Haha thanks a ton! I really appreciate the info! You’ve done some company facebook stalking apparently. I support it. Message me your number if you’re interested in doing windows for us. I sub most of the window washing out. At least the first job. After that it’s usually up to sub to keep up with the homeowner if they want repeat business. I usually go and estimate it because I do a walk around of the entire property to see if there is anything I can power wash or soft wash.
I did a strip mall in Blue Springs and happened to run into Window Guy Extraordinaire. I gave him the window cleaning. Paid him what he asked and when they pay the invoice I’m going to send him the same amount. He’s going to get paid double what he asked when it’s all said and done and I’ve sent him another residential lead after that to handle on his own. I’ve already offered two more.
I don’t pay double all the time, but more often than not I pay more than what’s quoted as long as we’re both making some money on it.
Most of the guys that run window cleaning and powerwash companies in the KC area all talk and some of my best friends are competition. We also keep an eye on new guys coming into our market. We’ve been watching for awhile Rowdy lol. Anyway, referrals are huge. I refer work to local guys all the time. We are 22 days out on work right now and everyother day I get a call from that customer who needs something done in 2-3 days and I can’t physically make it work. We don’t do storefronts. We stick to the residential and medium-large sized commercial jobsites. The KC Window Cleaning and Powerwash community is a good overall group (except a lot-a clean… they suck balls). We like to connect which each other and even offer help to guys serious about starting in the industry in our area. We do this cause we like to keep the low ballers down and keep overall industry standards in our market when it comes to safefy, proper techniques, and overall professionalism high. That last thing we want is the $99 powerwash guy going around town taking the cream off concrete and blasting peoples siding. That guy not only hurts himself, but all of us.
I can dig it. All I really care to do myself at the moment is storefronts. It throws some quick easy money in my pocket on days where I don’t break $600 in invoices/payments on the PW side. Besides. Storefronts, in my opinion are big and simple and allow me to practice technique unless I’m in a rush. Then it’s straight pulls all day, but they work. Plus, I can generally count on a little monthly income in the winter months.
I haven’t had any experience with A Lot A Clean with the exception of getting them to quote a gutter cleaning job when I had a contracting company. You’re the second person that’s told me they don’t have a great reputation. They were washing the customer entrance area at the new Menards up north here though and it didn’t look like anything changed. Anyway, I’d be curious to hear why you think they suck balls.
Maybe someday I’ll be allowed in the KC Window Cleaning and Powerwash community. I hope so. Maybe then I can explain why everyone except customers call me Rowdy. Ha!
@squidskc you’re right. Your storefronts are going to be the low hanging fruit for PWing and WCing. The key is to be efficient cause your margins are low. You will have that day when alot-a clean will walk into one of your accounts and charge 1/4 of your price, they will do a crappy job for six months and get fired, then the manager will not understand why your pricing is more than theirs…smh. Low ballers do crap work and drive down our market.
I too, was given bad info when getting my business started. Cost me a couple of weeks and $300…on top of lost potential income. I should get the $300 back, after I file the right paperwork, but it’s just one more thing on to-do list.
Sorry my question made more work for you…I didn’t know it would…but, it may save you some serious fines later, right?
@squidskc Just to give you an example of how cool our local market is… On Monday, I have my 2 biggest competitors coming to my house to help me build out one of our trucks for pressure washing while we drink beer and cook on the grill all day.
lol… these guys don’t clean windows… but you’re more than welcome to come up too Luke. I think Josh will be there too. changing out 2 engines, mounting 2 washers in the back of the truck with buffer tank, chem tank, and hose reels… oh and plenty of Busch Light and Ribeyes
Anyway, referrals are huge. I refer work to local guys all the time. We are 22 days out on work right now and everyother day I get a call from that customer who needs something done in 2-3 days and I can’t physically make it work. We don’t do storefronts. We stick to the residential and medium-large sized commercial jobsites. The KC Window Cleaning and Powerwash community is a good overall group (except a lot-a clean… they suck balls). We like to connect which each other and even offer help to guys serious about starting in the industry in our area. We do this cause we like to keep the low ballers down and keep overall industry standards in our market when it comes to safefy, proper techniques, and overall professionalism high. That last thing we want is the $99 powerwash guy going around town taking the cream off concrete and blasting peoples siding. That guy not only hurts himself, but all of us.
