📱 Best Platforms
Nextdoor, Thumbtack, Facebook Groups
📖 The Hustle
Repair loose boards, replace rotted sections, and stain or seal decks and fences. Power wash first, then replace bad boards, then stain. Charge $200-500 per deck depending on size plus materials. A deck takes a full weekend. Two decks per month at $350 each earns $700. Deck season runs spring through fall. The transformation is dramatic, so clients are thrilled and quick to refer you to neighbors.
🚀 First Step
Rent a power washer, clean and stain a friend's small deck for the cost of materials as a demo, then post dramatic before-and-after photos on Nextdoor to book paying clients.
🔑 Keys to Success
- Always power wash and let dry for 24 hours before staining — skipping this step ruins the finish
- Use a pump sprayer for stain application — it is 3x faster than a brush and looks more even
- Show clients stain color samples on an actual board — the tiny store swatch never looks the same on real wood
🛠 Tools & Resources: Nextdoor, Thumbtack, power washer rental, deck stain, Facebook Groups