Mike Williamson

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Exactly. Though I'm not an armchair accountant either, I actually do accounting for part of my living. That being said, I'm not a tax account or a CPA, but I do know that for the vast majority of small businesses, S-corp is the way to go. I didn't say it was a bad idea, I said it was stupid for most of us (pressure washers). I'm sure there are possible work-arounds to some of the problems, but why not just file the S-corp election form, and not worry about how to work around the rules? Are there benefits to being a C-corp that would benefit your typical one-shareholder pressure washing company that aren't available to an S-corp? I don't know of any. Since you "know what you are doing", enlighten me!

Because with a C-corp, the corporation pays taxes on net income. While you may draw a salary from that corporation which isn't taxed at the corporate level, any owner distributions ARE taxed both at the corporate level as net income, and at the personal level as personal income. You're double-taxed. That doesn't happe with an S-corp. Say your company is a C-corp. You had $100,000.00 in billings last year, paid yourself a $50,000.00 salary, and had $35,000.00 in other business expenses. That leaves the corporation with a $15,000.00 net, taxable income. I don't know at what rate you're taxed at the corporate level, but let's say 20%. You send off your $3,000.00 tax payment (which doesn't include your taxes on the $50k salary). Say you decide to take that remaining $12,000.00 in corporate profit as an owner distribution and buy yourself a really cool home theater system...That money is then considered personal income, and you're taxed again on the $12k on your personal tax return. The benefits of being a C-corp wouldn't apply to most (or all) of us.

In what way? What I'm asking is, what can I write off as a corporation that I can't as a sole proprietership (and yes, I'm incorporated). The tax rate is the same, unless you're a C-corp (which would be stupid for most or all of us). For an S-corp, the corporation net income is carried over to the owner's personal return, and taxed at whatever tax rate their taxable income puts them at.

Yeah, the Coress is plenty rigid, and fairly light, just expensive! The coress used to be the absolute best out there, but I hear there's a new wand out there now that's even better...the RX somethingorother. :rolleyes:

If you do more than one regular commercial job, you do more than me! I have a grand total of ONE commercial job, every two weeks, and the chlorine does all I need for that one...little to no gum (1-2 pieces, max, if any).

Now you can understand how I feel about hot water!

What are the financial advantages to incorporation?

The stories are mostly overblown...It really isn't as exciting as some make it sound.

Chippendales???? :eek:

Take Don up on this offer if you can...He knows what he's doing and is a good teacher. One thing, though...He absolutely LOVES Hooters, so you gotta buy him lunch. ;)

I was serious about this part...That's what I did when I was starting out (and I'm sure many others here). I think I spent every free moment I had for literally weeks reading back posts about everything I could. These boards have saved me SO MUCH trial and error and aggrivation over the past 3 years.

Yep! It costs me about $1.12/gallon. I'm sure that in some cases I'm using more than I need, but it keeps me from wasting time adjusting my mix when the weaker mix isn't effective. I typically use 5 gallons or so on a housewash, so it isn't a real cost factor.

Using Steve's wax, I don't have to worry about dilution, I can add it to the housewash rather than waiting until after I rinse, and I've never had a complaint about windows...It's basically the same wax you use at the DIY carwash when you turn the knob to "wet wax". The ONLY problem I have had with it (and it really isn't a problem) is that it tends to knock down the sudsing action of the soap. I just add some of his alkaline foamer, and that solves the problem. I don't use it on everything, just cases where a shine will make a difference. If I'm cleaning brick, or stained wood, or siding painted with a flat paint, I don't bother since I have never seen a difference. Why waste chems.

Oh lighten up. Some good information mixed with a little lighthearted sarcasm.

LOL...Nevermind. :rolleyes: If I'm downstreaming, I use either straight chlorine (10.5%) or a 90/10 mix of pool chlorine and soap. If I'm Xjetting, I use 2 gallons of chlorine, 1 gallon of soap, and water in a 5 gallon bucket.

Hey, why do you call him Mike but me Mark? :) Yes, bleach will work, it's just less convenient and usually more costly.

I believe that's the one, though I don't recall it having a lemon scent!

For housewashing, I applay chemicals using a downstreamer, and sometimes the M5 Xjet. I use 90% pool chlorine 10% citracleen (soap) in the housewash when downstreaming. When Xjetting, I use 50% pool chlorine, 20% citracleen, and 30% water. For roofs, I applay chlorine with a 12v shurflo pump, typically starting with a 30-40% mix. Yes, scrub everything. The best thing to use is a small hand brush, though I have heard that a good toilet brush works well too. My best advice is to simply take the next few days and spend HOURS reading back posts in the housewashing and roofwashing forums, and as many other forums as you can fit in. There's a HUGE amount of information here, you just have to want to take the time to read it.

Ditto what Tony said. If you use chlorine in your housewash mix, you should have a much easier time getting rid of webs and cocoons, and you'll also chase away the resident spiders (though more will come back).

Not sure about their products, but I use a wet wax product from Steve Rowlett ( www.rowlettpressure.com ) that works GREAT on vinyl, shiny aluminum gutters, and gloss/semi-gloss painted surfaces. I just use a few ounces per bucket of housewash.

Boy, isn't that the truth.

That's the other issue...I have one small storefront that I do every two weeks, and they pay very late...and this is a small company. I've currently suspended washing until I get paid for the 5 cleanings they owe me. Other commercial accounts have paid very quickly, but they were one-time cleanings. In the past two+ years, I have had to send out a total of 5 late notices for residential (after two weeks) and have never been stiffed. The longest I have waited to be paid is 30 days, and that happened once. I get paid on the spot about 50% of the time, and most of the other 50% get a check to me within 5 days.

Where did I say I wanted steady jobs? I don't have a problem keeping my schedule filled with residential, condos, and daytime commmercial. That's my preference, though it does mean that I have to constantly work to keep that schedule filled, as opposed to knowing what I'm going to be cleaning on a given night 11 months from now.

I do, when I need some chems...