Does Anyone Else Use Business to Business Networking?

archie_MN

Moderator
Is anyone else a BNI (Business Networking International) member? For those unfamiliar with BNI, it provides a platform to build personal relationships with other local professionals, share contacts, and most importantly, share referrals. It's been a terrific asset to me, to the tune of about 20% of my sales in 2011. Just wondering if any of you are doing the same...
 

archie_MN

Moderator
NO I haven't, is it a local chapter of a national org or something like that??

Yup, actually international. Weekly morning meetings with about 30 other folks in my area. 1 member per profession in each group (i.e. gneral contractor, plumber, painter, realtor, accountant, mechanic, web developer).
 

New Look

Registerd User
Went to one BNI Meeting a few years back. Liked everything about it except at the end of the meeting where a member pulled me aside and "pitched" about me joining. Felt like I was buying a timeshare. He was determined to get my credit card # before I left. LOL
 
It is a great networking org. You WILL get jobs from this org. for light commercial and residential.

For example, insurance claims, a member will usually be a BNI member. You will get the job as long as your pricing is justified.

Owners of shops would need their store fronts washed, Dumpsters etc. You meet, talk and share issues with the owners on a "one on one" atmosphere. Something that I have ALWAYS recommended instead of dealing with Property Managers who pay next to nothing per sq foot. ( 1 to 3 cents).

Property Managers create hacks and / or Low Ballers in my opinion
 

Doug Rucker

PWN ADMIN TEAM -
Staff member
As a Houston Sidewalk Cleaning contractor, we have found that it's not Property Managers that create Hacks or Low Ballers. In fact the Property Managers we work with pay top dollar for top quality work. They take great pride in the Properties they manage, the image they project and the health and safety of their tenants and customers. At Clean and Green Solutions we appreciate our Property Managers and the business and personal relationship we have built with each one.

To accuse Property Managers of creating Hacks and Low Ballers is, in my opinion very unprofessional, projects a total lack of class, and is not a true representation of the Professional Mobile Cleaning Contractor.
 
Well said Doug. I don't know whether to think that post came from inexperience in commercial sales or if it was a deliberate attempt to steer new contractors in a faulty direction.
 

New Look

Registerd User
I get along great with my PM's. Especially the ones that tuck 100+ locations under our belt. Pricing we charge is fantastic and is a far cry from the .01/.02 range. Received an email from my PM on the work that we did up in Oregon and Central Cali recently.....essentially she said that I have no idea how much she appreciates my attention to detail with our cleaning services.

There is alot more to the equation regarding hacks then just pinning it on PM's. They have a motive to hire quality contractors or their job could be in jeopardy. Remember....they also report to someone. In my case it is to a Fortune 500 company.

On a more local level I have had to "step" on my pricing a tad bit for PM's that manage apartments/condos. However I will not compromise my service. You never know when doing that one job, where you didn't make that much cheddar, opens up a flood gate of work.

Jim, you and I know this area up here in the Bay pretty good and I will attest that there are some very sorry looking properties due to the lack of an experienced contractor behind the wand and I will go as far as maybe suggesting that this is what you meant with your comment. However, the PM's didn't create them.
 

Chris Apple

New Member
I agree with yall.
Pm work is very hard to get. Not because they are committed to using cheap lowball hacks but because they are committed to using qualified, experienced, proven contractors.

Its good to know that while its tough for us to get in with these companies who have established contractors they use when we finally do break that door down were not going anywhere.
 

New Look

Registerd User
I agree with yall.
Pm work is very hard to get. Not because they are committed to using cheap lowball hacks but because they are committed to using qualified, experienced, proven contractors.

Its good to know that while its tough for us to get in with these companies who have established contractors they use when we finally do break that door down were not going anywhere.

+10 Chris...good post
 
Direct Quote from one contractor to another...

Here is a direct quote from John Tornabene addressed to you on another BBS of which the attitude is very different than here.

“Doug, on the other side of the spectrum some of those Property Managers do Doug base their jobs on the cheapest prices which brings in the Hacks…

If you've been in the business long enough, you will run across them and lose good accounts along the way and it's because nothing you did but it's because the property management company had new personal come in or there budgeting has changed or.. They won't tell you this but they found someone else to do your accounts at Half price.

Dealt with all types and on the last one I had about 17 Best Buy stores on a monthly bases around 2000 and they wanted me to cut my prices in half after two years or I'm losing my accounts. I didn’t budge and Lost the accounts. I still do there emergency cleanings when the brass was coming because they gave me my old price for that. But end result, Shop low ball prop manager lost all 500 best Buy stores they had and he she was canned...

You’re lucky you never dealt with a price only prop. Manager who ends up hiring the ... Hacks.
Welcome to reality.â€￾
 
Doug, if you are getting the 20+ cents per square foot for a large indoor shopping mall…which would come in at 20 to 30 thousand per cleaning easily, then I stand corrected. But something tells me you’re not.

You know what’s funny with all of this, janitors make more money with a bucket and a mop than what some Property Managers pays our industry for cleaning a sidewalk… are we considered being a lower class of contractor ? … is that what everybody wants ? I will not get out of bed for less than 23 cents a foot. I’d rather spend time with my family and take them to the park.
I believe that we as pressure washers should be an “ Elite Group of Specialized Contractors”. We should get paid well over 800 dollars an hour on large locations and 2,000+ dollars an hour on smaller locations plus travel time , especially with all of our investments in our rigs and the liability that we assume for discharge.
 
I am glad that Michael and Robert Hinderliter took the time to record the event and to talk with the City Officials of Houston on your behalf for several days. I know the Hinderliters did this, not only to help you and your company, but also other contractors like yourself who was wrongfully ticketed or just did not understand the procedures of discharge. I know you give full credit to the Hinderliters for helping you understand what the City of Houston wanted from our industry.

All of us owe a debt of gratitude for their involvement to help all of us with that crisis.

No one person has done more at that conference to help the contractors there in Houston then Robert or Michael Hinderliter.

It is nice to know that when they call Houston, they do not get a voice recording to leave a message and maybe their call will be returned next week….. No… Robert gets through the first time and that is what everybody wants.


Here is a note…..

My sub-contractor just yesterday took a chance and followed my recommendations on a dumpster pad that needed to have reclaim. (As you know, we do not actively pursue dumpster pads). He had this account for years through the property manager getting a whopping 105 dollars per “As Needed” cleaning. The PM loved him and his on time quality work. He asked if the PM would give him all of the properties from this 1 client. She said that she would see, but never addressed the situation again, always making excuses saying he was unavailable due to traveling, or she left a message, but he did not return the call, etc. For years his requests stood on deaf ears.

So just last week, they was cleaning the one property and the owner was there. My sub approached and before he knew what was happing, he was having dinner with him at one of his restaurants. They talked for a few hours over dinner. Now, not only do he get all of the owners property locations, but is doing that same pad for 1,200 dollars every quarter with reclaim.... oh and did I say that was for all of his properties dumpster pads? He liked his work and the peace of mind that he did not have to worry about reclaim or etching his properties. He also said that was what he was paying the Property management firm for the work. He thought that was what my SUB was charging to them. Quality demands payment he said and when you go cheap, you usually get cheap results. That account went from around 30k a year to well in the hundreds just because he went to the owner and not through the PM.

NOT saying ALL Property Management firms fall into this, but property management firms need to make money off of your services. Why would you want to give them your money unless you are unable to sell yourself in a professional way, or you simply do not have the time and can't deal with it.

Look it, you are going to do what you feel is best for you and your company. I personally do not want to work for pennies a square foot when I see a janitor with less of an investment, working less in a warm building and not getting soaked while making 5 times that of the pressure washer who is outside working in the cold /rain pulling hose.
 
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Doug Rucker

PWN ADMIN TEAM -
Staff member
Here is a direct quote from John Tornabene addressed to you on another BBS of which the attitude is very different than here.

“Doug, on the other side of the spectrum some of those Property Managers do Doug base their jobs on the cheapest prices which brings in the Hacks…

If you've been in the business long enough, you will run across them and lose good accounts along the way and it's because nothing you did but it's because the property management company had new personal come in or there budgeting has changed or.. They won't tell you this but they found someone else to do your accounts at Half price.

Dealt with all types and on the last one I had about 17 Best Buy stores on a monthly bases around 2000 and they wanted me to cut my prices in half after two years or I'm losing my accounts. I didn’t budge and Lost the accounts. I still do there emergency cleanings when the brass was coming because they gave me my old price for that. But end result, Shop low ball prop manager lost all 500 best Buy stores they had and he she was canned...

You’re lucky you never dealt with a price only prop. Manager who ends up hiring the ... Hacks.
Welcome to reality.â€￾

Uh yeah Jim I read it and responded. Might want to get one of those MEMORY tests done.


---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=30.406174,-95.648260
 
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Doug Rucker

PWN ADMIN TEAM -
Staff member
I am glad that Michael and Robert Hinderliter took the time to record the event and to talk with the City Officials of Houston on your behalf for several days. I know the Hinderliters did this, not only to help you and your company, but also other contractors like yourself who was wrongfully ticketed or just did not understand the procedures of discharge. I know you give full credit to the Hinderliters for helping you understand what the City of Houston wanted from our industry.

All of us owe a debt of gratitude for their involvement to help all of us with that crisis.

No one person has done more at that conference to help the contractors there in Houston then Robert or Michael Hinderliter.

It is nice to know that when they call Houston, they do not get a voice recording to leave a message and maybe their call will be returned next week….. No… Robert gets through the first time and that is what everybody wants.


Here is a note…..

My sub-contractor just yesterday took a chance and followed my recommendations on a dumpster pad that needed to have reclaim. (As you know, we do not actively pursue dumpster pads). He had this account for years through the property manager getting a whopping 105 dollars per “As Needed” cleaning. The PM loved him and his on time quality work. He asked if the PM would give him all of the properties from this 1 client. She said that she would see, but never addressed the situation again, always making excuses saying he was unavailable due to traveling, or she left a message, but he did not return the call, etc. For years his requests stood on deaf ears.

So just last week, they was cleaning the one property and the owner was there. My sub approached and before he knew what was happing, he was having dinner with him at one of his restaurants. They talked for a few hours over dinner. Now, not only do he get all of the owners property locations, but is doing that same pad for 1,200 dollars every quarter with reclaim.... oh and did I say that was for all of his properties dumpster pads? He liked his work and the peace of mind that he did not have to worry about reclaim or etching his properties. He also said that was what he was paying the Property management firm for the work. He thought that was what my SUB was charging to them. Quality demands payment he said and when you go cheap, you usually get cheap results. That account went from around 30k a year to well in the hundreds just because he went to the owner and not through the PM.

NOT saying ALL Property Management firms fall into this, but property management firms need to make money off of your services. Why would you want to give them your money unless you are unable to sell yourself in a professional way, or you simply do not have the time and can't deal with it.

Look it, you are going to do what you feel is best for you and your company. I personally do not want to work for pennies a square foot when I see a janitor with less of an investment, working less in a warm building and not getting soaked while making 5 times that of the pressure washer who is outside working in the cold /rain pulling hose.

Funny stuff Jim. Your a friggin riot I am on a job right now making 20,000.00 per hour. Am probably going to get every house in the state of Texas after this. Will know after lunch. Stay tuned.


---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=30.406185,-95.648284
 
ROTFLM#AO!

What a lineup our national org has.

One Voice! Reclaim for $2000/hr!

Dumpsters for the price of a small storefront lease.

I have to get up off the floor now. My stomach hurts.
 
Leading attorneys in the U.S. are asking as much as $1,250 an hour, significantly more than in previous years, taking advantage of big clients' willingness to pay top dollar for certain types of services.

Source: Top Lawyers Push Rates Above $1,000 an Hour - WSJ.com

They're mopping up -- and cleaning us out.
Twenty public-school janitors rake in more than $140,000 a year -- far more than the teachers whose classrooms get tidied up, records show.



Read more: New York City school janitors cleaning up with extra work, earning higher pay than teachers - NYPOST.com

That's $81/hr for the top paid janitors in the nation. Each person on my crew generates more than that everytime their feet step out of the truck.

What does the "average" janitor make?

$11.70/hr.

source: Average Janitor Salary Information plus Job, Career Education & Unemployment Help

I don't know about you guys, but I would imagine trying to send a bill to Costco to for $8000 a month to clean each storefront entrance might get one of those $1250 dollar an hour lawyers sending you an intent to sue for fraud. lol!

On the other hand the guys who work with me make more than the average janitor's wage. How can that be if we are charging less than the janitor makes.

This is all ludicrous, laughable and sad, all at the same time.

There is a way to easily make $2k per hour. All you have to do is have enough work to put enough guys on the job. IF the jobs can handle that many guys. I'm sure Scott Stone is in that range now and his work is consistent and contracted.

We didn't make $2000/hr today but if I thought I could handle 10-12 guys instead of 4 and still put out the top notch work we are expected to do, we could have easily made $2000 an hour today.

So, Jim, if you want to make $2000/hr, go out there and get some work and teach some guys how to do it and make some money.

The approach of announcing "I'm worth $2000/hr because I spent a lot of money on equipment" is laughable when you compare the attorney's $1250/hr.

BTW I made $25 dollars (not cents) per square foot on these today. But I would have got out of bed for $24 if I had to:

2012-02-23_10-40-03_502.jpg
 

Doug Rucker

PWN ADMIN TEAM -
Staff member
I am glad that Michael and Robert Hinderliter took the time to record the event and to talk with the City Officials of Houston on your behalf for several days. I know the Hinderliters did this, not only to help you and your company, but also other contractors like yourself who was wrongfully ticketed or just did not understand the procedures of discharge. I know you give full credit to the Hinderliters for helping you understand what the City of Houston wanted from our industry.

All of us owe a debt of gratitude for their involvement to help all of us with that crisis.

No one person has done more at that conference to help the contractors there in Houston then Robert or Michael Hinderliter.

It is nice to know that when they call Houston, they do not get a voice recording to leave a message and maybe their call will be returned next week….. No… Robert gets through the first time and that is what everybody wants.


Here is a note…..

My sub-contractor just yesterday took a chance and followed my recommendations on a dumpster pad that needed to have reclaim. (As you know, we do not actively pursue dumpster pads). He had this account for years through the property manager getting a whopping 105 dollars per “As Needed” cleaning. The PM loved him and his on time quality work. He asked if the PM would give him all of the properties from this 1 client. She said that she would see, but never addressed the situation again, always making excuses saying he was unavailable due to traveling, or she left a message, but he did not return the call, etc. For years his requests stood on deaf ears.

So just last week, they was cleaning the one property and the owner was there. My sub approached and before he knew what was happing, he was having dinner with him at one of his restaurants. They talked for a few hours over dinner. Now, not only do he get all of the owners property locations, but is doing that same pad for 1,200 dollars every quarter with reclaim.... oh and did I say that was for all of his properties dumpster pads? He liked his work and the peace of mind that he did not have to worry about reclaim or etching his properties. He also said that was what he was paying the Property management firm for the work. He thought that was what my SUB was charging to them. Quality demands payment he said and when you go cheap, you usually get cheap results. That account went from around 30k a year to well in the hundreds just because he went to the owner and not through the PM.

NOT saying ALL Property Management firms fall into this, but property management firms need to make money off of your services. Why would you want to give them your money unless you are unable to sell yourself in a professional way, or you simply do not have the time and can't deal with it.

Look it, you are going to do what you feel is best for you and your company. I personally do not want to work for pennies a square foot when I see a janitor with less of an investment, working less in a warm building and not getting soaked while making 5 times that of the pressure washer who is outside working in the cold /rain pulling hose.

Yes Michael did tape it, as did I. The rest of your post, FUNNY STUFF. Absolutely FRIGGIN HILARIOUS. You really should be writing comedy somewhere Jim, that's good stuff right there.
 

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