Jump to content

FCPWLLC

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content count

    481

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    3

Posts posted by FCPWLLC

  2. Posted · Report reply

    Most of the time "green" really isn't so green. In my cleaning business, we have tried several "Green " products only to find that they don't work. Require too much "green elbow grease" Might as well just leave the cleaner on the shelf and use only the elbow grease. The ones that do work are more expensive and cost gets passed to customer. In an industry where folks already think our labor is worthless, it's hard to pass on material expenses to keep labor up. Just won't work for the minimum wages. Won't pay my workers low either. Green is just another gimick in my opinion. With suppliers leading the pack.

  3. Posted · Report reply

    Sodium Hydroxide/Butyl mix down-streamed will allow for a low preesure rinse away of remaining oxidation.

    Only morons are still blasting Vinyl with high pressure. Lack of chemical knowledge caused this hack to resort to high pressure to try to clean with.

    Was the company uniformed? Modern Equipment? Professionally designed literature and Logo? Fully Insured with General Liability and Workers Comp? Was the Bill less than $400?

    Here's your sign....

  5. Posted · Report reply

    Daniel, A whole lot of what you think is negative or a bad economy just isn't true. It is coming through in your presentations most likely. Understand that recession proof customers don't look at things the way that you do. You see doom and despair. I see opportunity. My local phone book just delivered has 1/2 the cleaners in it that it did last year. Most of those 'technicians' saw the sky falling while Business owners like myself bought more equipment and spent on more advertising. It really is about how YOU are thinking that will hold you back. Not the customers. Our customers are the folks that are buying up the forclosed houses and getting them cleaned. They are of a different mentality than the folks that can't afford to clean the house BEFORE trying to sell it in this market.

    If you think it is a sin to be wealthy, you won't become wealthy. That simple. You see bad when you should be seeing opportunity. I raised prices AGAIN this year and am closing 80%+ on $400+ simple house washes. Less competition. Already being told that they tried calling others in last years directory and phones disconnected.

    I love it.

  6. Posted · Report reply

    Thad, you guys know I am very passionate about the industry and would love to join these chats. However, you gotta have 'em when I am awake. We hit the sack here at 9:00pm ET

    Let me know when you guys chat at a time that I will be available. Or THAD, just give me a call and I can bounce ideas for the RT off of you. I am doing some different things at mine.

  7. Posted · Report reply

    Yes.... It's not really Goverment interference but rather folks being held accoutable for thier actions. Too many hacks bypassing all the expenses that we(legit contractors) as contractors that take the high road and do the right thing by our customers and our businesses have to pay for. I simply can't compete when bidding against a guy that isn't paying for his Workers Comp because he knows that he isn't even acknowledged by the system due to not being required to Register.

    Oh forget it... I am not going to keep wasting my breath and rather going to take action here to change things. The only folks that I have talked to locally that were against registering/licensing were the guys that pay thier guys under the table or have no insurance to show financial responsiblity when performing work on someone elses property. The are the ones bidding half my bid due to the fact that they don't have to pay the same fees I do for employee related expenses etc... I like the idea of a Lawncare company having to secure seperate Insurance and License before adding Pressure Washing to its services offered. Like the idea that maybe we can stop the Car dealership from being able to buy a machine and having the washing done in-house by a $7-8.00/hr laborer spraying waste water right down the storm drain that empties into the stream our kids like to play and swim in.

    Not JUST ANYONE should be Contract Cleaners. It involves more than being able to turn on a machine and point a wand.

  11. Posted · Report reply

    Ken,

    I like it and the 2 minute length for me was appropriate.

    The big question that I have and I am sure you have already done the research on this. Is YouTube becoming a site where people are shopping for products. I go on YouTube for entertainiment (listen to music and etc.).

    Is there an agressive customer base following on You Tube?

    Google loves Youtube....

    With the right keywords in the title and description, youtube videos get great ranking on Google.

    Woodzotic googled.... woodzotic - Google Search

    on first page is the youtube video above. Just like craigslist, consumers don't actually log onto craigslist looking fo a contractor, but the lisings show up in the google searches for those contractors.

    Youtube is a great way to market your service if you use keywords in title and description.

  14. Posted · Report reply

    Rich,

    What are we looking at there?... a nights worth of needle point?

    Carpets and everything is ok now from my flood. Thanx fer asking. Trick with carpets is to get them dry within a couple day. Just a day even can see a place stinking to high heaven. I do combat with the 10% strength Lysol, heater, and snail fans. Was scary though as there was alot more then I bargained for. Water went through a few walls into two other areas of house and I really should of just thrown the lysol down into the flood itself for it to get into the wall framing prior to sucking up although that can make for foamage and more headache..

    Michael,

    Missed the pics the first time around..Where's your bike?.

    Shriners does good stuff, I commend you on your choice of charity work... My little ones are all in good health and another comes in less then a week. Can hardly fathom any them in need of a childrens hospital. Gotta count our blessings there.

    Mine is in the 3rd pic...3rd bike from left.

    Here it is also...

    08_road_king_a.jpg

  17. Posted · Report reply

    Good work can come from craigslist. I like it because it helps to lower you average cost per lead. If the free ad gets one call and another ad that you have paid $50 for gets one call then you have an average lead cost of $25. Of course that's just a simple version of the math involved. The internet has allowed me to afford to spend a little more on less effective forms of advertising found in print. Now you really can chalk up some things as "Branding"... LOL

  19. Posted · Report reply

    Ah come on guys..give time with humble heart.

    Product isn't really geared or discretely being pushed towards pro's alone. Lot's of newbie's come here and may want a packaged deal to browse through before getting deeper in...

    Kevin,

    That is where the problem is with this type of info. It is a recipe for failure. Never mentions Workers Compensation... Never mentions tax witholding, customer cost aquisition, return on investment of marketing, tracking expenses, closing ratios.... list goes on. Nothing about real business fundamentals. This is why our industry is heading toward where painting, landscaping and janitorial is at. Low margins and public perception that is simply cheap labor and no skill. This book will only create a week-end warrior to go out and blemish our industry some more.

    I mean telling folks to spray a roof while standing on trailer and having helper drive along is just plain amaturish. Friggin rent a lift and price work accordingly. Telling folks to spray chlorine and dawn detergent with a pump up sprayer... bad news.

    Done with this!

  20. Posted · Report reply

    I bought the ebook just so that I could give it fair review.

    Blueprint for how to be a Lowballer hack. I read it so I could be honest and give my fellow contractors a respected review. The pricing guidelines are the same that are all over these sites. Delco and Pressurenet etc. NOTHING that you can't find doing a search on THIS board. Some info actually amaturish.

    My review!

    If you don't want to take my word for it, just spend the $20 and read for your self. http://www. pressurewashingsecrets. com/

    I placed spaces in URL just so this site doesn't get use from another back-link.

  22. Posted · Report reply

    Have you checked out All Pressure Washers prices?

    They are the cheapest I have seen on the net. They are part of the Manufacturerer of the stuff, Pressure Pro out of Fort Pierce. The factory owns them so they have the best prices around for everything. They sell cheaper than anyone I hear.

    Check it out.

    joe

    Nice first post.... Please fill out signature. You could get mistaken for SPAM.:lgwave:

  23. Posted · Report reply

    Hopefully if I do it correct, you will not have to read my tribulations, But thank you for incinuating that you will be there to see me through them. Humility and organization are areas that I need a little work. I am very good with computers, microsoft excell, and web design. If I can add anything to anyones lives to make business easier ask me. I can program all kinds of stuff in excel just about anything you would normaly pay for, I can also help out with website problems and programing.

    I would love to join the diy forum

    First problem you could fix.... Please add a signature. :lgwave:

  25. Posted · Report reply

    Just got back home safe.

    Thanks to Tom and Barbara for hosting another get together.

    BIG thank you to Jack Kramer for sharing his experience and making us all aware of important issues that may need addressing with out insurance and hiring process. Thanks Jack for sharing. I'll be calling my agent in the morning.

    Of course I gotta say it was nice to see Scott Millen again as well as Ken Fenner. Great to meet Carlos finally. Robert H gave us all more of his environmental knowledge.

    Can't forget Jeff and Andy with his wife. Good meeting you guys.

    All in all, Great Round Table again

×