PressurePros

Rail looks like you just built it. You are officially indoctrinated as a woody. They must put something in the water out in the midwest cause between you, Reed, Shane and others you're making us east coast guys look bad.

James, check around, these things are gold mines. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to do the math. 900 members paying an average of $30 per month. Then go to Curvesinternational and look up the going prices. no joke, my friend.

Jon, valid question... A franchise like Curves cannot have men in it, besides they run themselves with a good manager. I have run retail operations on regional management level for years and I dispise being indoors and stuck in one place. On the same note, I don't plan on being on my knees, sweat dripping off my nose in 110 degree weather much longer. I do the field work because I have to know the ins and outs of my operation before I expand it. You will be seeing some larger industry moves from PressurePros over the next couple of years. I have already introduced consumer line products in a test market and this spring I am doing the national intro via the net and a couple of Northeast key player paint stores. After that, the franchising of my entity has definite appeal.

We bought it. Owner came back with 300 we found a happy medium and made settlement last February. We are currently around 910 members with 790 of them on check draft. I am looking for another one. Curves is an excellent franchise! Neil, your numbers are way off. Operational overhead is less than 10k per month.

Every year I say this, but if they don't win the bowl this year..........

Hey Shane, I have had some issues with products flash drying. Also considering this year my demographic switched to the uber properties along this huge resevoir ($2-$10 million). I don't think anyone in this area has less than 1400 sf. On these I like to do all the rails first. With the temps and all of these decks getting sun all day I have been splitting rails and floor into two days. Sometimes what comes off the rails is a drip and that is hard to blend if you are using a lighter tone. Also I have had just enough overspray hit the floor (and dry) to make a resistant bond on the surface with not enough pigment. When you try to go over it, you more than likely end up with shiny spots. Troy, once you spray a rail you will kick yourself for ever brushing or ragging. Your technique will get better and like Shane said, the right tips also make a difference.

Put a sheet on one side, spray, then backbrush. Reverse it for other side. I also mask the floor when I am doing this with another sheet so overspray doesn't get into the floorboards and cause problems.

That's funny about WalMart because whenever I am in the lot I see at least five people power dragging on their way to the door. If you go around back there are vast fields of half smoke butts laying around. I smoke, I like, it, no intention of quitting real soon. Does that give me the right to infringe on the fresh air of others? ..of course not. Does this mean the governement should control legal activities in my establishment? .. no freakin way.. Every day laws are passed and meaningless issues argued. Sadly, most of those laws and discussions involve petty issues and only serve to detract the american people away from the real things that are drastically wrong. Moreso sad is the fact that many of the laws take away another freedom of the person whom really pays to support this country..the middle class.

I actualy burst out laughing at nine... where do people come up with this stuff?

Nah, you just have a ton of stuff on your plate... I can completely relate. I go back and re-read some of my posts and think, damn I must have been in a bad mood, sometimes you have those days (weeks, months). At least you know you can handle whatever stress that business ownership can throw at you. Do you plan on going full time? (From what I have read from you, I think you'd do very well and I know you have been around for awhile)

I took Jon's advice and picked up an Osborne brush from the LogHome Stroe I think it was. It took awhile to get here but having used it five times I do like it. It is a bit heavy but almost as fast as you can move you get a very nice surface. I'm still playing with techique and rpm but I don't think it's a purchase one would regret.

The formulas are very effective for analysis for determining your true hourly rate. Like I said, experience is the biggest variable. If this job were to take you 11 hours you would not only have to charge $125 more than Rod, you'd also make about $15 less per hour. Good post

There are also scent aids to mask the smell of the chlorine.

I'll speak from my demographic. 1) High demand/low supply 2) Seasonal work 3) Most guys doing this have never heard the words: detergent, soap, or chemical Fixed expenses and experience are the true markers for hourly rate. When you enter a market you research going rates and determine where you want to fall in on quality versus quantity. After that, your hourly rate will depend upon your experience, how low you can keep expenses and your equipment. An example would be the first deck I ever did.. a 20x20. I didn't know about contractor chemicals or message boards or how to measure wood. Soemeone told me a buck and half a square foot so thats what I told the guy..$600 bucks. I spent $150 on Cabot's stripper, $210 on sealer, 4 hours to strip, 1 hour sanding and 6 hours sealing. I netted around $20/hr. Today I wouldn't touch that same deck for under $850. With the right prices on chemicals, labor, and sealer and the use of sprayers and experience I can have that deck done to perfection in six hours. Experience and the right tools have allowed me to cut my time in half and increase hourly rates dramatically.

I definitely have noticed many unpleasantries working with the new Cabot's formulation. I unfortunately was in the middle of doing a three tier project for a homeowner using Aussie Oil (a gazebo, a small deck outside a side entrance and an 1800 sf monster main deck) I used the new formulation on the main deck (all were Cedar) and the difference in color, spread rate, and color uniformity are noticeably different.

Standard sized postcard mailers are the cheapest and most effective way to advertise. It's a little bit of an initial expense having it designed and printed but you can do like Mike W mentioned in a previous post and hand adress a certain demographic and start with 500 at a time. I'm just going to be blunt here. Continue on your path competing with "major advertised competitors" and you will be out of business very quickly. At best, you will come to hate working your azz off and making pennies. If I decided to open a hardware store, how well would I do matching Home Depot's prices? The key would be to offer specialized knowlege and customer service to legitimize my higher prices, not price matching and hoping the people just roll in. These same people you worry about offending are, in all likelihood, professional people: lawyers, doctors, CPA's. Do you think they worry about hurting someone's feelings when they dish up their rates? Or, is it more likely they are confident that the service they offer to their customers is worth every penny? One rule of thumb in sales.. Do not sell with your own ideals (ie pocketbook) in mind. Just because you wouldn't pay a certain price for something high end does not mean there aren't plenty of people that will. I recommend every business owner attend seminars on the art of selling and practice practice practice. If you can sell yourself with confidence you can be successful in whatever endeavor you choose. If you are truly asking for advice, Adrian, then consider that advice before you argue it. Human beings will justify non-action for anything which is unpleasant. It is those that can step outside of these limitations ("I can't do it", "I'm afraid", "My market won't bear it") and do whatever it takes to succeed that become industry leaders and become financially independant.

There are always going to be people that think you are too high, no matter what you charge. Let the guys with the Walmart mentality handle them. The customers that shop for price have zero loyalty. They will go with the next guy if he is ten cents cheaper. I agree with the above posters. You may be devaluing your company by offering such below market prices. I too would not even give you a shot. Also you have to understand a couple of things. Your first year is hand to mouth. Most guys are lucky to clear 15k. Second, people are especially wary of contractors with no track record. As they kep seing your name in print, the recognition will come. The advise about getting a part time job is sound. Hang in there, Adrian.

Very nice growth this year for us.

wow, very nice, Michael

Having been around the pressure washing biz doing commercial work, residential and KEC for about 6 years I have stopped worrying about guys without a clue. They weed themselves out, usually before the end of a full season. All you have to do is look around at how many guys are selling relatively unused equipment. And these are guys that tried to do it right by coming to forums like this one. The promise of quick cash with minimal investment wil always draw the dreamers and hacks. Like Craid said, if you worry or complain about them, you are not doing enough to promote your own business.

Amen, brutha Craig!

Goin' Outta Business Sale

That privacy wall must have been fun. How much time did you have into that job?

very nice work.. I do like the look of freshly sealed ipe.

I think his reference and use of the word "ho" was actually an abbreviation for homeowner, Rod.