If you're charging by the hour for power washing, you're leaving money on the table.
Here's the problem: as you get faster and better at the work, hourly pricing punishes you. A driveway that took you 2 hours last year takes 90 minutes this year — same result, less money. Your experience and efficiency should increase your earnings, not decrease them.
The fix: per-job pricing.
How to Price Per Job
The formula most successful power washers use:
Square footage x rate per sq ft + any add-ons = job price
Rates vary by surface and region, but rough benchmarks:
- Driveways/concrete: $0.15-0.25/sq ft
- Decks: $0.25-0.40/sq ft
- House siding: $0.20-0.35/sq ft (or per linear foot of facade)
- Fences: $0.15-0.30/sq ft
Measure once, price confidently. Over time you'll dial in your rates for your market. The key is that faster work means more profit per hour, not less.
The Spring Rush Strategy
Power washing is seasonal. In most markets, 60% of annual revenue comes from March through June. That means you need to be quoting machines during spring.
Three things that help:
- Pre-season outreach: In February, text last year's clients. "Spring's coming — want me to book your annual wash?" This fills your April calendar before the rush starts.
- Fast quoting: When leads pour in during April, the washer who quotes first wins. If quoting takes you 20 minutes per lead, you'll fall behind. Tools that let you quote from your phone in 60 seconds change the game.
- Bundle pricing: Offer "driveway + walkway + patio" packages at a slight discount. Higher ticket, one setup, more profit.
Handle Add-Ons Cleanly
"While you're here, can you do the fence too?"
This is great — more revenue from the same setup. But only if you quote the add-on clearly. Don't just throw out a verbal number. Add a line item to the existing quote so there's a record. If the customer agreed to $380 for the driveway and you added $220 for the fence, the invoice should show both line items.
An AI office manager like Flo makes this easy. Say "Add $220 fence wash to the Rivera quote" and it's done — added, totaled, ready to send.
Track Chemical and Equipment Costs
Power washing has real consumable costs: chemicals (sodium hypochlorite, surfactants), tips, hoses, and fuel for the rig. Most washers underestimate these costs by 30-40% because they don't track per-job.
The fix: log chemical purchases and equipment maintenance as expenses, tied to jobs when possible. At tax time, these are all deductible. Between taxes, they tell you which jobs are truly profitable.
Weather Cancellation Policy
Rain cancellations are part of the business. Have a clear policy:
- 24-hour notice: Reschedule at no charge
- Same-day cancel: Reschedule fee or priority rebooking
Put this on your quotes. Customers respect clear policies, and it protects your schedule from last-minute chaos.
The Bottom Line
Power washing pros who switch to per-job pricing, quote fast during spring rush, and track consumable costs consistently earn 25-40% more than hourly billers. The work is the same — the business operations make the difference.
Flo is an AI office manager that runs on ChatGPT. She helps power washers, cleaners, painters, and other home service pros handle quoting, invoicing, and scheduling — all by conversation. Try Flo free on ChatGPT.