State specific business start up requirements.

[Beth n Rod 1,279]

This thread is for the benefit of anyone starting up a new business in the field of Pressure Washing.

Please contribute your source information for the following:

• State and county of the information
  
• DBA or Fictitious entity filing contact
  
• Federal, State and or local contacts for EIN, Sales and use tax and licensing including fee's if available
  
• Local Authority having Jurisdiction and for which facet of pw'ing
  
• Web site URL's for any of the above
  
• Local organizations such as BBB, Chamber of Commerce or other affiliations dealing with business to business relationships and credentials.
  
• Water authority for water use and licensing if applicable
  
• Environmental agency legislating or having influence over pw'ing in any way
  
• Preferences for credit card merchants
  
• Preferences for phone and internet service providers
  
• Local repair and/or suppliers for chems, equipment and Personal Protection Equipment
  
• Labor union, temporary workers agency or job service contacts

This will be set as 'Sticky' for quick reference to our members

[PressurePros 249]

• Started in this business 17 years ago (as an employee during college). Left it for awhile to pursue career

• Left the corporate world as a marketing manager in 1998 to partner in a company called Grease Doctor.

• Started PressurePros, Inc in 2001 and switched to residential work the last 2-3 years.

• We are insured with $1M in liability and carry Workman's Comp for one full time and two part time employees

• Previously a member of the PWNA, the PA Restaurant Association and am currently a member of The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, BNI, and WRAPI

• PA does not require licensing for contractors. When I did Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning I utilized Phil Ackland certification

• I accept Visa, Mastercard, Discovery and Paypal and use Paypal's merchant gateway for field service and for products sold on www.restore-a-deck.com

• Training includes:

- working with four local companies before I ventured into any arena of PW'ing

- ongoing chat with contractors from this board

- hundreds of hours in time management, organizational and planning skills, sales, marketing and motivational courses. I listen to taped audio from the masters of sales and marketing almost every day

- B.S in economics from a good school

• For me daily prayer and meditation are crucial for success. Maybe this one should have been first

[EnviroClean 15]

I am just getting started.

[Beth n Rod 1,279]

Enviro is that your logo in your avatar? I like it! :)

Beth

[EnviroClean 15]

Thanks Beth..Yeah that's US (Me). Thanks in part to Keith who polished the idea.

As far as requierments here...not many.

I am just getting started.

This has been an uphill battle.

I have spent $15,000 on equipment that in the states would run me around $9,000.

EnviroClean is a Puerto Rico Corporation, We have 1/2 Million Liability for now...not actively pursuing much work.

There is no supply house on the Island, Anyone who is doing PWing here is using a Direct drive Walmart Special. They all think that More PSI is better. Although I speak Spanish, when I talk to "Professional" Pressure Wash companies around here I swear I am speaking Chinese...they have no clue as to what I am asking or explaining. "Agua caliente?!?!?!"

Meditation and long thought has gone into this, I am still in the build up stage. Not ready to go out and market full on.

Endless and Countless good advice from many seasoned veterans. Many Thanks Swami Fenner,Beth N Rod,Celeste & Roger , Matt Johnson, Doc Reisman,Henry Bockman,Ron Poker Tour **********,CrimsonTide Spence,Keith Bruce....and the infinity of others who have offered a lending hand.

Most importantly I want to thank the Pressure Wash Company in Ohio who offered me a "Licensing Agreement"..yeah I could use the name and logo, buy my equipment from him, and pay him 30% off the top of gross!! Plus if "I didn't meet expectations" I could not Pressure Wash for 10 Years!! HAHAHAA You were the one who has motivated me the most....the one who made me go ...wait a frikin minute I can do this by myself!!

I have been in the Environmental business for many years and just recently switched to Construction Management. The Bread is good but I want a way out!!! I am tired of tip-toeing around Sr. Management. I have been known to speak my mind and offend some suits in the past.

Funny I used to get "special" assignments when I was in the military whenever the General's were around asking the troops how things were. Only took a couple of times of me telling the brass how things really were, and I was no longer asked for my input!!

"Sir" I am f**cking hot, tired of eating sand, and think these camel jockeys should settle their own spats." "That's how things are!! Do you want another Vietnam on your hands?"

GROGAN THAT IS ENOUGH!!!!

There is no way I would have made it this far if it had not been for the knowledge base here on this and the other prominent BBS's on the net.

Thank to all of you I hope to be rubbing elbows with some of you in the future, Hey you could do a Pressure Washer's Cruise to the Caribbean, I meet you at the port!!!

I have always wanted to run my own business.

[Mike Williamson 198]

Hmmm...37 people responded to the poll so far, but only 26 are insured! Why don't the other 11 of you have insurance?

This is year 3 for me, it has been a blast!

[Mike Williamson 198]

This thread is for the benefit of anyone starting up a new business in the field of Pressure Washing.

Please contribute your source information for the following:

• State and county of the information Gilchrist County, FL
  
• DBA or Fictitious entity filing contact www.sunbiz.org
  
• Local Authority having Jurisdiction and for which facet of pw'ing None
  
• Preferences for phone and internet service providers Bellsouth
  
• Local repair and/or suppliers for chems, equipment and Personal Protection Equipment There are none!

This will be set as 'Sticky' for quick reference to our members

I answered what I could...some don't apply, others I just don't have the info avail.

[Beth n Rod 1,279]

Thanks Mike.

Rod!~

[A and J POWERWASHING 64]

been in business for 2 1/2 yr.

1 million dollars insured

college class intro to business

telephone skills as a 911 dispatcher

history is retail sales

[R L S 14]

This is my 3rd year full time

2million insurance policy through Joe Walters

Associates in Forestry Management

Associates in Biology

Previously worked for the United States Dep. Of Agriculture Forest Sevice on a Hotshot Crew

[sarowe 14]

Ken Fenner. I really like your summary. Especially the last one about daily prayer and meditating. And your right. That should probably rank up there as first on the list.

For sales and marketing did you listen to Tom Hopkins? Did you benefit from his teachings? I am currently reading one of his books.

[sthom21 14]

Plan to open Thompson's Powerwashing, LLC. in the spring of 2007. Just don't have enough cash on hand right now. And I prefer not to start out when the temperatures are dropping which will somewhat limit the amount of outside work available.

Anyway, in Connecticut, there are no licensing requirements specifically for power washing, unless you plan to do repairs or installations. If you plan to replace a rotten deck board for a customer, you MUST be registered with the CT Department of Consumer Protection and have a valid Home Improvement Contractors License. You can not even drive a loose nail on a gutter without a HIC License. They are doing lots of Sting operations lately to catch violators. For the cost of $200/yr license, it's not worth the risk. Beyond that, I will have to register my LLC with the Secretary of State, and a DBA with the Town Clerk where my office is located.

For phone service I have reserved a number with AT&T (formerly Southwestern Bell). I am paying for it now, and they will install when I have decided which area of my house to use for my office. We have an office, but my wife uses it for Avon. It gets a little crowded from time to time. I am considering a space in the basement or the spare bedroom. Wife's not thrilled with the spare bedroom idea.

I have not found a local supplier for chemicals, but one of the power equipment companies I spoke to offered to look into becoming a supplier of the chemicals I choose if I buy and service all my equipment through them. They don't seem to be offering anything I can't get elsewhere, and with so many companies available on the web, having them as a supplier does not really impress me. There are several other equipment suppliers I could buy from, and several companies that sell personal protection items.

I have not yet had a discussion with my home owners agent to see if they offer business insurance. But I will soon. I will also be looking at J Walters? Agency. I think that's the name.

That's what it takes to be in business in Connecticut. Not that difficult really.

[Tegrey 121]

I'm shocked! Low Insurance, Low Inc. High College. What gives? The value of being incorporated, the low Insurance for your future safety and employees safety?

It should be added: Who pays employees under the table? I wouldn't sign though. Uncle Sam is watching. Thank You.

[racechaser 64]

Hmmm...37 people responded to the poll so far, but only 26 are insured! Why don't the other 11 of you have insurance?

This is year 3 for me, it has been a blast!

If they are "in process of starting up" they won't be paying for insurance because they are still planning and not working. Poll can't differentiate on it's own. Some still may not carry it while working presently but I think it's the people " still planning" that's skewing the results.

That's what I believe anyway

Scott

[racechaser 64]

Hey Beth

What about manufacturing?? I'm in the petrochemical industry. BigBill works offshore in the oil biz. Chris in Corpus also works in a chemical plant.And there are another couple of guys that work in the surfactant manufacturing business.

I didn't see anyting we would fit under in you poll. Please don't forget about us next time.

Scott

[Mike Williamson 198]

If they are "in process of starting up" they won't be paying for insurance because they are still planning and not working. Poll can't differentiate on it's own. Some still may not carry it while working presently but I think it's the people " still planning" that's skewing the results.

That's what I believe anyway

Scott

Yep, if you add the insured folks to the ones just starting up, you get 77 people, leaving 8 out of 85 who don't carry insurance, most of whom are likely first year people, or people who don't and never will do things legally, until they're caught, that is.

[Beth n Rod 1,279]

Ok, Scott, your in...now vote.

Sheesh. ;)

Rod!~

[racechaser 64]

Ok, Scott, your in...now vote.

Sheesh. ;)

Rod!~

I can't Rod because I already voted on the rest. But it'll be good for next time. I'm OK with that just want to be able to get the demographics of the Blue collar worker.

Thanks

Scott

[Mike W 14]

I'm still in the launch phase. Will be setting up this week. This is what I found is needed in my area. Hope I didn't leave anything out.

• State and county of the information - MI, Ingham
  
• DBA or Fictitious entity filing contact - County clerk
  
• Federal, State and or local contacts for EIN, Sales and use tax and licensing including fee's if available - EIN through irs.gov
  
• Environmental agency legislating or having influence over pw'ing in any way - DEP requires a permit for degreasing. Need to provide documentation re: wastewater capture and disposal
  
• Preferences for phone and internet service providers - Comcast
  
• Local repair and/or suppliers for chems, equipment and Personal Protection Equipment - repair: DIY - Chems:online is the best for me.
  
• $1 mil insurance

And don't forget about having a sound business plan

[Beth n Rod 1,279]

Excellent info.

Thank you for contributing!

Rod!~

[Tegrey 121]

How about running this again to see if there are any changes? Thank You.

[4000psi 16]

-Stared from scratch. Quite college and stared window cleaning. I really did not like cleaning windows at all. Went to only cleaning businesses and now only have a handfull of accounts left.

-I Worked for another PW company for about 6 months before staring Coastal Pressure Washing in Aug '06.

-Second year in the PW business and abolutly love it. Mainly Residential.

-$1,$2 mil General Liab, Lisenced.

-When I first stared I called out of state PW companies to learn all I could when someone sugested thegrimescene.com where I have learned a bunch of info. Thanks to all you who have helped me with Q's.

Dane

[Jim in NJ 64]

I've been self employed since 2003 and just started the powerwashing this year.

It is my only income and at the moment I dont have ins. but I am an LLC.

Thanks to this and other BBS I look forward to growing fast....

[John Doherty 126]

Jim you need insurance for obvious reasons, also in NJ you must be a licensed home improvement contractor, and collect sales tax.

[PetersonDecks 14]

I am in my 3rd year running the business and managed a company for 5 years prior

carry business liab. and workmans comp

being a teacher during school year so i have my master's degree

love the outdoors and watching decks go from ick to wow!!!