Blast grime off driveways, siding and decks — one of the most bundle-friendly outdoor trades to start.
Why that grade Combines two UK/US pricing aggregator sites with one widely-shared YouTube case study explicitly flagged as an outlier in the source material. Course-seller index 5/10.
Figures are researched estimates, not guarantees. Check local rules before you trade.
Grime, mold and algae buildup is highly visible and mildly embarrassing to homeowners, and most people own neither the equipment nor the patience to fix it themselves.
$45-$100/hr US; UK £30-£60/hr; whole-house wash $250-$600, driveway $100-$300 per job.
Someone willing to learn proper technique before taking paid work, who wants a fast-start outdoor trade with real bundling potential (gutters, roofs, decks).
Anyone tempted to skip training on soft-wash chemicals or delicate surfaces — the damage-claim risk here is genuinely underestimated by new entrants.
Wrong pressure or the wrong chemical on delicate siding, old paint or landscaping can cause real, expensive damage claims — soft-wash chemicals in particular require training, and skipping it is how a $300 job becomes a $3,000 liability claim.
6 steps to your first paying customer
This is the core equipment investment — a surface cleaner attachment dramatically speeds up flat-surface jobs like driveways.
Done when You own or have ongoing access to a 3000+ PSI gas washer with a surface cleaner attachment, and have run it at least once.
Build a real before/after portfolio before charging anyone, and use it to learn how different surfaces react.
Done when You have before/after photos from your own property and at least two friends' homes, showing you can read how different surfaces react.
The rest of the playbook: what to charge, what you need in place before you take money, where the first customers come from, and what each step costs.
Free forever · no card · 30 secondsLow barrier to entry keeps new entrants coming, but reliable, insured operators with a strong review base and commercial contracts still win consistently on trust.
Lock in recurring commercial B2B contracts competitors would have to actively displace you from
Specialize in soft-washing/roof cleaning, a higher-skill niche fewer competitors have mastered
A book of recurring commercial contracts plus equipment is a genuinely sellable small business to another operator.
Same idea, different rules. One playbook, with the facts that actually differ overlaid per market.
Villa market exists despite fewer driveways/less mold than temperate climates.
No license required but insurance expected; check local wastewater runoff rules.
Some municipalities regulate chemical runoff into storm drains.
Clear leaves and debris from residential gutters, with real seasonal spikes in autumn and spring.
Wash grime, pollen and dust off rooftop solar arrays to restore output — a still-uncrowded specialty.
Small home repairs — drywall, fixtures, minor plumbing/electrical — for homeowners who don't want to DIY.