JFife

Don Marler: That is a successful practice. That is what TruGreen/Chemlawn does. I browsed around a branch one time, and learned how their system works. Here is what they do: 1) People go door to door and generate leads, and I assume take necessary measurements. 2) Take to office, and then their telemarket employees call them, and define what the "generator" found, and what TruGreen suggests, and I believe you give a cost. 3) If you don't give a cost (cannot remember) I think another closer goes out to your home and seals the deal, and signs you up to a contract. Pretty smooth operation. JEFF: ....LOL, you sound like me and Ken F. We were talking on the phone yesterday, and I was telling him how my thinking is always 2-3 years ahead, but I have trouble getting the minutia of everyday work done. Sounds like you kinda have the same problem. It is called being a big-picture thinker, and can be good if harnessed. Ken advised me to work on current-time management, and get the work you HAVE to get done first, then allow yourself some free time to "let the wheels turn". Keep thinking ahead!

Mike-- Isn't DECKARE a franchise?? Are you the franchisee or franchisor?? Yazbird, IMO you are asking a lot of Q's that can only be answered by experience. Such as knowing the difficulty of a strip job....just takes experience. And ya know what?? You'll still get some wrong. A learning curve where you win some and lose some, but the more exp. you get, the more you'll win.

LOU-- I'd also like to see some more info, whether it be pics of your jobs or a link to distributors/classes for such. Some of us in the middle of the country are always the last to get into the latest craze, so it is nice to keep abreast of what is out there. Frankly, I've never even heard of concret polishing. Sounds interesting. Don't hear you guys saying much about acid staining?? Is that not popular?? That is the look I like, I've seen it in several restraunts.

Been thinking same thing as Rich.....aside from the fact it makes me feel like a communist Democrat, I like the idea of paying less/perking more. My thoughts are gas cards, vehicle, phone, .....what else is there?? Too much more, and I'd definitely start feeling like a socialist. Any other ideas??

Point #1: A "paper" certification means nothing, unless the purchasers know to ask for it. So in our biz, the pwna/kec/wrapi could advertise all day long, and by the end of most of our lives there'd still be no recognition by the general public. Maybe, just maybe, if in a hypothetical situation a purchaser was split 50/50 with you and another Co., couldn't decide what else to make a decision on, so finally goes with the one with more certs. A wild hypothetical. Point #2: So a cert. that IS of value would be one like for hvac, basically stating that unless you've got certain govt certs, you are performing work illegally. I imagine to get to this point, you need Union assistance and DC lobbyist. So it is also not realistic for the Pwashing industry. Point #3: In log homes which I do most of my work currently, there are three major suppliers of LH products, and anyone that owns a LH has most likely heard of them, and probably has some of their products on their house. I HAVE had people ask me if I was certified by these Co.s, and I've have people HIRE me because I was certified by one or more of these Co.s. How does that relate to Pwashing????? Considering decks.......every homeowner has heard of Thompson Water Seal. Recognizable name. Probably have a certification course. Thing is....anyone worth anything RUNS from Thompsons, and says how aweful it is. So the only Companies with household recognition (thompsons/behr), is not used to tout certification. And the Companies that DO produce good products, won't (in our lifetime) be able to create that kind of recognition.

steve r, .....start a post in "blabbering" about your hunting trip, pics included.

I'd say if someone was working fulltime pwashing, as in working full weeks, all year, and they are making less than 50k, they should fix something to increase the amount of money they make. That is not very much if you are self-employeed......paying your own retirement, health, etc. If you aren't working hard, that is another story. Some may only work 15-20hrs a week, and that is their only job, and make 50k. To me, that sounds reasonable. And I wouldn't blame someone for wanting that kind of life. I think Rob's numbers of 50%-60% would be close as an owner-op. But in his example, with him having two crews, I'd say more like 35% profit would be expected (assuming he doesn't do any physical work).

....and if you are the sole provider, or not.....if the wife also makes 50K, no kids, 100K a year for a couple ain't bad. Rob, when you say "50-60%", out of around 200K gross, that is labor as well, correct?? Basically what you are saying is that out of 200K, you "took home" 100K??

aarrrgggghhh, DON"T YOU HATE THAT!!! That happened to me on Deckguide today, and I also gave up. About as disheartening as it gets. Would you PM me your #?? I'd like to call you tomorrow, I'd like your take on proposing a budget to decision makers. If that doesn't work, let me know a time to call you, thanks,

Try trailer companies........and depending on your location, it makes a huge difference. Trailers are significantly cheaper in the middle of the country and prices go up the further from there you get. I've heard of prices on the west coast for trailers than dropped my jaw.

I agree Bill, "E-MYTH" is the best read a guy in our line of work can get their hands on. Jeff--might be money well spent to fly Ron M. into town for a consult. Get him to sign a non-compete beforehand:) j/k

RCBill: (for the record, I always enjoy your posts and they are always enlightening. Come here more often!) Can you go into your spreadsheet theory again?? I guess, please SPECIFICALLY define what it is you are telling Jeff to do, and how exactly you'd go about it. And please expand on what you are saying about creating a "budget" for the PM, and why this would be so meaningful to them, and why they would appreciate it so much. I am working on a similar type proposal, where essentially the ruling body is telling me, "tell us what all needs done, how often, and how much it will set us back." While the freedom is nice, this type of thing can be intimidating without parameters. Am I over-shooting their budget and over-maintaining?? Am I not producing as much for my company as I could by being too cautious in my proposal??

.....I understand there are about 20-25 different catogories to place your deductions in. It saves on your accounting fees. Do you have a link for this?? I keep everything/anything, but am always looking for ways to be better organized, as that is a problem of mine.

Ken, WHY NOT deduct off the wall expenses?? They are yours to deduct! Like you said, you wouldn't lose a bit of sleep if you got audited. I wouldn't either!! So worst case scenario--you deduct, say, a trip to Europe because you handed out several biz cards in transit and on your stay, to work towards establish the impending world-wide dominance of PressurePros, while eating hotdogs on the French Riviera. You get audited, you fight it out, you lose, and you pay back the money with a penalty and interest!! It's not that bad! When I was either 18 or 19, I went the year and didn't file taxes at all. Nada. I finally filed a few years later and with the penalties, etc., it probably cost me a few hundred dollars. No men in black suits outside my door. I say, get guerrilla with your deductions in a good conscience, unless you need to show a high income, like my example about buying a home. IF YOU ARE PUTTING MONEY BACK IN THE SYSTEM, YOU SHOULDN"T BE TAXED FOR IT!!! Matt---don't apologize or delete anything on my behalf. I love good arguments, and you are holding me accountable on what we probably agree would be ethical issues, moreso than tax-related. Post whatever you want to say to me or about the subject, makes for good debate. If I was insulting I apologize. I think Canada would be a nice place to live:). Continue with your point--very conscientious, meaningful, and shows you take your ethical standards seriously. Yazbird, healthy debate is GOOD, ENTERTAINING, and GETS RATINGS! What else do you have in mind in the realm of deductions??

Matt, The difference between me and you is that you willingly overpay. I bet you do report EVERY CENT of income, but do you report all of your deductions???? Are you sure??? Is your accountant sure??? Since the laws change, umm, constantly??? You live in fear of not reporting, and therefore overpay, probably rediculously. I'm sure your accountant is as patriotic as you are and is glad to see the govt get their hard-earned money. Who said anything about not voting?? Calm down. "Revved up" is one thing--saying things that make no sense in another. Move to Canada.

.....a guy's gotta stay in shape for this biz.....sounds good to me! Deduction!

I deduct anything imaginable---hair cuts, gym membership (need to use it though:)), LOTS of meals, etc. I can adjust it if it is wrong and I ever get audited, but I think one could make good arguments. One thing you need to think of, however, is your credit. If you pay taxes on 20K in income, and decide you want to buy a house, start trailer shopping. And to get a home loan like a normal person, i.e. banker, you have to show two years of being at a certain income level. Self-employment does have it's drawbacks. And if you ever want a bank loan for you biz to grow, you'll need to show net worth, which means owning things. So while it is tempting to show next-to-nothing on your return, sometimes it will bite you.

RyanH is going to think I am some kind of creepy stalker for remembering this, but a few years ago he stated something that has held a lot of weight with me: (paraphrase) "how generous I am on my taxable income is in direct relation to how good of a job I personally feel the govt is doing with the money at that particular time." That was a para-phrase, but if it is not accurate to the spirit of RyanH's past comment, I hope he'll correct it. I'll notify him that I plagerized his material:) I also do a "common sense" approach to the exact nature of my taxes. I don't like to feel shady, but I also don't go overboard. For instance, if someone gives me cash on a job, I don't fret. However, if I don't have a CC or checkbook and have to pay cash for gas, if the machine doesn't spit out a receipt I don't go nuts either. But I think this is a question that plays more to the specific "type" of person you are.....I am a big picture person, and don't get caught up in the "small stuff" of life, i.e. a little cash here and there. I doubt someone that is highly detail-oriented would have this same feeling.

....went to Dave O's site, seems like a decent product!! Which begs the question, why would a company with decent products hire a moron like this to sell for them??? I doubt they know it, so tomorrow I am going to send an email or call the Parent company and either copy this to them or link them to it. One as stupid as this deserves to be fired, so I am going to try and make that happen. And if this IS the owner of the biz, the wheels will fall off soon enough. Maybe he'll start a roof cleaning biz!!!

thanks DK and Beth, it took me a couple days but I finally figured it out:)

I've always thought the hardest products to use on decks are those "barely film formers", i.e. Superdeck, most linseed products, etc. Personally, I'd rather something be totally penetrating or totally surface. Probs I've had with the "barely" products are those aweful "high" spots.....areas where stain was applied heavier initially, therefore don't absorb material, and it sits on top....so you have some areas that have pentrated and some that have stayed on top and flashed. At that point, you are stuck doing another wet-on-dry coat to make it all surface, or else it is blotchy. TWP will even slightly do this....but it is easy to correct. The other issue I have with these products is their more difficult application. I'll include WTW in this due to the app. guidelines that have been discussed, though I'll be the first to say I have no hands on exp. with the material. The "barely" products are harder to apply....spraying rails you need to keep off floor or it will cure out, etc. My problem with that is not guys like us....it is the people you have working for you. These products almost set them up to fail. That would also include custom mixing in my mind. Whether it is custom pigment adjustment or custom water mixing, the more rules, the more there is to screw up. Again, I don't care for myself, it is when you are trying to 'splain it to employees who barely care anyways......seems the "screw up factor" will be raised.

I'd like to know who the true "King of Post" is........the poster that has posted the highest number on all the boards TOGETHER. My guess is Ron or Beth......actually, it is about 2am, I cannot sleep, and I just happen to be bored enough to try and find the answer. The boards I'll be adding together are TGS, ***, PWN....those are the biggies. Stay tuned.

testing....... doestn't work?? Clicked, had to download, Clicked on the first of four downloadables, Clicked "save" as opposed to "run", computer saved it to Desktop?? Finished downloading, said "complete", I Closed,....now when I click on the Spell Checker it still says I need to download???

testing spell checker......

You still in biz in Charlotte???