One thing we all have to remember is that we were all newbies once. I bet a lot of us were low ballers at one time too. When I first started I washed trailers for $40 and spent 2 hours doing it. Now I charge $70 to $80 for a trailer and I do it in 45 minutes( by myself) or less. Everybody has to start somewhere. If we don't help out new guys what is this board for? If everybody here has to be long time professionals then what is the use of coming to this site? We all should know everything and this would become a shoot the bull board. I will continue to help guys out the best I can. I do car lots and I hear a lot of people say they want to do them too. Once I explain all the equipment( DI tanks, water softeners, water tanks, etc.) they see it is more then just getting out the old 7 hp pw and hooking up to tap water. Same thing when washing commercial new brick. When I tell them about spending $1000 or more up front for lifts and using chemicals that are $10 a gallon and you dilute it at most 4 to 1 costing $2.50 a gallon or coming out of your hose at $1 every 4 to 6 seconds(depending on size of machine) they see that it is much more expensive then house wash. On top of waiting 90 days to get paid but you have to pay up to $2000 to start the job. Another way I get guys to think is by telling them I will still bid lower then them but make more per hour. If a newbie washes a house and spends 8 hours doing it and makes $300. That is $37.50 an hour. He thinks that pay is awesome. I come in and bid it at $250 and do it in 3 hours I make $83.33 an hour. I understand the problem comes in when they bid $100 for a house wash. Most of the time they will learn by themselves that trying to run a business and making $25 an hour won't cut it. They will get a few jobs from fliers and they will get turned down for a few big jobs because of no insurance. Then they will try and advertise in the newspaper. Now they need to make a little more to cover the cost of the ad. They get a little more work. Now they try out the yellow pages. Small ad but still big money. Time to raise prices again. I need an X-jet, surface cleaner, bigger machine, trailer, truck to pull trailer, hose reels, etc. You just have to get newbies time. I was working for $25 an hour out of the back of a small truck. I had a 4 gpm machine so at least I started with a decent machine. Now I have 3 trailers(not all operational) 2 enclosed and one open, 2 hot water machines, 2 cold machines, water softener, DI tanks, water tanks, 30" surface cleaner, 2 double stack hose reels, 1 single hose reel, 3 extension poles, nozzles, turbos, spare pump, tons of wands, brushes, ladders, sprayers(no shur flo yet), x-jet, etc. I am on par with equipment most of you have and would be considered a professional. Yet 4 years ago I was pulling my pw off the back of my truck and working for $25 an hour. Now my employee(just one) hates it when we dip down to only making $50 an hour because I bitch. I will stop bitching at $65 an hour but won't be happy until we are at least at $80. Most of the time we are between $80 to $100. Except with brick work then it can vary between $125 and $200. We all had to start somewhere. Four years ago you would have been hating me too but look at me now. Here is one way to look at newbies or do it yourselfers. They buy way more pressure washers then the professionals do. So if pressure washers were only sold to pros they would cost more. How many people out there have washed houses, decks, driveways, etc. and seen a pw in the garage? I have done many many jobs like that. People buy those little machines and realize A. They don't know what they are doing and B. It takes a lot of time with that small machine. In my opinion we are here to be helpful. There will always be someone on this board that is in the same area as another. I understand that they will not like people giving advise to that person. What can you do. It would be kinda cool I guess if there was some way to only have certain people from certain locations but then again it wouldn't be fair. Mike Gwasdacus from Abel is within 15 minutes of me. He has been so helpful and he too is on this board. He is a great guy, a little moody at times but all in all someone who like to help others. I guess I would be moody too if my operation was as monstrous as his is. He has a lot to manage. I don't know how this guy ever gets any sleep. I guess my question is how many of you would have hated me 4 years ago?
