How I Started a Soft Washing Business With a $250 Pressure Washer
A lot of people assume you need a big trailer, expensive equipment, and a perfect setup before you can start an exterior cleaning business.
I didn’t.
I started with a 3.5 GPM Dewalt pressure washer I bought on Facebook Marketplace for $250 — and I used that machine for my entire first year. Looking back, the biggest lesson wasn’t about equipment. It was about momentum.
Here’s exactly how it started.
The First Jobs: Friends, Family, and Anyone Who Would Say Yes
In the beginning, I washed anything I could:
Friends
Family
Neighbors
Anyone willing to let me practice
At the same time, I built the basics:
A Google Business profile
A simple website
Business cards
Door hangers
Yard signs
I washed friends’ and family homes for free so they could leave honest reviews. Those early reviews built credibility faster than anything else I could have done. When you’re new, proof matters more than profit.
My Early Philosophy: If I Didn’t Have a Brand, I’d Be Human
At that stage, I didn’t have:
Referrals
A recognizable brand
Repeat customers
Years of experience
So I made a decision early on.
My edge was going to be communication and professionalism.
I answered messages quickly.
I talked with homeowners instead of talking at them.
I explained what we were doing and why.
I educated people about their siding, their stains, and the safest way to clean their home.
I wanted to stand out on a human level — not just an equipment level.
That philosophy still shapes how Spa City Softwash operates today.
My First Marketing Lesson: “Free” Didn’t Work
I spent three full days knocking doors offering free house washes in exchange for a Google review. Hundreds of doors. Not a single yes.
The fourth day, I stopped leading with “free” and started saying something different:
“I just washed your neighbor’s house and I’m offering a discounted price while I’m in the area.”
I never lied — I had actually washed nearby homes — but the framing mattered.
The very first day using that approach, I booked two paying jobs from complete strangers.
I’ll never forget those houses or those customers.
The Original Setup: Simple and Portable
My entire operation ran off a hitch carrier rack on the back of my vehicle. No trailer. No fancy skid.
Just the pressure washer, hoses, an X-Jet, bucket, and soap.
Eventually, my first real upgrade was:
A small trailer
Two hose reels
And honestly, the hose reels changed everything.
They probably saved 30 minutes per job just from setup and breakdown time alone.
Sometimes the simplest upgrades make the biggest impact.
What I Actually Spent Money On
For my first couple dozen houses, my investment was extremely small.
Here’s what I used:
Facebook Marketplace pressure washer
Pressure hose
X-Jet
A bucket
Lawn signs
Business cards
Door hangers
Two hose reels (my first major upgrade)
That was it. No elaborate build. No complicated systems. Just enough to get started and keep moving.
The Real Takeaway: Start Before You Feel Ready
It’s easy to think you need the perfect setup before taking on real work. But most businesses don’t grow because of equipment — they grow because of action.
My first year taught me:
Marketing language matters more than price
Momentum beats perfection
Small upgrades compound quickly
People remember how you communicate more than what machine you used
The equipment evolved later. The mindset came first.
The Bottom Line
You don’t need a massive setup to begin an exterior cleaning business.
I started with a $250 pressure washer, simple tools, and a willingness to knock doors until something worked.
If you’re just starting out:
Focus on getting real jobs
Build reviews early
Communicate better than anyone else
Upgrade only when it saves time or increases reliability
The systems you build early often shape the entire direction of your business. And sometimes the smallest beginnings lead to the biggest momentum.
