My New Business venture

[ParadiseProWash]

Well guys Ive been reading alot here lately but havnt posted in a while thought yall might like to see what Ive been doing. I hooked up with a Construction Company and they have been keeping me on the road alot lately sweeping parking lots and streets with my new machine. Just wanted to let everybody know Im still around.

 

[Chuck Richard]

hows that business treatin ya. I'v been loking into the same thing myself. Theres alot of malls and strip malls around here. Just scared to take the plunge, maybe you have some input that will ease me off the cliff.

 

[ParadiseProWash]

I also was scared to death of taking the plunge but I got a really good deal on my truck and just could not pass it up. I have been looking into getting into this for a long time even before I got into pressure washing. A new truck starts around $62,000.00 but mine is a 1990 GMC with a TYMCO 210 sweeper mounted. The truck has 210,000 on it but the motor only has 60,000 on it. It is a Diesel and the back motor is a Kubota 3cyl diesel with only 1060hrs on the unit. Gets great gas milage I can sweep for 10hrs on 3 gallons of fuel on the sweeper unit. I average about $50.00 an hr on most jobs. If you can get the work it is great. I went to the Schwarze Roundup 2002 in Huntsville three weeks ago and met alot of helpful people with lots of phone numbers saying to call anytime I need help which is great because I do call and email a few of them. My area did not have a sweeping company in it so the work is coming. The best part about it is most of it is repetitve business with comercial clients. I bill them once a month. I believe within a yr. I will be doing this full time and adding pressure washing on for my clients. Take the plunge if your area will stand another sweeping company

 

[Rick - Pro Wash]

We added sweeping about two years ago. We now have two 2000 model Tymcos on the Isuzu NPR chassis. Yes, they cost about $65,000 each.

Make sure you maintain the truck properly with gutter brooms and rubber skirts when needed. Most of our market share has come from our competitor, becaue they don't maintain their equipment properly , therefore they are inefficienct and give poor service.

Se ya,
Rick

 

[ParadiseProWash]

Rick I thought I saw a post of yours on a sweeper board not long ago. My business has doubled since I bought this truck and yes I do keep it maintained. In the picture the gutter brooms need replacing and they were ordered just havnt came in yet. The best price I could find on them were from Keystone Plastics. $20.00 a set. My truck has new skirts on it also so it will be a while before they wear out I hope if not I will replace them when needed. Glad to see your doing so well having two trucks and all. They are a major investment however can make you good money. I went to Huntsville 3 wks ago and was hoping to see you there but I guess you didnt make it.

 

[outlaw]

Morgan, you should have given a shout out, Huntsville is just up the road from me, I'd liked to say hi and maybe pick your brain a bit, glad to hear the sweeping took off so well.

Rick, wheres Harker Hieghts ?

 

[Rick - Pro Wash]

Hello Outlaw,

Harker Heights is just off the I-35 corridor between Waco and Austin, TX. Killeen and Fort Hood are my close neighbors.

See ya,
Rick

 

[Bill B]

Morgan, what are the web sites for the sweeper boards. I've been wanting to look into this also. How does your vehicle and liability insurance run for this endeavor?

Also, what is a Swarze?

 

[outlaw]

Hey Rick, it doesn't sound like your to far away from my Uncle, he lives in Gatesville, I havent been up to see him in ten years though, guess I should make the trip!

Gav

 

[Dan S]

hey ,

A buddie of mine has one of those units he wanted to sell me .. Now you got me thinking twice ....... maybe I should go-fer it .. all he has is the sweeper part .. I got the trk. 1-ton bow-tie... yes it will haul it .........LOL............

 

[ParadiseProWash]

Bill Ive got my insurance locally I pay $63.00 a month to cover the truck and $25,000.00 worth of liab. insurance in case something happens. I already know thats not enough but so far it has been, most larger companys will want $1,000,000.00 in liabilty insurance. I have already talked to my insurance company and can get it when I need it. But I dont see any need for it right now if my customers are alright with what I have.

Schwarze is a company that makes sweepers. They have a very good reputation. Check out their website at www.schwarze.com and look around. I dont own a schwarze I own a TYMCO you can check them out at www.tymco.com. I will have to say that one is not really any better than the other it was just what I could afford at the time. If I were to buy a new one I would buy the schwarze just because they are only four hours away if I need something. The TYMCO is made in Waco Texas and would be much farther for me to go for service. The guys at schwarze had a Roundup a couple of weeks ago and they laid out the red carpet for all 400 people in attendance. They already new I owned a Tymco and treated me just the same they are good people and as far as I could tell hounest and sincere. They want you to succeed so you can buy more sweepers lol.

Ps I tried the TYMCO link and it didnt work from this site but if you type it in it will work.

 

[Rick - Pro Wash]

Hey Gav,

Gatesville is only about 40 minutes away. Come on down and see your uncle. I would be happy to buy you lunch and swap some secrets.

See ya,
Rick
WWW.ProWash.net

 

[Clean County]

Morgan,
Congrats on adding this to your ever growing business. I'm getting jealous

I have a question for ya. To get more accounts do you have to go through Property management companies for Commercial work??

Once again Congrats on having the Jewels big enough to add this to your business. I need to inflate my marbles.

 

[Bill B]

Morgan, thanks for the info. Have scanned both sites.

 

[ParadiseProWash]

Congrats on adding this to your ever growing business. I'm getting jealous

Thanks Clean County I think this was my best move yet it has really made my business pick up.

I have a question for ya. To get more accounts do you have to go through Property management companies for Commercial work??

The answer is Yes and No most accounts will require you to go through the Property Manager however I have found some managers will pay for the service themselves if the Property Managers want because they know that it will make their business pick up.

Once again Congrats on having the Jewels big enough to add this to your business. I need to inflate my marbles.

Clean County it doesnt take big gonads it just takes a lot a money and a lot of planning mixed in with a lot of praying. If its something you think you can make money at DO IT. I prayed over it for a long time before taking the plunge and it was the right thing for me to do at this point in my business. The more you can do for your customer the better they would rather pay one person to do all so they only have to right one check. I am considering adding lawn care also however that will be further on do the road. I actually have a guy I am thinking of sub contracting the work out to and just making 10% for doing the billing and paper work he would bill me for the work and I would bill the customer. What do ya think of this idea Im not really ready to go out and buy another complete setup. Im pretty happy with what I have now but making some off another guys work sounds good to me as long as he knows hes answering to me if something is not up to par. This guy already has the service in place and does good work and has a good reputation.

 

[Mike Hughes]

I think lawn care is pushing it.

 

[Rick - Pro Wash]

We also added lawn care last year. This makes sense if your going after commercial property maintenance. We endeavor to offer a complete exterior maintenance package, including power washing, parking lot sweeping, litter control, landscape maintenance, window cleaning, awning cleaning, full porter service, and we sub out seal coat and striping.

This way the client only deals with one contractor. We are able to offer a lower rate for a package as we can do many of the tasks with the same crew.

We have landed several new clients because of the package deal.

See ya,
Rick

 

[Mark]

Several of our customers started as landscape companies and now offer pressure washing as well as "a complete exterior maintenance package, including power washing, parking lot sweeping, litter control, landscape maintenance, window cleaning, and a full porter service".

It sometimes is the only way to get the major accounts.