Informal Poll about business start-up time

L

Lynnie

New member
This is for all of you out there that are established in the pressure washing business.

I was wondering about how long it took from the first opening day of business to when you actually got a job to do? I know this is a pretty subjective question.

I've been "open" for a month now and I've been putting out the business cards, flyers, ads, and cold-calling. Nothing yet. I know there will be the stories of "How they were beating my door down to give me business" to "I might as well been on the moon".

The up-side is I still have a full time "job" and have that to keep me going. The down-side is I want this to take off and fly so I can dump my "job".
 
Lynnie,

We were fortunate to have some work lined up when we opened.

Who are you targeting with your ads and flyers? It may have something to do with the time of year if you are targeting residential markets. (deck cleaning, house washing, etc.....)

We do some small fleet accounts in the winter. Maybe you could find a couple of small van fleets or busses to get you going?
 
Well Like you heard before we were also lucky to have a few jobs lined up before hand. That was nice. I do know the feeling you are going through, after the first two months business really slowed down to where I was lucking to get one job a month. It was a very hard time on me and my family( lucky my wife had a good job). In fact it was so hard I knew it was time to change the direction of my company. See I used to do flat work and homes, but that really was not working for me. SO I stop and started to think of an other way for me to make money doing this. I talked to the one guy and told me how he used to clean hood and vents. I thought what do I have to lose He taught me how and I have now been cleaning them for only 4 months now and I have tons of people calling me now. I never thought business would be so good. Before I used to call the head of maintence for this big chain stores now they are calling me. WOW!!! I guess the moral of this story is don't give up your time will come. It might take a while but when it comes hold on to your socks because you are going to be rockin.
 
Lynnie,

I also had some work lined up when I bought my first machine. Did you call your friends? Get your high school yearbook out and call everyone you can remember & then go back and call the ones you don’t know. Call all friends and relatives and tell them you have started a new business and your looking for work.

Do a couple commercial accounts for free, shoot wont matter sounds like your spending a lot of time handing cards out anyway. Giving someone a testament of your work will work better than talking about it. Some don’t like my methods but that’s ok because there are a few who have taken this advice and now they have lots of monthly accounts. Use it as and ice breaker.


Hears a couple more ideas,

1. Flyers
2. Mailers
3. Sign on trucks
4. A-frame signs
5. Get on the phone
6. Cold calling customers (commercial)
7. Live demos
 
OH yea I forgot do some free demo's like Ron said. not only will it give you practice but once people see you out there they will start to get interested. Also make sure you have a sign with your company logo and info. on your trailor or truck. This will help out a lot. When you do a demo make sure you do it in a place where it will be noticed stores are not goin gto want just one clean section of concrete, once they see how good it looks they just might hire you on the spot. It worth a shot.
 
Lynnie,

One word about those free demo's, be picky on who you offer to do them for. Don't go to the first little mama and papa store offering a free job since you would/should know they are not going to hire you on a montly basis.

Offer them to the type of account you want to service monthly, I am assuming you want commercial/industrial work and not home owners so target them.

Or should I say simply target the type of client you expect to be working for, if you want homeowners don't send,call or fax retail businesses.

If done right a totally free job pays for itself many times over once you land the account, I know as I have done them and so have others.
 
I really appreciate all the responses. I guess I needed to hear about others experiences to put mine in perspective. I know that there is business out there. I stepped in right in the middle of a double whammy. Fall/Winter season and a "recession". Thanks for the support. I'm shooting for commercial work and some fleet washing. I'll keep you all posted. Again thanks.

Lynnie G.
 
Lynnie,

Perhaps I am wrong, or could it be that I live in Southern California which seems to be unafected by the rest of the country.

I feel that if you are out there going after your target area then the work will follow and come to you, fall, winter, spring and summer.

I know it is harder for those in the truly cold climate but seek and you shall find.

It did not happen to me over night as I did not seek hard enough, now I know what I want and have been very aggressive in going after it and getting it too.
 
Be sure to put your name on your truck. I do this as a side job and I have been working all I can for one customer because they saw me go by with my truck and trailer, got my phone number and called. I will be back there after the first of the year and by the sounds of it that is all I will have time for then also.
 
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