[waterforce]

hi i am after any advice on starting up my own pressure washing business, any advice please. is there any call for this type of work domestic or other wise.what would be the best form of advertising.cheers in advance

[Jon T.C.]

I would have it as an add on. I don't think from mine and others experience that it would keep you going full-time

[preston powerblast]

There is a call for it.
But its damn hard work, myself and a few others on here are still in our first year and its not been a bed of roses.
In my opinion forget the yellow pages and the locals.
Get a shed load of flyers printed up and get out posting them. With hard work, determination and luck the jobs will start to come in.
Dont be tempted to start doing jobs for little money just to get the jobs in and always remember its better to over quote than under quote, like I always say prices are negotiable. But the level of service isnt.
I wish you the very best of luck.
But its not easy.
                              Gary

[Paul Forster]

Pressure washing is a very nice add on to my pest control busines but  the domestic side is seasonal. I drive round once a month and deliver leaflets this then keeps a steady flow of work going.

Paul

[waterforce]

do you think in general, that leaflets work the best for advertising, do you target specific areas maybe those that are a bit posher!does anybody have a copy of the sort of thing that they put on there leaflet. are most jobs driveways,patoi's etc.  cheers in advance

[Ged]

The best way to get work by far as a new starter is to go and knock on doors and speak to people. you can leaflet but the response will be far less than you might think. i started about a year ago and the only cost effective thing to do is to take yourself and your rig, a barrel of water and a portfolio or before and after shots and get out there and show the potential customers what you can do.

Good luck


Ged

[preston powerblast]

My best ad is is my van as its all sign written, when I first started I was everywhere in the van.
Talking to people, pestering builders.
Knocking on doors.
Tried the Yellow Pages, was not impressed. Advertised in the local paper cost me an arm and a leg.
My best response was with the flyers.
One of the best advertising stunts I did was with the local cubs, they was doing a sponsored car wash, I offered to sponsor them, I provided everything. They handwashed the cars and I rinsed them off with my machine.
It was a long day we gave out a lot of flyers and made a lot of money for charity.
In return I got a good few jobs from it.

[Kelvin]

I am not in your strand of cleaning but what I find amazing is that flyers work for some but not for others, probably a lot to do with area and what service you are offering.  I have stopped flyering now as it is too time consuming and the response is generally poor.   

Kelvin

[bulldug]

I would agree with you Kelvin, when I do flyers I might get one call from 500, but if that one call gets me a job then it has all been worth it.
Besides I would only be in the house driving myself up the walls, so I'm better out doing something positive (also gets rid of all the festive overeating ponch).
Tom

[preston powerblast]

Last year i got 5 jobs in the same street from one flyer drop.
But I still get calls from people who have told me that they put the flyer on their home notice board for future reference.
Last year I posted about 2500 flyers and I think I must have had about 35 jobs.
But i try to jazz them up a bit.
I make them myself on my pc so they dont really cost a lot and i can use as many colours and pictures as I wish.
But I have started to drop flyers again now.