I have three part time helpers which I use for commercial work, restaurants, etc. but I am cutting way back on commercial and need to hire some more permanent full time people as they have full time jobs. Try running an
Everest one time with four to the door and you will see why I have one. Joey I have a Legend Xl which is stronger than a
TCS and the
Everest just cleans better and faster more heat and suck etc. Just because a machine is dual wand doesn't mean it needs to be run in high on every job. I could use a portable but I need just a little more power than that. Plus I bought the machine with 24 hours with apo, freshwater tank, pressure washing tools, hf, 4 jet wand, hose reels, 300 ft of hose, 100 gallon tank, and complete install for 15k cash. Have you ever heard of a deal that good? I think not.
Joey you remind me of a guy here that started his business from the start with a commercial space, several trucks running portables, tons of direct mail advertising, cheap prices, and lots of overhead. He told me his overhead every month was 11k and he was running two portables and rotovacs, had a full time office worker, and three techs. After talking to me and realizing he was working his ass off for not much profit, I convinced him to scale back, raise his prices, focus on referrals, lower his overhead, and he would make the same profit with a lot less headache and work. I told him he could grow through referrals. He said he was building his business and had to get the word out one way or another. I replied it is one thing to look busy and successful but I have been in the same position as you and you are cleaning mostly one time customers. Either bust their head and be done with it or focus on the right customers that will bend over backwards to refer you.
Joey one day you will learn that when you subtract all the money you spend on chems, equipment, insurance, maintenance, rent, advertising, YOUR TIME OR LIFE, payroll etc, from your gross you will see that it is easier AND LESS STRESSFUL to just raise your price, be more efficient, seek referral sources, work less, and put more cash in your pocket. You can still grow but not overnight. I used to be just like you. I had a commercial space for two years and realized the money for me was keeping my overhead low and maximizing my profit. I cleaned a ton of apartments and wanted to stay super busy and I did. I cleaned carpet 7 days a week and worked nights at Fed Ex mainly for health insurance. I got burned out after two years and as I got smarter and learned more I have changed my business. I am at the point where I am ready to expand and really make some money.
Joey you are two years older than me and I really don’t know your finances, but I started my biz with less than a thousand dollars have had zero support from anyone. My MINT CONDITIION HOUSES which I bought cheap at 50 percent, equipment, trucks, boats, and basically everything I own is paid for, zero credit card debt, plenty of cash in retirement, stock account, and the bank. I don’t make a lot. I just don’t blow money, I save, and I make sound investments. The point I am making is you don’t have to have a multi truck company with lots of employees to make more money. I read an article that a guy asked how to make more money. Easy raise your price, lower your overhead and you will automatically make more.
I like knowing I don’t have to make a truck payment or mortgage and I can work when I want to. Plus I have a nice rental income. I am not super motivated which I should be.
Everyone does what they feel is best for them and there is no right answer. I hope you have great success and I will help you or anyone else here in any way I can. I just prefer to not clean nasty apartments or Denny’s Restaurants. I would rather work for professionals in nicer homes.
