Its time to speak up

Big Parker.... I'm still not sure if he's real. He's the only member on this board that I've seen refuse to sign his posts. You can post anything if you don't have to account for it.

I've noticed Bryan Exhaust has a combination of certificatons now, Phil and IKECA. Was this for marketing, higher education, or was last year just good enough that you had some money to burn, "I'm tired of paying my salespeople so much, let's send Phil some moolah." ;)

2 years have brought many changes around here. One thing that hasn't changed however is our pursuit of oriental grease.:cool:
 
"Parker, I don't do hoods but I just read this thread for the fun of it, and it is inspirational to see the way it started and what has happened for you three yrs. later. Everyone reading this should, no matter what they felt about the tone of your posts, admire that kind of ambition and determination. I've been down about a sale I lost a week ago, and this thread has re-motivated me. Good job!"

A very kind thank you for your comments. Among bickering with a few individuals on this board (with the few posts I have made) it was never my attempt to gain praise from anyone on this board.
So thank you for your acknowledgements.(sp?)
You lost a sale and that sucks so feel free to vent your frustration here, I AM LISTENING!:)

"Big Parker.... I'm still not sure if he's real."

I am purely a myth. As a mater of fact what your reading now is not even real. You are imagining this whole post. If its O.K. with you I will be as real or as fake as you want. Proof of my existence is solely at your own discretion.:)

"2 years have brought many changes around here. One thing that hasn't changed however is our pursuit of oriental grease"

Pick Up Stix (an oriental restaraunt in CA) has asked me to do a hood cleaning for $175.00. I told them I will bring two trucks, 4 service techs, 2 pressure washers plus all equipment and we will have the work done in 7 hours. If that is not good money than I don't know what is!
I have a relationship with Oriental grease (its how I got my start) but now I look at it and say "Your dead to me, now I have to turn my back on you!" And then I just walk away!

"5000 hood cleanings a year!!!! Holy crap! You are turning in to Big Joe Parker."

I have never been so insulted! Big Joe? Now that hurts. Here I am with my ego flying nice and high thanks to John Fifes comments and now- BAM, I have been shot down. Oh Well, it was nice while it lasted!

I looked at our number of services last year (not including re-dos) and we did 4,368. According to NFPA 96 certification for Big Joe licensing cannot be met until services rendered are at least 4,369. Whew! That was close. Maybe we can get all these certification groups together and they can make Big Joe licensing easier for us all. Now only if the fire marshalls just cared!
 
Mbryan,

Your numbers are right on and my general rule that I am now following is exactly what you mentioned. 4 full nights a week and give them a nice break, otherwise they burn out.

That being said,I have one crew that works six nights a week every night, and I have another crew that has worked 65 nights in a row (they are going to try to break my record). That has made me a little ambitous to expect more from my other crews and in the long run that has cost me. There has to be a "standard" you expect from your crews and if you push them too hard then it can backfire.

Now that being said, my two top services techs are going to make over 50k this year and thats pretty good so when they work harder they make more but you still take a chance on compromising quality if you overwork your crews. I won't deny that alot of growth and overworking my crews has lead to my share of headaches.

Now that being said, I also installed GPS tracking in all of my trucks and my company changed right in front of my face. The GPS trackers had no effect on my guys who were doing their work right. But a couple of my guys that had the GPS trackers who had been "fudging" things, no longer could. This had a major effect in that one of them was fired because the GPS showed me he was up to no good. The other just fell apart because the GPS forced him to do his job correctly and he couldn't hack it. For any of you who have lost two full time service techs at the same time, well, you know the chaous that ensues. But in the long run my company will be better for it!

Now that being said, (if I remember right I have been accused of rambling on)
my point is:
1. Don't overwork your crews
2. Don't put in GPS trackers unless your ready to get rid of some people
3. Pay your guys what they are worth
4. Pray everynight one of your guys doesn't:
crash into anything
leave a $600 toolbox at a job
leave the work shell open and have a new $600 toolbox fly onto the
freeway
crash into the back door of a restaurant
ruin a fan or a hood
____________________ fill in the blank

Employees are the most difficult part if this business or any business once you hire them. Can I get an internet high five if you feel me!

P.S.
If DM stands for who I think it does, he was the size I am now like 12 years ago. He must have GREAT employees!
 
Parker finally a person that thinks the same as me.I have been followed to my chemical place to getting low balled just a few weeks ago.I am not as big as a company as you but i do know where you are comeing from.I started my company in 1997,I learned hood system cleaning when i was about 16 and i am 35 now.The person i learned from been in since 1973.My main accounts are chinese,japanese,thai mexican,indian,american grills and so on.I do the systems that people dont want or are to afraid of doing.I do these systems on my own no one to help but me,a matter of fact a chinese last night got there at 9pm and got done around 9:30am.mostly alot of scraping you know the burn you get in your arms and legs but keep going.I believe also the bbs's are letting these things happen as well.Now dont get me wrong it is good there is a place to talk and bs but the info. being shared to anyone spawns these lowballing hacks.Not long ago a surface washer called me in a middle of the job i was being nice but was tring to dicourage him from the game.Cleaning flat is nothing like hood system cleaning.He says his work is slow so he want to try hood cleaning and wandered if he could come to where i am at to trade labor for learning funny thing he lives 3 hours from me i told him thats my back yard he says it isnt and told me when i am interested give him a call,HUH? I have a fun hobby i like doing the new restaurants i collected the old hood cleaners tags just to see how many hacking low ballers are in the area.And there are alot more then you and i think.Good thing is my customers know how to inspect a system and know everything about it which helps when they get the itch to go to the lowballing hacks they usually call back in about a year,my customers know me very well about personally if you know what i mean.Now about inspectors and insurance agents that is the wrong road somewhat.See they dont want to here from you to them you are just no body they will only listen to bigger.These on line certifactes and what ever is just a big joke to me they give up a mass of cash or have it financed then not long later they come out i think you see the hacks evry couple years or something.Funny i just busted a fire marshall when i inspected after a hood cleaner and come to find out the inspector was there that day,well made an apointment showed my findings and the headmarshal sent him out again to reispect,but alot of the res. around my area is this way just beyond.I worked hard for everything i got and how far i got,in my area my customers feel that i am the best hood cleaner they have seen in the area,all my business is only threw word of mouth some of my sustomers took years to find me they got tired if the hacks and want the person back that they can trust which is me.I completly agree with everything you are saying,man people trade secrets should be like a date got to get to know then first and you still dont give all.There are some that give up everything ,what do they give you for your years just to get where you are at,nothing.:thumbup2::thumbup2::thumbup2::thumbup2::clapping::clapping::clapping:I would like to go on but i dont want to offend anyine anymore.
p.s. and for the low balling hack thats roaming my area i am coming hard for you be ready!!:nono::smash::duck::triniti:
Marko
 
is that i knife in my back?

cleanhoods said:
Parker finally a person that thinks the same as me.I have been followed to my chemical place to getting low balled just a few weeks ago.I am not as big as a company as you but i do know where you are comeing from.I started my company in 1997,I learned hood system cleaning when i was about 16 and i am 35 now.The person i learned from been in since 1973.My main accounts are chinese,japanese,thai mexican,indian,american grills and so on.I do the systems that people dont want or are to afraid of doing.I do these systems on my own no one to help but me,a matter of fact a chinese last night got there at 9pm and got done around 9:30am.mostly alot of scraping you know the burn you get in your arms and legs but keep going.I believe also the bbs's are letting these things happen as well.Now dont get me wrong it is good there is a place to talk and bs but the info. being shared to anyone spawns these lowballing hacks.Not long ago a surface washer called me in a middle of the job i was being nice but was tring to dicourage him from the game.Cleaning flat is nothing like hood system cleaning.He says his work is slow so he want to try hood cleaning and wandered if he could come to where i am at to trade labor for learning funny thing he lives 3 hours from me i told him thats my back yard he says it isnt and told me when i am interested give him a call,HUH? I have a fun hobby i like doing the new restaurants i collected the old hood cleaners tags just to see how many hacking low ballers are in the area.And there are alot more then you and i think.Good thing is my customers know how to inspect a system and know everything about it which helps when they get the itch to go to the lowballing hacks they usually call back in about a year,my customers know me very well about personally if you know what i mean.Now about inspectors and insurance agents that is the wrong road somewhat.See they dont want to here from you to them you are just no body they will only listen to bigger.These on line certifactes and what ever is just a big joke to me they give up a mass of cash or have it financed then not long later they come out i think you see the hacks evry couple years or something.Funny i just busted a fire marshall when i inspected after a hood cleaner and come to find out the inspector was there that day,well made an apointment showed my findings and the headmarshal sent him out again to reispect,but alot of the res. around my area is this way just beyond.I worked hard for everything i got and how far i got,in my area my customers feel that i am the best hood cleaner they have seen in the area,all my business is only threw word of mouth some of my sustomers took years to find me they got tired if the hacks and want the person back that they can trust which is me.I completly agree with everything you are saying,man people trade secrets should be like a date got to get to know then first and you still dont give all.There are some that give up everything ,what do they give you for your years just to get where you are at,nothing.:thumbup2::thumbup2::thumbup2::thumbup2::clapping::clapping::clapping:I would like to go on but i dont want to offend anyine anymore.
p.s. and for the low balling hack thats roaming my area i am coming hard for you be ready!!:nono::smash::duck::triniti:
Marko
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hey marko,

it's me...the surface washer you are bashing. yes it is true that i called you and asked if i could spend a day with you. i told you that the market appeared open in my area and i wanted to see if this was something that i might want to expand into. i do not recall telling you that business was slow. i do this part time so if business is indeed slow then i have the opportunity to work overtime at my full time job. i always have work available whether it is washing houses or doing electrical troubleshooting for goodyear tire. you were very courteous on the phone and gave me alot more information than i asked for. you also told me to call you any time and you would be happy to help me. i had no idea that being 3 plus hours away from you put me in your "back yard". you said that you would discuss the proposal of me spending a day with you with your wife and i told you that if you and her agreed to it then please call or email me back. i also told you i understood if you didn't agree to it. forgive me for venting but this post just hit me wrong since it was me that you were talking about. you were kind enough not to mention my name but since i have nothing to hide i'll tell on myself but i'll tell it like it happened.

rando
 
rando said:
hey marko,

it's me...the surface washer you are bashing. yes it is true that i called you and asked if i could spend a day with you. i told you that the market appeared open in my area and i wanted to see if this was something that i might want to expand into. i do not recall telling you that business was slow. i do this part time so if business is indeed slow then i have the opportunity to work overtime at my full time job. i always have work available whether it is washing houses or doing electrical troubleshooting for goodyear tire. you were very courteous on the phone and gave me alot more information than i asked for. you also told me to call you any time and you would be happy to help me. i had no idea that being 3 plus hours away from you put me in your "back yard". you said that you would discuss the proposal of me spending a day with you with your wife and i told you that if you and her agreed to it then please call or email me back. i also told you i understood if you didn't agree to it. forgive me for venting but this post just hit me wrong since it was me that you were talking about. you were kind enough not to mention my name but since i have nothing to hide i'll tell on myself but i'll tell it like it happened.

rando
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Rando i wasnt bashing i was just proving a point you called for free info and i said in my post i was trying to be nice but discourage you at the same time like i said if you are going to get into this clean everything al the way and if there is a bend look above the ceiling for an access panels the advice i gave you was to protect you and the customers you plan on dealing with.You told me the residential side of powerwashing was slow and you didnt tell me that you was powerwashing part time you made me think you have been powerwashing full time for i think 15 years you said.I was not meaning to discredit you as a person just expalining what i go through,before you someone from indiana calle dfor advice but i think he is just an 1hour and half from me and before that a company followed me to my chem dealer and we talked and seemed like he understood the game all he was after was my chem went to my dis. and said i sent him there when i didnt thats a thief.for you you seemed like you are good people threw the phone but dont know.dont take any offence but the way you said things to me on the phone is different then what you are talking now.
Marko
 
cleanhoods said:
Rando i wasnt bashing i was just proving a point you called for free info and i said in my post i was trying to be nice but discourage you at the same time like i said if you are going to get into this clean everything al the way and if there is a bend look above the ceiling for an access panels the advice i gave you was to protect you and the customers you plan on dealing with.You told me the residential side of powerwashing was slow and you didnt tell me that you was powerwashing part time you made me think you have been powerwashing full time for i think 15 years you said.I was not meaning to discredit you as a person just expalining what i go through,before you someone from indiana calle dfor advice but i think he is just an 1hour and half from me and before that a company followed me to my chem dealer and we talked and seemed like he understood the game all he was after was my chem went to my dis. and said i sent him there when i didnt thats a thief.for you you seemed like you are good people threw the phone but dont know.dont take any offence but the way you said things to me on the phone is different then what you are talking now.This is the exact quote from above"Not long ago a surface washer called me in a middle of the job i was being nice but was tring to dicourage him from the game.Cleaning flat is nothing like hood system cleaning.He says his work is slow so he want to try hood cleaning and wandered if he could come to where i am at to trade labor for learning funny thing he lives 3 hours from me i told him thats my back yard he says it isnt and told me when i am interested give him a call,HUH? "exackly what i said in this one you miss read or something.And the about my wife i said that i doubt my wife would agree to something like that but i will let her know about it and come to find out i was right.This is a hard business it is not a part time business which i would have told you that if you let me know and as you know in the country you always use your invite manners unless you dont like the person or something.I know i dont explain things to well but that is callled a jesture,i seen people tell me come on by and dont know where they live its just a jesture.
Well sorry you feel that way and hope your part time hood cleaning business goes well.:wave2:
Marko
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Tony Shelton said:
This is very strange.

Looks like there are distinctly two camps.

One camp is willing to help others.

The other camp wants to keep everything secret.

It's a good thing there is a home for both camps now.
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I am saying just giving away your years just like that dont work cause you never get any advice back that benifits you.I dont mind helping but i dont like to just give without first knowing about that person better,You know meet and great them and there family.Nothing wrong with bettering the industry but it is wrong to send out people with no exper. to do this line of work you should know shouldnt you>?:speechless:Man it seems typing doesnt work cause everyone interpits how they feel it sounds to them:thud:believe me i am not meaning harm but if you was going through what i am going through especially as hard as i have to work to keep the system right then you lose a few in one area due to someone cutting me less then half you wouldnt be to perky eather about the all out sharing,advice and like parker said if you are cool with someone pm or something but this info on these sites is in the way going to hurt alot of companies,hard times people will try anything,heck i know house washers going threw the same thing they are everywhere with there lowes pw just undercutting big time what can you do to stop it in the kec side of business?:hug:
Marko
 
cleanhoods said:
cleanhoods said:
Rando i wasnt bashing, i was just proving a point. You called for free info and I said in my post I was trying to be nice but discourage you at the same time, like i said if you are going to get into this clean everything al the way and if there is a bend look above the ceiling for an access panels.

The advice I gave you was to protect you and the customers you plan on dealing with. You told me the residential side of powerwashing was slow and you didnt tell me that you was powerwashing part time. You made me think you have been powerwashing full time for I think 15 years, You said.

I was not meaning to discredit you as a person, just expalining what i go through, before you someone from indiana called for advice but i think he is just an 1 hour and half from me and before that a company followed me to my chem dealer and we talked and seemed like he understood the game all he was after was my chem. went to my dis. and said i sent him there when i didnt, thats a thief.

For you, you seemed like you are good people, threw the phone but dont know. dont take any offence but the way you said things to me on the phone is different then what you are talking now. This is the exact quote from above "Not long ago a surface washer called me in a middle of the job. I was being nice, but was tring to dicourage him from the game. Cleaning flat is nothing like hood system cleaning. He says his work is slow, so he want to try hood cleaning and wandered if he could come to where i am at to trade labor for learning. Funny thing he lives 3 hours from me. i told him thats my back yard, he says it isnt and told me when i am interested give him a call, HUH?" exactly what i said in this one you miss read or something. And the about my wife, i said that i doubt my wife would agree to something like that, but i will let her know about it and come to find out i was right.

This is a hard business, it is not a part time business, which i would have told you that if you let me know. and as you know, in the country you always use your invite manners unless you dont like the person or something. I know i dont explain things to well but that is callled a jesture, i seen people tell me come on by and dont know where they live its just a jesture.
Well sorry you feel that way and hope your part time hood cleaning business goes well.:wave2:
Marko
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Marko, I needed to make it easier to read bro,
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oneness said:
As one who is new to the pressure washing business, I'd like to make a point or two. Let me preface by saying I don't do hoods and I'm not looking to do hoods. Who knows if that will change in the future.

Granted, there are guys out there who think they can go buy a Home Depot pressure washer and some bleach and start a pressure washing business. A lot of them think it is great that they can make $20.00/hour doing it, since it is a lot better than the $8.00/hour they were making working for someone else. A lot of them also aren't doing things correctly and will wind up either damaging someone's stuff or going out of business.

Those are the guys who for the most part don't come here. Then there are those of us who want to get into this business the right way, who want to learn how to do things the right way, and who want to keep prices fair for everyone. Why would I want to make $20.00/hour when a lot of guys are making $50.00+/hour? Am I thinking I can grab a Home Depot pressure washer and some bleach and have a pressure washing company overnight? No, I don't think that, thanks in large part to the information I have been able to get from this board. I have been "starting" this business for three months now, and have yet to land the first job. Why is that? Because I have been spending that time learning from the wealth of information generous people have posted here. I have spent that time finding and purchasing a quality pressure washing rig, and playing with that so I know the particulars of my equipment. I have spent that time ordering samples of chemicals and trying them out on my own stuff, so when I screw up it is my stuff I screw up, not someone else's. I'm working towards getting started in the spring, with a HELL of a lot better foundation of information than I would have had this board not been here.

You say people shouldn't share information, since it is a "secret". How else is a guy like me going to learn, short of going to work for someone else making $8.00/hour? That $8.00 hour isn't going to pay my bills, and I don't think I'm going to find a job working part time doing pressure washing at night and on weekends for someone else. There are quite a few guys on here who started out part time while working regular jobs, and who learned a lot of the basics from this and other boards. They also seem to want to improve the industry by doing things the right way and by keeping prices fair.

If everyone who shares information here just stopped helping people like me, you'll wind up with a lot of people like me who are going to do it anyway, but without the benefit of the guidance that so many here are selflessly willing to give. I've seen a lot of people tell others like myself "Call me, and I'll help you with that". To me, that kind of guidance and help is valuable. I can muddle it out on my own, or I can learn from someone who has already muddled it out on their own.

That's not to say that there is any substitute for hands on experience. The difference between someone like me and someone without the benefit of this board is that when I start getting the hands on experience, I'll already have a certain amount of knowledge of what to do and what not to do. The other guy will have to muddle through it on his own and hopefully won't screw up anyone's stuff too badly in the process.

What are you going to do about lowballers? Nothing. I agree with Clean County in that your reputation is going to speak for itself. If a lowballer steals an account but doesn't have the equipment, knowledge, or experience to do the job correctly, that job will very likely wind up back in your hands after while, or in the hands of some other qualified person. There's always going to be guys with a cheap pressure washer in the back of their truck trying to underbid jobs. I don't see that networking is going to make them stop.
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Mike Still around?
 
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