Some questions:
Some answers:
Q. How do you survive the winter when it’s cold and there’s no snow?
We do not do snow plowing. Some years we borrow a lot of money to carry us through. Some years we get a lot of inside work.
Q. What are the best add-ons with the equipment you have?
For us it has been exhaust systems, flatwork, paint removal.
Q. What can we do to take some/all of the burden of wastewater recapture?
Let the customer to assume the liability.
Q. Why don’t they/EPA make it easier for us to comply?
That is not their job!
Q. How do you keep your help in winter when there’s no work?
Pay good employees anyway! Make-work for them around the house, shop, equipment upgrades, etc.
Q. How long after you started in pressure washing was it that you didn’t have to think would I have a job next week? How did you get to that point?
Lets see, I’ve been in business 18 years and still have the problem!
Q. Where do you get the most bang for your buck as in advertising?
Yellow pages.
Q. Is it really best to wash only 1 or 2 types of things say just wood or just fleets, etc. It sounds like it is.
We never have done just 1 or 2. I prefer to stay within an 80-100 radius. We are in a very rural area, so hard to specialize!
Q. How did you learn the biz!!!!!
Researched this business for over a year. My background is in transportation of liquids and hazardous materials (compressed gases, solvents, etc.). Already had a familiarity with transportation equipment (fleets), pumps, hoses, etc Bought out another fellow. Got customers and equipment all at one time.
Q. What was your biggest mistake and your best triumph?
I never have put my mistakes in a “List” or biggest! One that I still do after all these years is not listening to my gut, or not paying attention to it all of the time! I have allowed myself/company to do things that I had a bad feeling about right from the start and then did it anyway!!
Of course saying to myself "Maybe your gut isn't right this time!" Sometimes I have looked in the mirror after it was too late and said, if my wife hasn’t already told me, “I Told You So!”
Seeing systems that I put together work in concert with one another and make money for my little business!
Q. What one thing would do the most good for you in this biz? Not to include insurance costs or $$$$? I mean just in the powerwash biz not everything that affects every biz.
Get some younger (get it done quick/now) healthier (less hindrances to growth) blood involved in the administrative part of my business.
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Ron P.
Dave Olson
