Honesty

I have to clear the air, and I have to do it now.

I am sitting here in tears writing this because it has been something that has been long coming. I sit here today with negative $700 in my checking account. The balance in my business account is a mere $360.00. Nathans truck is out for repossession and I pray that I can pay my rent next week. I have to look at my little girl and tell her no, you cannot have new markers or a coloring book. Business has been horrible since we started, I of course smile and say Business is good. I was laid off from work exactly 1 year ago today. I have worked at Wendy's, Lowe's and many other places, only to be let go over and over due to downsizing and being lowest on the totem pole. I have sent over 300 resumes in the last 6 months looking for employment. Nathans hours have been cut from working 10 hours over to barely getting 30. Our pressure washing customers can't pay on time and were lucky to even get paid.

Our equipment is the last thing we have left that is actually ours. Yes, I lowball jobs, but that lowball job will put dinner on the table. Yes I am sorry to Matt and everyone else that I have to undercut, but if you had to look into the eyes of your little girl you would understand. And just to clear this up we have not even done a job this year to date. I spend my time looking for jobs not calling customers.

Dan - You are the most sincere good hearted person I have ever met and I apologize from the bottom of my heart that I have not paid you. I am completely embarrassed, there are no words that can express how bad I feel. I should have emailed or called, but I didnt know what to say. I do owe you every penny and more. I would honestly like to call you and talk to you in person, you deserve that. I am going to pay you your money, I promise you that.

I am not looking for sympathy out of this thread, I just dont want to hide and act like everything is okay, its not. Soon our equipment may be for sale, Its just hard to hold on.


Matt - I am honestly sick of you at this point. I have NEVER slandered your name or knowingly underbid you. I am not sure why you love to bash on us....But, here you go please use this post in your advertising against me....I am sure it will help you get customers.



In closing I love this board and all of its members, you are good hard working people.
 
Nicole and nathan keep your heads up OBAMA has a plan. Ok sorry enough of the smart ass stuff. Times are tough for a lot and the time of the year could not be worse for you to keep your head above water. I dont know what the deal is with the people you mentioned. You sound like this is the last straw for you. I have spoke with Matt many time and am of the opinion that he is a good guy and trying to be the best he can be in this business. What is between you I would recomend keeping it that way as these boards can get out of hand sometimes. I remember many a post of the great strides you guys where making. What happened? Go back and do what was working for you. If it was all fake then Im sorry for you.

As far as a job goes you are in a far better position than most. You have your own business and equipment. PW sales is your job go out and do what ever it takes. I'd be GUERRILLA MARKETING my ass off if I were you guys. Flyers, handouts, knock on doors whatever it takes to get in the green. Trust me I dont think there is a city with more Pressure cleaning business than Tampa but im still going and growing. Not to be rude but quite watching the doom and gloom news and get your ass out there selling.
 
I'm not a fan of lowballing. But brother I understand your pain. I was in the exact position as you were.

I started out lowballing to put food on the table. Slowly but surely our work started to speak for itself and we started landing more jobs. As result I started raising the prices and since I have not had one complaint. You got to do what you got to do but don't make a habbit out of it. Better days will surely come if you work hard at it. Just remember to tell that little girl you love her and everything else will follow
 
Hey Nicole, keep pushing on, the season will be starting soon so you can get back on top again. I wish I could help you out but I rarely hear of any work on Colorado. If you lived closer I'd shoot you some work. Have you thought about gutter cleaning and other home maintenance services you can offer? Give me a call if you want, I may be able to give you some ideas on bringing in some work.
 
comunication to each other is always a good thing. i am sorry for your situation. I know this post was not easy for you or anyone to write.
Your in our prayers.
 
Unfortuanetly a lot of companies in pressure washing will probably be facing similiar issues this year. Networking, training, marketing, experience and adaptability are going to be key factors in survival over the next couple of years. I think those are the most important things to work on, and keeping your overhead down of course!

A lot of people will drastically lower their prices to bring in more work and that can take them out even faster. Some will try to cut costs by limiting or cutting advertising and that will hurt them too.

I know there are a lot of companies out there that are feeling the effects of the current economy, and I'll try to help out anyone I can with suggestions and ideas if they want them.

This is one of the reasons I created my pressure washing company directory, so I can refer out work to people outside my service area. Yesterday I got calls from Maine, PA and Chicago and I'm in the process of putting my directory on all of my sites to benefit companies in other areas. The site's averaging 75 visitors a day now and as more companies link to it from their sites, for out of the area site visitors, it will grow even more.

As for my companies, so far were doing very well, I've got some nice contracts and a great customer base, plus we offer a variety of services.
 
I'm sorry for what you guys are going through. but dont give up. that will mean you gave in. sometimes we gotta go back to the basics and rebuild, reform and reconquer. " it gets worse before it gets better" be positive and god bless.
 
I am deeply sorry to hear of your families misfortune.

It must have been difficult to share this news with us , especially since you have never met or know most of us.

I am surprised however of the number of views this thread has, and so few replies.

At one time I remember when other washers/people wanted your "cookbook", you were inundated with calls, emails,faxes and post (myself included). Now it is our turn to lend support, yet we peep through our web portals and offer no words or means of encouragement.

I wish for you and your family better days ahead and hope that your family would emerge from this time in your life with great strength and wisdom.
 
Adding services that you're basically already set up for is probably the easiest way to draw more business. For one thing, when you can offer more you have a better chance of meeting someones needs, and that will put you on their property which in turn could sell more services for you.

For instance:
I've been working on a faster way to remove artillery fungus, and I have come up with a way of doing it, and I am very excited about the potential work it will bring my way, other than just the cleaning of the artillery fungus, it will give me another avenue to get on the property and sell my other services. I will be sharing this method with the various boards after I get a few jobs under my belt with this new method. But my point is, branch out, wash windows or whatever you may prefer to add.

Jeff
 
Very sorry to hear that. I hope you understand back a couple years ago when I was telling you that there were tell tale warning signs you may have been heading down a bad path, I was not doing it to be mean.

You are a brave woman to put this out in the public. Kudos for your honesty. Your family is in my prayers.

There may be a program that can help your business. Check out this link and do searches for female entreprenuer based women's councils. Keep the faith, God will provide.

http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/onlinewbc/resources/WBC_RESOURCES_FOR_WOMEN.html
 
Nigel, of course I do not know how many PM's there have been, alot of people prefer not to say whats on their mind on the open forum. I wrote her a PM before any posts had been made offering help. And I know when Ive had issues in the past, my PM box fills up very quickly. Alot of people may prefer to use pm to express what they want to say...
 
I am not to familiar with Denver. Are you guys near Colorado springs? If so I know a manager of a walmart grocery down there that transferred from vegas. Email me if you need me to get you some info. Hang in there guys
 
Nigel, of course I do not know how many PM's there have been, alot of people prefer not to say whats on their mind on the open forum. I wrote her a PM before any posts had been made offering help. And I know when Ive had issues in the past, my PM box fills up very quickly. Alot of people may prefer to use pm to express what they want to say...

That is true Scott.

Thanks for offering her support.
 
That is true Scott.

Thanks for offering her support.

When my only trailer w/ all of my equipment was stolen, alot of people stepped up and offered to send me pressure washers and even entire trailers of equipment for temporary use. Even people I had never talked to. Last year overall was a year of tragedy for me, and every time, someone from this board was there to lend a hand or words of encouragement, Including Nicole. Hell she even offered to have Nate come down and "talk" to the guys who stole my trailer. :cool: I have offered her the best help I can, and I hope they consider it, as it could be a big opporunity.
 
I am very sorry to hear what you are going through nichole, I couldn't imagine having to go through that especialy with a kid.

Business here has always been slow ever since I started, my equipment is below par, but I try to do what I can, and it's slowly paying off.

I wish there was anything I could offer to help, but we'll keep you in our prayers. Keep your head up!!
 
For anyone reading that has been on the fence about getting a website or marketing materials designed, now is a good time. Nichole has shown in the past a talent for this. I am sure she could use a little extra work right now. Send her your ideas or plans and let her hook you up with a website/logo/postcard designs etc.

This would be the best way to help. Give her some work.

Call me Nichole. I got some things that will help.

859-983-5955
 
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