price guide

[outlaw]

Hi
I'm new to this forum and to PW, I have my own small (very small) window cleaning company, I am just coming to the end of my first and somewhat dissapointing year, however I plan to go the distance, I am about to add pressure washing and deck restoration to the services I provide, I am currently trying to do as much research as I can before I even buy a unit, my question this time is, do yall find the Delco price guide to be somewhat accurate, or does it more depend on the region you operate in. any help on this and aboat load of other matters will be greatly appreciated.
thanks Gav

 

[outlaw]

Sorry peeps,
Iguess I should have all my questions written down so I could post them all at one time, but there's too many and they keep coming to me at the oddest times. anyway has anybody used the superdeck products and if so how do they compare with other similar products, ie price, application, stripping etc and also cause i'm just starting in the PW business I was thinking of getting a Excell 3500 with the 13 hp honda, is this a reasonable choice.
thanks again Gav
P.S I will bug yall with more questions as they attack my aching brain cells

 

[Aplus]

Welcome Gav,

I bet you could find answers to a lot of your questions, plus a whole lot more, by using the search function of this board. Just enter key words to search on, and read to your hearts content.

 

[outlaw]

Thanks Tony,
Having had time to read up some(waiting on tax return), I have realised there is more to this than at first meets the eye, I don't mind making mistakes, I just dont want to make any costly ones as my window cleaning biz just about put's food in front of all the hungrry mouths in my house, however like I said I'm in for the long haul, so thanks again
Gav

 

[PUREPOWER]

Howdy Gav,

Welcome...I started out with the same machine you are speaking of, with the intent of doing "just decks"...3 years later, I have 2 hot water skids and more work than I can handle sometimes(which is a great thing to have)BUT I still have 2 of those machines you are speaking of (and they start on the first pull every time)...Honda engines...Others may disagree but...if that is the budget you are working with...then by all means get it, BUT sooner or later you will get a bigger machine because that is where the money is.
Hot water opened up a big commercial market for me. Delco has a basic price guide but I feel that your region will dictate what the market will bear. Don't be a low baller working out of the back of a pinto station wagon(at least buy a chevy or a dodge) but don't expect to get rich this year.
Keep researching and learning...I still learn from this and other sites. Never rest on your laurels.
As for superdeck products...I never heard of them...and every product is better than the other.
Making mistakes is good...just learn from them.

From the only redneck in Pittsburgh(just ask Lance from Pressure Clean).......

Good Luck...

Jordan[sb]

 

[outlaw]

Thanks Jordan,
As far as low balling, it's something I wont do as I've been a victim to it for the last 8 months from a so called competitor working with a p.o box and an unlisted number, he's cost me quite a few job's, but I guess that goes with the territory, like I said I'm in for the long haul, Its also the reason I'm expanding into pressure washing which is why im researching and asking questions, so I appreciate every answer and comment.
thanks again
Gav

 

[Mike Hughes]

Gav,


In addition to using the search function, try to place different questions in seperate threads, on the proper board. When you ask three totally different questions in one thread, you are much less likely to get detailed answers.

Post the thing about superdeck on the "just wood" board.


Delco's pricing guide is averages, based on people surveyed all over the country. It is a great starting point..........use it, do a few jobs, and make a judgement for yourself. Every market is different.

 

[sprayandclean]

pricing jobs

Gav,
You need to do a few jobs, and figure out your rate of production, use that number as a multiplier with the amount you want to make per hour to make a living. You can probably use 40% to 50% of your net as a gross income number, that seems to work for most folks. I know you think your gross is higher than 40%-50%, but thats because you arn't figuring all your expenses... remember if you go full time you have to pay for a phone/insurance/ a truck/ fuel... just because you own it now or are already paying for it, that expense is still business related, and costs the business money. Remember time spent doing estimates/phone quotes and add that to your total time of a job. Not figuring the true cost of doing business is a quick road to a disappointing unproffitable business.

Take the business plan that Delco has on there site, and figure the income side using different charges for you jobs, How many of those $99.00 housewash jobs does it take to make a living? You'd be better off flipping burgers at Micky D's!

Low-balling to get jobs will get you the customers who want work done cheap...... trust me, most of these folks are not the customers you want. They are only loyal to the lowest price around, and there is always someone new who is a lowballer. The other side of this is you simply wont be making any profit to speak of. Locally there is a competitor (?) who charges 1/2 of what most of the rest of us charge, guess what, he isnt as busy as I am, and he still has all the same expenses. Dont let this happen to you,;

Do excellent work and charge for it, this is the key to a successful business, regardless of the type of business. (note: I did not say overcharge)
Good Luck,
Bates McLain