Marketing for next year
- Thread starter MARK W.
- Start date
Beth & Rod
SR Wood Geek / Moderator
Absolutely. Begin now and plan. It takes some time, especially if it is not something you normally do. It's not as easy as one would think. Personally, I stay busiest with marketing tasks in the late fall and all winter than any other time of the year. When the season is under way, all your tools should be in place.
Beth
Beth
Everett Abrams
Member
Mark,
Hello buddy , how have you been? Congrats on going full-time. If your going to do any local advertising (above and beyond the phone book) you could contact the local direct marketing companies (ADVO,Money Mailer,Val-Pak,etc.) and get their rates as well as mailing dates for 2003. Get all the other rates from any other advertising (newspapers and such) and then decide what kind of presence you want to make. Then after you have all your info you can come up with a budget and plan based off of your estimated sales. I would recommend doing some sort of budget now and come up with a plan before you get into next year. I hope that helps.Good Luck!
Hello buddy , how have you been? Congrats on going full-time. If your going to do any local advertising (above and beyond the phone book) you could contact the local direct marketing companies (ADVO,Money Mailer,Val-Pak,etc.) and get their rates as well as mailing dates for 2003. Get all the other rates from any other advertising (newspapers and such) and then decide what kind of presence you want to make. Then after you have all your info you can come up with a budget and plan based off of your estimated sales. I would recommend doing some sort of budget now and come up with a plan before you get into next year. I hope that helps.Good Luck!
MARK W.
Member
Hey Everett,
It's good to hear from you. I will be working on some things this winter. I hope I can run them by you and see what you think.
I will be giving you a call soon to talk about setting up a box truck that I'm looking into.
Dont forget we still have to get out to watch a Eagles game.
Talk to you soon!
It's good to hear from you. I will be working on some things this winter. I hope I can run them by you and see what you think.
I will be giving you a call soon to talk about setting up a box truck that I'm looking into.
Dont forget we still have to get out to watch a Eagles game.
Talk to you soon!
Mark,
As to what Everett said----
I've tried valpak with some results. However, for the cost I did much better with postcards. Many variables involved however.
This would be my advice----do advertisements that don't have monthly payments. I've been at this business for 7yrs. and I still have months here and there where it is a strain to pay bills. If you do a mailing that you control, such as postcards/brochures, you can only send them out when you have the money. Nothing will create stress like worrying about your monthly bills, and I do all I can to avoid them. I don't think it is stress that you'll need/want in your first full-time year. And let's be realistic---80% of businesses fail the first year, and you at the very least have to be open to the fact that this may happen. You don't want to work for 4 months, decide you don't like it, quit, and then be paying bills for the next 8 months on a business that no longer exists.
Please Mark, don't take this as me being negative or setting you up to fail, I am generally very optimistic. But I also believe in being a realist and planning for escape routes from worst-case scenerios. Good luck, give me a call sometime soon, been a while since we've talked. And I may be able to better help you with some marketing advice.
jon
As to what Everett said----
I've tried valpak with some results. However, for the cost I did much better with postcards. Many variables involved however.
This would be my advice----do advertisements that don't have monthly payments. I've been at this business for 7yrs. and I still have months here and there where it is a strain to pay bills. If you do a mailing that you control, such as postcards/brochures, you can only send them out when you have the money. Nothing will create stress like worrying about your monthly bills, and I do all I can to avoid them. I don't think it is stress that you'll need/want in your first full-time year. And let's be realistic---80% of businesses fail the first year, and you at the very least have to be open to the fact that this may happen. You don't want to work for 4 months, decide you don't like it, quit, and then be paying bills for the next 8 months on a business that no longer exists.
Please Mark, don't take this as me being negative or setting you up to fail, I am generally very optimistic. But I also believe in being a realist and planning for escape routes from worst-case scenerios. Good luck, give me a call sometime soon, been a while since we've talked. And I may be able to better help you with some marketing advice.
jon
Beth & Rod
SR Wood Geek / Moderator
I can relate to that Mark. First off, I hope that your wife's health improves and that health is on her side in the new year.
Even planning for part time work can be quite a task. When Rod and I began, he was part time for parts of the first year, but then jumped in full time. Of course, I was working full time away from our business, so that helped us to invest in the business and it gave him the freedom he needed to do it. Your shoes, are a different size so to speak.
I would plan your advertising based upon the response rate you need. The reason I say that is that it would be very easy to over expose yourself and end up with too high a response rate. Many folks don't understand that too high a response rate will lend a bad impression if you are unable to get out to do estimate or work in a timely fashion. So, think about the number of homes you'l market to thant the number of sources you'll use. You may do fine with nothing more that the phone ook, or you may need more. There is aguy in our area who works part time, has for years, and turns our a great deck. He is well respected. He advertises only in the phone book. He is too usy with just that much exposure.
I hope this helps...
Beth
Even planning for part time work can be quite a task. When Rod and I began, he was part time for parts of the first year, but then jumped in full time. Of course, I was working full time away from our business, so that helped us to invest in the business and it gave him the freedom he needed to do it. Your shoes, are a different size so to speak.
I would plan your advertising based upon the response rate you need. The reason I say that is that it would be very easy to over expose yourself and end up with too high a response rate. Many folks don't understand that too high a response rate will lend a bad impression if you are unable to get out to do estimate or work in a timely fashion. So, think about the number of homes you'l market to thant the number of sources you'll use. You may do fine with nothing more that the phone ook, or you may need more. There is aguy in our area who works part time, has for years, and turns our a great deck. He is well respected. He advertises only in the phone book. He is too usy with just that much exposure.
I hope this helps...
Beth
Mike Hughes
Former Board Administrator
Mark,
I hope for the best with your wife, however..........I think you should quit your job and pay for the COBRA benefits (you can pay for your old plan out of your pocket for up to 18 months, I believe).
Health benefits suck.........mine are going up to $900 per month as of January 1st.
I hope for the best with your wife, however..........I think you should quit your job and pay for the COBRA benefits (you can pay for your old plan out of your pocket for up to 18 months, I believe).
Health benefits suck.........mine are going up to $900 per month as of January 1st.
Something to think about -
A benefit to staying part-time: You are paying the home bills with your full-time job - If you can work the hours (full-time job & pressure washing) - You have more cash flow in your business and less expenses (example house light bill, grocery, cloths for the kids, house/car payment, health insurance, etc) this will allow you to do more advertisments and purchase the equipment you need.
The more you can invest back into your business, the faster it will grow as long as you produce a quality product.
Example: You have two part-time pressure washing business with one year under there belt.
Company A goes full time-can only afford yellow page ad and good pressure washer.
Company B-has yellow page ad, does mail-outs, runs ads in the paper and has a trailer with good pressure washer, surface cleaner, etc.
In three years - which one will be the most known and have the most assets?
A benefit to staying part-time: You are paying the home bills with your full-time job - If you can work the hours (full-time job & pressure washing) - You have more cash flow in your business and less expenses (example house light bill, grocery, cloths for the kids, house/car payment, health insurance, etc) this will allow you to do more advertisments and purchase the equipment you need.
The more you can invest back into your business, the faster it will grow as long as you produce a quality product.
Example: You have two part-time pressure washing business with one year under there belt.
Company A goes full time-can only afford yellow page ad and good pressure washer.
Company B-has yellow page ad, does mail-outs, runs ads in the paper and has a trailer with good pressure washer, surface cleaner, etc.
In three years - which one will be the most known and have the most assets?
Clean County PW
Active member
Tim Smith took the words right out of my mouth.
Don't get overly excited about your business and make a decision that you may regret.
I would try to float both jobs as long as you think you need to do just that. Your fulltime job can pay the bills by bringing in steady money and it has built in Health Benny's which without that can cost a bundle.
With your Powerwashing business you can now build up cash to put back into it and also to give yourself extra cash flow for your family.
This is where I am at. Because I do my business like this I have top quality machines(Landa's,Mi-t-m,Simpson)and other equipment along with Rock solid customers and accounts.
Here's another twist that Fulltimers can't add----I probably charge Higher then most because besides doing top Quality work, I don't ever have to book work because I am in dire need of money..Hence Lowballing..I can get the price that I want most of the time.
So now you have a different point of view to look at. Of course if you have a ton of work lined up,Especially Commercial accounts, and your fulltime job is cutting into your over all profits then and only then should you consider taking the Fulltime plunge.Don't put your families well being at stake by making a mistake here.
Good Luck
Don't get overly excited about your business and make a decision that you may regret.
I would try to float both jobs as long as you think you need to do just that. Your fulltime job can pay the bills by bringing in steady money and it has built in Health Benny's which without that can cost a bundle.
With your Powerwashing business you can now build up cash to put back into it and also to give yourself extra cash flow for your family.
This is where I am at. Because I do my business like this I have top quality machines(Landa's,Mi-t-m,Simpson)and other equipment along with Rock solid customers and accounts.
Here's another twist that Fulltimers can't add----I probably charge Higher then most because besides doing top Quality work, I don't ever have to book work because I am in dire need of money..Hence Lowballing..I can get the price that I want most of the time.
So now you have a different point of view to look at. Of course if you have a ton of work lined up,Especially Commercial accounts, and your fulltime job is cutting into your over all profits then and only then should you consider taking the Fulltime plunge.Don't put your families well being at stake by making a mistake here.
Good Luck
Mike Hughes
Former Board Administrator
I'm full time, and lowballing is not in my vocabulary.
The biggest issue here is how good of a full time job you actually have........? If you're paid very well, it might be worth it to stay and float both.................otherwise, you're better off quitting and focusing 100% on the business.
The biggest issue here is how good of a full time job you actually have........? If you're paid very well, it might be worth it to stay and float both.................otherwise, you're better off quitting and focusing 100% on the business.
Mike, if my health goes up too 900.00 a month I might need to get a job. Holy cow!!!!!!!
Who are ya with???
Who are ya with???
Mike Hughes
Former Board Administrator
Well, it was $764 this year.........quite a jump, eh?
MEGA Life & Health Insaurance seems reasonable ...
I have 2 numbers (800) 221-1012 (Norcross, GA.)
and (800) 767-0700 www.MegaInsurance.com
They cover: Auto, Life, Disability, Small Business, Business Owners, Business Property, Errors & Omissions, General Liability, Group Health, Professional Liability, Fidelity Surety & Crime.
Of course (Pre-) existing conditions are most likely exempt which keeps people from jumping from insurance to insurance.
They talked about passing a bill to change that does anyone know if anything has been passed on that?
Here some other sites for free on-line quotes:
www.quotesmith.com
www.insurecom.com/frame.asp?Refby=600245&type=Health
This site lists most of the major insurance companies in the U.S.:
www.talewins.com/Life/company.htm#M
Good Health to all!
and don't forget - "Safety First and Make IT Last!"
Regards,
I have 2 numbers (800) 221-1012 (Norcross, GA.)
and (800) 767-0700 www.MegaInsurance.com
They cover: Auto, Life, Disability, Small Business, Business Owners, Business Property, Errors & Omissions, General Liability, Group Health, Professional Liability, Fidelity Surety & Crime.
Of course (Pre-) existing conditions are most likely exempt which keeps people from jumping from insurance to insurance.
They talked about passing a bill to change that does anyone know if anything has been passed on that?
Here some other sites for free on-line quotes:
www.quotesmith.com
www.insurecom.com/frame.asp?Refby=600245&type=Health
This site lists most of the major insurance companies in the U.S.:
www.talewins.com/Life/company.htm#M
Good Health to all!
and don't forget - "Safety First and Make IT Last!"
Regards,
Michael Cappa
Member
Paul B. that was some good information.
Hey, just wanted you to know I respect your decision on that other thing. Sorry I didn't write back.
Hey, just wanted you to know I respect your decision on that other thing. Sorry I didn't write back.