Maybe a neighbor watched you wash your own driveway and asked, “Do you do this for a living?” Before you spend a dime, sort out fit. Then set up, and go after your first ten customers.

Is this a good fit? Six questions to ask yourself

  1. Do you like working outside? Sun, wind, cold mornings and the odd drizzle come with the job.
  2. Are you comfortable talking to strangers? Early work comes from word of mouth, door hangers and reviews. A friendly wave goes a long way.
  3. Can you handle a full day on your feet holding a wand? It’s repetitive, like painting a fence for hours.
  4. Are you okay with uneven income? Some weeks are packed, others quiet. Nothing here is a guaranteed paycheck, which is why many people start part-time beside a day job.
  5. Do you like simple systems? A smooth wash business runs on checklists for maintenance, job steps and follow-ups.
  6. Can you fund the start without straining your household? The gear below adds up to roughly $2,400 to $2,650 before extras. Don’t dip into emergency savings.

If you nodded along to most of these, you have the raw ingredients. If not, better to know now.

Setting up shop: a step-by-step checklist

1. Choose your core equipment. Flow (GPM) matters as much as pressure, because it sets how fast you clean. Pick a machine for the work you plan to bid, and plan its cold-weather storage with this winterizing routine. Below are listed prices from two supplier catalogs on 2026-10-08, for illustration only. We don’t recommend either, and many other suppliers exist.

Item Supplier A (Expert Power Wash) Supplier B (Kleen-Rite)
4,000+ PSI gas pressure washer $1,499 (4,200 PSI, 4.2 GPM, B4213HSCS) $1,354.22 (4,000 PSI, 4 GPM, PE-4013HWPSCOMZ; list $2,248)
20” surface cleaner (Whirl-A-Way) $499 $398.75 (list $638)
100 ft, 3/8” pressure hose $248 (2-wire) $281.62 (4,000 PSI; wire count not stated)
Gun with lance, nozzle 5-pack, downstream gun, garden hose, pump-up sprayer $403 ($79 + $21 + $139 + $139 + $25) Not compared
Core kit $2,649 About $2,404 if you buy the cheaper listing for each of the first three rows

The machines are different models, so this isn’t a like-for-like test. Treat the spread as a rough range of about $2,400 to $2,650, before freight. Both machines ship by freight on a pallet. One supplier lists a flat $200 to $400 depending on region, plus $149 for a residential liftgate. The other marks its machine “Freight Only.” A smaller 3,200 PSI, 2.5 GPM unit was on sale at the first supplier for $400 (regular $699). It cuts the total but delivers about 60% of the flow (2.5 vs 4.2 GPM). Prices change, so get several quotes. Add safety gear: boots, splash goggles and chemical-resistant gloves.

2. Handle the paperwork. The U.S. Small Business Administration’s launch guide covers the steps: pick a business structure, register your name, get tax IDs, licenses and permits, open a business bank account and get insurance.

  • EIN: The IRS says you can apply for an EIN online for free, and warns about websites that charge for one.
  • Licenses: The SBA says the licenses and permits you need depend on your business activities and location, and that fees vary. Check your state, county and city rules.
  • Insurance: The SBA lists general liability insurance as coverage for “any business.” Get quotes before your first paid job.

This isn’t legal advice. Your state and local offices have the final word.

3. Learn the chemistry basics. Soft washing siding and roofs means applying a diluted sodium hypochlorite mix at low pressure. Learn mixing, plant protection and safe handling before your first paid job, and follow the product label. For owner-run teaching channels, see pressure washing pros who teach.

4. Set a simple pricing structure. Research what local washers publish, then check it against your costs. For one real example, a Kansas City company publishes $0.20 per sq ft for house washing (a 1,500 sq ft house is $300), $0.25 per sq ft for driveways and concrete, and a $300 minimum per visit. Our guide on how much to charge for pressure washing shows how to build a rate from your own cost floor. For the homeowner side of those numbers, see house washing cost and the pressure washing cost guide.

Your first ten customers

Begin at home. Your property is your showroom. Wash it and take honest before-and-after photos for a simple website or social media page.

Invite friends and family. Offer a friendly rate that covers materials and some of your time. Treat these as practice runs, and time yourself.

Walk your neighborhood. Leave door hangers where you see mildewed siding or stained concrete, and introduce yourself as a neighbor.

Post in local groups. Follow each neighborhood group’s rules and keep it warm, not pushy.

Ask every happy customer for an online review. A thank-you text with a direct link to your business listing on a map or search site helps strangers feel safe calling.

Be patient. Ten customers may take longer than you expect. Customers may quote the questions to ask a house washing company back at you, so prepare your answers. Our methodology page explains how we source our numbers.

Sources

Checked 2026-10-08. Equipment prices are listings from two suppliers on that date, shown for illustration. Neither supplier endorses or is endorsed by this site.