Multi Truck operations - what was your..

[Scott S.]

What was your biggest huddles?
Toughest problems?
What to watch for?
What not to do.
and what i should do.

Im just looking for advice, from serious sources.

I'm adding a second van to my op and 2 employees need some guidance as to what to and not to do, and what to watch out for. Was hoping you guys could help.

 

[Scott S.]

how do you compensate your employees for add on services?
how do you keep track of them cleaning when and where they are supposted to be? and not cleaning for themselves.

we are looking at PayChex for payroll prices seem reasonable.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Im just looking for advice, from serious sources.

Well that ruled me out right there.

I'd get with Tom King he has talked about someday coaching "serious" cleaners that want to build their business. Fly in visit, go through his operations and then he works with you to achieve your goals. I'm not sure if he is at that point of offering it but if I were you that's where I'd start my search.

 

[Captain America]

Approximate net profit:
Sole owner no worker-50-60% profit
1 owner - 1 worker= 40 % profit
2 workers 2 vans- 20-30% profit
What is going to be your job ? Worker manager, manger only, build sales......???

 

[Scott S.]

im building like crazy, i dont need the how to guide on how to clean, im looking for the how to on having employees.

 

[Scott S.]

ill still be cleaning with one truck

 

[Mikey P]

Dont hire Larry Lunchpails.

Did you listen to the Tom King and Brian Hanna interviews?

 

[Scott S.]

unfourtionatly no. I've been out working every single day/night since may.

 

[Scott S.]

Dont hire Larry Lunchpails.

Did you listen to the Tom King and Brian Hanna interviews?

Youtube video of them i hope?

 

[Desk Jockey]

Approximate net profit:
Sole owner no worker-50-60% profit
1 owner - 1 worker= 40 % profit
2 workers 2 vans- 20-30% profit

Net of what though? If you're running multiple trucks your sales should reflect a huge increase.

 

[Mikey P]

Youtube video of them i hope?

Yep..

On the MB channel

 

[Captain America]

Biggest problem. IMO is hiring workers. Training workers and keeping good workers.
Talking to other owners have the same problem, it's about the only thing you can't control.
I have heard so many stories of bad workers or finally getting a good worker
And then the worker leaving and starting his own business....
If you find a good employee pay him well and keep him, you may go through a few before you find one.

 

[hogjowl]

If you're not going to answer any of his questions, why are you here?

YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!

 

[mirf]

Biggest mistake: Thinking I could do it without securing the office first. The client calls answered from the field is a greated problem than I thought and outbound marketing toke a back seat.

 

[Scott S.]

i have an office manager, she can and does take calls, schedule jobs, does online marketing, social media. Shes the reason i've been so busy.

 

[Scott S.]

What was your biggest huddles?
Toughest problems?
What to watch for?
What not to do.
and what i should do.

Im just looking for advice, from serious sources.

I'm adding a second van to my op and 2 employees need some guidance as to what to and not to do, and what to watch out for. Was hoping you guys could help.

So anyone here have answers to any of these questions that are serious?

 

[Desk Jockey]

What was your biggest huddles?
Toughest problems?
What to watch for?
What not to do.
and what i should do.

1) Hiring & managing employees

2) Watch your expenses, run a tight ship

3) don't blow a bunch of money on marketing before testing to prove its worth the expenditure

4) Start a business plan from scratch.

What is your goal (begin with the end in mind)?
How do you plan on achieving it?
What actions are needed to implement it

*Marketing drives sales, just spend every penny like a miser.

ummm did you call Tom King yet?

 

[Scott S.]

1) Hiring & managing employees

2) Watch your expenses, run a tight ship

3) don't blow a bunch of money on marketing before testing to prove its worth the expenditure

4) Start a business plan from scratch.

What is your goal (begin with the end in mind)?
How do you plan on achieving it?
What actions are needed to implement it

*Marketing drives sales, just spend every penny like a miser.

ummm did you call Tom King yet?

haha, no ive worked all but 5 hrs since i posted this thread, and i spent that sleeping after doing 4 jobs yesterday evening. got home 1am

 

[Desk Jockey]

haha, no ive worked all but 5 hrs since i posted this thread, and i spent that sleeping after doing 4 jobs yesterday evening. got home 1am

Scott Scott SCOTT! Excuses, we all have them but action is what is needed for change.

Did you really need 5-hours of sleep? Come on 2-3 should be sufficient!

LOL J/K

 

[Scott S.]

to be completely serious, i got 5.5 hrs from sat moring till monday, so yeah missed a night and a half of sleep because i was working non stop trying to keep up.
just landed a ton of work for this weekend which was already booked.
when it rains it pours.

 

[Desk Jockey]

All in good time, don't stress it.

Make notes throughout the day while you're out in the field. Use your phone and just set a reminder with the note in it.

I'm constantly making notes...otherwise I forget "what was once so important". Winter is coming so you'll have plenty of time to get it all put together then but all of this pre-planning isn't wasted time. This is info you will need to make the plan with anyway.

 

[Scott S.]

if this winter is like last winter i wont have time either, haha, especially since the new van can run in super cold temps,

 

[ruff]

1) Hiring & managing employees

2) Watch your expenses, run a tight ship

3) don't blow a bunch of money on marketing before testing to prove its worth the expenditure

4) Start a business plan from scratch.

What is your goal (begin with the end in mind)?
How do you plan on achieving it?
What actions are needed to implement it

*Marketing drives sales, just spend every penny like a miser.

ummm did you call Tom King yet?

One of the few times I am not joking.

Do everything that Richard suggests. It's golden. And comes from a wealth of experience.

He's one of the most knowledgeable, helpful, thoughtful and generous people you'll ever find.

 

[Desk Jockey]

He's one of the most knowledgeable, helpful, thoughtful and generous people you'll ever find.

You're just sucking up so Mr Wood Chuck will come out.

 

[ruff]

Grasshopper. It refers to the attention span

 

[Desk Jockey]

It refers to the attention span

Yea I have a short one.

Chuudd up @Nate The Great

 

[Louis]

Employees need goals that pay. Not goals to keep their job. If that office girl can make money for bringing in a higher percentage of new work she will have you to 3vans before you know it. Every company that has happy employees pays well or gives them the opportunity to make more.
I worked for Kodak for 10 years. Saved them lots of money. Way more than I was paid and did my regular job. Only thing I got was a good review. Purses and shoes are not cheap these days.

 

[Scott S.]

im hoping i can buy another new van and tm next fall and replace my rage with another pro1200.

what benifits do you guys offer your employees?

bonuses for upsells of other services on same appointment? (carpet protectant, additional carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning)
bonuses for booking of additional services on a differant appointment?


What do you guys pay your techs?

 

[Desk Jockey]

im hoping i can buy another new van and tm next fall and replace my rage with another pro1200.
what benifits do you guys offer your employees?
bonuses for upsells of other services on same appointment? (carpet protectant, additional carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning)
bonuses for booking of additional services on a differant appointment?
What do you guys pay your techs?

Just don't put the cart before the horse. I went to an SFS class and a nice gentleman there had (3) Vortex's and no clients. I think he made the purchase trying to beat the capital gains tax. But still THREE machines sitting and a staff that he was paying to get trained but not one job had been processed.

Build it with the Pro 1200 and Rage then upgrade as needed.

We really aren't carpet cleaners and so the majority of our incentives relate to processing restoration work.

 

[Captain America]

Set financial goals net profit not gross profit and see if you can reach it with 1-2 vans or 1-2 employees.
I talked to 2 multi- truck companies in this area they gross about 400-500 k, but making only about 60-80 k profit which is about what I make fulltime with one van and owner operated.
Just depends on what your goal is??
More gross does not = more net profit