The policies a pressure washing business carries
High pressure can strip paint, etch concrete and force water behind siding, and chemicals can burn plants. Damage to the surface you were hired to clean is the claim pressure washers plan for.
| Policy | Average a month |
|---|---|
| General liability | $73 |
| Commercial auto | $262 |
| Workers' compensation | $147 |
| Surety or license bond | $9 |
| Business owner's policy | $142 |
| Commercial umbrella | $76 |
Averages are what Insureon's customers who are pressure washing businesses pay, from Insureon's cost page; most of its customers have fewer than five employees. Across all its small business customers, general liability runs $265 to $3,030 a year.
Claims pressure washing companies plan for
- Too much pressure strips paint off siding
- Cleaner burns a flower bed
- Water forced behind siding causes mold later
- Wand spray etches a concrete driveway
Ask your agent, in these words:
- Would my policy pay if too much pressure strips paint off siding?
- Would my policy pay if cleaner burns a flower bed?
- Would my policy pay if water forced behind siding causes mold later?
- Would my policy pay if wand spray etches a concrete driveway?
Name the work you sell
A policy covers the work you describe on the application. From the pressure washing services list, name each of these and ask whether any is excluded: house wash, vinyl siding; roof soft wash; gutter brightening; driveway or other concrete; oil stain treatment; concrete sealing; wood deck; fence wash; deck staining after wash.
Trailers, tanks and pumps are a large share of the investment and travel every day. On the tools list, the items to list on the policy are trailer or skid setup with a water tank; dedicated 12 volt soft wash pump; second pressure washer; hose reels; water reclaim gear; multi-position ladder, and from the starter kit, gas pressure washer, 4 gpm class; surface cleaner; high-pressure hose, quick connects and nozzles; downstream injector or soft wash setup; extension wand and telescoping pole.
State rules in the license
Most states do not license pressure washing work as a trade of its own, so there is usually no state insurance minimum tied to a license. Cities and commercial customers can still set their own.
Workers' comp and bonds
The SBA says every business with employees must carry workers' compensation, unemployment and disability insurance. Insureon's average for pressure washing businesses is $147 a month, priced per $100 of payroll. A bond protects the state or the customer, not you; Insureon puts its yearly cost at a share of the bond amount:
| Bond amount | Estimated yearly cost |
|---|---|
| $5,000 | $25 to $500 |
| $10,000 | $50 to $1,000 |
| $50,000 | $250 to $5,000 |
Certificates of insurance
Commercial clients, HOAs and property managers ask for a certificate first. Keep a PDF on your phone so you can send it the day they ask.
Sources
- Insureon: Insurance cost for pressure washing businesses, checked October 9, 2026
- Insureon: General liability insurance cost, checked October 9, 2026
- Insureon: Workers' compensation insurance cost, checked October 9, 2026
- Insureon: Surety bond cost, checked October 9, 2026
- SBA: Get business insurance, checked October 9, 2026
Last checked October 9, 2026. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and differ by state and city, so confirm with the agency named before you act.