I'm New, I'm New... I Don't Know What To Do...

JimFergerson

New member
My name's Jim and i've been lurking around on this fine forum for a few weeks now. Must say, so far everyone here has been very polite and professional.

I decided a while ago to start up a powerwashing business in Phoenix. Everywhere I go I see potential work that really needs to be done. A few years ago, I owned a window cleaning business in Boise, ID and because of the weather conditions there, it did well for about six or seven months out of the year. I am quite confident that I can develop a solid customer base here also.

Presently, we only have about $3,000 for an initial investment on a rig. With this in mind, it's looking like it's going to be COLD water for a while. We've already created a feasible "business plan" and it looks pretty good on paper.

To start-up, we plan on concentrating on power washing store fronts and cleaning windows on local businesses. We plan on cleaning, coating and sealing concrete garages, driveways and sidewalks as well. I doubt on turning down many jobs anytime soon, just so that we can gain valuable experience and get "in" on a few accounts. Obviously, biding low can be very bad for business, (yours, mine and ours). It's just part of the plan.

This last week I visited the Landa sales rep, Greg Sprunk down at Superior Cleaning Equipment in Phoenix, picked his brain and got some really cool advice on a cold water set-up, as well as a bid for brand new equipment.

We've been searching Craigslist, looking at trailers, cold water rigs and tanks. We haven't seen any descent complete set-up's here that is in our budget yet. We have our sights set on a 5'X8' 3,500lb. single axle trailer that can be easily custom built in "stages". The vision is to mount a 225 gallon tank over the axle and mount the cold water rig and hose reels on the back, leaving ample room in front for a hot water skid in the future.

If we do go this route, we will be needing advice on mounting and proper set-up...



I've already learned alot here just by going thread searches. But now I have a few more detailed questions that need to be addressed.

Thanks for having me here and I'll contribute when I can!
:victory:
 
Jim, Welcome to the board. Your way is pretty much how I started up over 10 years ago. I bought a cold machine and a 4by8 trailer. We started doing residential. If you can find a hot machine for comericial you will do a better job and and move a little faster. You trailer should hold the weight. That is the size trailer I started with a hot machine. Good luck.
 
Jim, it's not easy to work commercial accounts with cold water due to the gum. I have an app on my phone that searches Craigslist daily and there are a lot of hot water trailers down in your area going for under $3k.

I spent over $10k on my first decent machine because I didn't know anything about repairing them. Thanks to sites like this that is no longer a problem and many fixes can be done in the field.
 
that can be easily custom built in "stages". The vision is to mount a 225 gallon tank over the axle and mount the cold water rig and hose reels on the back, leaving ample room in front for a hot water skid in the future.


:victory:
You don't want to get to heavy in the rear of your trailer. It will start doing the wut ohhhh"s on ya. You need more tongue weight from the cl of the axle than you on the rear half of the trailer.
 
Howard sold AAA over 2 years ago Ron. John Fitzgerald bought the company from Howard. John is rarely in, so Jim I suggest you speak with Phil, the general manager.

Go see Howard at aaa, truly great folks. Also call russ from the bbs. You will save alot of dollars.
 
Jim, welcome to the forum and the mad, mad world of PW'ing.

You are absolutely correct, plenty of properties in the Phoenix area that desperately need cleaning. Problem is most of those properties are suffering financially, as are most of the commercial properties and rarely have the funds for exterior maintenance.

As far as sealing and coatings, you will need a ROC license, bonding, workman's comp insurance, ect.

By no means am I trying to discourage you Jim (hell, your name is Jim and you're a fellow Irishman. You are more than welcome to call me any time, come hang out during one of our projects, etc. I am always willing to help. But Phoenix is a tough market, especially in this economy.

If your budget is at $3000, you can find a decent used hot water trailer system. I'm approached monthly by offers of business owners wanting to sell their company or some of their equipment. Check with Rickey Brothers auctions.

Don't waste your money on a cold water system, especially if you have any intentions of cleaning concrete and removing gum without doing irreversible damage to your customers concrete, which could cost you (and your insurance company) a bunch of money.

Have you priced insurance yet ? Most commercial properties will require 1 million/2 million liability, 1 million commercial auto, 1 million umbrella and 1 million workman's comp. Our insurance premium is well over your $3000 starting budget.

My name's Jim and i've been lurking around on this fine forum for a few weeks now. Must say, so far everyone here has been very polite and professional.

I decided a while ago to start up a powerwashing business in Phoenix. Everywhere I go I see potential work that really needs to be done. A few years ago, I owned a window cleaning business in Boise, ID and because of the weather conditions there, it did well for about six or seven months out of the year. I am quite confident that I can develop a solid customer base here also.

Presently, we only have about $3,000 for an initial investment on a rig. With this in mind, it's looking like it's going to be COLD water for a while. We've already created a feasible "business plan" and it looks pretty good on paper.

To start-up, we plan on concentrating on power washing store fronts and cleaning windows on local businesses. We plan on cleaning, coating and sealing concrete garages, driveways and sidewalks as well. I doubt on turning down many jobs anytime soon, just so that we can gain valuable experience and get "in" on a few accounts. Obviously, biding low can be very bad for business, (yours, mine and ours). It's just part of the plan.

This last week I visited the Landa sales rep, Greg Sprunk down at Superior Cleaning Equipment in Phoenix, picked his brain and got some really cool advice on a cold water set-up, as well as a bid for brand new equipment.

We've been searching Craigslist, looking at trailers, cold water rigs and tanks. We haven't seen any descent complete set-up's here that is in our budget yet. We have our sights set on a 5'X8' 3,500lb. single axle trailer that can be easily custom built in "stages". The vision is to mount a 225 gallon tank over the axle and mount the cold water rig and hose reels on the back, leaving ample room in front for a hot water skid in the future.

If we do go this route, we will be needing advice on mounting and proper set-up...



I've already learned alot here just by going thread searches. But now I have a few more detailed questions that need to be addressed.

Thanks for having me here and I'll contribute when I can!
:victory:
 
Tony, Tell me more about that "app". You always get all the cool new toys first !!!!! :bow-down:

Jim, it's not easy to work commercial accounts with cold water due to the gum. I have an app on my phone that searches Craigslist daily and there are a lot of hot water trailers down in your area going for under $3k.

I spent over $10k on my first decent machine because I didn't know anything about repairing them. Thanks to sites like this that is no longer a problem and many fixes can be done in the field.
 
Now, I Feel Welcome!!!

Surprised to see so much traffic on the forum and thanks for everyone's input!


Yes, I totally agree that hot water is better on grease, gum and graffiti. But we still haven't found any descent hot rigs in our price range. I'm constantly on C/L checking posts under "pressure washers" and "trailer mounted pressure washing". Am I missing something? We are however, quite aware of the two Landa skids in Mesa though. I see great potential in either one of the units. Please feel free to PM me a link to something that comes up that we would be interested in.

In the mean time we plan on talking to the boys at AAA and BBS. Checking auctions is another great idea.

Interesting point about commercial exteriors. We stopped off at the grocery store tonight. I thought that it was very odd that the parking lot, sidewalk and entry was disgustingly filthy, while after walking through the double doors, we noticed that the floor tiles where clean enough to eat off of.
Destined to be a PW'er... Perhaps!

We haven't got that far into our business plan to account for insurance yet. We're still tweaking a few details, such as requirements to do concrete sealing and coatings. Thanks for the heads up on that one!

As far as being discouraged about the market, we're not. We've considered how the economy has effected the service business. We haven't actually been out in the "trenches" to get the full effect yet. I am still pretty confident in my salesmanship in the window cleaning business that I had. Hopefully, that may help keep us afloat until the economy comes back around.
And speaking of being in the trenches, thanks for the invite Jim, my wife and I we're quite blown back with the offer. However, Ferguson is Irish and in my case, Fergerson is actually of Scottish decent. Back in the day, we would of been at war over real estate. But the feud is over now, so we should be cool!
:yes2:
 
I'm actually part Irish and Scottish, so I've been at "war" all my life, but always willing to help anyone. The offer always stand Jim. My schedule is crazy, but feel free to give me a call and I'll make time to hang out with you and take your down to meet Phil and John at AAA.
 
I'm actually part Irish and Scottish, so I've been at "war" all my life, but always willing to help anyone. The offer always stand Jim. My schedule is crazy, but feel free to give me a call and I'll make time to hang out with you and take your down to meet Phil and John at AAA.


How often do you come this Way Jim? AAA is a hike for you
 
Maybe once a month. Sometimes I have Phil drop parts and stuff off at my house since he lives down the road from me. Sergio and Matt will come to me 24 hours a day for service calls. I usually have one or the other on call during long, 24 hour a day weekend projects.

I know Howard had been doing some outside sales for AAA, but that's about it. Howard called me about a year ago and wanted to do all my sales for me.
 
Maybe once a month. Sometimes I have Phil drop parts and stuff off at my house since he lives down the road from me. Sergio and Matt will come to me 24 hours a day for service calls. I usually have one or the other on call during long, 24 hour a day weekend projects.

I know Howard had been doing some outside sales for AAA, but that's about it. Howard called me about a year ago and wanted to do all my sales for me.

Howard is Good!!
 
Back
Top