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Exterior cleaning
Pressure Washing Contractor
Low startup, visible results, and the before-and-after sells itself.
Typical pay
$35k-$95k
How you get in
Self-taught plus business licensing and insurance
Outlook
Steady; commercial and roof cleaning are the strong niches
Pressure washing contractors clean driveways, siding, roofs and commercial exteriors. Equipment cost is modest, results are immediately visible, and soft washing roofs is the specialty that pays best.
A day in the life
- 7:00aLoad the rig, mix chemicals, check the route
- 8:00aDriveway and sidewalk cleaning with a surface cleaner
- 11:00aHouse wash with a soft wash system
- 1:00pLunch
- 2:00pCommercial parking lot or dumpster pad
- 5:00pQuote tomorrow's jobs and post before-and-after photos
How to get in
Start solo
Duration
2-8 weeks
Cost
$3,000-$15,000
Credential
Business license and liability insurance
- Buy a commercial-grade pressure washer, surface cleaner and soft wash setup
- Get liability insurance — you are working on expensive property
- Learn surface-specific chemistry so you do not damage siding or wood
- Market with before-and-after photos, which is the entire sales pitch
Work for a company first
Duration
3-12 months
Cost
$0 — paid
Credential
None
- Get hired by an exterior cleaning company
- Learn chemicals, equipment and which surfaces damage easily
- Understand pricing and production rates before you bid your own work
- Then go independent with real knowledge rather than expensive mistakes
Commercial contracts and roof cleaning
Duration
1-3 years
Cost
$10,000-$40,000
Credential
Insurance, possibly a contractor license for roof work
- Build residential work to fund better equipment
- Add soft wash roof cleaning, which commands premium pricing
- Pursue commercial contracts — restaurants, retail and property managers
- Recurring commercial accounts smooth the seasonal swing
What people love
- · Start for a few thousand dollars
- · Results are dramatic and market themselves
- · Commercial contracts create recurring revenue
- · Roof soft washing carries premium pricing
What wears people down
- · Weather-dependent and seasonal in cold climates
- · Ladder and roof work is genuinely hazardous
- · Very low barrier means constant price competition
- · Chemical handling and surface damage liability