The business in one offer
Who it serves
Homeowners preparing for a sale, a graduation party or spring guests who want a driveway, walk or siding visibly cleaner without renting a machine themselves. Many book a driveway first and add the house once they trust the result.
What to sell first
Two packages priced by surface area: a driveway and front walk clean up to a set number of square feet, and a soft wash of one-story vinyl siding on four sides. Both include plant protection and a short before-and-after photo report. Excluded: roofs, two-story walls, wood decks, paint stripping and oil stain removal guarantees.
Square-foot pricing on two surfaces lets you quote from a photo or a satellite map, so you do not drive out for every estimate. One-story siding avoids ladders, and two packages on the same visit raise the job value without a second trip.
What could it cost to start?
This is an original example budget for the limited pilot described above. It is not a researched market average or a complete quote for every location.
| Item to price | Example allowance |
|---|---|
| Gas pressure washer around 4 gallons per minute | $900.00 |
| Surface cleaner attachment | $250.00 |
| Hoses, downstream injector and nozzles | $200.00 |
| Cleaning solutions and safety data sheets | $150.00 |
| Eye, hand and hearing protection | $120.00 |
| General liability insurance quote allowance | $600.00 |
| Example total | $2,220.00 |
What this assumes—and excludes
The plan assumes you already own a truck or trailer to carry equipment and that clients provide a hose bib. It excludes a water tank, hot water unit, wastewater recovery gear, business licenses that vary by city and owner pay. Get local quotes on insurance and equipment before you buy.
Collect actual supplier, insurance and local-authority information. Add a reserve for delays and unexpected costs; the example total is not a funding recommendation.
How the unit economics work
At an assumed $280.00 per job and $35.00 in direct costs, contribution is $245.00 before monthly fixed costs, owner pay and taxes. With 3.5 all-in working hours per unit, that is $70.00 per delivery hour before those deductions. These inputs illustrate the arithmetic; they do not establish a market price or expected earnings.
The example also allows $180.00 in monthly fixed costs. Include unpaid acquisition and administrative time when deciding whether the offer is worthwhile.
Try your own numbers
These are editable planning assumptions, not prices we have verified. Calculations stay in your browser.
Operating result = (price − direct cost) × units − monthly fixed costs. Before owner pay, taxes, financing and startup recovery. At these inputs, delivery requires 35 hours per month, plus any work not included in your per-unit estimate. Sales volume is a scenario, not a forecast.
How to find the first customers
Test a small offer before scaling traffic. Record the source of each enquiry, whether it fits the offer, and whether the buyer pays.
- Clean one stretch of your own or a willing neighbor's driveway and photograph the clear before-and-after line. Use that photo on a flyer that lists both packages and square-foot limits.
- Contact real estate agents who list homes in your area and offer a fast pre-listing driveway and siding package, with written scope and price.
- Leave door hangers on streets where you already have a booked job, mentioning the date you will be nearby. Track which hangers lead to bookings.
- Ask satisfied clients if they will post an honest review on your profile, and never offer payment or discounts in exchange for positive reviews.
What to validate before spending more
- Ask your city about rules on discharging wash water to storm drains, and whether you need a business license or a contractor registration for exterior cleaning.
- Read the safety data sheet for every cleaning product you plan to use, and confirm the right protective gear and dilution before you take paid jobs.
- Time three test jobs from setup to cleanup, including travel. If a driveway takes much longer than planned, adjust the square-foot price.
- Test your pressure and nozzle on a hidden patch of each surface type to avoid etching concrete or damaging siding, and note settings that work.
The operational catch
Wash water carries dirt, oil and cleaning chemicals, and some cities fine contractors who let it run into storm drains. On top of that, soft wash mixes can burn grass and shrubs if you skip pre-wetting and rinsing. Learn your local discharge rules, block drains when required, and protect plants on every job.
A practical way to fund the first step
Start with a used or mid-range machine and rent a surface cleaner until driveway bookings justify buying one. Take a deposit on larger house-wash jobs to cover chemicals and fuel.
Separate cash already available from money still to earn. Count only proceeds after direct expenses, and do not spend customer funds needed to fulfill their existing orders.
Questions before you start
Should I use high pressure or soft washing on siding?
Most siding is cleaned with a low-pressure soft wash and a cleaning mix, then rinsed. High pressure can drive water behind panels or damage paint. Learn the method for each surface before you advertise it.
How should I price driveways?
Price by square foot with a minimum charge, and measure from a map or with the client's help. Add a surcharge for heavy stains or moss rather than lowering quality on dirty jobs.
Do I need my own water supply?
Most residential jobs use the client's hose bib, but check flow rate before you start. If flow is weak, the machine can starve for water. A small buffer tank solves this later if you see it often.
Source-backed checks
These references support the specific checks below. They do not endorse this business idea or substantiate the example prices, costs or demand.
EPA's page on vehicle washing explains that wash water runoff can carry pollutants such as oil and grease that may reach drinking water sources. EPA: Managing Vehicle Washing to Prevent Contamination of Drinking Water.
OSHA's Hazard Communication standard uses labels and safety data sheets to inform workers about chemical hazards. OSHA: Hazard Communication.
OSHA notes that long exposure to loud equipment noise can damage hearing permanently. OSHA: Occupational Noise Exposure.
- Managing Vehicle Washing to Prevent Contamination of Drinking WaterEPA · Reference checked September 8, 2026
- Hazard CommunicationOSHA · Reference checked September 8, 2026
- Occupational Noise ExposureOSHA · Reference checked September 8, 2026
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