Can I start a business with a cheap pressure washer, and then save up for a professional pressure washer?

The answer is no, you cannot start a business with a cheap pressure washer and upgrade later. Power washers built for home owners will seldom be built using high grade components. The typical life expectancy of a consumer type power washer will be less than 50 hours of use, many less than that! I know that sounds like a very short time for something that you would pay that much money for, but remember the average home owner will take 10 years to put 50 hours on a power washer where a professional may do that in 3 or 4 days. What we in the industry refer to as homeowner units most generally cost far less than those made for use by a professional! As you can see a power washer that is manufactured for use by the average home owner will not last long being used as a professional will need to, so the professional unit will be made of parts that are far superior in quality.

The theory behind cleaning with a power washer is to remove dirt and stains from a surface in a cost efficient manner. If you want to compare the cleaning power of two machines, you can multiply the GPM and PSI to determine cleaning efficiency. Most consumer power washers are only capable of 3.5 GPM or less. They also tend to have low pressure output. If you choose a power washer that is capable of 3500 PSI you can lower that pressure by installing a larger spray tip. If you lower the pressure you will be able to wash many surfaces that can’t stand up to the higher pressure yet still clean the surface in a cost efficient manner. A home owner doesn’t need to be concerned with the time factor, but time is money for power washing professionals. Labor is often the most expensive part of a pressure washing job.

If you are going to start a mobile power washing business you should make sure you start off right. One of the first things you should do is draw up a business plan. Doing the research for this plan will give you an idea of what it will cost you to start this business. Determine what you plan to clean, and what kind of equipment you will need to clean it properly. If you can’t afford to start off on the right foot then wait until you can. You will need money for equipment, chemicals, insurance, advertising, transportation, uniforms and many other things. It is important that you make the correct decisions at this stage of your business planning. Don’t set yourself up for failure from the beginning! Seek advice and training learn all you can and be prepared. Contact our Technical Advisors at 1-800-433-2113