Today we’d like to introduce you to Elijah Gansz.
Hi Elijah, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In 2015, I was recently married working 2 jobs. My wife and I both had 2 kids ages 6, 4, and two 3 year olds. Night time was hard to get them to settle down and in bed. So my wife asked for me to quit my night job as a grill cook at Fatz which left me with one job as a horticultural technician. I enjoyed the work but it didn’t pay well, hint the two jobs. I looked for other jobs but anything that paid good was 2nd and 3rd shift.
I mentioned one day I could start a mobile detailing business. I worked for one out of high school for a while before starting my own a couple years later to which I thought I could spend all the money I made on myself and not Investing it back into the business so it could maintain itself or better yet grow. Valuable lesson learned.
On February 9th 2015 was the day I started operating Ej’s Mobile Detailing out of the trunk of my car. $300 Pressure washer from Lowes shop vacuum, 100ft of garden hose and extention cord from Walmart, Meguiar’s detailing chemicals and supplies from Auto Zone. From my two former job’s and my wife living in this small rural community all her life and teaching school for almost 20 years, My first month was almost booked.
I hit the ground running. By the end of the month I had made enough money to get a truck and trailer. Each month I kept investing into the business, equipment, business shirts, cards. Etc. Things were going good. By the end of 2015 I made more money on my own then I did in 2014 with the 2 job’s. So 2016 I continued to grow, hired a helper.
Then I started to see a two things, 1. People kept asking me if I could pressure wash things, steps, walls, porches. 2. Weather problems like rain and/or talk of rain. Now I understand that its kind of a waste of money to get your car washed and then drive it home in the rain. But the weather man has a track record of being 50/50 or less and it was hurting business. Now with a helper, he and I both wanted to work 40 hours a week but if I didn’t, I was ok but if he didn’t, he might not be able to provide for his family that month so I had to figure out something.
Pressure washing can be done in the rain. It can pour cats and dogs for 30 mins from a summertime quick pop-up storm and won’t hurt the end result of the service. That same storm while detailing may have caused the client to reschedule or cost me more time and money for us to come back out the next day for a touch up or a discount on their next appointment.
The end of 2016 into 2017 i studied as must as I could to learn more about pressure washing. Had a local painter giving me jobs to prep for him before he painted as well as slowly picking up jobs from my detailing clients. The summer of 2017 the painter decided to buy a commercial pressure washer and have one of his guys start doing it for him but told me if I needed it I was more than welcome to use it anytime. I was still washing his fleet of vehicles every month. But the pressure washing jobs just started growing. They were Interfering with the painters jobs so I went all in and bought my 1st commercial machine.
2018 I rebranded myself to Ej’s Powerwash & Detail to reflect that I was more than cars. I wash houses too. I learned that pressure washing actually causes damage to most homes and that soft washing was the best way. So power washing is what I do. Its knowing the right technique to use on the type of surface you are cleaning. Some things need pressure to clean like concrete and brick, while windows and vinyl need to be soft washed.
Each year I grew 20% in business, even during covid. 2022, 2023, 2024 I hit my ceiling. I tried expanding in 2022 with 2 trucks and 2 crews but I ended up spending my weekends going back and touching up stuff they didnt do right or were up to my standards.
In the first quarter of 2025 I lost 2 commercial clients that was a ⅓ of my revenue. It hurt but the 4th quarter I picked up 1 commercial job that helped that lost not hurt as bad.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Finding good help has been the hardest struggle. Then its finding time for the after hours stuff. Book keeping, quoting, insurance, taxes. Then finding the quality jobs and trying to market and advertise. Now its creating content with video editing and learning A.I.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a professional pressure washer. If its dirty I can clean it. My company specializes in cleaning exterior properties. Homes, buildings, driveways, statues, and monuments. We also detail vehicles & boats and wash heavy equipment and RVs.
Im most proud of being able to provide my family with a good quality of life. Show by example that hard work, consistency, and honesty can carry you far in whatever you set your mind to do. Being there as a parent to everything. Doctors appointments, plays, awards, after school activities like baseball, football, basketball, volleyball, and cheerleading.
I also won 2 awards for my company’s achievements in 2021 & 2023 and we’ll as the Best Of Laurens Award in 2025
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
My ability to talk with anyone and find a way to connect.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Ejspowerwashdetail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ejspowerwashdetail?igsh=MTMydDlzbjEzdTdzMQ==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1HzTkRM4iZ/
