Competition

[mountain view]

Just got my new Yellow Pages delivered today. 27 mobile power washing companies listed for Greater Fort Worth. What kind of competition (in numbers at least) are most of you facing? Especially you guys in the more metropolitan type of areas.

 

[mountain view]

Slow down, don't respond too quick!

 

[Dave Olson]

Hello Pete,

I'm in a rural area. The largest book that I'm in covers Champaign Illinois area. I have about a half dozen companies listed.

For the number of people that your book covers I might have more competition than you! [wsmile]

Dave Olson

 

[CCPC]

We have 81 listed in the Jacksonville Bellsouth Yellowpages, but in Orange Park, which borders Jax (where I market most of my business) We have 18 listed.

 

[Scott Y.]

The largest city in my area is Valdosta, GA.,about 55,000 people and there are about 15 listings for pressure washers. Many of these are painters or lawn care that also do pressure washing. The yellow pages that covers the small town I live in, cover 5 or 6 towns with a total around 20,000 people only has 1. Scott Y.

 

[Michael T]

Pete, There is one less in your area. I bought his machine. It was a XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX RK21 with 90 hrs on it plus a hose reel 150' hose and a 225 water tank. He said there were too many p/wers in that area and too many working below scale. Couldnt make it.

 

[mountain view]

That doesn't sound good. Any other useful info he said? Do you know what kind of work he was going for?

 

[john orr]

I have found it to be counter-productive to dwell on my competition. While I realize that they exist, I also realize that there is plenty of dirt to go around.

Find a niche, or even a neighborhood, and make it your own. Become THE person to call, and make sure that everyone has your number. Yard signs can work well (if allowed) but word-of-mouth is the best advertising you can do.

 

[Josh Spoehr]

I have found it to be counter-productive to dwell on my competition. While I realize that they exist, I also realize that there is plenty of dirt to go around.

Find a niche, or even a neighborhood, and make it your own. Become THE person to call, and make sure that everyone has your number. Yard signs can work well (if allowed) but word-of-mouth is the best advertising you can do.

I agree with this completly. Look beyond the yellow pages to market your service. I understand that if someone is looking in the YP's under pressure washing that person is someone that will more likely than need pressure washing. I think the key to success is marketing your business to people that may need your service but they don't feel the need yet. If your marketing is successfull you will create the percived need, then the customer will want the service, and then hopefully they will seek you out to satisfy that need. I would not worry about the competition and focus on how you will advertise your own brand.

Josh Spoehr

 

[mountain view]

I agree with you John. I am going to be concentrating on the high end areas around here (you should see these places). The median income is $170,000. I will be coming at it from the perspective of "protecting your investment". I am going to buy all of my equipment for cash so I won't have any loan payments to make and I won't low ball anything. My rig (when I get it) will be kept spotless and I have a nice truck. That along with top class service and neat presentation, hopefully I can make it work. Well, that's the plan anyway.

 

[jdmartin]

Well pete in Virginia Beach or Hampton Roads area here there is quiet a few but I do not pay attention to the exact numbers just because from what I have seen around here only a hand full have there act together. Most of them seem to be fly by night in a sense. I personally use the internet area for a few different types of advertiseing. Plus the yard signs also. Plus every now and then when I have spare time I drive thru some neighborhoods and just look for dirty sidings or blackened roofs or fences and decks that look bad. Stop by and show a brochure or portfolio of photos I have. If they want to talk I hang around if they are busy I just leave a business card and hope they call. Word of mouth is a big one too, luckily almost everyone I have done business with likes the out come and price. I may not be the cheapest but when they see my rig and equipment they know it is not a fly by night operation. Plus my website is nice info for people to view photos, and materials I use.

You can not do much about the competiton except just work hard and put a good product out there. Most peeps will pick up on the guy that doesnt have a clue or wants to use cheap chemicals and products to do the job. One example I had a school teacher a few weeks ago that wants here cedar siding, front and back porch plus the inside of the fence all cleaned and stained. Once I was done I was the highest but only by 400.00. I asked here what the person said they was going to brighten the wood with, she said outdoor bleach and water. I told here I would only use a wood brightener or striper if needed. The product I use by wolman is ranked #3 by consumer report so I showed here that also. She talked with a few other contractors on days to follow. She called me up and still did not have a decision. I told here to take here time and get all the facts and prices. Well she called me Friday wanting me to do the work. So having the right know how, right equipment, the right product and I hate to say it but the right look on how you present yourself and dress will play a role in getting business. Take care pete, also one thing too a website is not hard to build and not to much money either, www.bizland.com has some good prices plus if you know how to use frontpage 2003 by microsoft, hell you can do it yourself.

 

[mountain view]

Excellent advise. A web page is going to be a significant part of my marketing. I've already asked this on another thread but, how many of you give a qoute on the spot and how many figure your qoute and then send it to the client?

 

[jdmartin]

Residental work on the spot, commercial work depending on size, sometimes spot but most of the time I have to write up a contract bid and do some figureing than mail it.

 

[Jeff Robison]

You can't worry about competition that much. Of the 32 residential jobs that I have done this year not one person has mentioned that someone else will do it cheaper, better etc. Just sell what you do and price it fair. Sell hot water, better chemicals, licensed, insured, etc. Most people do not want to price a cleaning with 5 different companies. If you show up when you are supposed to to quote and they like you, 90% of the time you will get the work.

I know some people disagree with this, but show up ready to work!! If you give a decent price and say I can do it right now if that is okay with you that makes the decision easier and saves you a double trip. I find a time to do the quote when I will be able to do the work if they agree to the price. I see no reason to act way busier than you really are. People want the work done quickly and if you fill that need soon, you will get the work.

Jeff Robison
Titan Exterior
678-360-2518

 

[JeffW]

I have only a few others in my area that are doing this.The part timers are always gonna' be there because this is perfect part time money.And they often charge less than I do because they're not counting on this income to sustain their life.BUT I have been doing this for ten years and have become the "one to call" because my work speaks for itself.Simply put, you get what you pay for.Alot of people will call a person who does this every day as opposed to calling a part timer.I know if I need something done I call a proffessional instead of the guy down the street doing it on the side.Not only because of quality but because thats what makes the World go around.You have to spread the work around to pros' who do this for a living.For instance; I can change my own oil,rotate tires,change plugs and wires etc... but I don't, I get a small local service station to do it because he has to eat too.Normally if you separate yourself from the competition everything will fall into place.I'm not dealing with 27 companies but still believe if you do a good job and not get into pricing wars you'll succeed.

 

[Jeff Robison]

I absolutely do not represent myself as a part timer. I normally just tell them that I can get there after 4:00 or on the weekend. Sometimes during the course of conversation I will tell them I am a part timer. My rig also looks professional, lettered, big 8 gpm machine, work truck

Jeff Robison
Titan Exterior
678-360-2518

 

[PressurePros]

Allot a huge percentage of your recurring monthlies to marketing. It will pay off tenfold. I have had the most success with Yellow BooK and Verizon in my area as well as direct postcard mailers, and local paper. I also distribute flyers every day (20-30 of them surrounding whatever jobs I finished that day) I lose some jobs becuase I have to book them 3 weeks out. I said this on another board, You can advertise your business into whatver size you want it to be.

Quotes I now do on the spot with a template I made up. Think about offering three levels of cleaning, it is an excellent way to upsell an entire proprty cleaning but also makes you competetive with lowballers. I have had phenomenal success with this program.