Thinking about starting business in San Antonio

[jboyd]

I've been reading a lot of posts today and wondered if anyone knows if you have to reclaim water in San Antonio, Texas?

I was just planning on buying a cheap $400 Craftsman 2,500 psi from Sears and starting my business. This network really knocked my confidence down about what is required/needed to make the jobs easier, laws on waste water, having insurance etc. I didn't even think about any of this. I just wanted to start ASAP.

I plan on doing residential, mostly driveways, and wasn't really prepared to spend $15,000 to start a business. I am in the military and looking for some side jobs to supplement my income.

I realize that the different equipment/nozzles that are used take different amount of time to complete the jobs. I am not really interested in taking 4-5 hours to complete a small driveway. Do I need a tank or do I use the homeowner's water supply? Any web sites available to purchase equipment...trailers, tanks, hoses, nozzles, reclaimation systems, chemicals etc.?

Will I be able to get enough business from residential properties to make this worth my while?

 

[grasshawg]

First, you need to do a lot of reading before you ask any more questions. As with any business, you MUST do adequate research. You can't just buy some equipment, and say you are a business, and start working. Take the time to find out what you need to start right, and then educate yourself on the way the business world operates, then educate yourself on using the equipment you need.
Here is a good place to start. Use the search function and search key words that you need information on. You'll find just about everything you need to know right here. If not, feel free to ask, and you'll get about 4 different opinions.
First hint: You can't get a busness started at Sears. You'll need professional grade equipment, or you'll lose that $400 before you make it.
My .02 cents. Do a little more reasearch and you'll find that and unprepared and uninformed business is a doomed one.
Good luck.
Randy
p.s. I and many others salute you for your service to our great country.
San Antionio, huh? Army, or Air Force?
Well, "Be all you can be", or "Aim High"--The same goes in the business world!

 

[PressurePros]

Several problems come to mind when starting a business like you described. Foremost is liability. You need insurance. Add $1,200 to your budget. A machine that costs $400 is going to clean like a water pic and will break down quickly. To be time efficient you need a machine that puts out 4 gpm and a small surface cleaner. Add another $1500 to your budget. I'm not even mentioning that if you plan on doing concrete/flatwork you should have hot water $$ and federal law mandates reclaiming waste water (everywhere). You will be using customer's water but sometimes you need more hose to run back and forth from your machine. Add $500 to your budget for extra hose and reels.

The above mentioned is the bare minimum. Let's say you just dropped the $3,500 and you are ready for action. How are you going to get customers? You have to do a ton of advertising in the beginning. Business cards, flyers, mailers, add another $1000+.

$4,500 doesn't include licensing, legal or accounting fees/software. Nor does it include gas, chemicals or various miscellaneous items. Your first year you may spend about $6,000. Residential driveways do not pay much. You would be lucky to break even. You would have to add other services like housewashing or deck restoration, which means more expense.

I am not trying to bring you doomsday. I would love to see you succeed. If you are going into this business for the long haul, you will eventually make some decent money by your third year. If you are financially strapped and you are looking at this as a way of quick supplemental income, you may end up making your financial situation worse.

 

[S.L.Alt]

My input is do some research. Decide the type of work you want to do, then decide on the equipment you will need. You will need insurance, I pay $572 a year for $2 million coverage. I specialize in exterior wood restoration and sealing this is all I do. I clean and seal fences,decks and cedar siding but occasionally clean vinyl siding. To do wood I do not need hot water and high pressure. I started in the business helping out friends and neighbors and decided I should make a little money using my machine and time. I bought a 2200psi 2 gal. min. Karcher becouse I lived in a cedar siding home and I could not find anyone to clean and seal it. I did some research, bought my pressure washer and went to it. It took me about 3-4 hours to clean the house. Next I needed to seal it,so I did more research and bought a airless sprayer and sealed it it took me 3 hours to seal it. It looked great and I ended up doing half the neighborhood. My business is very seasonal.I don't do any pressure washing in the winter months becouse of the type of pressure washing I do. I have alot of repeat customers. I keep my business small by choice. Last season I turned work away becouse I will not rush through a job and I will only do quality work. That is what I am known for. I now do have professional grade pressure washers but I also have my 2200psi karcher that is 6 years old that still hammers away. I spent about $200 dollars this year on advertising (business cards and flyers). If I am doing a job in a neighborhood I will knock on doors and talk with other homeowners,usually if a neighbor sees you did a quality job you will get more work. You will probably need a business license. I have a tank but I use the customers water supply if they are on public water supply. A tank is usually needed for me if the customer has a well. I guess my point is that I started off with a small pressure washer and not much money.I used the money I made to invest back into my business. Decide what kind of work you want to do and buy the equipment accordingly. I don't have equipment to clean concrete becouse I don't do it. Start small then grow. I have seen seveal business grow to big to fast and start cutting corners to make a fast buck then wonder why they have a bad reputition. If you have any questions send me an e-mail.

S.L.Alt
Valley Pressure Washing
&
Exterior Wood Restoration
Stephens City,VA
scotjodi@verizon.net

 

[PressurePros]

I guess my point is that I started off with a small pressure washer and not much money.I used the money I made to invest back into my business.

Good post, S.L. I highlighted the lines above because it makes the point that money is made by entering a business with your eyes open and viewing the long haul. I don't want to misinform someone when they are looking for immediate gratification via supplemental income. Either you spend it up front or you sink all of your net profits in upgrading..either way it comes out to break even in the first year, especially for a part time guy.

 

[jboyd]

Thanks

Thanks for all of the good advice. Before I researched all of the threads and comments that everyone provided, I though I could start with a cheap Sears type machine. After reading for a couple of hours I posted my questions. As with anything you have to start small. I just wanted to do my driveway, sidewalk, fence and hope the neighbors asked me who did it. Then begin slowly with the neighborhood then their friends etc. I didn't want to jump into a $6,000 dollar business and end up spending money I didn't have. With hot water and reclaimation it sounds pretty involved. I would also have to purchase a new truck to pull all of the equipment since I only have a small 4 cylinder.

Grasshawg, I am in the Air Force and have been for the past 20 1/2 years. Retirement is just around the corner and I would like to try something on my own.

Regards,

Jeff

 

[Christopher]

Hello,
I have some good friends in San Antonio and Starting this past January of 2006 they are requiring water recovery and the POLICE Department will be watching for people doing pressure washing. They have been instructed on what to look for and if they drive by and see the right equipment and nothing is going down the storm drains you will be ok. If they see you do not have the right equipment and /or water is running down the gutters, you will wish that you never bought your equipment. The fines are from $500.00 and Community service on up to the famous $20,000.00 and possible jail time. They are very serious and I would not even try to do something for "A few extra bucks on the weekend" or something similar. I would talk to the locals and see what they are doing and do a search on the board. There are a lot of options to do the jobs legally and without spending a fortune. I would not buy something from a hardware store or chain store. If you are serious about this business then buy something that will hold up and Most Important, GET INSURANCE.

 

[PressurePros]

As with most posters, I don't really think this guy was looking for sound advice as much as just plain old validation to proceed with his own agenda. One of two things will happen. He will realize that $6000 is a half assed starter budget with minimal advertising and a low price cold water machine not the "top tier" of setting up a PW'ing business like he may think. Maybe he will commit to actually doing things right or, much more likely, he will buy the crap machine, use no chemicals, tow it around in a four cylinder vehicle and after he washes all his relatives driveways and decks and sees how long and painful it can be with improper equipment, the washer will go into the garage and come out twice a year.

May sound mean but reality includes evaluating all the variables and planning for the long haul and I don't see that happening here.