Winter Time at EasyPro
- Thread starter DJ Carroll
- Start date
Carolina Prowash
Exterior Surface Pros
A very rich man once asked me (when we were exploring a separate facility) - can you make the same money from your home office? Are you going to NET the extra 24K per year to pay for this location? Could you make that money NOT having the building?
We didn't get the building then and we're not hurting for business nor do we suffer from the reputation of being "just another home based business" that may not be serious or stable. We've actually been more afraid of a customer visiting our nearly 5K sq ft home and thinking that we're overcharging them for their service
With that said - DJ is still a young 'un and I would expect that a professional atmosphere helps with his credibility questions that could arise due to his age.
Also, we have subsequently gotten the building we were looking at! It does feel good and we do think that a storefront location will help our business.
Just some of both sides. I think DJ's site is great - particularly since he is running two businesses from it - and one requires considerable storage space. That's a lot of money in equipment & products not to keep it properly secure & housed.
Celeste
We didn't get the building then and we're not hurting for business nor do we suffer from the reputation of being "just another home based business" that may not be serious or stable. We've actually been more afraid of a customer visiting our nearly 5K sq ft home and thinking that we're overcharging them for their service
With that said - DJ is still a young 'un and I would expect that a professional atmosphere helps with his credibility questions that could arise due to his age.
Also, we have subsequently gotten the building we were looking at! It does feel good and we do think that a storefront location will help our business.
Just some of both sides. I think DJ's site is great - particularly since he is running two businesses from it - and one requires considerable storage space. That's a lot of money in equipment & products not to keep it properly secure & housed.
Celeste
Clean County PW
Active member
I have to say this at his age DJ is light years ahead of me and I bet he will continuously do well with his businesses. He seems to have it together real well. Good Job DJ
I just want To see whay NEW years at easypro will look like.
Mike V
Member
New Years Eve should be pretty good... I recall some video from Michael K's house awhile back...I think DJ brought some talent.
As far as a home based business vs. a brick and mortar establishment, I think it is matter of preference and perhaps market. I see no value for my businesses to have a store front, I have two yards that I keep my equipment at, we can perform PM there and I can always back a trailer into my garage if needed (HOA says no trailers in driveway).
When I owned a motorcycle shop you almost had to have a storefront....folks feel better if they can walk in to a place after they give you $40K for a bike build.
I would say that most of my customers, residential and commercial do not expect for us to have an office and there would never be a need to visit us. We Come, We Clean, You Pay.
DJ, did you buy that office/shop or are you renting? Just curious.
As far as a home based business vs. a brick and mortar establishment, I think it is matter of preference and perhaps market. I see no value for my businesses to have a store front, I have two yards that I keep my equipment at, we can perform PM there and I can always back a trailer into my garage if needed (HOA says no trailers in driveway).
When I owned a motorcycle shop you almost had to have a storefront....folks feel better if they can walk in to a place after they give you $40K for a bike build.
I would say that most of my customers, residential and commercial do not expect for us to have an office and there would never be a need to visit us. We Come, We Clean, You Pay.
DJ, did you buy that office/shop or are you renting? Just curious.
Tony Shelton
BS Detector, Esquire
We had a strip mall location for the dry clean delivery service for a year or so. It turned out to be a waste of money for that type of business. I did it for the same reasons DJ stated. I was lucky to have negotiated a one year trial lease so I could get out of my mistake.
I spoke with a multi-multi million dollar contractor last month (at my humble home office) who is paying $16,000 a month for a location they no longer use but is locked into a 10 year lease. What choice does he have but to pay for a mistake?
I spoke with a multi-multi million dollar contractor last month (at my humble home office) who is paying $16,000 a month for a location they no longer use but is locked into a 10 year lease. What choice does he have but to pay for a mistake?
The Cleaner
Vetran Washer 30 Years Plus
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FCPWLLC
Senior Moderator
I love my Shop. Keeping my equipment dry and warm as we speak. Nice to have an office to meet sales folks and interview future employees. Keeps the harmful chems away from my Home and children. Awesome for doing all our oil changes in the shade in summer and out of the cold in winter. Great for meeting up and getting things rolling in the mornings. Also save on freight to a business address. Got cool neighbors too that might have tool we don't have or the use of a fork lift etc..
We paid cash up front for a better deal on the lease. Not store front or even alot of passer-by traffic, but we have actually gotten some biz from folks visiting our neighboring businesses.
We paid cash up front for a better deal on the lease. Not store front or even alot of passer-by traffic, but we have actually gotten some biz from folks visiting our neighboring businesses.
welder
New member
DJ, very nice facility you have, clean, neat, very professional.
I have a home based business, I would be out of here in a heart beat if I found the right location. Several reasons.
No employees at MY HOME.
Separation of work and home.
Customers showing up at my home on a Sunday afternoon looking to find out where I was for a Mon. pickup.
ON and on.
When I go to work, I want to work, when I go home I want to be home and off duty so to speak.
I have a home based business, I would be out of here in a heart beat if I found the right location. Several reasons.
No employees at MY HOME.
Separation of work and home.
Customers showing up at my home on a Sunday afternoon looking to find out where I was for a Mon. pickup.
ON and on.
When I go to work, I want to work, when I go home I want to be home and off duty so to speak.
Lou Zehnder
New member
I like it....The problem I see is that DJ will out grow it by mid summer. Landcaping equipment takes alot of space. ton dump's, mowers, loader's, mulch bins,,,,,bulk mulch is the only way to buy mulch.
Tony Shelton
BS Detector, Esquire
Mark, I would spend the rest of my life with the arrangement I have now if it remains possible.
We had employees in our home beginning at 5am and ending as late as 2am when we had the dry clean delivery service. I never even heard them unless I went out there to check up on them. They rarely bothered us. At first the delivery vehicles stayed at our place, then eventually I sent them home with the guys.
The work area had it's own bathroom, eating area, etc so there was no need to come into the main house. A private parking area and entrance behind a wall kept the neighbors from questioning what we were doing. (Except for one old drunk neighbor, but that's another story)
I recently visited a similar company to ours that is the largest evaporative cooler service company in the state. The owner has always run it out of his home and even has lockers, break room and uniform service for the employees there.
One question would be this. If you have the ability to run it out of your home why wouldn't you take the full writeoff without the added expense of a rented space?
If you are keeping your books straight you don't have much to fear from an audit except the time it takes to do the audit. (And that isn't so much if you have everything out and ready and just turn the auditor loose in a room and tell him to call you if he has a question)
We had employees in our home beginning at 5am and ending as late as 2am when we had the dry clean delivery service. I never even heard them unless I went out there to check up on them. They rarely bothered us. At first the delivery vehicles stayed at our place, then eventually I sent them home with the guys.
The work area had it's own bathroom, eating area, etc so there was no need to come into the main house. A private parking area and entrance behind a wall kept the neighbors from questioning what we were doing. (Except for one old drunk neighbor, but that's another story)
I recently visited a similar company to ours that is the largest evaporative cooler service company in the state. The owner has always run it out of his home and even has lockers, break room and uniform service for the employees there.
One question would be this. If you have the ability to run it out of your home why wouldn't you take the full writeoff without the added expense of a rented space?
If you are keeping your books straight you don't have much to fear from an audit except the time it takes to do the audit. (And that isn't so much if you have everything out and ready and just turn the auditor loose in a room and tell him to call you if he has a question)
Tony Shelton
BS Detector, Esquire
By the way, I wasn't posting to get on DJ's case for renting his space. Sorry if it sounded like that.
I was just pointing out that if the sole purpose was to gain credibility, it just isn't worth it. Also, pointing out that there are many contractors on here who successfully run the same or similar businesses out of their homes.
The point of landscaping equipment takes up a lot of space is a good one, unless you send the employees home with the equipment.
I was just pointing out that if the sole purpose was to gain credibility, it just isn't worth it. Also, pointing out that there are many contractors on here who successfully run the same or similar businesses out of their homes.
The point of landscaping equipment takes up a lot of space is a good one, unless you send the employees home with the equipment.
DJ Carroll
Member
okay a few points ...
first off i would NEVER send the equipment home with my guys that's to me isn't professional.
keeping chems and having guys meet at my house in the morning i don't feel is professional.
Also when it comes to employee buy in I would think they would feel more secure with a career at EasyPro if they had a place of employment instead of "ya we meet at my bosses house every morning" I want this to be a place of business. Look at every successful wash co. land care co. or what ever.... they have a place of business.
The credibility help with my age. Also i got a smoking deal on this place 600 sq ft of office and 900 sq ft of shop for 600 a month plus utilities.
I just feel this is me moving one step closer being a true COMPANY. No disrespect tony but if it is just you and a help then ya sure run it out of your home but next year i will have two crews and a full time office aid. That is just too much to be showing up at my house. Also i'm in the business of curb appeal and when peolpe drive by they see that and they remember me.
I just feel that having a lot here and a home office here and a shop there makes it more trouble then being centrally located.
Ron even said his efficiency increased when he got his shop. To me you HAVE to have a place of business to be considered a true business in my book. .. .
PS residential customers aren't moronic. . .
first off i would NEVER send the equipment home with my guys that's to me isn't professional.
keeping chems and having guys meet at my house in the morning i don't feel is professional.
Also when it comes to employee buy in I would think they would feel more secure with a career at EasyPro if they had a place of employment instead of "ya we meet at my bosses house every morning" I want this to be a place of business. Look at every successful wash co. land care co. or what ever.... they have a place of business.
The credibility help with my age. Also i got a smoking deal on this place 600 sq ft of office and 900 sq ft of shop for 600 a month plus utilities.
I just feel this is me moving one step closer being a true COMPANY. No disrespect tony but if it is just you and a help then ya sure run it out of your home but next year i will have two crews and a full time office aid. That is just too much to be showing up at my house. Also i'm in the business of curb appeal and when peolpe drive by they see that and they remember me.
I just feel that having a lot here and a home office here and a shop there makes it more trouble then being centrally located.
Ron even said his efficiency increased when he got his shop. To me you HAVE to have a place of business to be considered a true business in my book. .. .
PS residential customers aren't moronic. . .
Tony Shelton
BS Detector, Esquire
DJ, as long as you can pull it off, more power to you.
$600 a month is not too much of a gamble if you can get out of it easy.
If you can't have that many people at your house then that is a valid reason. But flat out saying that having a business running out of your house is "unprofessional" makes you look like a twenty something know-it-all punk talking down to a bunch of veteran business owners who've spent their lives living a good life providing for their families from the comfort of their homes.
If you think having a bunch of coffee mugs, t-shirts and a garage space to park a computer desk makes you a "real" company, then I guess you have a "real" company now. :scratchhead: I always thought you had a real company before.
Another real life lesson..... an employee who is paid a little higher than your competition and who is rewarded for accurate work is a lot more loyal and has a lot more job security than a time-card puncher at a commercial building. But I digress, I'm sure they taught you that in college.
Ask Ron what he would do now, if he were to start it all over again? If he really wants you to know he might tell you. You don't listen to Ron much anymore. I'd be surprised if he will even talk about it with you.
Times are different now. The economy is different. You probably won't like his answer.
PS - any residential customer who sees a yellow page ad with a big banner across the top that says "COMMERCIAL ONLY" and then "SPECIALIZING IN COMMERCIAL ROOFTOP UNITS" and still calls the number......is a moron.
Henry Bockman
Maryland Pressure Washing
Not that you care what I or anyone else thinks... Hell, I don't even care so I don't know why I'm posting..lol Maybe it's because I haven't posted in about a week on any BBS.
Tony Shelton
BS Detector, Esquire
Where did this guy go? Now he's telling all of us we are "unprofessional" in "his" opinion.
It would be funny if we didn't already know the sad way it's going to end.
DJ, my son will make more NET this year than you did. (And net is what counts) He started his first commercial contract in April of this year. He has zero debt, has spent less than $1000 on promotional materials and pays all his own bills (via a percentage to me and I pay his insurance through our corporate policy). You've got a year on him and ALL your education (he has a GED), but he's kicking your butt. There are three other contractors on PWI that started after you who reached your goal for 2010 THIS year! One of them is doing $300k!
These people LISTEN to other SUCCESSFUL people - not people who CLAIM to be successful, not teachers who want to SHOW them how to be successful - Not ORGANIZERS who don't even own businesses, not professors who despise the idea that anyone in this country is making a dollar. They listen to successful people.
You used to listen to successful people too.
But, you know what, even in this old post there is a lot of patting yourself on the back.
Yes, DJ, you are marketing genius, if by marketing you mean renting a space where you can put up a marketing shrine and worship yourself.
It would be funny if we didn't already know the sad way it's going to end.
DJ, my son will make more NET this year than you did. (And net is what counts) He started his first commercial contract in April of this year. He has zero debt, has spent less than $1000 on promotional materials and pays all his own bills (via a percentage to me and I pay his insurance through our corporate policy). You've got a year on him and ALL your education (he has a GED), but he's kicking your butt. There are three other contractors on PWI that started after you who reached your goal for 2010 THIS year! One of them is doing $300k!
These people LISTEN to other SUCCESSFUL people - not people who CLAIM to be successful, not teachers who want to SHOW them how to be successful - Not ORGANIZERS who don't even own businesses, not professors who despise the idea that anyone in this country is making a dollar. They listen to successful people.
You used to listen to successful people too.
But, you know what, even in this old post there is a lot of patting yourself on the back.
Yes, DJ, you are marketing genius, if by marketing you mean renting a space where you can put up a marketing shrine and worship yourself.
Clean County PW
Active member
Man DJ can dance. He is multi talented!! Look at it this way. Look where he is now at 21 years of age. I think he is getting all good advice here but he knows what he wants and from the look of things he sure knows how to go about getting it. I find him fascinating. He is going to be one of the big guys in this business or whatever direction he takes in life cause he looks like he has that extra of what it takes to make it and at a very young age.
Also I don't landscape but that type of equipment it stinks so to leave those mowers etc on your property I can see that being a huge problem with the neighbors. Also it looks like DJ has room by his building to load up on mulch if he needs to.
I am amazed at this Entrepreneur.
Also I don't landscape but that type of equipment it stinks so to leave those mowers etc on your property I can see that being a huge problem with the neighbors. Also it looks like DJ has room by his building to load up on mulch if he needs to.
I am amazed at this Entrepreneur.
I can Say this, 100% of the lease is the right off. I'm not sure he will need that much unless he does increase the Gross.
I didnt build my new shop last year because of the economy. Its dirt with a foundation. Ground work is done but I held off on the 350,000 dollar build.
I own the dirt and rent the building next door to a tile contractor. He went from 500gs a month to 55 . he is back up around 365 again and climbing, but his flipping houses is what has kept him afloat. ( also got my rent paid)
I have empty homes and commercial places I own. I purchase all the buildings I have ever occupied. Rent is a great way to start and I did rent my first place and had the oportunity in times like this to buy. I struggled to get the 5000.00 together for my first place. I sold it for 475,000 to a large corp four years later.
I will never say Dj has made a poor choice, early on the rent motivated me to sell. The fuel sayings payed the rent. Separating the work place from home is a great thing. It will give you focus to follow thru with busines plan.
If you didnt have the landscape biz and couldnt find your own house to accomidate I like the idea.
Owning your own home would be a investment for the future. The tax write off would be great also. The lease is a great write off also, but no future in leases.
Increase your gross and try to raise your net is the name of the game.
Make the location work, use the store front to market for sure.
I think your going to be ok, 600 like henry said is not a huge commitment. If it becomes a burden dont be affraid to cut loose.
Good Luck Dj, I think all in all your going to make it work. Nice Shop
I didnt build my new shop last year because of the economy. Its dirt with a foundation. Ground work is done but I held off on the 350,000 dollar build.
I own the dirt and rent the building next door to a tile contractor. He went from 500gs a month to 55 . he is back up around 365 again and climbing, but his flipping houses is what has kept him afloat. ( also got my rent paid)
I have empty homes and commercial places I own. I purchase all the buildings I have ever occupied. Rent is a great way to start and I did rent my first place and had the oportunity in times like this to buy. I struggled to get the 5000.00 together for my first place. I sold it for 475,000 to a large corp four years later.
I will never say Dj has made a poor choice, early on the rent motivated me to sell. The fuel sayings payed the rent. Separating the work place from home is a great thing. It will give you focus to follow thru with busines plan.
If you didnt have the landscape biz and couldnt find your own house to accomidate I like the idea.
Owning your own home would be a investment for the future. The tax write off would be great also. The lease is a great write off also, but no future in leases.
Increase your gross and try to raise your net is the name of the game.
Make the location work, use the store front to market for sure.
I think your going to be ok, 600 like henry said is not a huge commitment. If it becomes a burden dont be affraid to cut loose.
Good Luck Dj, I think all in all your going to make it work. Nice Shop
DJ Carroll
Member
Where did this guy go? Now he's telling all of us we are "unprofessional" in "his" opinion.
It would be funny if we didn't already know the sad way it's going to end.
DJ, my son will make more NET this year than you did. (And net is what counts) He started his first commercial contract in April of this year. He has zero debt, has spent less than $1000 on promotional materials and pays all his own bills (via a percentage to me and I pay his insurance through our corporate policy). You've got a year on him and ALL your education (he has a GED), but he's kicking your butt. There are three other contractors on PWI that started after you who reached your goal for 2010 THIS year! One of them is doing $300k!
These people LISTEN to other SUCCESSFUL people - not people who CLAIM to be successful, not teachers who want to SHOW them how to be successful - Not ORGANIZERS who don't even own businesses, not professors who despise the idea that anyone in this country is making a dollar. They listen to successful people.
You used to listen to successful people too.
But, you know what, even in this old post there is a lot of patting yourself on the back.
Yes, DJ, you are marketing genius, if by marketing you mean renting a space where you can put up a marketing shrine and worship yourself.
Are you drunk?
Tony great for your son but honestly i don't give a flying rats ass about how much he net, gross, buys, sells or what ever.
How bought this? Is he power washing or is he building a business? I am going to say he is just washing like his dad. . . Tony your son may net more than me this year .. (woowhoo!) but lets compare in 5 years? These board are a lot of talk and only time will show who can walk the walk. Could have i sold more this year hell ya, BUT my company wasn't ready for the growth. I am creating a training program, safety program (good luck getting osha to certify your yard as a place of business lol ) flow charts, business plans, cash flow projections everything a business NEEDS to GROW and SURVIVE! Hell tony if some one did 300k fantastic, I DON"T CARE!!!! You see I have a new way of looking at things, you may call it patting my self on the back or what ever but I'M ROCKING bro and i'm not gonna let any one else tell me different and the sh!t you posted is only fueling the beast!
See you in five years bro! Then we will compare success !
DJ Carroll
Member
Thanks John !