ok i'm totally ticked!!! ok i live in carrollton and like i've said before there is only one other guy that power washes full time like i do . .. i use to work for him and i was making $8/hr .. . this guy (now my business partner ) comes to me and says hey i got a rig ready to go i'll pay the bills you pay for gas and run the company and we will split it fifty/fifty . . .so i quit working for Jeramie (the other guy) about a year ago . .. well he has always been a little distant since that but i have made sure not to bid on jobs he was bidding on and tried not to bad mouth him . . .pretty much stay out of his way. .. well i also have a lawn care company and he has always joked with me that he is pissed and he is gonna start mowing grass . . .lol well guess what this week he put a huge sign out in front of his shop that says CHOWNING'S LAWN CARE CALL NOW FPR FREE ESTIMATES!!!!! so my question to you guys is what would you do . .. he has an account with LJ Kennedy with about 40 semi's he cleans every week. . . he charges them out the ass i'm talking $40 bucks a truck for 3 stin so i have been pondering about out bidding him i could do those trucks for 30 a sleeper and 22 a day cab and stil make money on them? what do you guys think ????
-
Check out this this free event.
Did He Really?
- Thread starter Scrappy
- Start date
PressurePros
New Member
DJ, its a slippery slope. The bottom line is you will be selling a job on price. This guy may have more capital than you? If he does then he can come in and underbid you. The winner makes no money and the war is on. Don't take his maneuver personally. Continue what you are doing and grow your business the right way. Nothing comes back to bite you later. Just my 2 pennies.
Larry L.
PWN TEAM - Moderator Emeritus
:smad: Did he really....now dat here is funny.
It seems all of a sudden you have his shoes on,now you know how he feels when a new threat comes in town doing the same thing you do.You are still ahead of him tho b/c you didn't train/teach him in lawn care as he did train/teach you powerwashing.Like was said above a price war isn't the best thing to start b/c you are only getting a split 50/50.
Even tho you stay away from his accounts and not bid againest him you are in a fact taking business away from him.He was the only one around until you started,I know the business you wash isn't his but they "could" have been if you wasn't around.He may respect you and stay away from your business and get his own like you,works the same way tho,all his new business he gets "could" have been yours if he didn't start a lawn care business.
Looks like what you did is already biting you in the butt and now you want to cut price on a fleet account of his.This could be the death of your and friends business,your partner is making more than you on the 50/50 split.Every time you see him out mowing lawns your blood is going to boil like his did when you quit him and started your own powerwashing business.
Thats ok all business needs a competitor right,instead of cutting prices tho both need to work in the same price range in your area.It takes a LONG time to get the price up where it is now as you know the lawn care is the same way.Its not going to be funny if you have to drop your profit in the lawn care now is it.All he has to do is hire someone and do lawns at alittle above cost and put a hurt on your lawn care business.
You already have one partner for the powerwashing why not ask the new lawn care guy if he wants a partner at a 50/50 split lol.Know body likes a competitor nomatter what the trade is,the trick is being alittle wiser and let them cut their own nose off by cutting prices.If you cut price on one account you may as will lower all your other accounts b/c word does get around by your competitor speading words like "charging you out the $ss".
Don't jump the gun in cutting prices back right now,I see no harm in trying to get the fleet account if you want it but I wouldn't drop it 10 dallors a truck.You may be able to take it at his price or they could not let you even wash them if you dropped your price to 20 a truck.
Your competitor can be your worse enmey or your best friend if things are done on the up and up,its not uncommon for competitors to give business to another competitor.
It seems all of a sudden you have his shoes on,now you know how he feels when a new threat comes in town doing the same thing you do.You are still ahead of him tho b/c you didn't train/teach him in lawn care as he did train/teach you powerwashing.Like was said above a price war isn't the best thing to start b/c you are only getting a split 50/50.
Even tho you stay away from his accounts and not bid againest him you are in a fact taking business away from him.He was the only one around until you started,I know the business you wash isn't his but they "could" have been if you wasn't around.He may respect you and stay away from your business and get his own like you,works the same way tho,all his new business he gets "could" have been yours if he didn't start a lawn care business.
Looks like what you did is already biting you in the butt and now you want to cut price on a fleet account of his.This could be the death of your and friends business,your partner is making more than you on the 50/50 split.Every time you see him out mowing lawns your blood is going to boil like his did when you quit him and started your own powerwashing business.
Thats ok all business needs a competitor right,instead of cutting prices tho both need to work in the same price range in your area.It takes a LONG time to get the price up where it is now as you know the lawn care is the same way.Its not going to be funny if you have to drop your profit in the lawn care now is it.All he has to do is hire someone and do lawns at alittle above cost and put a hurt on your lawn care business.
You already have one partner for the powerwashing why not ask the new lawn care guy if he wants a partner at a 50/50 split lol.Know body likes a competitor nomatter what the trade is,the trick is being alittle wiser and let them cut their own nose off by cutting prices.If you cut price on one account you may as will lower all your other accounts b/c word does get around by your competitor speading words like "charging you out the $ss".
Don't jump the gun in cutting prices back right now,I see no harm in trying to get the fleet account if you want it but I wouldn't drop it 10 dallors a truck.You may be able to take it at his price or they could not let you even wash them if you dropped your price to 20 a truck.
Your competitor can be your worse enmey or your best friend if things are done on the up and up,its not uncommon for competitors to give business to another competitor.
I have to agree with Larry. This back and forth war you are considering will get you nowhere. Remember, you left him to start your own business where I am sure you learned alot from him before you left him. He probably at the time, thought the same things you are thinking now, that you did it just to screw him. What I would do, is get with him and set things right. Talk over lunch and try to agree to a price range for bidding that you both can work within. The advantages of getting along is that, when he gets too busy to do some of the jobs, he won't hestitate to contact you to help him out. This has happened to me, where my competitors have contacted me to do a job they just couldn't get to, which I appreciate, since business is sometimes slow this time of year. Either direction you choose, I wish you the best in your two businesses. Hugh
All of you guys make great points. Larry the only thing about Jeramie(the other powerwashing guy) is that he is known by many to be a "cry baby" he is about ten years older than me and with me only being nineteen it sorta seems like he doesn't take me seriuosly . . .also he banks at the same bank as i do, is alot better friends with the owner of the ford dealership i mow every week and is know better in the community also seeings how he has been in biz alot longer than i have. . .i guess you guys are right about me doing the same thing to him . . .i thought about it last night and i look at it this way . . .its kind of like two different kingdoms moving their troops in to formation i moved my troops in to formation first by starting my business but i didn't not attack by staying out of his way and not even bidding on jobs he was bidding on. . . so here i am with my army setting on a hill top. Now he decides to move his army to the oppiste hill top by starting a lawn care business. yes my troops (my powerwashing business) wants to go after the opposing side because they are in sight but i don't want to do things like that so i'm going to wait till he makes a move (takes one of my accounts ) before declaring war lol hows that sound . . . and as far as hugh said about setting down at a business lunch and talking things over i deff. don';t think he would go for that . . . jeramie is one of these people that is all about money i'm talking would sell his best friend out over money (which he has done before lol) he has the big flashy vehichles walks around like he is some one special and acts like he is king of the mountain. . .i know it sounds like i'm jelous and maybe i am a little but i know how he is and i deff. don't think a business lunch would be they way to go . . .he alsways talks about how bussy he is and i think he is spreading him self a little thin. He has his power washin company, also cleans cars like a detail shop, does rentally property, paint striping and now is getting into lawn care, and only has one full time guy workin for him , , ,i think its gonna hurt him but i guess we will just see. BUT I WANT TO THANK ALL YOU GUYS MARK LARRY HUGH ALL OF YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN A HUGE HELP THANKS AGAIN
Larry L.
PWN TEAM - Moderator Emeritus
Hope later on down the road you don't learn what causes crybadies but wait you already know how "did he really.Its good to know about the guys ways,its alright to tell us but its best to not say nothing at all if you cann't say anything good about the guy in your general area.Bad mouthing your competitor will only do you harm in the eye's of a new account or old.In front of your accounts and new accounts act like a business man instead of a fool running the other competitor down.Just b/c he knows some of your accounts better than you doesn't mean they will trade you in for him.Now will be the time your work record will speach for its self,if they are pleased with your yard work even him bidding lower will not take them away from you.
Keep your army on the move b/c he could blow grass clippings on your shoes while you wash his fleets.
Really tho D.J. I do not think you will have a problem in growing your business.When the time is right buy your partner out or buy your on rig,one day he may decide to sale his part to someone else.Never get over excited when a new competitor comes to town and do something foolish.
CaroliProWash
New Member
Yeah, what Larry said
Keep your head up, always take the high road and life (and business) will treat you well. Professionalism will win out every time when it really matters.
Celeste
Besides, we got your back here LOL
Keep your head up, always take the high road and life (and business) will treat you well. Professionalism will win out every time when it really matters.
Celeste
Besides, we got your back here LOL
Its good to know about the guys ways,its alright to tell us but its best to not say nothing at all if you cann't say anything good about the guy in your general area.Bad mouthing your competitor will only do you harm in the eye's of a new account or old.In front of your accounts and new accounts act like a business man instead of a fool running the other competitor down.Just b/c he knows some of your accounts better than you doesn't mean they will trade you in for him.Now will be the time your work record will speach for its self,if they are pleased with your yard work even him bidding lower will not take them away from you.
Keep your army on the move b/c he could blow grass clippings on your shoes while you wash his fleets.
Really tho D.J. I do not think you will have a problem in growing your business.When the time is right buy your partner out or buy your on rig,one day he may decide to sale his part to someone else.Never get over excited when a new competitor comes to town and do something foolish.
yes i never bad mouth my competition that is a golden rule of being a business owner i never have and never will this guy i just tryin to get to me i think . . .and i have thought long and hard about sittin down and talkin with him about prices and stuff but i just can't trust him as soon as we agree on doing flat work at $.10 / sq foot i know he will turn around and do it for 5 . . .thats just how he is and i love the
[spin]thats great lol
but one more thing how much should i be looking to pay to by my partner out?
Larry L.
PWN TEAM - Moderator Emeritus
how much should i be looking to pay to by my partner out?
That depends on alot things....but one thing for sure the more business you pick up the more your partner will want.
You have been in business for awhile and your banker knows this,he may be able to help you buy your own.You already do his yard work and that will go along ways with him when talking about a loan.Sometimes a banker will over look age as long as you can prove yourself as a smart business man.Or you could start acting like a big shot like the other guy and buff yourself though.
That depends on alot things....but one thing for sure the more business you pick up the more your partner will want.
You have been in business for awhile and your banker knows this,he may be able to help you buy your own.You already do his yard work and that will go along ways with him when talking about a loan.Sometimes a banker will over look age as long as you can prove yourself as a smart business man.Or you could start acting like a big shot like the other guy and buff yourself though.
CaroliProWash
New Member
DJ,
This is probably not something that you want to take lightly - you need to get all of your financials in order, take them to an accountant or corporate attorney and have them work a proposal for you. Don't know if your partner is a friend, but nothing will kill a friendship faster than bad business, even if it is a misunderstanding. You want to do this stuff, do it RIGHT the first time and you'll have no regrets or backsliding.
Celeste
This is probably not something that you want to take lightly - you need to get all of your financials in order, take them to an accountant or corporate attorney and have them work a proposal for you. Don't know if your partner is a friend, but nothing will kill a friendship faster than bad business, even if it is a misunderstanding. You want to do this stuff, do it RIGHT the first time and you'll have no regrets or backsliding.
Celeste
thats a big 10 4 celeste thanks buddy
PressurePros
New Member
Just more proof positive that partnerships rarely work out.