Niche market vs broad market pressure washing business?

What if you were in a niche market, but remained flexible in your capabilities. The niche is good because it tells your potential clients what your are equipped to do. Business owners have a responsible to ensure his company is capabile of doing various types of cleaning. If a particular niche market is a stable money maker, then by all means keep your company's focus in that arena. Perhaps niche markets are easier to maintain from a business aspect because your are always prepared to accomplish the work. Your markets can change, your vision has to remain the same and based on the principles you outline in your business plan. You never want to have a product or offer a service that is not a predominate product. "Your vision propels your success." (Bill gates)
 
Another thought that I don't think was mentioned is if you have a niche and your existing clientele is paying for other related services you should either do them yourself, or have an associate who does. The cheapest customer to get is the one you already have, and even if you just get a finder's fee by referring the work to your associate that is pure profit. If you pick your associates carefully its a win/win/win situation.
 
Kleankings said:
What if you were in a niche market, but remained flexible in your capabilities. The niche is good because it tells your potential clients what your are equipped to do. Business owners have a responsible to ensure his company is capabile of doing various types of cleaning. If a particular niche market is a stable money maker, then by all means keep your company's focus in that arena. Perhaps niche markets are easier to maintain from a business aspect because your are always prepared to accomplish the work. Your markets can change, your vision has to remain the same and based on the principles you outline in your business plan. You never want to have a product or offer a service that is not a predominate product. "Your vision propels your success." (Bill gates)
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I agree flexibility is key. There can be arguments made for the "don't put all of your eggs in one basket" analogies in business. I know some cleaning businesses were hit pretty hard back in 2008-2009 and had to diversify more to thrive. The key seems to be finding that sweet spot of being a niche business without losing flexibility.
 
Niche has been good to me. Vinyl Siding cleaning for me has kept chemical costs down, SEO focus easier, sales close ratios better due to unmatched knowledge, systems, trainability, scalability etc.
 
I like the approach of having a division for every one of your Key services that make you the most money.

I have a Power Washing, Sweeping, and Window Cleaning division. This way the customer still feels we specialize in each service since we have separate divisions for each service. That is my approach, and it has worked for me. I don't think it is a better or worse model than any other approach because I think you can be successful with any business model whether it is niche or not.

I also sell anything I can get my hands on. And if I do not offer the service I will sub-contract it to someone that does. I think 5-10% off the top of a service is better than getting 0% from passing on the work. And it keeps the customer happy and they call our company back in the future.
 
i wouldn't do anything i wasn't able to do well but barring inability to perform quality work I'd tweeze a grizzly bears nose hair for the right money. if dangerous paid id be there. as far as niches go i feel being a jack if all trades makes you look less qualified but being flexible can keep you from starving

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AZ PowerWash Pros said:
I like the approach of having a division for every one of your Key services that make you the most money.

I have a Power Washing, Sweeping, and Window Cleaning division. This way the customer still feels we specialize in each service since we have separate divisions for each service. That is my approach, and it has worked for me. I don't think it is a better or worse model than any other approach because I think you can be successful with any business model whether it is niche or not.

I also sell anything I can get my hands on. And if I do not offer the service I will sub-contract it to someone that does. I think 5-10% off the top of a service is better than getting 0% from passing on the work. And it keeps the customer happy and they call our company back in the future.
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Ty - Do you have a lead tech or supervisor with each of your divisions? How are you juggling the scheduling and bidding for each division? I like the concept of divisions, but think a person needs to be at the top of their game with organization/time management or have specific employees charged with many of the duties involved in efficiently running each division.
 
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Reider said:
Ty - Do you have a lead tech or supervisor with each of your divisions? How are you juggling the scheduling and bidding for each division? I like the concept of divisions, but think a person needs to be at the top of their game with organization/time management or have specific employees charged with many of the duties involved in efficiently running each division.
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Jason-

Yes. I have a lead for each division. I also have an office manager that does all the scheduling. We use Google Calendar and different colors to associate the different divisions.

I have a supervisor who we have trained to bid for us. He bids on the power washing and sweeping and a lead tech that bids on the windows. My window tech is paid a percentage of the job plus salary to ensure he keeps the bids at the right price.

I also have a warehouse manager now who works on all our equipment and keeps the warehouse clean to make sure everything is where it should be. He also makes sure the guys are returning the trucks and equipment to the right places.

So long story short. I would agree that it takes many steps, organization, and management. And I like to think I'm on top of my game. But the pay off is that my company runs itself besides decision making and problems that arise. Which frees up my time to work on my web design business.

At the end of the day though, any business model will work as long as you go hard! Haha

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AZ PowerWash Pros said:
Jason-

Yes. I have a lead for each division. I also have an office manager that does all the scheduling. We use Google Calendar and different colors to associate the different divisions.

I have a supervisor who we have trained to bid for us. He bids on the power washing and sweeping and a lead tech that bids on the windows. My window tech is paid a percentage of the job plus salary to ensure he keeps the bids at the right price.

I also have a warehouse manager now who works on all our equipment and keeps the warehouse clean to make sure everything is where it should be. He also makes sure the guys are returning the trucks and equipment to the right places.

So long story short. I would agree that it takes many steps, organization, and management. And I like to think I'm on top of my game. But the pay off is that my company runs itself besides decision making and problems that arise. Which frees up my time to work on my web design business.

At the end of the day though, any business model will work as long as you go hard! Haha

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk
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Thanks for the info Ty! Thats a pretty impressive setup in such a short period of time. How long did it take for you to "get out of the field" after starting up?
 
AZ PowerWash Pros said:
Jason-

Yes. I have a lead for each division. I also have an office manager that does all the scheduling. We use Google Calendar and different colors to associate the different divisions.

I have a supervisor who we have trained to bid for us. He bids on the power washing and sweeping and a lead tech that bids on the windows. My window tech is paid a percentage of the job plus salary to ensure he keeps the bids at the right price.

I also have a warehouse manager now who works on all our equipment and keeps the warehouse clean to make sure everything is where it should be. He also makes sure the guys are returning the trucks and equipment to the right places.

So long story short. I would agree that it takes many steps, organization, and management. And I like to think I'm on top of my game. But the pay off is that my company runs itself besides decision making and problems that arise. Which frees up my time to work on my web design business.

At the end of the day though, any business model will work as long as you go hard! Haha

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk
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That's great stuff Ty.
 
socalkol said:
Thanks for the info Ty! Thats a pretty impressive setup in such a short period of time. How long did it take for you to "get out of the field" after starting up?
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Definitely did not happen over night. I did all the work myself from 08-10. In 2011 we hired an office manager. In 2012 we hired a foreman. But it wasn't until 2013 until I was officially "out the field" per say. I still have to show up on jobs from time to time. I do bidding from time to time too. And it seems like majority or my work is solving problems.

I still feel like I work really hard though! haha

And I can't take all the credit I have a business partner and him and I have been working hard together since 2010. He has been a great asset to our company as well. I feel 2 like minds is always better than 1. But we still have a lot of room for growth as well! Working on a large sales team this year.
 
AZ PowerWash Pros said:
Definitely did not happen over night. I did all the work myself from 08-10. In 2011 we hired an office manager. In 2012 we hired a foreman. But it wasn't until 2013 until I was officially "out the field" per say. I still have to show up on jobs from time to time. I do bidding from time to time too. And it seems like majority or my work is solving problems.

I still feel like I work really hard though! haha

And I can't take all the credit I have a business partner and him and I have been working hard together since 2010. He has been a great asset to our company as well. I feel 2 like minds is always better than 1. But we still have a lot of room for growth as well! Working on a large sales team this year.
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Don't do the large sales team TY, come to Las Vegas I'm writing a new program.


Maryland event Dec 7th free free
 
Me too. I did training on a roof Tuesday and realized that it was only the fourth time I had been on a roof other than bids in two years. We have built a sales team among ourselves. Every time I have hired a sales person they have failed. I am starting to understand why. As usual Ron was right. It is just too much and too many personalities for one or two salespeople to deal with. You have to have a back end team to keep up with paperwork, followups and sometimes just encouragement.

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