Toby Surber
Founder of
I’m Toby Surber – founder of Ad Astra Softwash. After trading MMA gloves for pressure washers, I’ve spent 7 years perfecting the science of gentle yet powerful exterior cleaning. We revive Kansas City properties without the damage of high-pressure methods – because your curb appeal shouldn’t cost you repairs.
Why?
Properties deserve to shine without being stripped raw. I bridge the gap between spotless results and long-term structural care—because curb appeal shouldn’t cost you repairs.
I’m Toby Surber—a guy who went from knowing nothing about business to building Ad Astra Softwash from scratch. Seven years ago, I was searching YouTube for side hustle ideas when I stumbled onto softwashing. Something about it just made sense. Two weeks later, I was on a plane to Florida to get certified, and within a month, I was knocking on doors in Kansas City with my first pressure washer.
What drives me isn’t just cleaning—it’s solving the puzzle of how to build something lasting. Those early days taught me everything: how to price jobs when you’re just starting out, why customer service matters more than equipment, and when to trust your gut over conventional wisdom. I still remember my first commercial client—an assisted living facility that took three grueling days to complete. Walking away from that job, seeing the transformation we’d created, that’s when I knew this was more than a side gig.
Today, I’m obsessed with the art of entrepreneurship itself—the kind of hands-on business wisdom you only get by doing the work. How to train a team that cares as much as you do. Why meticulous job tracking separates the pros from the amateurs. When to reinvest versus when to play it safe. Ad Astra Softwash became my classroom, and now I want to share those hard-won lessons with others building service businesses.
Sure, we clean properties better than anyone in Kansas City—but what really matters is proving that with enough grit and curiosity, anyone can turn a YouTube idea into a thriving business.
What drives me isn’t just cleaning—it’s solving the puzzle of how to build something lasting. Those early days taught me everything: how to price jobs when you’re just starting out, why customer service matters more than equipment, and when to trust your gut over conventional wisdom. I still remember my first commercial client—an assisted living facility that took three grueling days to complete. Walking away from that job, seeing the transformation we’d created, that’s when I knew this was more than a side gig.
Today, I’m obsessed with the art of entrepreneurship itself—the kind of hands-on business wisdom you only get by doing the work. How to train a team that cares as much as you do. Why meticulous job tracking separates the pros from the amateurs. When to reinvest versus when to play it safe. Ad Astra Softwash became my classroom, and now I want to share those hard-won lessons with others building service businesses.
Sure, we clean properties better than anyone in Kansas City—but what really matters is proving that with enough grit and curiosity, anyone can turn a YouTube idea into a thriving business.
About Us
I help property owners avoid surface damage through disciplined softwashing that’s gentler than pressure washing but 10x more effective—proven by 7 years of zero callbacks
Properties deserve to shine without being stripped raw. I bridge the gap between spotless results and long-term structural care—because curb appeal shouldn’t cost you repairs.
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The Softwash Advantage
Why detergent-based cleaning outperforms pressure washing for roofs, decks, and historic homes.
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Combatting Kansas City’s Toughest Stains
Case studies: removing 10-year-old algae from shingles + salt stains from concrete.
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From Fighter to Founder
How MMA’s discipline translates to ladder safety, team training, and client negotiations.
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