HOW TO PRICE PRESSURE WASHING SERVICES
Build the quote from
the job underneath it.
A price per square metre can be useful as a sense-check, but it should not replace the economics of the actual job.
Open the free calculator ↗1. Start with crew-hours
Use total person-hours, not only elapsed job time. Two operators working for three hours represent six labour hours before travel, setup and pack-down.
2. Allow for surface condition and productivity
Heavy soiling, algae, moss, delicate finishes, poor drainage, difficult access and furniture movement can change productivity substantially. Estimate time from the scope rather than assuming one universal output rate.
3. Add chemicals and job-level consumables
Detergents, biocides, specialist treatments, water and generator fuel should be costed from expected usage. Do not hide recurring job costs inside a vague overhead figure.
4. Recover equipment wear
Pumps, hoses, nozzles, seals, surface cleaners and servicing wear out as work is completed. Allocate a realistic per-job wear allowance so maintenance and replacement are funded by the jobs causing them.
5. Price travel separately
Vehicle cost and paid travel time are different costs. Include both where relevant, especially for low-value jobs with long journeys.
6. Allocate fixed overhead
Insurance, storage, marketing, software, admin, phone and other fixed costs need to be recovered across realistic completed paid jobs.
7. Protect a minimum call-out
Small jobs can still require travel, setup, pack-down and administration. A minimum pre-tax charge protects those fixed elements.
8. Solve for margin, not markup
Margin is the share of revenue retained after the relevant costs. Adding a percentage to cost is a markup and produces a different margin.
9. Apply tax separately
Where VAT, GST, HST or sales tax applies, solve the business price first and then add the correct tax. The calculator provides editable reference rates, not tax advice.
10. Use price per area as a check, not the engine
After solving the job economics, divide the pre-tax price by area. That gives a useful price-per-area benchmark without pretending all surfaces and access conditions cost the same to clean.
Build a pressure washing quote ↗