How to start a pressure washing business
Equipment, water and runoff rules, insurance, pricing by the surface and your first driveways — a plain checklist, without the income promises.
Who it suits
Pressure washing suits someone who likes outdoor, visible work and can handle equipment. Results are easy to show, which helps selling, but the work is seasonal in most of the country and stops when it rains.
1.Decide what you will wash
Flatwork (driveways, patios, walkways), house washing, decks and fences, roofs and commercial storefronts each need different equipment and different technique.
House washes and roofs are usually soft washed — low pressure with cleaning solution — not blasted. Learn the difference before you take either on.
2.Register the business
Choose a structure — sole proprietor or LLC are the usual starting points — get an EIN and open a business bank account.
Check your city and county for a general business licence.
3.Check water and runoff rules
Wash water carrying detergent, oil or paint chips can be regulated where it runs into a storm drain. Rules differ by city and state.
Ask your local water or environmental office what applies before your first commercial job, and whether you need a permit or water recovery.
4.Insurance
General liability covers damage to siding, windows, plants and cars — the most common claims in this trade. Make sure your policy covers the work you actually do, including roofs if you clean them.
Workers’ compensation is required in most states once you hire.
5.Equipment and a way to carry it
A pressure washer sized for the work, a surface cleaner for flatwork, hoses, a soft-wash setup if you will wash houses, chemicals and safety gear.
A truck or trailer that can carry it all, with water if you work where a hose bib is not always available.
6.Price by the surface
Most washers price by the square foot or linear foot per surface, with a minimum charge per visit. Measure, do not guess.
Time your first jobs. A price that does not match the hours on site, plus travel and chemicals, loses money on every wash.
7.Find your first customers
Claim a free Fixerlane listing so homeowners searching for pressure washing nearby can find and book you.
Before-and-after photos sell this trade. Take them on every job, and ask for a review while the result is still obvious.
The trade in numbers
18,069 businesses with employees fall under “other services to buildings and dwellings” (NAICS 561790), the category that covers exterior power washing along with gutter, chimney and duct cleaning; about 74% have fewer than five employees.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023
142,112 businesses in the same category have no employees — sole operators.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics, 2023
Power Washers of North America, a non-profit trade association for the industry, was founded in 1992.
Source: Power Washers of North America (PWNA), Checked October 2026
Your first customers, free
List your pressure washing business on Fixerlane at no cost. Homeowners searching for pressure washing in your area can find you and send enquiries, and replying is free. When the work picks up, the tools to quote, schedule and invoice are a 7-day free trial away.
Common questions
- Do I need a licence to start a pressure washing business?
- Usually a general business licence rather than a trade licence. Some places also regulate wash-water runoff, so ask your city or county what applies before your first job.
- How much does it cost to start a pressure washing business?
- We do not publish a figure. Equipment, a vehicle and insurance vary widely depending on whether you start with flatwork or full soft washing. Price each one before you commit.
- How do pressure washers price their work?
- Mostly by the square foot or linear foot for each surface, with a minimum per visit and add-ons such as stain treatment or gutter brightening. Measure every job.
- Is pressure washing seasonal?
- In most of the country, yes. Many washers fill the quiet months with gutter cleaning, holiday lighting or commercial work, and book repeat customers a year ahead.
- How do I get my first customers?
- A free listing where homeowners already search, before-and-after photos, neighbours of every driveway you clean, and a review from each customer.
- How much do pressure washers earn?
- We do not promise earnings, and there is no government wage series for pressure washing on its own. Be wary of guides that quote first-year income without a source.