Have you ever thought about becoming your own boss and starting your own driveway cleaning service? But you’re not quite sure where to start? Well, don’t worry because in this blog we answer the question “what do I need to start my own driveway cleaning business?” We’ll make the process simple and straightforward, allowing you to fulfil your dream of leaving the standard 9 to 5 and working for yourself.
What you need to start your own driveway cleaning business:
First and foremost, we always advise when starting your own driveway cleaning company, that you start by purchasing the most powerful pressure washer that meets your budget. Ultimately, the more expensive the pressure washer, the better the performance. This means that you will be able to complete jobs quicker. Therefore, you’ll be able to complete more jobs on a daily basis, earning you a load more money!
Consider the PSI and flow rate of your pressure washer
In addition to price points, other important factors to consider when choosing your starting pressure washer is the PSI and flow rate. These two factors indicate the overall power of a pressure washer. Usually, the greater the pressure and flow rate the more powerful and efficient the pressure washer.
We often recommend to many of our customers that a good starting point would be a 14 HP petrol pressure washer or a 10 HP pressure washer. We recommend these pressure washers because they are powerful. The engine is coupled to a 37000PSI (240 Bar) pump running at 15 litres per minute. As a result, both pressure washers offer a high volume of water at a high pressure meaning the nozzle attachments will ensure effective cleaning on all types of surfaces. In addition to this, they will have no problem with any additional accessories such as a rotary cleaner or turbo nozzle. Both of these pressure washers will give you more than enough power and pressure to complete all of your daily tasks with ease.
If your budget does not quite reach to one of the larger pressure washers, then do not worry! We have cheaper alternatives that are still powerful and reliable in getting the job done. The KIAM Warrior 3000 or 2800P for example, are both 6.5 HP so slightly less powerful, but they are extremely popular pressure washers that are effective, reliable and durable. Despite being slightly smaller in HP, both the KIAM Warrior 3000 and 2800P have no trouble supporting extra accessories.
Purchasing accessories for your pressure washer
When choosing to purchase extra accessories to accompany your pressure washer you will want to consider the engine power of the pressure washer. For example, if you opt to purchase a pressure washer with a 14HP engine then this will support the largest rotary cleaners (18 & 21 inches) at optimum pressure and performance. If you opt for a KIAM Warrior 3000 or 2800P for example, with a slightly smaller 6.5HP engine, then to maintain the optimum pressure and performance a 12-inch rotary cleaner will be sufficient.
Other considerations when purchasing your pressure washer for a driveway cleaning business
A further factor in the pressure washer purchase process, and a very important one, is to consider where your water is going to be coming from; do you plan to use a customer’s outdoor tap or are you going to use a standing water source (pull from a tank)?
If it is the former, then a pressure washer with a direct drive will be fine (this is where the pump is connected directly to the engine). If it is the latter, however, then you will need a pressure washer with a reduction gearbox. The KIAM PR or DXR range have a reduction gearbox and are designed with bigger pumps and valves, allowing for the suction of water from a standing water source. It is always a handy feature to have as not all customers have an outdoor tap or have good enough water pressure to allow the pressure washer to run effectively.
If you do require an outdoor water source then we offer IBC water tanks. If your pressure washer requires 15 litres per minute but your customer's water supply is 10 litres per minute, a 1000L IBC tank would give you 3-4 hours of water supply.
The most popular option for those setting up their own driveway cleaning business
To conclude; the most popular packages for new starters usually include the Kiam KM3700PR; matched to the Surface Pro 21 rotary cleaner, a Turbo nozzle, and extra 10m of hose; so you can reach 20m in total without having to move the machine.
Get in touch if you need help with your new machinery
Good luck with your new business! If you have any questions about your pressure washer or need more help with finding the right machinery for the job, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our experts are more than happy to help.
Give us a call on 0151 548 5500, send us an email using contact@equip2clean.co.uk, or fill in the contact form on our contact page.
