PressurePros

ah, I see what you are getting at, Mike. Check out envirospec, they sell ready to run setups.

Yeah Robert, that is an outustanding flyer. Did you do the design?

Why reinvent the wheel? The Shurflo does what you are seeking and as its a low pressure sprayer, its safer to use from a ladder. On top of that it can be ordered with the proper chemically resistant seals and valves. Final point.. its pretty cheap for what it does.

LOL, some people have way too much time on their hands.

Thats typical for those places. Next!

Holy crap, the fifties?.. Let me ride down there with some propane and thermal blankets! I heard Jeb might declare a state of emergency. You FLorida guys are so spoiled. I would pressure wash in my skivvies at 50 degrees. C'mon up here and do some KEC when its 15 with a wind chill of 10 below on an icy roof and you'll redefine cold. Now that's Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr !!

paint, KEC, light carpentry, come up with a million and one marketing ideas for spring

Carolina, around here a cedar deck that size would cost about $7-8K to build depending on the contractor.

Thanks for the input so far guys. At first, I didn't even think this was remotely high. The problem is, this deck took me too long so my numbers worked out but I don't want to screw customers either. Using paint estimating software which includes staining decks, it comes up with an estimate of $1300+ so I'm not sure whom to believe. I think alot of people in this business short change themselves and that the true fish stories come from guys believing that their total times are far less than they are in reality. Not pointed at you, Tony. If you could get it done that fast, I admire your speed and experience.Maybe you could help me out and give me some pointers on tightening up a little. Stripping: 3.75 hours 25 minute setup and breakdown (deck was in back no truck access..175 ft of intake and supply, mixing chemical (no chem tank), spray down and cover surrounding vegetation) 45 minute chemical application (didn't have ShurFlo yet..pump up sprayer. Alot of this time was spent waiting for dwell and reapplying to keep it wet) 120 minute rinse. I am maybe too anal about this part. I get down and under every nook and cranny. I make sure every bit of sudsing is also rinsed clean. Is this neccessary? 20 minute acid bath and rerinse 15 minute cleanup washing out sprayers, discarding plastic, rinsing plants Staining 6 hours 10 minute setup 30 minute deburring (Cedar) 5 hours staining (this is where the problem lies I see.. I hand apply all stain by rag, hand rubbing all rails and every nook and cranny underneath rails) 20 minute cleanup Materials: 5 gallons Cabots stain $106, Stripper $25, Acid $8 $139 Labor: 1 helper $97.50, myself $438.75 $536.25 $139 + 536.25 = $675.25 (labor and materials) Add 50% of costs to cover expenses. I think this is where alot of people go wrong. This is a markup, not a final profit margin. I am an employee of my company and am paid as such (albeit at an exorbitant rate of $45/hr). My overhead with advertising, sales expense, gas, vehicle maintenance, vehicle insurance, equipment maintenance and depreciation, health insurance, liability insurance, workman's comp, taxes, employee uniforms, new equipment and chemical storage come in around 30%. So adding the fifty percent markup to my labor/material rate is yieding that 33% that covers expenses.

What would you get for a deck that size in your area, Tony?

To get things rolling, here is my my breakdown on this job. I "pay" myself $45/hr. I averaged the square footage to about 650 Strip/Brighten labor rate = $.35/SF (650 x $.35=$227.50) Strip/Brighten material rate = $.08/SF (650 x $.08=$52.00) Stain labor rate = $.45/SF (650 x $.45=$292.50) Stain material rate = $.20/SF (650 x $.20=$130.00) 227.50+52+282.50+130=$702.00 $702 plus I markup 50% to achieve a gross profit of 33% ($351) $702+$351= $1053 For the sake of marketing, I made this job come in at $995

Gavin, a "for example" : You like hockey... The business buys season tickets to your favorite team. You give away a few each season as a customer promotion. Deduction as a business expense, no income tax. Having an accountant is great and I assumed you had one, but the key is one that can push the envelope and still put his signature at the bottom of your forms. All tax liable income I generate is spent through the business. When the business is "broke" and I need equipment I loan the corporation money. I then have the corporation pay me back with interest (another deduction for the business and a way to "pay" yourself)

You really shouldn't have any taxes the first few years. Or at the very least a very low liability. Uncle Sam expects the first 3-5 years of a startup to be red or break even. I cant and won't get into the intracasies of deductions but it helps to have an accountant that is bold and knows the tax laws well.

Thanks for the input, guys. Ryan, I am buying the business outright as a cash deal. Owner is very motivated to sell. Her husband is approaching retirement age and he has been recently diagnosed with cancer. They want to move to Florida. We have been negotiating this sale for a few months. She has had offers from others but she personally knows both my sisters and feels comfortable turning the clientele over to them. I'm going to open things up tommorrow at 200k. Wish me luck.

Thanks, Beth. I thing this is my fault for miscommunicating. I have done all the research, hired the entire team to investigate I don't even buy a house without a lawyer being present at seettlement. I personally have a degree in economics. The franchise is completely viable, it is the number one franchise in the world currently and is rated as best by every particular group that votes on such things. Every number has been verified, tax records scoured, I have sat in the business and personally watched the customer count. Its complete green light. Based upon the numbers I have given I am looking for opinions as to what anyone whom is reading this would think was a fair offer. (ie you own this franchise and I am coming to you cash in hand....what number would you seek?) I will just get to the nitty gritty and stop being vague. My advisors are ultra conservative. They have come back with a number of 180k. I think that is way too low and I am fearful of shutting down negotiations before they even get heated. This is the first time I have bought an existing business but I have sold a few. I always asked for at least a multiple of 1.8 to 2 times the yearly net. Is this still accurate?

No Henry, I'm not getting out of pressure washing. I enjoy it too much. Though, at the same time, my customer count is not even in the same league as yours. This is strictly an investment that will be run by my sisters. I have some expansions slated for 2005 with PressurePros, Inc. None of which will dramatically grow the business overnight, but will strengthen the appeal of a "one-stop" company for home maintenance. Now I have to add, I enjoy a modest, comfortable income but I definitely look forward to the day when I can say adding almost four thousand dollars a week to my pocket is no big deal.

Hey Ryan, yes I know all the incurrent fees..the monthly franchise, advertising coop etc. This business has been established in its current location for three years. The initial transfer fee is 1% of the selling price paid to the parent corp. The only part I am hanging on is the offer to the current owner. Last year the business grossed 240 and is on track for a Dec to Dec this year of almost 275.

I have my employees fill out a card asking about bee sting allergy, current medications and allergies to meds, and emergency contact info. I keep them in a file on each truck. The only thing you may haave forgotten is calmine lotion for those days when you roll around in the ivy.

Henry, I believe you. I have not missed a close yet. All my work is referral so I think those jobs should be a given (how can you lose a sale when a customer is coming to YOU?). I am without a doubt the highest guy around, period. I am not ashamed of that as my customer service, professionalism and workmanship are all top notch. Its all in the salesman's ability. I am not talking snake oil and smoke up the ass rhetoric. Genuinely believing in your product, showing up on time, following up immediately with customer concerns and spending time with people are forgotten arts in the service industry. I never do more than one job per day and thats the way I like it. I hear so many guys saying they drop their pants on price and still don't get the jobs. Hundreds of millions of homes, driveways, decks, buildings, restaurants etc out there and they all need some type of cleaning sooner or later. Noone can tell me you have to give away the farm just to get a customer to say yesand I don't care what part of the country you are in. I have trained alot of salespeople and many say the same schtick. Is it usually an unwillingness on their part to ask for the sale (ie CLOSE the SALE) Some people seem adverse to making money, I just cant figure it out for the life of me.

I would never charge for an estimate. I would hand out dollar bills on the street just to have someone listen to my sales presentation. I get invited to a home and have a captive audience. If I don't land the sale, that is my fault, not the homeowners. I think the last thing you want to do in service sales is make the customer feel pressured by hanging a charge over their heads. I never give the customer ballpark quotes either (though some people are persistant) After evaluating the square footage, conditions and materials needed I prepare an extensive estimate and either hand deliver it to the customer wherever possible or send it priority mail with a few before and after pics included. Using this method I have closed 100% of my estimates. I am the highest priced company on residential work too.

Thats what I was thinking, Classicpw

Good luck Dale. We had our differences, but it was fun coming over to Jersey and seeing you in action. Hope everything works out well for you.

That walkway must be a real party to walk on when its wet.

500 miles is long way to go for work.

I have been here for about 4 years. Hows business out in Vegas?