Sophomore Josh Prather watches as his powerful washing unit turns the sidewalk from black to white, blasting away dirt and grime. Prather started pressure washing over the summer as a source for extra income. 

“I like the idea of starting my own business and making my own life,” Prather said. “Pressure washing was really unpopular when I was researching businesses to start up. I had all of the essential supplies and there was a demand for it.”

Prather was able to advertise pressure washing business through advertising on social media. 

“I would create posts on Facebook and Instagram until my family friends would notice me, and their friends would text me,” Prather said. “A lot of it is word of mouth.”

With Prather’s business, he has to find time away from school and make sacrifices so that he can satisfy customers.

“Balancing business with school work is a challenge I’m slowly adapting to,” Prather said, “A few significant changes in my life were made to focus on the business, like foregoing sports. Homework comes first, and I use my free time for acquiring jobs and completing them.”

An extra benefit to Prather’s business is that he can go at his own schedule. He says he dedicates a lot of time to his customers and sacrifices a chunk of his weekend to clean their driveways.

“I enjoy being my own boss and working my own schedule. It’s been very profitable and lucrative, and I don’t have to work and find hours. Sometimes I do 1-2 jobs per weekend,” Prather said. “One driveway I did took 3 hours, and another took 10 hours. It really depends on how big the driveway is, but it usually ranges from 3 to 10 hours” 

Prather donates some profits from his business so people at his church can attend a Christian summer camp called “Move.” His goal is to raise $4000 so that ten more people are able to go to Move. 

“My business idea was born at a church camp, Move, which distributed impactful challenges toward all of the campers,” Prather said. “Completing my goal for more of my peers to go to Move was important to me because I want to share the impact the camp had on me. Move offers its attendees love and a supportive community.”