Outback Steakhouse

PowerWashPros

New Member
Just thought that I would let everyone know that outback steakhouses are independently owned and operated, so the manager/owner is responsible for property maintenance! I called the 7 in the Denver Metro Area and I got 2 of them to sign bi-weekly contracts with me. Not a bad ratio..eh? So I would give the ones in your area a call. We are going to service all of the sidewalks, outdoor eating area, outdoor waiting area, and dumpster pads for $85 every two weeks. my husband said "will work for steak" the owner thought it was funny.... problem is my husband was serious! [idts]
 
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Dave Ott

Guest
Why so cheap? Am I just missing something? Good to hear though
 
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PowerWashPros

New Member
Outback -

Well its $85 each time so two times a month = $170 per month per restuarant. He washes them both on Saturday morning. So we hit two on the same trip, cuts down on gas. He can do them both in about 3-4 hours, thats including drive time. He leaves at 5am and is back home by 9ish usually. Its worth us to be reasonable on price, because store owners talk to other store owners,and they will pass our name around. Plus there is always the possiblity of washing the entire building and awnings, and when that time comes the owners know that we are reasonable with pricing and we do a great job!
 

grizzley

New Member
Just wondering.... but when you are saying "reasonable" are you saying that over that is unreasonable?

For most of the concrete we do that is similar in size to an Outback (sidewalks and dumpster pads) we do for around $140-$160 (MINIMUM) every two weeks, or $280-$320/month, and that is if we are doing the hood cleanings and servicing their fire equipment.

I don't think that is unreasonable. In fact, some places pay even more than that.

I don't think $140 is unreasonable. A $55 difference in price is enough to drive others out of a job or else lower their prices.

I'm glad I am far away from you guys or else I'd have to sell my washers. :)
Gas to get there = $10
Gas to run PW = $10
$85 - $20 = $65. Then you have to take out other "overhead" from that. You just bought a $6000 setup yesterday, didn't you? That has to be paid for as well.

I couldn't make it work out on that pricing.

Good job landing the account though!
 

grizzley

New Member
Sorry, forgot one other math problem....

2 stores at $85 each is $170 for 4 hours work, including drive time.
Take out ONLY gasoline costs at (lets say) $20.

$170 - $20 ÷ 4 hours = $37.50/ hour.

After paying for insurance, pressure washer (in your case a $6000 setup)..... You are selling yourself SHORT in my opinion. Your time in this business is worth more than that. Now you are making only $?? $12 per hour?
 

PressurePros

New Member
Nicole, you seem sweet. Listen to these guys. There is only one way a new company calls and lands bi-weekly cleanings with absolutely no name recognition... they are way too cheap.

These managers figure you are new and the odds are their plans are to roll right over you. Please do your research. With your pricing and business plan I almost feel it justified to place a bid on your equipment now instead of next year when you will be selling it.

Did they mention that you may be cleaning those sidewalks for two or three months before you actualy get paid? I see new guys getting taking advantage of all the time. Nicole I admire your attitude and it will help you get going but there is no circumventing the way things are done.
 

Kory

New Member
I clean a Outback Weekly for $150 and only that cheap because it is a Weekly account. The bright side is you are now in. Give them a bump in a couple months and make it worth your while.
 

Kory

New Member
Not to get off subject but what are you guys using as chems. One of the stores I clean has like a grey grease stain look by the curbside pick-up and front doors. Degreaser wont remove! I can lighten it up with a concrete brightner. But I cant get it to dissapear any suggestions?
 

PowerWashPros

New Member
Okay guys- Im a tough girl I can handle this BB!!


I DO OUTBACK FOR $85 BECAUSE I GET FREE BEER WHEN I EAT THERE, AND I CAN HOLD MY LIQUOR!

HERES SOME MATH FOR YA'LL

$85.00 CLEANING Bi- Monthly x 2 stores = $170.00

6 BEERS @ $6 =46.00 AND WE GO EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT
SO 4 FRIDAYS X $46.00 = $184.00

I AM MAKING MORE IN FREE BEER THAN I CHARGE TO CLEAN.........


No, I am just kidding, thought I would give everyone a good laugh though.
Bottom line is that we can do it for $85 and we are fine. I make them pay at time of service everytime. We have other large contracts in place that keep us busy. And you know we get alot of exposure and good references from the managers over at outback, so we cannot complain!
 

Clean County

New Member
Nicole---if it works for you guys then thats great. Here I would get killed doing a job like that for so cheap. You figure out of that $170 that you make in those 4 hours you also have to figure in on paying taxes on that total by the end of the year so now your down to at most $130 for yourselves and that comes out to about $32.50 per hour which on top of that you can figure that at least a third of that comes out for the cost of running a business. Now your down to about $20hr and God forbid something goes wrong with your equipment while doing a job like that like the pump goes or worse yet the engine blows. These are concerns that business owners do have and they must be making enough Money to compensate for any unforseen problems.

But then again if your husband does not mind getting up that early to make that $20/hr then go ahead and knock yourself out. There will be a day when you guys grow that you will never go out for those prices...But untill then enjoy the business.

To bad they don't throw in a free steak dinner for you guys once a week..for those prices its the least they can do considering how cheap they get there steaks for because they buy them in bulk..and there Yummy!! I love Outback and I take my family there often.
 

CaroliProWash

New Member
John nailed it - demographics make a huge difference. Their cost of living, insurance premiums, etc... may allow for the price. If the exposure is good, that is worth a great deal if if cuts down on paid advertising...distance between jobs doesn't seem bad so not a lot of gas or travel time is helpful. And there is something to be said about a consistent days work. In a few months, you'll be able to upsell and upcharge for ice work as well.

Celeste
 

PowerWashPros

New Member
The one outback is in the Parking lot of the Home Depot, so being out there at 6-7 am on Saturday, when the place is getting packed for the weekend warriors is GREAT exposure. We get calls sayin "hey I saw you out washin last saturday" plus the fact that Outback is a large company it shows that we are responsible and professional


Thank you John and Celeste- [hello] Demographics make a big difference, Different markets = different price points. The car lot guys charge .80 per car out here! I could never touch that price, plus they shammi them too......

The resturants are not even 10 miles from the house, this is denver, there is a damn Micky d's on every corner. So we have basically no drive to get there, the work is easy because we maintain the property well and as for overhead: our insurance is insanely cheap our largest bill is Nextel and Office Depot each month. Last month ( August )we did over 20k in projects, so I am not really worried about our $85 Outback jobs, like I said earlier we have Large contracts with other companies that keep us busy!!
 

grizzley

New Member
CaroliProWash said:
John nailed it - demographics make a huge difference. Their cost of living, insurance premiums, etc... may allow for the price.

Celeste

But, according to national statistics, it costs MORE to live in Colorado than it does in North Carolina. In fact, Aurora, Colorado is listed as above the national average on everything that is calculated.

Celeste, would you sink or swim at $85 for this job? Keep in mind that you are on the 60%-90% side of the scale. She is on the 100%-111% of the scale for cost of living.

In the end, it's whatever PowerWashPros wants or needs to do. If they lived in MY area, I might think they were one of the lowballers and driving prices DOWN for everyone.

You can make more money, and there is enough work for everyone.
 

CaroliProWash

New Member
Actually this is a very good topic :)

Grizzley - no, we couldn't do it here. We do sidewalks and a 10x20 dumpster pad for $145/mo with less than 1.5 hours from driveway to job to bank :) Roger doesn't do the work either, that's for our employee to mess with. It's also not our type of bread and butter job. Very very seldom does Roger roll out of the driveway for less than a $1K day. This seems to be PowerWashPros situation as well. I will say, we have also gotten other commercial cleaning from being in that parking lot every month and I'd rather get paid $145 to be advertising than to pay out that amount :)

Something else to consider is that some areas are more saturated with pressure washers than others. If this is the situation, maybe that area's pwers are not on the same pricing page which is why customers get away with paying less - the pros haven't raised the area prices to where they can be. Not advocating organizations here, but there is something to be said about Round Tables or area meetings where setting parameters can be done.

Celeste
 
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Dave Ott

Guest
I say they are still in a good stance to get other things. She mentioned the awnings and building so they will make out. The problem is when they grow and hire an employee or two. Then they will need to raise prices to make money or may want newer equipment. When they tell them the new price they just laugh and move on to the next company that comes along to do it for 75.00. Then they are left out in the cold. You need to price in the beginning as if you already have many employees and lots of overhead. It's easier to go down than up. Start high for now on that's all.
Good luck though and yes the exposure will be good.
 

Larry L.

PWN TEAM - Moderator Emeritus
Even tho every thing is paid for you need to keep in mine some day it will need replaced.The 45 is the seeing cost and does not cover the blind eyes hidden cost of replacement of "all" things.
 

S.L.Alt

New Member
Nicole,

Congrats on landing the account. Every area is different. In my area I stay busy cleaning and resealing decks and fences but I can't get a business to clean their concrete. If I could get a few businesses for $85 biweekly I would do it and not care what anyone else thought. It is your business run it how you like. I give the best price I can to all customers. I don't lowball people but I do the job for what I think it is worth not what others think is is worth. I have not lost money yet.
 

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