How much experience did you have?

[Komelika]

How much experience did you have when you got started with your own PW business?

 

[Cat Powerwash]

I had no experience. I practiced on my house and some friends as well. I read alot on these sites and seven years later, still in business with three employees.

 

[jetstream1]

good ? to ask
I grew up around fence all my life in Mass
Then moved to Florida in 1990 when I was a bit younger
went to school and work for a fleet/power washing CO HE IS NO LONGER IN BIZ.So in 2001 I started a power washing biz and he we are in 07 my how time flys

 

[Dave Olson]

I was 41 when I bought out another fellow in 1984. My background in fleet operations helped. I also had warehousing and manufacturing operations experience.

I’m in my 24th year running my little business. We still do mainly industrial and commercial projects.

This week we’re cleaned an air conveyor system and overhead pipe racks in a food manufacturing plant. Now we are cleaning air-handling units in the same plant. This weekend we will do truck fleets. In a couple weeks we will be doing flatwork and a kitchen exhaust system in a hospital.

Dave Olson

 

[OCPW]

I had zero experience...when I started I only took small jobs that I knew I could handle. Mostly ranchers. My first year I only did 10 jobs in the summer as I was planning it only to be a summer business. 6 years later I'm doing 200 jobs in a 5 month season (April 1st to September 1st) and most of them are 4,000 sq. ft. duplexes.

 

[Komelika]

Thanks guys! That is encouraging information. My goal would be to start on my house to gain experience with stucco and cedar fences and then break into the market with cedar fence restoration. If I stay busy enough next year with that and then work my way into other areas of the business then maybe I have a shot at going full time in two or three years.

 

[Doug Rucker]

Started in high school with zero experience....gained a little since then though.

 

[Calob]

very cool to hear that there is more than i thought starting with no exp. I am same way. Big fat zero exp. Thanks to the guys on here i have learned a lot and dont feel so blind going in to something new.

 

[Gogreenwash]

I also started out with 0 experience by reading as much as I could find on pressure washing what ever surfaces I was going to be cleaning. 3 yrs later still going with it at a part time washer.

 

[Avasdad]

I have zero experience, I've practiced on my own house and deck and three friends and family homes. I had a buddy that worked for a PW company and told me the equipment you need and the chemicals to use.I've done one paying job for a beautiful lake house in May taking twice as long as I should have but she hired me to come back in August again to wash for a party. I hope to be writing again in a few years with a similar story to yours. My goal was 10 washes this first summer but getting my name out is a challenge, what I do have going for me is there has only been one guy doing it around my area ever so I'm the only other option for people. Nice to hear I'm not the only completely green guy starting a PW biz.