An Idea for Sunbrite

[Jon Fife]

Tracy/chris,


Here is an idea i'd like to see you guys build on. I know you guys do a class for wood restoration (or used to), but i'd like to go to a class on running the business. Many guys (especially me) can do the work, market for jobs, etc. but really suck when it comes to running the business. I have few guys working this year and i always feel about two steps behind the game, behind in bookkeeping, etc. Obviously, I could read numerous books on organization, operating a small business, etc., but our business is different than many in that we do not have repeat customers and we can do several jobs in a day.

Here is a list of things i'd like to see covered:

Organization for bookeeping
Budgeting
Organization of estimates, call-backs, need-to-calls, mainenance agreements

Equipment efficiency
How to keep workers efficient and on the job, not on the road


Well, you get the idea. All the concerns that start arising once you are trying to make it work with employees.

Since you guys have a focus on franchising, this may be something that goes against those goals. But it is a service that i would be interested in and i'd assume others might be as well. Thanks, i look forward to hearing your response on this.

Jon Fife

 

[Dan Flynn]

Try ServicCeo that will handle almost everything in your post.

Anyone can tell you anything, just as you said with the books you could read. You still have to do it yourself. The easiest way is to do it with a good aid that's with you everyday. Try it you wont regret it.

 

[Tim Smith]

Jon

Give Randy Thompson (Saltilo TN) at 731-681-3691 a call. Ask him about GO UNIVERSITY. Its an on-line services that offers all kinds of on-line courses on business for next to nothing. You can take the classes on-line. You can even earn money. No I am not in anyway tied to this at all. I find the site helpful to me in running my businesses.

www.globalopulence.com/rivalwars

 

[Pete@SunBrite]

What a cool idea!

Thanks, Jon. This is a really interesting idea. Teaching fellow power-washers to be better or more efficient business people fits our view of how the world ought to work.

Your feeling about being about two steps behind where you want to be describes how we operated until about four years ago. We are "systems" people, and we could share those systems with y'all.

I don't think our franchisees would mind if we did this - as long as they were invited to attend! Before getting started, though, I'd sure like to know how many contractors might be interested in joining a session. If there is enough enthusiasm for putting this together, we might be able to target a class in Atlanta next winter (January) when work is slowest...

Maybe, as an alternative, this could be a good presentation to offer through PWNA. That way, we might get a larger audience together (which would hold the cost to a minimum). This would mean offering the session in Las Vegas in late February.

Let's wait and see how many more people are interested.

Pete

 

[JR Wood]

It rained about 75 out of the last 100 days here. I have lost a bunch of customers and I am still a month behind and the minute the sun comes out everyone thinks it is their turn. I have recleaned at least
ten decks so far and now they just lifted the water restrictions and I got thirty five calls today...........somebody kill me!!!!!!!

 

[Clean County]

JR,
OK.. your dead.LOL

When You do a recleaning how do U charge a customer for that?
35 calls no wonder why you want someone to shoot you. lol

I guess 35 is better then 0 but just the thought of calling all those people back I bet it makes you wish that you had a crew doing the work while you are doing the calls, THats how I feel at times....LIKE NOW.

 

[MARK W.]

Originally posted by JR Wood
It rained about 75 out of the last 100 days here. I have lost a bunch of customers and I am still a month behind and the minute the sun comes out everyone thinks it is their turn. I have recleaned at least
ten decks so far and now they just lifted the water restrictions and I got thirty five calls today...........somebody kill me!!!!!!!

JR Wood I also live in NJ and have the same problems with eveyone thinking that its there turn wants the sun comes out. I have three decks that are going at the same time. I keep on telling each customer that you are next to keep them happy. I think for now on it's one at a time to keep my sanity.

 

[JR Wood]

For a normal season I know exactly how many jobs I can take on and schedule accordingly, but this is not a normal season.I do not charge a customer extra for the reclean because it is basically not their fault that I can't get there in time.I know it's not mine either but the customer is always right and besides the reclean only takes a fraction of the time ( a simple mild cleaner and rinse).

 

[Ron Musgraves]

Jr you still around the Place

For a normal season I know exactly how many jobs I can take on and schedule accordingly, but this is not a normal season.I do not charge a customer extra for the reclean because it is basically not their fault that I can't get there in time.I know it's not mine either but the customer is always right and besides the reclean only takes a fraction of the time ( a simple mild cleaner and rinse).