How much cash should a pressure washing business keep?

A pressure washing business does house washes, driveways, roofs and commercial flatwork. Homeowners pay when the job is done. Property managers and commercial clients pay on terms. Most of the work lands between spring and fall.

Payroll per run, all-in $ How often you run payroll Fixed bills per month (rent, loans, insurance, software) $ Days your customers take to pay, on average days Cash in the bank today $

Minimum to keep

Two payroll runs plus one month of fixed bills

Comfortable level

Covers costs while you wait for customers to pay, plus one month

Weeks your cash covers

If no customer paid you

The starting numbers are an example. Replace them with yours.

How cash moves in a pressure washing business

Residential jobs pay on completion, so cash comes in fast.
Commercial and property management work pays on 30-day terms or longer.
Trailers, surface cleaners and pumps are big purchases, and they wear out.
Chemicals and fuel go up with every job.

Why the usual rule falls short

Two pressure washing businesses each do $200,000 a year. One does mostly homes paid on the day. The other does HOA and commercial work billed monthly. The second has steadier work but carries a month of it before it is paid.

How the calculator works

Result	Formula
Minimum to keep	2 × payroll per run + 1 month of fixed bills
Comfortable level	Monthly costs × (days to collect ÷ 30 + 1)
Weeks your cash covers	Cash ÷ weekly costs

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Also for pressure washing owners, see the pressure washing business monthly financial report.