Mikey P
Administrator
that if you raise your prices you'll make more and work less?
How many years in did you realize...
- Thread starter Mikey P
- Start date
Dolly Llama
Number 5
donno about work less with mouths on the truck to feed besides my own, but figured out $69.95 for 2 rms and a hall res and $60 a pop 2bd rm empty apts didn't get it by year 4 or 5
(not at the quality we delivered anyway)
..L.T.A.
(not at the quality we delivered anyway)
..L.T.A.
Mikey P
Administrator
Paying a tech to spend an hour and a half for $70 earned you what, $5?
Cleanworks
Moderator
One of my first customers was a property management company with lots of rental apt buildings. $25 for a 1 bedroom and $35 for a 2 bedroom. Even in the eighties I couldn't make money at that so we started charging for stain removal. Raised the average ticket to aprox $100.
in '03 my first minimum charge was only $35. I'm ashamed to say that. Today, my minimum charge is $415/day no matter how many jobs I get. If I have only one job that day...it's gonna be "soft sold" up to $415.
hogjowl
Idiot™
I never realized that ... not in the way you describe. Working less has never been a concern of mine. However, it took me a couple of years to learn that I was going broke staying busy. How I learned that was being called in for an interview by Allstate at the end of my second year. They interviewed me because I was their number 1 restoration contractor that year.
I was somewhat shocked to learn that and still be broke. So I quit doing restoration completely and raised my prices on the other things I was still doing.
I was somewhat shocked to learn that and still be broke. So I quit doing restoration completely and raised my prices on the other things I was still doing.
Desk Jockey
Member
Its sure easy to chase your tail and not realize busy doesn't equate to profitable.
Back in the 80's we were running 8-tms and weren't make what we should have for the effort expended.
After taking a serious look at where we were making money we shifted our efforts more towards restoration.
Back in the 80's we were running 8-tms and weren't make what we should have for the effort expended.
After taking a serious look at where we were making money we shifted our efforts more towards restoration.
hogjowl
Idiot™
Allstate had me manipulated into working for peanuts
It took them a couple of years to get me “trained” properly
It took them a couple of years to get me “trained” properly
Cleanworks
Moderator
I used to work for a company like that. 20 truck mounts charging less than anybody else. They moved into restoration with the same concept and went broke.
Desk Jockey
Member
You can go broke doing anything if you don't charge enough.
We were making money cleaning carpet but it just wasn't what we felt it should have been.
16 technicians, new trucks, new TM's but it didn't compare to WDR work which when we were unfocused we saw as a nuisance.
I can Easily Care about that company because they were nationwide Eatins. Wood ward sears and the list goes on. Lowballers all gone.
Cleanworks
Moderator
That's the ECONomy.
Cleanworks
Moderator
At the time they went out of business, I inherited some of their buildings. They were doing 1 bedroom apts for $55 when I was $120. Some of the building mgrs. Almost had a heart attack.You can go broke doing anything if you don't charge enough.
We were making money cleaning carpet but it just wasn't what we felt it should have been.
16 technicians, new trucks, new TM's but it didn't compare to WDR work which when we were unfocused we saw as a nuisance.
icleancarpetz
Member
Is this a SFS seminarary¿
Dolly Llama
Number 5
$13.73
donno really .
I lived out of the cash drawer and judged how much I was making by whether the electric bill was a week behind or in disconnect notice terrotory
..L.T.A.
Mikey P
Administrator
hence your retirement gig....
BradFenstermaker
Member
Couple yrs tops.
My ride along with Marty really changed my thought process.
When Marty told me, Brad you don't want to clean all the carpet in your service area!
I looked at him, told him about BBQ sauce on his chin, and asked why is that?
Marty informed me you won't make money on every job.
Pick your direction and stick with it and charge what your worth.
Thanks Marty!
FYI Marty didn't drip BBQ sauce. LOL
My ride along with Marty really changed my thought process.
When Marty told me, Brad you don't want to clean all the carpet in your service area!
I looked at him, told him about BBQ sauce on his chin, and asked why is that?
Marty informed me you won't make money on every job.
Pick your direction and stick with it and charge what your worth.
Thanks Marty!
FYI Marty didn't drip BBQ sauce. LOL
Dolly Llama
Number 5
zaccally
I should of bought Steve Marsh's marketing package when he pestered the chit out of me at one of your fests
"how to net $125k a year and only work 15 hours a week"
..L.T.A.
Sierra Clean Care
Member
It took me exactly 1 week to realize that the prior owners business model was not sustainable.
We changed everything from the van, to advertising, to chemistry....
Then worked our asses off to prove ourselves....
We retained maybe about 15% of the original clients...
And built from there...
We changed everything from the van, to advertising, to chemistry....
Then worked our asses off to prove ourselves....
We retained maybe about 15% of the original clients...
And built from there...
Cleanworks
Moderator
There's a guy in Osoyoos selling his business.
Sierra Clean Care
Member
I’ve been thinking of going further south, it’s just that Osoyoos is a 2 1/2 hr drive....
We’ve got a contract coming up in Okanagan falls...
Cleanworks
Moderator
Old truck, who knows how solid the business is. Now if you had a good employee...
started in 1981 at 2 rooms for $38. Within 3 months I was making more than I was at my job so I quite and went full time. We ran that for about a year before raising prices.
Sierra Clean Care
Member
Penticton is ripe...
Long drive still, only 2 guys there... both old school, both I wouldn’t hire...
South end of Okanagan, start of Skaha lake, lots of lake front homes, guest cottages, and good sized boats...
Cleanworks
Moderator
Beautiful area. Real estate is almost as expensive as here. I like the Natamara area.
Sierra Clean Care
Member
The interior has some beautiful places, just like down there...
Sierra Clean Care
Member
We paid just over 9 for our place, lake view from 5 km away....
It’s gone up 350k in 30 months...
Cleanworks
Moderator
Narramata
Bob Savage
Member
I can identify with many others on this thread, starting out in 1985 charging $44.95 for 2 rooms and a hall! Over the years we steadily raised our prices, but the biggest gain we had was running 2 wands on just about every job to cut our time down. That was and still is, our biggest boost for being done with each and every job in a timely manner while still being thorough. I know many have said dual wands do not work very well in residential, but I differ. We never lack for vacuum, and certainly not lacking in the heat department.
hogjowl
Idiot™
Don’t know how that works if you’re vacuuming.
On the jobs that Brady and I work together, I have a hard time staying ahead of him vacuuming.
On the jobs that Brady and I work together, I have a hard time staying ahead of him vacuuming.
