If you’re considering starting a pressure cleaning business, one of the first questions you’ll likely have is the about the income potential. Like with all businesses, you can expect that in the initial stages the going may be slow as you develop a customer base and learn the practical nuances on the job. As your experience grows and more and more clients rely on the services you provide, you can expect to expand your earnings.
Average Income in the United States
It will interest you to know that the commercial industry that covers cleaning services and power washing for homes, vehicles, ventilation ducts, swimming pools, driveways, gutters, windows, sidewalks, and other surfaces averages a value of $78 million as on May 2015. Experts estimate that the possible earnings of this industry can touch $175 billion in the coming three years. Statistics also find that in the United States, on an average, a cleaning professional working full-time in such jobs can expect to earn $10.73 every hour. More than 1.7 million workers are employed in the cleaning industry. These figures add up to give you an estimate of $30,000 to $60,000 in earnings per year.
Factors that Influence Income
Many factors can determine the money you can earn in this business. The types of areas you work on, the materials and equipment you use (see our list of equipment), and the extent of the cleaning required can all dictate the price you can request from your customers. Also, factor in the income group and the region in which you work. In some regions, professionals working with power and pressure washers can hope to earn between $40 to $60 per hour and if you provide environmental services, you could command a price of $80 to $100 and above.
Our most recommended pressure washer: The Ryobi paired with a Honda engine.
Differentiating Between Pressure and Power Washing Services
When you conduct pressure washing cleaning, you’ll use the high velocity of the water hoses to clean the surfaces. This form of cleaning is highly effective on hard surfaces that accumulate dirt, grime, and other debris. You can effectively use pressure cleaning on houses, sidings, decks, patios, driveways, and so on. However, certain surfaces have mold, fungus, and other such items aside from the dirt and grime. To thoroughly clean such surfaces, you’ll need to use power cleaning. Power cleaning services include the use of hot water in addition to high velocity. You might also choose to use chemical cleaners depending on the extent of the cleaning needed. However, power cleaning needs special expertise to ensure that you don’t damage any surrounding surfaces. Explaining these differences to potential clients can help justify a higher price for your services.
Pricing Differences Between Pressure and Power Cleaning Services
If you perform pressure cleaning on a house, you can expect to charge between $100 and $300. However, if you clean the same house by using power cleaning techniques, the cost could average between $220 to $380. To quote another example, if you pressure clean a driveway, you can request for a payment between $80 and $200. The same driveway can be power cleaned for a cost of $130 to $220. This is only one example to indicate the differences in the rates you command depending on the services you’ll provide.
The average income you can make per year by running a pressure cleaning business can vary greatly on the kind of contracts and jobs you pick up. But, as you keep working and expanding the sphere of your cleaning services, you can expect to grow your company and make good profits down the line.
References:
1. “Profit in Power Washing” epowerwash. com. 4 Sep. 2009. Web. 5 Aug. 2016.
2. “Starting a Pressure Washing Business – A Complete Guide” ProfitableVenture. com. n.d. Web. 5 Aug. 2016.
3. “How Much Does it Cost to Power or Pressure Wash Exterior Surfaces.” Home Advisor. 19 Sept. 2014. Web. 5 Aug. 2016.