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Thanks to the new work-from-home phenomenon, pressure washing is all the rage now. Commercial pressure washing is ideal for individuals and businesses. These services aim to disinfect living and work spaces.
Setting up a power washing service is costly, to say the least. You’d need to buy new equipment and hire skilled professionals to set up. Also, you’d need a truck or another heavy-duty vehicle to transport your equipment.
But, this isn’t all you’d need to start a power washing business. We have a few easy steps you can follow to set up your business.
1. Make A Clear Business Plan
Making a clear-cut business plan before commencing operations is important for any business. Power washing businesses are no different. A strong business plan should include anticipated costs, location, permissions, etc.
First, you’ll need to decide where you want to set up your business. Then, you’d need a good amount of time to scout locations and test the pros and cons of each location. Finally, after deciding on a location, you’ll have to think about set-up costs.
These costs include equipment, cleaning materials, and staff wages. They also include the cost of fuel and vehicle maintenance. In other words, setting up a pressure washing service is no mean feat if you don’t know where to begin.
Also, it is not easy to receive financial backing if you don’t have a plan in place. Banks and other lending institutions want to be sure you’ll return their money on time. They receive such assurances after viewing a solid business plan and strategy.
Moreover, you won’t know how to divide your resources without such a plan. For instance, you won’t know how much staff to hire or how much equipment to buy. So, having a plan will allow you to work within your budget.
The best part of crafting a plan is that it lets you prepare for uncertainties. The uncertainties related to pressure washing businesses are myriad. With a formal plan in place, you’ll learn how to deal with them the right way.
A good plan should include a marketing strategy, research, financial forecasting, and more. It isn’t something you can prepare in a day and without the relevant skills. You should consider hiring skilled accountants to draw up a business plan if you don’t know how to make one.
2. Develop Your Skills
Pressure washing isn’t an easy skill to master. It takes considerable training to grow adept at this job. After all, there’s a high risk of damaging property if you don’t do it right. So, it’s wise to develop or hone your skills before you dive into the business.
But, asking professionals to help you learn is often too expensive. With setup and investment costs to think about, this extra cost could pose a burden. There is a way around this.
If you have enough equipment and materials, you can practice on your property. Practicing on your property will mean you won’t have to pay for damages. It isn’t just damage to a property you’ll face if you don’t do your job right, but damage to your reputation as well. If you practice alone, you’ll figure out which cleaning agents and equipment work best. You’ll also learn which cleaning techniques are the most effective. But, before you start practicing by yourself, it is good to seek professional guidance.
Ask for professional help in the initial stages of your learning. In this way, you won’t have to spend too much money otherwise, yet you will still pick up the relevant skills. There are also local pressure washers that offer training courses for beginners.
Online companies like Power Wash Academy and Pressure Cleaning School offer these services.
Different companies offer such services in different geographical areas. For example, if you want pressure washing in Charlotte, N.C. Big Clean HQ and Labor Panes are most sought after.
You can approach these companies and ask if they offer training services.
You could even ask them for advice on the best cleaning products. If they aren’t operating in the same areas as you, they would be willing to share such information.
3. Fulfill Legal Requirements
Many companies underestimate how much time it takes to fulfill legal requirements. Setting up a power washing and gutter cleaning business needs certain licenses.
Aside from permits and licenses, you should also consider obtaining insurance. Pressure washing often entails property damage. A good insurance plan should cover these damages so you don’t have to bear these costs.
First, apply for a business license in the state you’re setting up operations in. You’ll have to pay a fee known as a bond to get this license approved by your state. After obtaining your license, you should register your business for tax purposes.
You’ll then receive an identification number that will help you file your returns. Aside from a license and tax returns, you would also need permits.
As a pressure washing business, you’ll be up against certain environmental concerns. These concerns relate to the materials used to wash cars, windows, and property. So, you’ll need permits to operate in a geographical area when you’re setting up your company.
If you don’t have these permits, you could land in serious legal trouble. You could even end up in jail or lose a lot of money hiring legal defense if you don’t watch out. Gutter cleaning services often need a permit.
So, if you’re offering these services alongside pressure cleaning, get an environmental permit.
4. Buy Good Quality Equipment and Materials
The best equipment and cleaning materials in the pressure washing business don’t come cheap. But, investing in costly equipment is worth it in the long run in several ways. First, it creates a good impression on customers and potential customers.
If customers see that you’re using sophisticated equipment, they’ll trust you. This trust can lead to long-term customer retention. In other words, you’ll have customers returning to you if you impress them with your equipment.
Next, investing in good quality equipment and supplies reduces repurchasing costs. If you use sub-standard equipment, you’ll have to replace it often. Using the best equipment from the get-go will reduce these costs and costs of repair too.
Also, it helps you if you use a vehicle that’s in good condition to drive around. The last thing you’d want your customers to see is a run-down heavy-duty vehicle doing the rounds. Ensure you paint or stick promotional material on your van.
This material should include the name of your company, contact numbers, and a logo. You could even feature some equipment on your van, like a hose. Whatever you put on display should be of the best quality if you want to attract customers.
As for materials, these should be available in your local hardware stores. If not, you can find them online too.
Conclusion
After setting up your business, your next step should be turning a profit. Sure, it’ll take you time to break even after your heavy investment, but profits will soon be on the horizon with a strong sales strategy and competent team.
All you need to do is stick to your business plan and render quality services to customers.
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