From Driveways to Details: How One Tool Can Launch a Business- #007

When I worked in lawn care, we would often get requests for services that weren’t necessarily part of what we offered.
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.

Power Washing Business
Let’s Start Simple. A basic power washing or pressure washing business offers cleaning of driveways, walkways, patios, fences, and virtually anything else in the yard that needs a good, deep cleaning.

This is the bread-and-butter work for most pressure washing companies. All you really need is a decent power washer, a surface cleaner, and some hoses.
 
This is where you get your feet wet (pun intended). You can expect to spend about a thousand dollars or less to get started, and this is where you start with the simple stuff and learn the tricks of the trade.

By offering the basics to start, the payoff can come quickly. A driveway or patio job can bring in $200 to $400. Washing wooden or vinyl fences can often bring $300 to $600. A complete exterior wash? You could be looking at $500 to $1,000 or more in just one day.

Pressure washers are very powerful, and I would recommend that you learn and practice using the machine and techniques at home before doing the work at a client’s home.

I would recommend this for all the businesses listed here as well.

It’s straightforward work, the kind that never runs out of demand.

Window Cleaning
Maybe driveways and siding aren’t your thing. You might like the idea of focusing on windows instead.
Window cleaning takes some getting used to; it is a valuable skill that pays when done well, but once you get the hang of it, the demand is always there.

You’ll need a ladder, a water-fed pole, and, what separates the amateurs from the pros, reverse osmosis and deionization systems offer streak-free cleaning with less work.

With learned skills and the right tools, a single home can pay $150 to $300. Bigger houses or commercial jobs can hit $1,000 or more. Most homeowners would rather pay you than drag out the ladder and risk it themselves.

Soft Washing (House and Roof Cleaning) 
Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can transition into higher-paying work with soft washing.
Here, you’re not blasting away with pressure. You’re using low-pressure and cleaning solutions to wash siding, shingles, and other delicate surfaces.

It does cost a bit more to set up. You’ll need a pump and tank system, plus some safety gear. But the payoff is worth it.
A house wash can run between $300 to $800. Roof cleaning jobs often start at $600 and can reach $1,500 or more.

And here’s the big selling point: this isn’t just about looks. Soft washing helps extend the life of a roof, which makes homeowners much more open to paying higher prices.

Car Detailing (At-Home Service)
If houses aren’t where you want to focus, you can take your pressure washer to cars. Add a foam cannon, a vacuum, and some detailing supplies, and suddenly you’ve got a mobile detailing setup.

Basic exterior washes can go for $75 to $150 per car. Full details, inside and out, can hit $300 or more. Get a few car enthusiasts or even a small fleet of vehicles, and you’ve got steady, repeat customers.

A speciality service that could be offered by you, if washing and detailing vehicles, could include branching out to mobile home or trailer detailing and even vehicle fleet washing for companies in your city.

Specialty Cleaning Services
Once you’ve added soft washing gear, you can move into some really interesting niches. Think solar panels, pool decks, stone patios, even tennis or basketball courts. These jobs pay well, and most local competitors won’t even offer them.

Prices usually start in the hundreds and can climb into the thousands, depending on the size and surface. That’s the beauty of specialty work. You can charge more because you’re one of the few people who can handle it.

Keep It Simple
Here’s what really matters: you don’t have to do all of it. Pick one of these businesses and start small. Add tools and skills as you go, or stop at one. Each option stands on its own and can support a real, full-time business.

You’re not just starting a side hustle. You’re setting up something that can grow—and you’re the one in control.

You can learn more about all these businesses and more on the Full Throttle Start Up website. There, we go into full detail about all the aspects of starting and running a successful service business of your own.