How do I sell a pressure washing business?

Buyers of a pressure washing business look past the trucks. They want to know whether the work will keep coming when you step away. Most of your preparation is about proving that. Start early enough to fix weak spots rather than explain them. If your records are scattered, begin with cleaning up your financial records.

Show the repeat work

Build a customer list that separates one-time homeowners from customers who book again. Mark the property managers, restaurants, fleets and condo boards that return on a schedule, and note how long each has been with you. If any have a written agreement or a standing booking, say so. A buyer will want to speak to the biggest ones later, so decide with your advisers when and how that happens.

Keep the equipment records

List each truck, trailer, pump, tank and cleaning attachment, with its age, repairs and service dates. Fix the small things that make a rig look neglected. Check what is owned outright and what is financed or leased, because a buyer’s lawyer will ask. A tidy equipment file saves arguments over condition and shows that the business has been looked after.

Make it run without you

If you quote every job, answer every call and fix every complaint, a buyer is buying your time. Hand some of that to a crew lead or an office person now. Write down how you price work, how crews set up a site, what you do about surface damage, and how you book and invoice. The less that lives only in your head, the easier the handover.

Plan the handover

• Decide how long you could help the buyer after closing.
• Tell staff and key customers only when your advisers say so.
• Gather insurance history, including any claims.
• Ask your lawyer and accountant how the sale should be structured.