Spreading yourself to thin

Clean County PW

Clean County PW

Active member
When I'm doing Commercial work I just added Window cleaning services to go along with the Flatwork. The Window cleaning is done once a week whereas the Powerwashing is done Monthly.

I'm starting to think that maybe I should add Buffing/Stripping/waxing Floors services also. A Friend of mine was telling me to be careful not to spread myself to thin. To be honest the only thing that I ever LIKED to do was to Powerwash and everything else is a chore that earns decent money. But If I ever want to expand as to having more employees then possibly taking on different types of work might be the faster route in accomplishing this.

What do you guys/gals think? Would you reccomend to stick with what you know and do best and just try to expand on that? Or would you roll the dice and see what else is out there that could possibly bring in more revenues for your business?:confused:
 
Speaking for myself, I am working my way into whatever type of work I can, or more accurately, whatever I am capable of doing well. Whatever pays the bills and brings in money that will allow me to expand and add equipment. I agree, don't spread yourself too thin, but that doesn't so much deal with diversity as it does quantity. Better to be diverse, that way if or when one thing slows down, you have others to fall back on.
 
Speaking for myself and my company....We offer a wide variety of services to our customers. The hardest thing we do is the pressure washing, so if you know that and can handle that well, everything else is easy. My philosphy is: The more services you can offer a customer in their "property management" the less chance you have of losing that customer to another company that may offer your service on the side as well. Also, many of our customers like the idea that they can call one company to handle a wide variety of services. The only thing you need to consider is, whatever you are going to do, make sure you do it well....It's not worth adding a service if you cannot perform it like a proffesional.
 
Hi John,

On the flip side of things... when your a one man operation being diverse is no big deal. As you expand and bring in employees your training and quality control become much more difficult to manage. You need to question whether that time needed for expansion would be better spent expanding your current "niche".

I've always felt those who specialize (and of couse do it well) have the potential to make more money than a jack of all. Thats proven to be the case in my own company.

Take Care,

Greg Rentschler
 
clean county

it sounds like one[PW] is a day job and the floor thing is more or less night work. Is this true?
nothing wrong with one hat and two arms as long as you can walk and chew gum at the same time. Some cant.
There are specific bbs for floor care. That arm could branch out even farther with carpet cleaning. Find the work,set up your priceing and hire someone that will leed the crew for you.
It hekp's if they can speak spanish. If you get my drift?
You can find one family that want's to bring more family here[US] and they will build a crew for you. I have seen it done over and over. My friend had a mexican guy as his leed cut man. He walked up to my friend and told him he had to return home but not to worry. The next day at lunch the guy took off his toolbelt and handed to his brother that just walked onto the job site and left.
The brother was just as good and life went on. The orig brother is comming back soon and my friend is going to start a second crew.
 
Clean County,

I personally think what you said about a chore goes a long way. I believe that services need to be "user friendly" for both the company and the employees. Which leads into what Greg said , training and communications can easily get away from you. I recently had a friend who has a cleaning business do mostly commercial accounts and did floors in supermarkets and such. He decided to get into the pressure washing business with the employees doing the pressure washing. I don't know for sure but I have heard that he is struggling and I believe he is severely low-balling. He was successful the way he was , I hope the expansion doesn't hurt him or you. Good Luck!
 
All good advise. To answer Ron P. question, I do any and all residential work of course during the day and any Commercial work at nite to very early morning hours and this includes Powerwashing(Flat work generally).

As for now I am going to stick to Powerwashing(Flat work,Graffiti removal etc.) and window cleaning for the commercial establishments that I deal with. OF course if the opportunity arises for other types of add on work I will consider it such as Street sweeping,Floor buffing,Carpet Cleaning etc.etc.

Thanks
 
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