Pressure Washing Business Profit Margin: IRS Data, Costs & Break-Even
Quick answer: IRS tax year 2023 sole proprietor data show a 21.2% net income less deficit margin for administrative and support services (NAICS 561). This category includes pressure washing and unrelated services such as staffing, security, and travel, so it is not a pressure washing industry margin. Schedule C net income is before owner pay for the owner’s labor. Your result depends on paid job hours, setup and travel, surface and chemical costs, equipment upkeep, and seasonality.
Gross margin is not owner income
A driveway or building-cleaning job has a gross margin after its direct labor, detergents, water or disposal charges where applicable, and job-specific equipment costs. Net margin subtracts insurance, vehicle and machine ownership, advertising, quoting time, software, and other overhead. For an owner doing the washing, money left after expenses still has to pay for their time. Schedule C net income includes that labor return, so it cannot be treated as profit earned by equipment alone.
Markup on detergent or a subcontracted service uses the purchase cost as its base. Margin uses the customer’s price. A quoted markup therefore will not equal the gross margin shown on the invoice; check the markup versus margin calculator. The IRS sector table below offers broad tax-return context, not a target for any particular cleaning job.
| Metric | Administrative and support services (NAICS 561) |
|---|---|
| Net margin | 21.2% VERIFIED DATA |
| Average receipts per return | $36,687 VERIFIED DATA |
| Average net income per return | $7,769 VERIFIED DATA |
| Materials & supplies | 4.4% VERIFIED DATA |
| Contract labor | 7.6% VERIFIED DATA |
| Cost of labor + salaries and wages | 11.2% VERIFIED DATA |
| Car and truck | 10.5% VERIFIED DATA |
| Supplies | 5.8% VERIFIED DATA |
| Depreciation | 5.4% VERIFIED DATA |
| Insurance | 1.8% VERIFIED DATA |
| Advertising | 1.2% VERIFIED DATA |
Schedule C net income is before any owner salary: sole proprietors do not deduct pay to themselves, so net margin here includes the owner's compensation for their own labor.
Sector-level figures: the table does not split electricians, plumbers, roofers etc.; NAICS 238 covers all specialty trades, NAICS 561 covers landscaping, pest control and building services together with unrelated admin services (staffing, security, travel).
Watch the job-hour, not only the invoice
Setup, hoses, surface protection, rinsing, and pack-up take time that a square-foot price may miss. Record total hours from departure to return. A small ticket with a long drive can yield less per working hour than a larger nearby job, even if its chemical bill is low. Different surfaces also change nozzle choice, pace, and risk of a damage callback. Commercial work may add access constraints and water containment; estimate those costs for the specific site rather than assuming every wash is alike.
The trade data list $899.99 for one gas pressure washer as a selected retail tool anchor (estimate), not a complete rig. Hoses, surface cleaners, repairs, fuel, and replacement equipment need separate allowance. BLS has no dedicated pressure-washing occupation; the trade data use a low-confidence building-cleaning proxy with a May 2025 national median wage of $21.17 per hour (official wage data, proxy). That figure is neither a pressure washer pay survey nor a customer billing rate.
A job-hour example
Example inputs, not a benchmark: Suppose two completed jobs bring in $1,000 in one day. Paid labor costs $300, detergents and other direct supplies cost $80, and direct fuel costs $40. Direct cost is $420, leaving $580 gross profit; $580 ÷ $1,000 = 58% gross margin. Assign $230 for insurance, equipment ownership, advertising, and administration and $50 for expected rework. Net profit is $300, or $300 ÷ $1,000 = 30%. If the owner performed work without pay included in the $300 labor line, the $300 also compensates that work. Compare this result with total job and travel hours before accepting another booking.
Use actual invoices in the profit margin calculator. The pressure washing pricing guide helps build the quote; startup costs and licensing cover launch planning.
Profit Margin Calculator
| Profit | — CALCULATED |
|---|---|
| Margin Percent | — CALCULATED |
Show formula
Results use the entered costs, revenue, hours, and percentages shown above. Percentages are divided by 100 before calculation.
Book enough contribution to break even
Subtract variable labor, chemicals, fuel, and site costs from each job price. Divide fixed monthly overhead by the average contribution of the jobs you actually sell and round up. Test a slow-weather month as well as a busy month, since equipment and insurance bills do not stop when bookings do. The jobs needed calculator and break-even calculator can model both schedules.
Break-Even Calculator
| Jobs Per Month | — CALCULATED |
|---|
Show formula
Jobs = fixed monthly cost / (average ticket × gross margin).
Pressure washing profit questions
Frequently asked questions
Is pressure washing actually profitable?
It can be, but an invoice alone is not evidence. Subtract paid job labor, supplies, travel, equipment, overhead, rework, and compensation for the owner's own hours.
How much does a pressure washing business owner make?
The IRS sector table does not isolate pressure washing owners. Schedule C net income is before separate owner pay and includes the proprietor's own labor.
What is the useful margin per job-hour?
Divide job contribution after variable costs by all job hours, including setup, pack-up, and travel. Compare that figure with overhead and owner-pay requirements per working hour.
Can a high gross margin still produce a loss?
Yes. Insurance, equipment replacement, advertising, and unpaid time can exceed gross profit, especially when weather limits the number of completed jobs.
See the pressure washing business hub and IRS data guide.
Official sources
Last updated: October 2, 2026