What should I check before buying a pressure washing business?

A pressure washing business works on other people’s property, from a truck or trailer, with a small crew. That is different from a fixed site with bays and a building. What you are buying is a set of rigs, a way of getting work done safely, and a list of customers who call again. Your checks should follow those three things. For the general approach, see how to assess equipment condition.

The rigs and the gear

Ask for a list of every truck, trailer, pump, tank, hose reel and surface cleaner, with age and service records. Watch the machines run. Ask which parts have failed before, and ask to see the maintenance logs. Check that vehicles and equipment are owned outright or ask who holds a lien. A lender or an equipment appraiser can help you judge what the gear is likely to need next.

Water, access and damage claims

Ask how crews get water on a job: from the customer’s tap, from a tank on the rig, or from a refill site. Ask how the owner handles wastewater, and have your lawyer confirm what applies. Then ask about damage. Etched glass, stripped paint and lifted siding happen in this trade. Ask for any past claims, how they were settled, and what insurance the business carries.

Customers and routes

Separate one-off homeowners from repeat customers. Property managers, restaurants, fleets and strata or condo boards tend to book on a schedule, and those routes are what carry a business through slow months. Ask how each repeat customer was won, whether there is a written contract, and who deals with them. Request a customer list by revenue, with job dates, so you can see the seasonal pattern for yourself.

What the owner does

• Who quotes jobs, and could a crew lead do it?
• Which customers deal only with the owner?
• Are the crew staff or contractors, and will they stay?
• How is work booked and tracked: a system, or the owner’s phone?