Finder's fees

[Navigator7]

However over the years I have seen several new contactors go out of business within a year b/c lack of marketing themselfs.Ever once in awhile you get a sticker,he will hang and hang on for two or three years before he gets what he wants.So don't give up until you get what you want whether it be a long time coming or a few short weeks.

1st....Passion...I think you got to have passion for what you do. Like the Navy...."It's not a job, it's an adventure!" People love to be with happy people. Show up with a smile, a good word and the customer's best interest at heart.

Next....a work ethic that won't stop. I believe you should always give more than you get. Whether an employee, a service provider or a craft.

For example, I had just finished a long job way out in the sticks on a mountain top. My customer, a contractor, knew he was going to be spending some dough and didn't like it. I clocked myself out at 10:30, cleaned myself up, filled out the paperwork and got interrupted by a 3 rd party....time passed...as I was walking up to my customer, the acoustics was just right. I heard him say to his employees, "Watch, I betcha this SOB charges me til 11:00!" He looked over my bill like an IRS agent trying to find a hint of unfairness but couldn't! I got the check and respect.

Third....You must always provide a service.
I ran a shop in Seattle. We couldn't clean a filthy but perfectly good very expensive radiator with soap and a garden hose so we hired a guy with a pressure washer to clean this huge radiator from a marine diesel. (About 7' high by 4' wide.)

On one hand, he said "No problem, I'll have this cleaned up in seconds!"
On the other hand....he was right but the high pressure from his machine blew holes thru countless tubes which meant we had to re-core the darn thing.
Not much of a service.

Every day you must go out and try. It works.

 

[dannyh]

Larry
I am trying to get into the fleet washing mainly of oil companies. Can you give me an idea of the going rate on say a tanker truck? thanks

 

[Larry L.]

I get 60 for each daycab tanker if its washed every week or every two weeks,if nasty 70,75

Going rate here is 50

 

[grasshawg]

Larry
I am trying to get into the fleet washing mainly of oil companies. Can you give me an idea of the going rate on say a tanker truck? thanks

Should be pretty good biz around there. I'm your neighbor over here in Joaquin. I'm getting 80 out here for a water tanker trk/trlr. Haven't even got my equipment yet, and already got two contracts.

 

[R. E. Crouse]

You're "getting" 80, and don't have equipment??????

 

[grasshawg]

Ok, let's not read too much into it. Logic will tell you that I "will" be getting 80 as soon as I get the equip. Ok? Sheesh!!

 

[R. E. Crouse]

Boy, you are sensitive! I was just wondering if you were subbing the work or something along those lines! I guess I should have spelled that out. Sheesh!

 

[grasshawg]

Sorry about that. Sometimes it's so hard to get the correct implication since tones of voice can't be heard and facial expressions can't be seen. It's such an important part of communication.
Guess I have been a little edgy. I've gotta come up w/$1000 so my loan will go through at the bank. Can't put anything together or even order my equipment until I get that. I can get it from my tax refund, but I'm stuck waiting for my W2. It's just so frustrating.
But I guess it gives me time to research a little more. I could never have learned so much in so little time without all you guys on this forum. I sincerely apologize for offending you R.E. No hard feelings?

 

[R. E. Crouse]

Of course no hard feelings! Good luck getting that biz off the ground!!

 

[Jonathan Elli]

Dont give up

Just dont get discouraged in the months leading up to that W2. After getting into the biz and seeing the difficulty of getting it off the ground I told people that if I would have known what all went into it before I started I probably would not have done it. I look back 3 years later and have no regrets.