How to Get Pressure Washing Contracts

Expanding your customer base is an essential part of growing a business. But getting more contracts can prove to be a challenging task (especially in the beginning).

The good news is, there are some traditional and non-traditional ways to build your list of clients. In the sections below we’ll cover all of the ways you can get more pressure washing contracts.

1. Make Lawn Signs

Almost every time I hire a contractor to work on my house they will put out a lawn sign. This can be an effective way to gain customers and expand your pressure washing business throughout the state.

It will spark curiosity when people are driving by or walking around the neighborhood. All you need is a sign that says house washing and a phone number. Lawn signs come in many different sizes but 18 x 24 inch seems to work the best.

They provide enough space to display your logo or text and a phone number to call. Just be aware that these signs can add up in cost, depending on how you design them. A double-sided sign with multiple colors will be more expensive.

2. Use Social Media

Leveraging customers through social media can be a game changer. Most people spend time scrolling through apps like Instagram and Facebook, which is why you should advertise your business on these channels.

The best way to attract new customers on social media is to post before and after pictures. This will clearly show the homeowner a need for pressure washing.

These potential customers might not even realize their house is dirty until they see transformation pictures. Just make sure to post the areas you work in, so you won’t have to travel far. It’s easy to leave your contact information in your profile, so they can quickly call or email you.

3. Print Advertising

Traditional print advertising is one of the most common ways to expand your customer base. Know that this strategy on how to get pressure washing contracts isn’t only related to newspapers.

You could print out flyers and put them in peoples mailbox, or pass them to people outside of a hardware store. There’s a good chance that people who shop at these places are homeowners who want to keep up with maintenance.

Just remember if you do plan on standing outside of a store you will need to get the owners permission beforehand. It helps to offer a discount on these flyers so that people will have an incentive to call you.

4. Try Cold Calling

Cold calling is a form of telemarketing where you contact potential customers over the phone. The term is often used when the person answering the phone has no prior experience with the caller.

Cold calling can be a challenging form of getting contracts, but at the end of the day it is one strategy that has a success rate. If you want to gain the most amount of potential clients, try cold calling in neighborhoods where you see lawn care trucks.

If a homeowner is willing to pay someone to cut their lawn, chances are they will pay someone to pressure wash their house. You can provide a service to this group of people who don’t want to do the work themselves.

5. Get a Vehicle Wrap

If you’re looking for a way to get some mobile advertising, a vehicle wrap is the answer. A vehicle wrap is a thin vinyl layer that gets applied directly over the paint. You could advertise on the entire exterior, or choose to only display your information on the doors.

The options are endless, as long as you’re clearly displaying the business logo. This can be a useful marketing strategy and it works in the same way that lawn signs do.

People will see your business when you’re parked outside of a customers house. But it will also be seen as you drive from job to job. Just know this is not a do-it-yourself type job and you will need to hire a professional to install it.

6. Provide Excellent Service

If you truly want to gain more pressure washing contracts, your business needs to provide the best service. We live in an age where people love to give reviews. And if you want positive reviews, it’s essential to provide value to the customer.

Have you ever heard someone brag about average service? Make sure to give your customers a reason to talk positively about you. Provide free quotes, show up on time, be polite, and call back in a timely manner.

In addition to all of these things, you need to be good a pressure washing. Understand what nozzles work best based on surface type and don’t do a sloppy job.

Other Tips

When people see your company name and logo, it’s only the first step. You want to give these potential customers a reason to call. If you really want to learn how to get pressure washing contracts, try out these other tips.

Offer Incentives

People like saving money. Just think of all those shoppers who stand in lines on Black Friday. They don’t care how long they have to wait, because the end result is saving money.

This same rule can apply when you’re trying to lure people in to get more pressure washing contracts. You can create a package deal, or offer a discount for first time callers.

There is also the freebie option, where you could clean a potential clients patio for free, with the purchase of a house washing. You can also try time sensitive deals, where the service is discounted until the end of the month.

Give Neighborhood Discounts

Another way to get more pressure washing contracts is to provide neighborhood discounts. Once you have a client on board, offer to perform the job at a discounted price if they can get their neighbor to sign up.

The neighbor would also receive the same discounted price, which makes it a win-win for everyone. This method can be extremely effective, because your clients always want to spend less money.

Plus, they do all the selling for you to their neighbor. You can even compound this strategy and offer a bigger discount for more houses that want to work with you. It can also save on travel time when you’re working in the same area.

Network

Think about all of the contractors needed to build a house. There are electricians, plumbers, and painters to name a few. When it comes to running a successful pressure washing company, it helps to network with other people in similar fields.

Ideally you want to find and talk to people who own lawn care and snow removal businesses. These people will probably have a list of the best towns and neighborhoods they do business in.

Homeowners living in these areas who outsource this type of labor will typically be willing to pay to have their house washed. Direct your advertising to these high paying areas and wait for the calls to start coming in.