The pressure washing industry thrives during certain seasons, particularly in the spring and summer months. As a business owner, you know that the success of your company depends on how well you prepare for the busy, prime season. For most pressure washing businesses, prime season begins in March. With an increase in demand during the warmer months, it’s crucial to ensure everything is set up properly to handle the rush of customers that will be coming your way.

So, when should you start prepping your pressure washing business for prime season? The answer is simple: the earlier, the better. However, the size of your company plays a role in how far in advance you should begin. The larger your operation, the earlier you’ll need to begin prepping. We recommend starting preparations 1-2 months before the start of your busy season to ensure you have enough time to secure all necessary equipment, finalize marketing and print materials, train your staff, and check and diagnose your equipment.

In this blog post, we’ll explain why you should start preparing well in advance of March, breaking down the key steps necessary to ensure a smooth transition into the prime season. Let’s dive into when and how you should start prepping your pressure washing business, no matter your size.

Why Start Early?

One of the biggest challenges pressure washing companies face during prime season is the tight timeline for preparation. Once prime season hits, your team will be busy with customer jobs, and there won’t be time to address potential issues. Starting your preparations early ensures you’re not scrambling to get everything ready as the season ramps up.

Preparing early also means you’ll have enough time to troubleshoot any issues that arise, refine your systems, and set yourself up for a smooth, successful season. Whether you’re a small family-owned business or a large company with multiple teams, every aspect of preparation must be carefully planned.

When Should You Start Preparing for Prime Season?

Given that prime season for pressure washing companies begins in March, we recommend starting your preparations in February for smaller companies and December or early January for larger companies. The exact timing depends on the size of your company and your expected demand for services, but here’s a breakdown of the best timeline for both small and larger companies:

For Smaller Companies:

If you run a smaller operation with just a few employees, February is the ideal time to begin your preparations. With 1-2 months of lead time, you will have enough time to:

• Ensure your equipment is in good condition.
• Update your marketing materials.
• Train your staff (if applicable).
• Test your systems and processes.

Since smaller companies usually don’t need to hire extra staff or manage as many moving parts, February is a perfect window to get everything set in motion before March.

For Larger Companies:

For larger companies, the timeline should be pushed up a bit. Begin your preparations in December or early January to allow plenty of time to handle the more complex tasks involved with running a larger operation. Larger companies may need extra time to:

• Recruit and train new employees.
• Maintain multiple pressure washers or other equipment.
• Evaluate new service offerings or expansion into new areas.
• Review and implement new customer service systems or marketing strategies.

Having an early start gives you a significant advantage by allowing more time for logistics, troubleshooting, and quality control.

Key Areas to Focus on When Preparing for Prime Season

No matter your company size, there are several key areas you must address when preparing for prime season. We’ve broken down the essential tasks you need to complete before March.

1. Inspect and Maintain Your Equipment

Your pressure washing equipment is the heart of your business, and ensuring it’s in top shape before prime season is critical. This is especially important after winter, as equipment can often experience issues if not properly maintained or winterized.

What you need to do:

• Inspect Your Pressure Washers: Check for leaks, damages, and wear on all your pressure washers. Ensure your hoses are intact, nozzles are clear, and that all moving parts are functioning as expected. If any parts are damaged, replace them ahead of the busy season.
• Winterization Considerations: Machines that were used during colder months may have experienced issues from freezing temperatures. If equipment wasn’t properly winterized, it can result in cracks or damaged parts. This is a common issue many businesses face at the start of prime season. Ensure that any machines left unused through the winter are fully checked for signs of frost damage and that hoses, nozzles, and pumps are in working order.
• Test Equipment: Run each machine through a test to ensure it’s operating at peak performance. Check that the pressure is consistent and the machine starts easily.
• Clean Equipment: Make sure your pressure washers are cleaned, especially areas like the water intake, filters, and spray tips. Any buildup could affect performance, so a deep clean is important.
• Replace Worn Parts: If any components are showing wear or damage, now is the time to replace them. Be proactive, replacing parts like seals, hoses, and nozzles before the season starts.
• Stock Up on Spares: Ensure you have all necessary spare parts (o-rings, pumps, filters, etc.) on hand for the busy season, so you don’t face delays if something breaks.

For larger companies, you should prepare multiple machines and backup units to handle the increased demand. Make sure all your machines are thoroughly inspected and ready for use across various job sites.

2. Staffing: Train and Prepare for Busy Schedules

Prime season often requires extra hands to handle the volume of jobs. You may need to train existing employees or plan schedules more efficiently. Proper staffing is crucial to ensure quality service and efficiency.

What you need to do:

• Training: If you have new employees or if your current employees need a refresher, use this time to train them on the best practices for pressure washing, safety protocols, equipment handling, customer service, and time management.
• Safety Procedures: Pressure washing can be dangerous if safety protocols aren’t followed. Ensure your team is well-trained in using protective gear, handling chemicals, and working in various weather conditions.
• Schedule Coordination: For larger companies, ensure you’ve got a robust schedule in place to accommodate all workers and manage job assignments. This includes coordinating with customers on preferred times and locations.

3. Prepare Marketing and Promotional Materials

To stand out in a competitive market, preparing your marketing efforts early is critical. Prime season means a spike in customer demand, and the more visibility you have, the more likely you are to secure jobs.

What you need to do:

• Update Website and Online Presence: Ensure your website reflects your most up-to-date services, prices, and contact details. Consider making your website more mobile-friendly and enhancing SEO to rank higher in local search results.
• Create Print Materials: Prepare brochures, flyers, business cards, or door hangers to distribute locally. Offering discounts for early bookings or customer referrals can help you bring in new business.
• Ramp Up Social Media: Begin posting early about your services, pricing, and availability. Share seasonal promotions, before-and-after photos, and customer testimonials to build your online presence.
• Paid Advertising: If you plan to use Google Ads or social media campaigns, start running ads in February to gain early exposure. This will help you catch potential customers who are planning their spring cleaning and outdoor services.

4. Diagnose and Improve Business Operations

Prime season is a busy time, and getting your business operations in order is essential to avoid chaos later. Taking the time to evaluate your processes ensures efficiency and customer satisfaction.

What you need to do:

• Review Customer Systems: Check that your customer service operations can handle an influx of calls or inquiries. Ensure you can quickly respond to leads and provide timely estimates.
• Check Booking and Payment Systems: Make sure your booking system is user-friendly and can handle an increase in traffic. Consider using a software solution to automate invoicing, payments, and follow-ups.
• Evaluate Insurance: Make sure your liability insurance is up to date and covers any additional services or employees that might be added during peak season.

5. Set Financial Goals and Budgets

Prime season means more revenue—but it also means more expenses. By preparing your financial plan in advance, you can avoid surprises and ensure that your business remains financially stable.

What you need to do:

• Create a Budget: Plan for extra costs such as marketing campaigns, seasonal labor, fuel, equipment maintenance, and supplies. Make sure your budget accounts for an increase in revenue but also takes into consideration increased expenses.
• Set Revenue Goals: Based on your past year’s performance, set realistic targets for revenue, customer acquisition, and job volume. You can use this information to guide your marketing and staffing strategies.

Conclusion

When preparing your pressure washing business for prime season, the earlier, the better. With prime season beginning in March, we recommend starting your preparations in February for smaller companies and December or early January for larger companies.

For smaller businesses, starting 1-2 months ahead should suffice. Larger businesses, on the other hand, should consider starting earlier in December to ensure everything runs smoothly as demand surges. By setting aside time to properly prepare, you can ensure that your company is ready for prime season, provide top-quality service, and maximize your business’s success during the busiest months of the year. Stocking up on supplies before peak season is a great option to avoid last minute scrambles, taking valuable time from more timely matters. Livingston Spray is sure to have all your business needs to thrive at our shop.