This is an extended and in-depth post from the Full Throttle Start Up newsletter titled “From Driveways to Details: How One Tool Can Launch a Business.”
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When I worked in lawn care, we often received requests for services that weren’t part of our standard offerings.
Requests such as re-staining fences, masonry work on steps, and even painting those old TV antennas that every home once had sticking up over their rooftops.
One request, however, that would come up more often than the others was, “Do you do power washing?” or “Do you know anyone who could clean this or that?”
At the time, if I felt we could do the work, we would rent a pressure washer ourselves and do the work.
If I didn’t feel like I had the experience or know-how to do it, I would recommend a local contractor to do the work.
One thing I observed over my years in lawn care and landscaping was that just about every home I visited had something, a fence, a patio or a walkway, that needed to be cleaned and there was definitely money that could be made with a power washer.
1) Standard Pressure Washing (Driveways, Walkways, Patios, Fences)
What you actually do
Using a pressure or power washer, you remove the dirt, mildew, tire marks, algae, and gray weathering from hard surfaces like concrete driveways, pavers, patio slabs, walkways, pool decks, and wood or vinyl fences.
Jobs are simple to quote and easy to schedule in tight routes. This is the fastest way to win your first five paying customers because everyone has at least one surface that needs a reset.
Starter kit and budget
- Gas pressure washer, 2.5–3.5 GPM, 3000–4000 PSI: $300 to $800
- 14–20 inch surface cleaner: $100 to $200
- High‑pressure hose, garden hoses, quick connects: $75 to $150
- Nozzle set and wand with extension: $40 to $80
- PPE: safety glasses, ear protection, non‑slip boots, gloves: $60 to $120
Total to start: about $600 to $1,300
How to launch in 7 days
Day 1: Practice on your own driveway and walk. Take before and after photos.
Day 2: Knock on ten doors on your street. Hand a one‑page flyer with two sample packages and a single price for driveways up to a set size.
Day 3: Post in two local Facebook groups with your photos. Offer a “first five homes” bundle price to fill a Saturday.
Day 4: Do a free small test area for a neighbor. Show the difference. Book them on the spot.
Day 5: Buy yard signs. “Driveway Cleaning Today” with your number. Place them near intersections by jobs you book.
Day 6: Work your first route. Ask every client for a review and one referral.
Day 7: Create a simple Google Business Profile. Upload photos and request reviews.
Pricing and time
- Driveway, two‑car width: $200 to $300, about 60 to 90 minutes with a surface cleaner
- Patio, 300–500 sq ft: $200 to $350, about 60 minutes
- Fence, 100 linear feet: $300 to $600 depending on height and condition
- House exterior rinse as a bundle add‑on: add $150 to $300
Simple package menu
- Basic: Driveway only
- Curb Appeal: Driveway, front walk, entry area
- Backyard Reset: Patio, back walk, steps
- Full Refresh: Curb Appeal + Backyard Reset, small discount for booking both
Safety and quality
Do not carve lines into concrete. Keep the surface cleaner moving. Test a small patch first. On wood, back off the pressure and let the detergent do the work. Protect plants with water pre‑rinse and post‑rinse. Never blow water up into siding vents.
Common beginner mistakes
Underpricing large, dirty driveways. Forgetting to pre‑treat with a light detergent on algae. Leaving zebra striping by moving too fast. Skipping photos, which kills your marketing.
How to scale this line
Buy a second surface cleaner and longer hoses so you can park once and reach the whole property. Tighten routing by booking neighbors on the same day. Sell simple annual plans: spring patio, fall driveway, fence every other year. Add sealing on concrete or pavers once you are comfortable.
2) Window Cleaning
What you actually do
Clean exterior and interior glass so it looks invisible. Most homes want exterior only. Two‑story houses are your best clients because ladders feel risky to them. You can sell this as a stand‑alone service or bundle it with exterior washing after the siding is clean.
Starter kit and budget
- Water‑fed pole, 25–35 feet: $250 to $450
- RO/DI or DI filtration for spot‑free rinse: $200 to $400 to start
- Hand tools: squeegee, scrubber, scraper, towels, bucket: $75 to $150
- Ladder with stabilizer and leg levelers: $200 to $300
- PPE: gloves, safety glasses, roof shoes if needed: $50 to $100
Add‑on to launch: about $600 to $1,100 if you already own a washer and hoses
How to launch in 7 days
Day 1: Learn the squeegee method on your own windows. Practice edges and detailing.
Day 2: Set a simple price model. Example: up to 20 windows for $199 exterior only. +$5 to $10 per extra window. French panes count by section.
Day 3: Offer a “siding wash + window clean” bundle to your first pressure washing clients.
Day 4: Contact three local realtors and two property managers. Offer next‑day exterior glass for listings.
Day 5: Shoot a 15‑second video showing the water‑fed pole and spot‑free rinse. Post in two neighborhood groups.
Day 6: Do two small jobs at a discount for reviews.
Day 7: Build a quarterly or twice‑a‑year plan: spring pollen clean and fall pre‑winter clean.
Pricing and time
- Exterior only, one‑story home, 20 to 30 windows: $150 to $300, 60 to 90 minutes
- Two‑story home, 25 to 40 windows: $250 to $450, 90 to 150 minutes
- Interior add‑on: usually 60 percent of the exterior price
- Screens and tracks: $2 to $5 per screen, $3 to $6 per track
Quality tips
Use pure water on exterior glass for a spot‑free dry. Work top to bottom. Always detail the edges where water collects. On interior work, lay towels under sills and protect floors. For old glass, test a small area to avoid scratching with a scraper.
Sales angles that work
“See clearly before winter.” “Get ready for listing photos.” “Bundle with siding for a cheaper second visit.” Promise a set arrival window and clean shoes inside the home. That alone sets you apart.
Common beginner mistakes
Quoting by guess. Always count windows during the estimate. Charging the same for a flat ranch and a steep two‑story. Skipping a ladder stabilizer. Forgetting to check for hard water stains that may need extra work.
How to scale this line
Route windows by street so you can finish four or more homes per day. Add a second water‑fed pole so a helper can work another side at the same time. Sell spring and fall plans so you do not need to chase new clients every month.
3) Soft Washing (Houses and Roofs)
What you actually do
Clean siding, trim, soffits, and roofs with low pressure and the right detergent. The goal is to kill algae and mildew and rinse them away without chewing up surfaces. It looks simple from the street, yet it requires care, clean mixes, and a slow pace. This is where ticket sizes jump.
Starter kit and budget
- 12‑volt soft wash pump or proportioner, 3–5 GPM: $200 to $500
- Dedicated hose reel and chemical‑rated hoses: $150 to $300
- Mixing tank or batch tank, 35–50 gallons: $120 to $250
- Nozzles for gentle application and wide rinse: $25 to $50
- Ladder stabilizer, roof safety kit, harness: $150 to $300
- Neutralizer and plant rinse sprayer: $30 to $60
Add‑on to launch: about $700 to $1,400 beyond your base washer
How to launch in 10 days
Day 1–2: Learn mix basics. Keep house wash mixes mild. Never guess on roof mixes.
Day 3: Practice on your own siding. Treat one wall. Rinse. Inspect for oxidation or streaks.
Day 4: Create a three‑package menu: small ranch, average two‑story, large two‑story. Add a line for roof spots versus full roof.
Day 5: Build a “protect your roof” one‑page sheet with photos of black streaks and the cleaned end state.
Day 6: Call five past power washing clients and offer a discount if they book a house wash this week.
Day 7: Do the job with a helper. One person sprays and one protects plants.
Day 8–10: Collect reviews and before/after shots. Post them with a simple explainer of soft washing.
Pricing and time
- House wash, ranch: $300 to $500, about 90 minutes
- House wash, two‑story: $500 to $800, two to three hours
- Roof cleaning, small home: $600 to $900, two to three hours
- Roof cleaning, larger home: $900 to $1,500 or more, three to six hours
Safety and care
Cover or pre‑rinse plants. Keep pets inside. Protect electrical outlets and door bells with tape. Never spray upward under lap siding. On roofs, set anchor points and use a safety line. Work in cool parts of the day so mixes do not dry on hot surfaces.
Quality tips
Let chemistry do the work. If you feel tempted to raise pressure, your mix is off. Rinse windows well to avoid spotting. Rinse metal fixtures like door handles and locks. After a roof wash, return in two weeks for a quick check and a photo. That small follow‑up builds trust and referrals.
How to sell this line
People buy roof work when they see stains in photos. Keep a short gallery on your phone. Offer a simple warranty on roof streaks for one season. Talk about protecting shingles, not just making them look clean.
How to scale this line
Move to a proportioner so you mix on the fly and keep your pump running. Add a dedicated rinse hose so one person can rinse plants while the other works. Book by neighborhood so you can complete two to three houses in a day.
4) Car Detailing (Mobile or At‑Home)
What you actually do
Clean and dress a vehicle so the owner feels proud to get in it. That means foam pre‑wash, hand wash, wheel cleaning, interior vacuum, wipe down, glass, and a light protectant. Full details can add shampoo, clay bar, one‑step polish, and fabric or leather care. Your pressure washer speeds up the heavy rinse and the pre‑wash foam step.
Starter kit and budget
- Foam cannon: $30 to $60
- Wash buckets with grit guards, mitts, drying towels: $80 to $140
- Wheel brushes and tire dressing: $40 to $80
- Shop vacuum, 12–16 gallons: $150 to $250
- All‑purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, interior dressing: $60 to $120
- Optional: small extractor for seats and carpets: $150 to $300
Add‑on to launch: about $400 to $750 beyond your base washer
Service menu that sells
- Basic Exterior: foam, hand wash, wheels, glass, quick tire shine
- Inside and Out: Basic Exterior plus interior vacuum and wipe down
- Full Detail: Inside and Out plus seat and carpet shampoo, door jambs, trim dressing
- Add‑ons: pet hair removal, headlight restore, engine bay wipe down
Pricing and time
- Basic Exterior: $75 to $150, about 45 to 60 minutes
- Inside and Out: $150 to $220, about 90 minutes
- Full Detail: $300 to $400+, two to four hours depending on condition
How to launch in 7 days
Day 1: Detail your own vehicle and a friend’s. Take photos.
Day 2: Build a one‑page menu with three clean packages. Keep it simple.
Day 3: Post in two local groups with a “two cars, one driveway” discount for spouses or neighbors.
Day 4: Pitch three small businesses with small fleets. Offer on‑site washes before staff arrive.
Day 5: Prepare a rainy day plan. Interior‑only jobs keep the week full.
Day 6–7: Work two back‑to‑back days. Ask for reviews and permission to share photos.
Quality tips
Use two buckets for the hand wash. One for soap and one to rinse the mitt. Dry glass with a clean towel to avoid haze. Do the interior first if the sun is hot, then wash the exterior. Keep a leaf blower for fast water removal around mirrors and trim.
Common beginner mistakes
Over‑scrubbing paint. Skipping wheel wells. Forgetting door jambs. Using the same towel for glass and interior dressing. Not charging for pet hair removal. It takes extra time, so price it that way.
How to scale this line
Sell memberships. Monthly or every eight weeks. Offer a family plan for two vehicles. Book small fleets on a set day each month. Keep a calendar of seasonal needs like salt removal in winter and pollen cleanup in spring.
5) Specialty Cleaning (Solar Panels, Pool Decks, Stone, Sports Courts)
What you actually do
Handle surfaces that need a careful touch and a cleaner look. Solar panels benefit from a gentle clean with pure water to keep output strong. Pool decks collect algae and sunscreen grime. Stone patios darken and get slick. Courts get stains, leaf marks, and dust that make them look tired. Few competitors offer this work, which is why it pays well.
Starter kit and budget
- Soft wash setup from section 3
- Pure water or DI rinse for solar panels: $150 to $300
- Extension poles and soft brushes for panels: $75 to $150
- Specialty nozzles and detergents for stone and pavers: $60 to $120
- Court cleaner or wide surface cleaner with gentle tips: $100 to $200
Add‑on to launch: about $300 to $700 if you already have soft wash gear
How to launch in 10 days
Day 1–2: Build a small photo library. Clean a family member’s pool deck or a friend’s patio for free in exchange for images and a review.
Day 3: Create three service pages on your site: Solar Panels, Pool Decks, Stone and Pavers. Keep each page short with clear before and after shots.
Day 4: Contact two local pool installers and one solar installer. Offer referral fees.
Day 5: Drop a flyer at tennis clubs and community centers.
Day 6: Run a short ad in a local group that calls out a pain point. “Slippery pool deck. Safer in one afternoon.”
Day 7–10: Book two small jobs. Ask for a testimonial that mentions safety and appearance.
Pricing and time
- Solar panels, small array: $200 to $300, about 60 minutes
- Solar panels, large array: $300 to $500+, 90 to 120 minutes
- Pool deck, average home: $300 to $600, 90 minutes to two hours
- Stone patio, 300–600 sq ft: $250 to $500, about 60 to 90 minutes
- Tennis or basketball court: $800 to $2,000 depending on size and soil level
Quality tips
For solar panels, work early or late so panels are cool. Use pure water and soft brushes only. No strong chemicals. For pavers, pre‑treat algae, then use a surface cleaner with steady, overlapping passes. Rinse thoroughly so sand does not float out of the joints. On courts, follow the surface maker’s care guide and avoid hot tips that can lift paint.
Common beginner mistakes
Treating every surface like concrete. Panels and courts need a soft approach. Using pool shock on a deck without testing a small area first. Forgetting to block drains when lifting heavy grime. Not warning clients that panels may drip for a few minutes after the rinse.
How to scale this line
Bundle annual plans with pool service and solar installers. Offer pre‑season and post‑season cleanups. Create a “Safety and Slip Reduction” package for HOAs and clubs. Add sealing for pavers and stone after you gain confidence.
Final word
You do not need all five lines to build a real business. Pick the one that fits your skills and your town. Start with the basic kit. Learn on your own property. Take photos. Sell simple packages. Ask for reviews. When you are ready, add the next tool and the next service. Keep it simple and keep moving.