How to Start a Pressure Washing Business
Setting up a pressure washing business, from local water and permit questions to the first job you quote and bill.
This guide walks through starting a pressure washing business: local questions about permits and where wash water goes, registering, tax IDs and insurance, quoting by surface and sending the first invoice. Pricing by area and charging for treatments are on the pressure washing invoicing guide linked below.
Before your first job, ask your city or county where wash water from a job can drain. The SBA's launch guide (In the US, SBA, checked October 31, 2026) says "Local governments determine registration, licensing, and permitting requirements, so visit local government websites to find out what you need to do."
A first job, in sample figures: a driveway and walkway wash at 1 x $220.00 and gutter brightening of 120 linear feet x $1.25 = $150.00 come to $220.00 + $150.00 = $370.00 before any tax.
Step-by-step startup guide
Follow these steps to launch your pressure washing business on solid footing.
- 1
Ask about water and permits
Contact your city or county about wash-water runoff and any permit or license for commercial washing.
- 2
Pick the surfaces you'll wash
Driveways, decks, siding and roofs need different equipment and pricing, so start with the surfaces you know.
- 3
Register the business
The SBA's launch guide (In the US, SBA, checked October 31, 2026) says "If you conduct business as yourself using your legal name, you won’t need to register anywhere." If you use a business name, check your state's rules.
- 4
Get an EIN
The IRS EIN page (In the US, IRS, last reviewed or updated October 16, 2026) says "You never have to pay a fee for an EIN." The SBA's launch guide (In the US, SBA, checked October 31, 2026) says "Your Employer Identification Number (EIN) is your business’s federal tax ID number."
- 5
Arrange insurance
The SBA's launch guide (In the US, SBA, checked October 31, 2026) says "You also may be legally required to purchase certain types of business insurance." Ask an agent about cover for damage to the surfaces you wash.
- 6
Quote by surface, then invoice
Measure each surface, quote it in writing, and invoice from the approved quote once the job is done.
Tips for starting your pressure washing business
- Photograph every surface before and after you wash it.
- Test a small, hidden area before treating a whole surface.
- Keep fuel and chemical receipts. The IRS recordkeeping page (In the US, IRS, last reviewed or updated May 1, 2026) says "Good records will help you monitor the progress of your business, prepare your financial statements, identify sources of income, keep track of deductible expenses, keep track of your basis in property, prepare your tax returns, and support items reported on your tax returns."
- Put some of each payment aside for tax. The IRS self-employment tax page (In the US, IRS, last reviewed or updated October 30, 2026) says "The rate consists of two parts: 12.4% for social security (old-age, survivors, and disability insurance) and 2.9% for Medicare (hospital insurance)."
How Billed helps you get started
Features to look at as you set up your business.
Estimate Attachments
Billed's features page says: "Attach important files and images with your estimates."
Estimate Notes
Billed's features page says: "Add important notes for your clients in estimates."
Due Dates
Billed's features page says: "Set due dates for payment on your invoices so your clients know when they have to pay you."
Invoice History
Billed's features page says: "Billed App keeps complete history about the Invoice and its payments from the moment it is created."
Frequently asked questions
Invoice Your First Wash
Create invoices, track payments and keep your clients' details in one place with Billed.
At a glance
| Step | What to check | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Runoff and permits | Your city or county | SBA (In the US, checked October 31, 2026); local pointer |
| Registration | Not needed under your legal name; step 3 | SBA (In the US, checked October 31, 2026) |
| Tax ID | An EIN, at no fee | IRS (In the US, last reviewed or updated October 16, 2026) |
| First invoice | Each surface from the approved quote | Pressure washing invoicing guide |
When this isn't for you
If you wash for another company as its employee rather than running your own jobs, this setup guide won't apply to you.