How to start a property preservation business

1. Learn the core trades

Before chasing clients, get comfortable with the actual work: winterizations, securing a property (replacing knob locks and deadbolts, installing lockboxes), boarding windows and openings, lawn cuts and tree trimming, and trash-outs (debris removal). You don't need to be a master of every trade on day one, but you should be able to complete a basic initial secure and document it cleanly.

2. Register your business

Property preservation is 1099 contract work, so you'll fill out a W-9 for every client. A handful of companies will work with you under your SSN, but most require an LLC with an EIN. Set that up first — it's cleaner, more credible, and unlocks every client. It also keeps your business and personal finances separate, which matters in a high-compliance industry.

3. Get the right insurance

Insurance is non-negotiable here. At a minimum you need $1M general liability + errors & omissions (E&O) — often around $150–$200/mo from providers like Next Insurance or The Hanover. Each national company will send its own preferred-insurance requirements during onboarding.

Add workers' comp even if you have no W-2 employees. Some states allow an exemption, but most let you file a zero-employee audit — and skipping it usually costs you an extra ~10% discount off every check. Having it on file is the better move.

4. Choose your coverage area

Don't think in ZIP codes. Cover 2–3 counties — about a 30–40 mile radius around your city. That's a realistic territory for one crew completing 5–10 work orders a day, and it gives the companies enough geography to send you steady volume.

5. Pass the background check

Companies verify every vendor. The standard is an ABC# (Shield Hub ID) — about $69, and it comes with a rating accepted across the industry. A clean record (no felonies, no Class A/B property violations, no DUI) typically earns an IC01 rating, the ideal score to start.

6. Apply to companies — and start with regionals

With your LLC, insurance, and ABC# in hand, fill out vendor applications. If you're brand new, start with regional companies, not nationals — their requirements are lighter, they give you their app (nothing to buy), and they'll often train you. You still receive the national work orders with full instructions, so you learn the job by doing it.

As you grow, apply to several nationals too. Work with multiple companies so your income never depends on one client's volume — if theirs dips, the others keep you busy.

7. Get your equipment

The starter kit: a truck and trailer (trash-outs are your biggest revenue), a mower, edger, and blower, a chainsaw for tree work, an air compressor for winterization pressure tests, HUD-coded locks (you can grab roughly 20 each of lockboxes, padlocks, knob locks, and deadbolts for under $200), and plywood for boarding.

8. Set up your documentation system

In this business, no photos means no money. From your very first work order you need a fast, organized way to capture before/during/after photos with GPS and timestamps, and to manage your work orders in one place. That's exactly what Hayvee is built for — tamper-proof photos, offline capture, and the exact shot requirements for each task built in, so your work gets approved the first time.

Once your paperwork, insurance, background check, equipment, and documentation are ready, you can start working day one. For deeper answers, see the property preservation FAQ, including photo requirements and how much you can make.