Pressure Washing Minimum Charge Guide
Your minimum charge is the lowest price that makes a dedicated visit workable. Build it from the smallest job you are willing to schedule, including travel, setup and cleanup, then apply your normal pricing method.
A minimum is not a universal market number. Route density, crew cost, equipment, insurance, scope and customer acquisition cost differ between businesses.
Costs the minimum needs to cover
| Cost | What to include |
|---|---|
| Labour | Loading, travel, setup, cleaning, rinsing, teardown and return tasks |
| Travel and vehicle | Fuel or mileage method used by the business, without counting it twice |
| Materials | Chemicals, consumables and site-protection materials for the small visit |
| Equipment | Rental, consumables or a consistent wear and replacement allowance |
| Overhead | The allocation method used for insurance, administration, storage and marketing |
Minimum before tax = cost of the minimum visit ÷ (1 − target gross margin as a decimal).
The formula works only when the cost input is complete. If owner labour is entered as zero, the result assumes the owner's time is free.
Worked example
This illustrative USD example does not recommend a market price or margin. The smallest accepted visit uses 0.75 person-hours at $30 per hour, $20 for travel, $8 for materials, $10 for equipment and $15 of overhead. Total entered cost is $75.50.
At an illustrative 40% target gross margin, the calculation is $75.50 ÷ 0.60 = $125.83. The business might use an operationally sensible rounded amount only after checking local demand, taxes and the scope presented to the customer.
If measured work at the normal unit rate produces $90, the minimum becomes the base service price. Defined add-ons come afterward. The Quote Calculator follows that order: it compares the measured base with the minimum, then applies add-ons, discounts and tax.
Dedicated visit versus an add-on
A small standalone job carries its own travel and setup. The same work added to a visit already in progress may share those costs. Check the extra labour and materials before offering an add-on price; do not automatically apply the standalone minimum twice.
Review the minimum from completed jobs
- Compare estimated person-hours with actual person-hours.
- Check how often the minimum jobs require extra treatment or a return visit.
- Keep sales tax separate from pre-tax revenue and profit.
- Update the cost inputs when labour, insurance, vehicle or equipment costs change.
Use the Pressure Washing Profitability Calculator to test the minimum against the full cost of the visit.