very hard to look "Profesional". I would love to get a $15,000 hot water system enclosed trailer with a 500gallon water tank. Along with my brand new 4 door Nissan Titan. Or like the guy who taught me how to pressure wash with one of the coolest set ups. But a Brand New top of the line H2 pulling his equipment. Talk about lookin good. But then again. He's been doing this for 10 years and doesn't even advertise anymore. He goes simply on name.

When I was in High School there was no doubt in my mind I wanted to do work like this. It was going to be Landscaping at first. Mowing, trimming, and all that fun stuff. Then I was driving a 1986 Chevy Celebrity. With rust and bad paint. It was kind of like a chick magnet. Only Different.

Well my plan was to get a lawn care setup and pull a trailer with my car. It could have done it. Infact I wish I knew then what I knew now and I would have actually put an effort into it and tried to do lawncare and I'd probably be in my Lake House right now. But I didn't.

My advice would be to get one of those cheap trailers from Northern Tool. I think they run about $300+. But it would be perfect. Pressure Washers are not that heavy. Even a car pulling a trailer looks more profesional than it being in the back seat. But do it the best way you can. Even if it is in the back of a car.

Now I have a 1998 S-10 that pulls a trailer. I even have my name and number stickered on the back window. But I see people with equipment in the back of their 80s chevy truck who get more work than me. It's just about putting out an effort. So I say put it in the back of your car and see what you can do.

 

[RogerG]

Smittie, your success is commendable, however, the larger picture I was trying to get across is how the general population sees and perceives the pressure washing industry as a whole. Getting insurance is a pain - why? Because insurance companies don't want to recognize us as professionals - why? Because any Tom Dick or Harry can go pick up a pressure washer, throw it in the back of his car and call himself a pressure washer, right up until the time he blows the face off someone's new brick - or draws curlieques in the brick or melts siding or etches concrete. The list of potential disasters is lengthy.

It is absolutely not hard to look professional in the beginning...and it doesn't have to cost you $15K to get professional from the start. We are a prime example of how buying solid used equipment, being creative with a computer, printer & iron and comprehending the multitudes of posts, advise, experiences, etc. from veterans, can be successful straight out of the gate. We invested about $8000 in equipment and insurance while Roger still worked his full time 2nd shift job. Business formally started in Sept of 03. Research & learning started back in June. Not even doing deck work, we netted over $20K part time in our first quarter - keep in mind that winter months were in there as well. Business picked up for us in February when we signed a million dollar contract for 8 years with a HUGE builder. Roger walked away from 13 vested years, tons of benefits, and a nice hourly pay with GE in April of 04. This is all coupled with 4 children - one off to college that year - and a mortgage that would choke a horse. I can absolutely say that if had we chucked a Northern Tool pressure washer in the back seat of a car - IT WOULD NEVER HAVE GONE THAT WAY. Armed with the knowlege picked up from these bbs and round tables, the proper equipment and chemicals to do any job and a professional image - we're knocking them dead in our area. Our fees are higher than most and we close over 90% of our bids. We have 3 units now, another child headed to college next year and I'm not scared of the tuition bill this time

You can absolutely start out on a tightish budget so long as you have something else established to fall back on until you get rolling....but a very wise pressure washer told us early on - why start out with something that you know isn't going to take you far? If you start up with what you need you'll fly right along - we did and we have. Look at what you have to invest in the business and ask yourself ... Do I want to just get what I need to in order to just get by, work my a$$ off and hope I grow so that I really don't have an investment to lose OR do I want to invest in the future stability of my business and place my money carefully and wisely so that I have an investment to protect?

You are exactly right about putting out the effort - but all the effort can't be in breaking your back.

Celeste

 

[Aplus]

Well said...... [smoke]