How Much Money Can You Actually Make Pressure Washing?
Dec 18, 2023
Running a profitable pressure washing company takes consistency, sales skills, and a relentless work ethic. In this post, I'll share the top tips from pressure washing expert Jason Geiman on setting revenue goals, getting leads, using premium pricing, doing the "hard things," sticking with what works, and constantly improving.
Set Specific Revenue Goals
When you first start out, making even $50,000 in annual revenue might sound impossible. But breaking your goal down into smaller milestones makes it feel more achievable:
- To make $100k/year with an 8 month working season, you need to bill $12.5k per month
- Per month, that's $3,125 per week
- Per week, that's $625 per day
- Per day, that likely means 1-2 jobs at premium pricing
See - when you map it out step-by-step, $100k isn't so intimidating! Do the same math for any annual goal - whether it's $50k, $500k, or $1 million.
Lead Generation is Critical
Once you set a revenue target, consistent lead generation becomes critical. As Jason says, "It's all about the leads!"
He cautions against overinvesting in equipment and negelcting marketing. It's easier to close sales and hit goals when you have a steady stream of promising leads.
Be prepared to devote real energy and money into lead gen:
- Yard signs
- Flyers/door hangers
- Google/Facebook ads
- Direct mail
- Door-to-door sales
And don't abandon what's working to chase "shiny objects" - new lead sources that other people promote.
Use Premium Pricing
Chasing low budget customers with $200 jobs will burn you out. Instead, pitch higher value services - even if it means hearing "no" more often.
For example, with a 30% close rate:
- 10 jobs at $600 per job = $6,000
- 5 jobs at $1,200 per job = $6,000
The money is made on fewer, high-dollar contracts. And those customers often turn into recurring clients as well.
Don't apologize for premium pricing. You offer real value, and without profit you won't last long anyway.
Do the Uncomfortable Work
A pressure washing business takes more than just handling a wand and spray nozzle each day. As Jason says, the actual service work is the easy part.
Getting leads, selling jobs, and running the business is harder. And it's often uncomfortable:
- Cold calls
- Door-to-door sales
- Speaking on camera
- Managing paperwork
But you have to push past the discomfort and invest time into sales, marketing, and infrastructure. There's no "easy button" - so don't run away when task gets tough.
Stick With What Works
When you find a lead generation strategy that works consistently, don't abandon it without good reason. Whether it's yard signs, Google ads, or direct mailers - keep funding what already produces.
Too many business owners shift strategies constantly either due to budget, boredom, or "shiny object syndrome." They end up with zero lead flow because they quit what was working to begin with.
Instead, add new lead generation sources incrementally without cutting your core performers.
Learn From Your Mistakes
No business executes perfectly from day one. As he reflects honestly on his past company, Jason admits he could have had higher customer retention and referrals.
Be self-critical, and constantly analyze your metrics to find areas that need improvement. Don't gloss over your weaknesses or blame external factors - take ownership.
Running a small business is a constant learning process. Embrace your mistakes, make changes, and watch your revenue grow.
A profitable pressure washing company takes hustle, resilience, and a willingness to try new things. Set clear goals, chase high-value jobs, and don't get discouraged by setbacks.
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What's a reasonable first year revenue goal for a new pressure washing business?
For a new business, $50,000 is a good and achievable first year revenue target. Break that down into monthly, weekly, and daily amounts to make it less intimidating.
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How much should I budget for lead generation?
Plan to spend at least 10-15% of revenue on marketing and lead generation activities. Don't skimp on sales and marketing thinking you'll save on costs.
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What are some good lead sources for a pressure washing business?
Yard signs, flyers, door hangers, Google/Facebook ads, direct mail, and door-to-door sales calls can all generate good leads if done consistently.
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Is it better to take any job I can or be selective and use premium pricing?
Use premium pricing - don't take every cheap job just to keep busy. Average ticket size and margins matter more than total number of jobs.
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Why does the blog mention getting comfortable with discomfort?
Sales and marketing activities like cold calling often feel uncomfortable. But pushing past that discomfort instead of avoiding it is crucial for generating leads.
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Should I change up my marketing strategy every few months?
Don't change what already works just for the sake of novelty. Add to what produces, but keep core lead generation sources in place long-term.
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Does running a successful pressure washing company require more than just delivering the service?
Yes, you have to embrace critical business tasks like sales, bookkeeping, and infrastructure too. The service work is actually the easy part.
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Is it normal to make mistakes and missteps when you start a small business?
Yes, constant mistakes and course corrections are part of the process. Analyze issues objectively without blame or defensiveness.
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Why is tracking metrics and data important according to the blog post?
Carefully tracking all performance metrics lets you zone in on problem areas so you can analyze weaknesses and make fixes.
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What signs of progress should a pressure washing entrepreneur track?
Look at lead volume, average job pricing, close rates over time, and of course gross revenue growth quarter to quarter.
