Based on 135 real pressure washing businesses in the US, including 50 that closed.
✓Your budget should cover this.
Bills run about $570 a month (fuel, insurance, rent, phone). Most owners make a profit after about 3 months. Keep this much aside to pay bills until then.
Collect run-off on commercial jobs (Clean Water Act). Some cities ask for a permit.
A general business licence from your city or county.
Form an LLC with your state ($50 to $500). Get a free tax number (EIN) from the IRS.
Free to about $15 a month. Keeps business money apart from yours.
Sets up your books and files your first tax return.
Before costs. Busiest March–October.
| Slow | Typical | Strong | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $2.4k | $4.5k | $8.5k |
| Year 3 | $6.2k | $10.7k | $18.4k |
| Year 5 | $7.9k | $13.9k | $24.7k |
Slow: 1 in 4 make less than this. Typical: half make more, half make less. Strong: 1 in 4 make more than this.
Blue Hour washes houses in spring and summer and commercial lots in winter, so revenue never drops far below its peak. Revenue is up 40% on last year and it keeps $38 of every $100 in sales, one of the highest among similar businesses.
“Commercial roofs in winter kept the crews working all year.”
$8.9k
about $130k
Starting costs about $121k less. Buying costs more, but you earn from the first month and skip the risky early years.