Outdoor Side hustleOutdoorsWeekends ok

How to start a pressure washing business in Australian Capital Territory

Everything you need: what it costs, what you can make, what Australian Capital Territory asks for, and every step from your first idea to your tenth customer.

Start this business with PressUp

Checked October 2026 In Australian dollars 12-minute read

The prices and costs in this guide are estimates for Australia: researched US figures converted to Australian dollars by price levels. Registration fees and taxes are Australia's own.

To startA$2.6k–18kLean to full setup

Per monthA$5.8k–14kOnce established

Profit margin75–82%Before paying yourself, after chemicals, fuel and insurance

First customer2–4 weeksFrom today

DifficultyLearn the safe way in weeks

From homeYesOr you go to them

01Is it right for you?

A good fit if you love a dramatic before and after

Pressure washing gives customers a dramatic before and after in a few hours. You can start with one good machine and a surface cleaner, then add soft washing for siding and roofs as you learn. Spring and summer are busy, and many homes book again every year.

You'll like it if

You like hands-on work with satisfying results
You're happy outdoors and getting wet
You can handle heavy equipment and hoses
You want to set your own schedule

Think twice if

You can't work in heat or on your feet all day
You don't have a truck or trailer to tow gear
You'd rather avoid chemicals like chlorine
You need the same income in winter

02What it costs

From A$2,562 to start

Start lean with the essentials and upgrade as customers come, or set up fully from day one.

Total to startA$2,562

What	Cost
Pressure washerA 3,500 PSI gas machine, up to a 4-gallon-a-minute pro unit	A$920
Surface cleanerFor driveways and patios: fast and streak-free	A$220
Soft-wash setupA downstream injector, up to a pump system for houses and roofs	A$95
Registering your businessFree as a sole trader; more to form a company	A$47
Hoses, reel and wandsHigh-pressure hose, an extension wand, then a reel	A$430
ChemicalsDiluted chlorine and surfactant to start	A$140
Safety gearGoggles, gloves, boots and a respirator	A$170
Water tankFor homes with weak water supply	A$0
InsuranceFirst three months: liability, plus commercial auto with a work truck	A$320
Website and marketingWebsite, cards and yard signs	A$220
Trailer setupA basic trailer to carry everything	A$0
Total	A$2,562

Once you're running: about A$360 a month, plus about 15% of what you earn. Insurance, phone and scheduling software every month, plus chemicals, fuel and card fees on each job.

03What you can make

Work out your own numbers

Move the sliders to match your plans. The chart shows a first year that builds up as word gets around.

Average price per job A$430 A$110A$1,900

Jobs a week 6 120

Monthly costs A$360 A$0A$1,450

Typical in Australian Capital Territory: A$220–A$940 per job, 3–10 jobs a week once established.

Revenue a month—

Profit a month—

Pays back in—

Your first yearTotal: —

Money inCosts

Side hustleA$2.2k–4.3k

Weekends, 3–5 jobs a week in season

Full-time, on your ownA$5.8k–10k

6–10 jobs a week, averaged over the season

With a helperA$8.7k–14k

Two people, bigger homes and bundles

04Step by step

13 steps to your first customers

Each step says what it costs and how long it takes. Most owners get through them in a few weeks.

1
Check the demand near you
2–3 days Free

See who washes houses and driveways near you, what they charge and what they bundle.
- Search "pressure washing near me"
- Note 5 competitors and their prices
- Look for dirty driveways and siding
2
Choose your name
1 day Free

Pick a name that says what you do and where. Make sure no one in Australian Capital Territory has it.
- 3–5 name ideas
- Check no one else uses it
- Check the domain
Get name ideas for your businessFind a name
3
Register your business in Australian Capital Territory
1 day to 2 weeks A$47–A$636

Register a business name if you trade under one other than your own; a company with ASIC costs more and keeps business debts separate.
- Register your business name: A$47
- Register a company: A$636
4
Get your Australian Business Number (ABN)
1–5 days Free

Your business's tax number from Australian Business Register, for taxes and banking.
- Register with Australian Business Register
- Open a business bank account
5
Sort out GST
1–3 days Free

You must register for GST once your sales pass A$75,000 a year. The rate is 10%.
- Know when to register for GST
- Keep records of income and costs
- Set money aside for income tax
6
Get insured
1–2 days Quotes are free

Insurance protects you if something goes wrong on a job. Get quotes from two or three insurers.
- General liability
- Commercial auto, if you use a work truck
- Workers' comp, once you hire
7
Buy your equipment
1 week A$2k–8k

Start with a solid gas machine, a surface cleaner and a downstream injector. Add a soft-wash pump, reel and tank as jobs grow.
- Pressure washer and hose
- Surface cleaner
- Soft-wash injector and chemicals
8
Learn soft washing and safety
1–2 weeks Free

High pressure is for concrete. Siding, roofs and painted wood need low pressure and the right mix. Practice at home and with friends before paid jobs.
- Which surfaces get low pressure
- Mixing chlorine safely
- Protecting plants and windows
9
Plan for wash water
1–2 days Free

Find out your area's rules on runoff before your first job. Block storm drains and send water to grass or collect it.
- Check your city's rules
- Drain covers or berms
- A reclaim system if required
10
Set your prices
1 day Free

Set a minimum charge, then price by the job. Bundles sell well. See the prices below.
- Driveway, house wash, bundle
- Add-ons: deck, fence, gutters
- A yearly reminder plan
11
Put your business online
1 day Included

Before-and-after photos sell this work. A site with your prices and online quotes does the selling for you.
- Website with before-and-after photos
- Online quote requests
- Google Business Profile
Describe your business and PressUp builds your websiteBuild your website
12
Get your first 10 customers
2–4 weeks Up to A$290

Wash a few homes on one street, then knock on neighbors' doors with the photos.
- Yard sign at each job
- Neighborhood groups
- Ask every customer for a review
Ask your customers for reviews by email with PressUpSee how
13
Keep track as you grow
Ongoing Included

Most customers need it again in a year. Keep a list and remind them each spring.
- Customer list
- Invoices
- Spring reminders
Keep your customers and invoices in one place with PressUpSee how

05Licenses in ACT

What Australian Capital Territory asks for

Registering, taxes, and what this business needs. Check the details with each authority: rules change.

Register your business name

Not needed if you trade under your own first name and surname. Registering for three years costs less per year.

ASICA$47a year

Register a company

For a proprietary company with share capital. A company also pays a yearly review fee.

ASICA$636once

Australian Business Number (ABN)

Your business's tax number, for banking and taxes.

Australian Business RegisterFree

Wash-water rules

Don't let wash water or chemicals reach storm drains. Many places require you to block drains and collect or redirect the water.

Your city or local councilVaries

Home-business rules

If you keep a trailer and chemicals at home, check what your area's zoning allows.

Your city or countyVaries

06Equipment

What to buy first

Buy the "must haves" to start. Add the rest when customers pay for them.

Gas pressure washer3,400–4,400 PSI, 2.5–4 gallons a minute

A$520–A$2,450Must have

Surface cleanerSpinning bar for flat concrete

A$220–A$1,600Must have

Downstream injector kitDraws soap through your washer at low pressure

A$25–A$65Must have

High-pressure hoseRated above your machine's pressure

A$110–A$120Must have

Chlorine and surfactantA starting stock for house washes

A$70–A$140Must have

Safety gearGoggles, gloves, boots, respirator

A$170–A$620Must have

Soft-wash pump systemFor siding and roofs at scale

A$1,700–A$2,700Later

Hose reelSaves time on every job

A$360–A$600Later

Water tank225–335 gallons (about 850–1,270 liters)

A$790–A$1,050Later

Wash-water recovery systemWhere your city requires collection

A$1,150–A$4,300Later

07Pricing

3 packages that sell

Simple choices make it easy to say yes. Most customers pick the middle one.

Driveway and walkways

A$290 per visit · 1–2 hours

Driveway surface-cleaned
Front walk and steps
Rinse and edges

House soft wash

A$650 per visit · 2–4 hours

Siding and trim
Gutter faces
Entry areas
Plants protected

Curb-appeal bundle

A$1,000 per visit · Most of a day

House soft wash
Driveway and walkways
Patio or porch

House wash prices in Australian Capital TerritoryTypical: A$360–A$1,150

Average A$580

A$0A$390A$780A$1.2kA$1.6k

08First customers

How to get your first customers

You don't need an ad budget. These work for new owners almost everywhere.

Before and after photos

Nothing sells pressure washing like a half-clean driveway. Post every job.

Free

Google Business Profile

Most customers search "pressure washing near me". A free profile with photos puts you on the map.

Free

Yard signs and door knocks

Neighbors see the result the same day. A sign and a friendly knock win the next house.

Low cost

Realtors and property managers

Homes going on the market need curb appeal fast. Offer a quick-turnaround rate.

Partnership

Reviews

Ask every customer. Reviews with photos win the next booking.

With PressUp Reviews

Yearly reminders

Most homes need washing about once a year. Remind last year's customers each spring.

Repeat income

What a pressure washing website needs, and how PressUp builds it

09Your first 30 days

A month from now, you could be open

Week 1

Set up

Choose your name
Register your business
Get insurance quotes

Week 2

Get equipped

Buy your equipment
Learn soft washing
Check wash-water rules

Week 3

Go live

Website with photos
Google Business Profile
Set your prices

Week 4

First customers

Wash 3 homes on one street
Ask for reviews
Offer a bundle

10Questions

Common questions

Do I need a license to pressure wash in Australian Capital Territory?

Usually there's no special license, but check your area's wash-water rules: many places fine runoff into storm drains. A few states treat some pressure washing as contractor work.

What's soft washing?

Soft washing cleans siding and roofs at low pressure with a cleaning mix, mostly diluted chlorine. High pressure is for concrete. Using the right one avoids damage.

Can I start part-time?

Yes. Many owners start on weekends with driveways and house washes, then go full-time once spring bookings fill up.

Is there a busy season?

Spring and summer are busiest, and winter is slow in cold places. Save during the busy months and book yearly reminders early.

What sells best?

House washes and driveways, and bundles of both. Decks, fences and gutter faces make easy add-ons.

Costs and earnings are estimates from the sources below, checked October 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the authorities named in this guide. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.

Sources