How Long did it take you to get off the ground in Pressure Cleaning?

S

Scott K

New member
How long did it take some of you to get off the ground in pressure cleaning? I just got started this year after two years of thinking about it. Luckaly I have a contract with a company that brings in 600 to 1000 a week if it wasnt for that I would be working at McDonalds to make ends meat. I have put ads in the paper which have been almost a waist of money. I have sent out flyers and did some cold calling to trucking companies and builders and some other businesses. My percentage of jobs landed to the amount of estimates are not very good. One thing that really made me mad was I was called out to an estimate by a guy just to find his ad in the paper the following week. Has anyone else had this problem getting off the ground and what methods did you use to get started and your buisness noticed.
Any input would be helpful.
 
I spent quite a bit of money on direct mailers last year, and was not impressed with the return on them. They say that you need to get your name out there and keep it out there, but I found it hard to Justify spending money every month and only getting one or two calls.
Well, I said never again and stopped putting them out, and that is when the phone started ringing. I found that people save them for when they need it. Over a year later and people are still calling on my old mailers. So all is not lost, do not feel that you wasted your efforts.
As far as your estimates, at least you were able to do one. Their are many reasons why people do not get things done, and this could be a couple. Your prices were to high, and they were not ready or able to pay it, your prices were to low and they could afford more, meaning they felt that you may not deliver for cheaper.
With my mailers, I landed all the jobs I estimated. First, they called me, so they wanted my services, a definite plus, Second, I explained everything to them, so that they would know exactly what to expect from my process, this made them very comfortable. I also told them that I am not the cheapest, but that I will deliver as promised and guarantee all my work, or they do not pay.
My yellow page ads just came out, and I hope they perform well.
 
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I started out with a customer base. TRUCK'S
All the rest is strickly word of mouth.
I am getting ready for the advertising thing shortly.
Starting with lettering my rig.
They screwed up my yellow page ad so i get that for free but that is another story.
 
I have been in the cleaning business for 20+ years and the overwhelming response to that question with everyone that has built a good customer base and reputation is 2 years in almost anything you do.

Even though I am new to pressure cleaning and primarily do it indoors, (grout, ceramic tile, and such) have seen the successful outdoor pw folks come and go. The ones that stuck it out for the 2 year period are still around.

I mainly get my accounts by word of mouth but had an idea about exchanging brochures with people in other service sectors such as grounds maintenance, floor care,(my specialty), carpet care and the such. Works like I'll give out your brochure at my account, if you'll give out mine at your accounts. Word of mouth. Problem encountered there is too many think one will attempt to take the others business, so it would take someone that is confident in their association with other vendors.

Hope this helps.

George
 
Scott K.

What type of accounts do you desire, homeowners or industrial/commercial?

Homeowners will response to flyers at some point as Alan has mentioned, if you seek commercial or industrial accounts you need to do more, like put some ground under you shoes and walk and talk to the key person.

A letter of introduction mailed several days ahead of your planned phone call for an appointment works best, or if you plan to just walk in best you call a few days ahead and learn the name of the key person so when you get there you might, I say MIGHT get past the "palace guard" and into his/her office.

Yellow pages are great for homeowners, not so for industrial/commercial accounts.
 
Im trying to reach the home owner,how ever some comercial jobs would be nice too. I have one I landed by luck 2 years ago which got my wife and I thinking I should just go for it and start my own business. So here Im after 2 years of thinking it over and reading all I can. I dont want to live and die by just one account So this year Im hitting it hard trying to get as much as I can, and its slow going if this one account holds out I think I could out last some of the guys out there looking to just jump right in.
 
Oops. Never push back after posting.

George
 
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George Never Push Back?


By the way I lived in B'Ham Al for 3 years out near Tarrent my Brother is builder in Fultondale, and his son Lives In Gardendale. Last name is Robinson. My wife and I got married at Gateway Babtist Church off hwy 31,and our son was born at Careaway Med Center.

Are ya getting plenty of work down that way?


One thing I miss about Alabama in the long deer season,and the early spring gobbler season.
 
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Small world. Born and raised in Inglenook. Member Tarrant First Baptist. I was born at Carraway.

Scraping for work around here. Management companies took over floorcare industry around here about 2 years ago and want to pay 1/2 of what we were getting. Went from primarily floorcare to floorcare, carpets, hard surface cleaning and repping a surface cleaning manufacturer's equipment to make ends meet. What you get is usually from the lowballers and have to convince the accounts how much a good maintenance plan will save them more money than using lowballers or maintenance management.

The Back button on the top of IE browser. Had posted then left to clean account. When I got back refreshed the page and wanted to go back and see other messages. When I went back it duplicated post so just changed it to say oops.

George
 
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