Starting a pressure washing business doesn’t require a degree, a big loan, or years of experience. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. If you think it’s just about buying a machine and spraying dirt off driveways, you’re in for a surprise. The real work starts after the first job. And the rewards? They’re real-if you know what you’re doing.

You don’t need much to start, but you need the right stuff

You can launch a pressure washing business with under £2,000. That’s less than the cost of a used car. A decent electric pressure washer costs around £300-£500. A gas-powered one, which you’ll need for commercial jobs, runs £800-£1,200. Add a hose reel, nozzles, surface cleaner, chemical injector, and safety gear, and you’re at £1,800. That’s it. No fancy office. No employees. Just you, your gear, and a van.

But here’s what most beginners miss: the machine is the cheapest part. The real investment is in learning how to use it. Spray too hard on brick, and you strip the mortar. Spray wrong on wood decking, and you gouge the surface. Spray near windows or gutters without protection, and you cause water damage. One bad job can cost you £500 in repairs-and your reputation.

Watch YouTube tutorials. Take a local training course. Shadow someone for a day. Don’t skip this. I’ve seen three guys in Leeds start last year. Two quit by March. They bought the machine. Didn’t learn the technique. Got one angry customer. And walked away.

The money looks good-until you do the math

Most pressure washing jobs charge £80-£150. A driveway? £100. A patio? £90. A two-storey house exterior? £250-£400. You can do two or three jobs a day in summer. That’s £300-£600 daily. Sounds great, right?

But here’s the catch: you’re not keeping it all. Fuel? £15 a day. Chemicals? £5-£10 per job. Insurance? £600 a year minimum. Vehicle wear and tear? £200 a month. Time spent driving between jobs? That’s unpaid labour. You’re not making £600 a day-you’re making £200-£300 after costs, if you’re lucky.

And you won’t work every day. Rain. Cold. Holidays. Winter in the UK? You’re looking at maybe 180 working days a year. That’s £36,000-£54,000 gross. Subtract £15,000 for expenses, and you’re at £21,000-£39,000 net. That’s below the national average wage. Unless you scale.

Scale means hiring someone. Buying a second machine. Targeting bigger clients-commercial properties, apartment blocks, local councils. That’s where the real money is. But that’s not starting out. That’s building a business.

Customers aren’t just looking for clean driveways

People don’t hire you because they want a clean driveway. They hire you because they’re selling their house. Or they’re tired of the mould on their fence. Or their neighbour just had theirs done and now they feel embarrassed.

Your job isn’t to wash surfaces. It’s to sell peace of mind. That means showing before-and-after photos. Offering a guarantee. Being on time. Calling ahead. Wearing clean boots. Saying “thank you” when you leave.

I know a guy in Bradford who started with a £500 pressure washer. He didn’t have a website. He just printed 500 flyers and handed them out door-to-door. He wrote his name and number in big letters. And on the back: “I’ll come back for free if you’re not happy.” He got 12 jobs in the first week. Three of them turned into referrals. He now has three employees and does £120,000 a year.

He didn’t win because he was the cheapest. He won because he made people feel safe.

Competition is everywhere-but it’s not what you think

Yes, there are other pressure washers in your area. But most of them are part-timers. They do it on weekends. They don’t have insurance. They don’t have a van. They don’t have a website. They show up with a rented machine and hope for the best.

You don’t have to beat them on price. You have to beat them on professionalism. A simple website with photos, a Google Business Profile, and a few reviews makes you look like a real company. A uniform? Even better. A van with your logo? That’s a moving billboard.

One woman in Sheffield started her business after her husband lost his job. She used her phone to take photos. She made a free Facebook page. She asked every customer to leave a review. In six months, she was booked out two weeks ahead. She didn’t lower her prices. She just showed up looking like she knew what she was doing.

Winter is your secret weapon

Most people think pressure washing is a summer business. That’s wrong. In the UK, winter is when demand spikes.

After the holidays, people clean up for the new year. Estate agents prep houses for sale. Landlords clean up before new tenants move in. Mould and algae grow fast in damp weather. People notice it when it’s dark and gloomy.

One Leeds business owner told me he makes 40% of his annual income between November and February. Why? Because his competitors take December off. He doesn’t. He advertises “Winter Deep Clean Specials.” He offers discounts on gutters and roofs. He gets repeat customers who trust him to show up when others don’t.

Don’t sleep on winter. It’s your edge.

What most people quit on

The first month is easy. You’re excited. You’ve got a few jobs lined up. You’re proud.

The second month? You’re tired. You’re cold. You’ve had two no-shows. One customer cancelled last minute. You spent three hours on a job that paid £60. You start wondering if this was a mistake.

That’s the drop-off point. Most people quit here. Not because they can’t wash surfaces. But because they didn’t prepare for the grind.

Pressure washing is physical. You’re on your feet 8 hours a day. You’re hauling gear. You’re lifting hoses. You’re bending over. Your back hurts. Your hands get sore. You get wet. You get dirty. You don’t get paid for the time you spend planning, driving, or waiting.

If you’re not ready for that, you won’t last.

Who succeeds?

The people who win are the ones who treat it like a real business-not a side hustle.

• They invest in training, not just gear.
• They build a system: booking, invoicing, follow-ups.
• They focus on repeat customers and referrals.
• They don’t chase every job. They target the ones that pay well and are reliable.
• They show up on time. They wear clean clothes. They clean up after themselves.

It’s not about the pressure washer. It’s about the person behind it.

Final truth: It’s hard-but not impossible

Starting a pressure washing business isn’t hard because of the equipment. It’s hard because you have to become a salesperson, a technician, a marketer, and a reliable worker-all at once. Most people think they’re buying a machine. They’re actually buying a job that never ends.

But if you’re willing to learn, show up, and treat every job like it’s your last, you can build something that lasts. There are pressure washing businesses in Yorkshire making £100,000+ a year. They didn’t get there by accident. They got there by doing the work, every day, even when no one was watching.

It’s not easy. But if you’re ready to work, it’s one of the few businesses where you can start today-and make real money by next summer.