How To Make $500 Hour Removing Graffiti

Welcome back to the Lean and Mean Academy, where we preach “One Truck, Big Profits” every single day. In today’s video (and now this blog), we’re walking you through a real-life graffiti removal job—using pro-grade chemicals, a no-BS strategy, and showing you exactly why this kind of work can be extremely profitable if you know what you’re doing.

If you’re in the pressure washing business—or thinking about starting one—this is a goldmine of a service. Let’s get into it.

🎯 The Job: Graffiti Removal at a Commercial Property

This job took place under a bridge near a storefront that had been plagued by recurring graffiti. The store owner needed the graffiti gone immediately—and that urgency is key to why graffiti removal is so profitable.

What We’re Up Against:

Multiple layers of graffiti
Possibly years of paint buildup
Unknown paint types (acrylics, sprays, etc.)
No hot water access on-site

Despite all of that, we knocked it out quickly using the right chemical and some smart technique. Here’s the breakdown.

🧪 The Chemical: Graffiti Defeatii from Southeast Softwash

For this job, we used Graffiti Defeatii, a specialized graffiti remover from SoutheastSoftwash.com that’s hazmat-grade and used undiluted.

Why We Use It:

No dilution required (full strength, straight from the jug)
Works with cold water, no hot water unit needed
Dwell time: 5–10 minutes
Extremely effective on acrylic and spray paints

🔥 “This isn’t your mom’s Goof Off from Home Depot. This is a pro chemical, for pros.”

Graffiti Defeatii ships hazmat, which means you’ll pay a $45 shipping fee whether you buy one gallon or a full case. That’s why smart contractors always buy it by the case.

Cost Breakdown:

~$250 per case (4 gallons)
$45 hazmat shipping fee
Used ~½ gallon on this job
Charged $500 minimum
✅ Still massive profit

💵 Why Graffiti Removal is a High-Ticket Service

Let’s get something straight: graffiti removal is never a $99 job.

Here’s why you should always charge a premium:

Business owners see graffiti as a threat to their brand
Graffiti implies gang activity, even if it’s “just art”
It drives away customers
It creates a sense of neglect and danger
They want it gone TODAY, not tomorrow

💰 Minimum charge: $400–$500 per job
Most take under 1 hour
Material cost: ~$30 max
ROI: off the charts

Graffiti removal is emergency work—and emergency work gets paid what it’s worth.

🧠 Key Tips for New Pressure Washers

If you’re just getting started, here are some graffiti removal fundamentals that will save you time and trouble:

1. Let the Chemical Do the Work

You don’t need 200 gallons of water or a hot box. Just soak the area a few times with Graffiti Defeatii, let it dwell, and then rinse with pressure.

2. Never Promise Perfection

You don’t know:

How long the graffiti’s been there
What kind of paint was used
How many layers are under the surface

Promise to fade or remove most of it, and set expectations early. In most cases, business owners are thrilled if it’s prepped well enough for a clean repaint.

3. Charge What You’re Worth

Don’t lowball graffiti removal. You’re using premium chemicals, driving to a location, working in public view, and solving an emergency. Act like a pro and price accordingly.

🧰 Water Access and Equipment Considerations

If you’re in the pressure washing game long enough, you’ll learn that commercial water access can be a nightmare. Either it’s hard to get to, or the spigots don’t work at all.

On this job, we didn’t even check. We used about half a tank of water because we let the chemical do all the heavy lifting. You don’t need to soak the world—just targeted pressure after the right dwell time.