Never feed the vultures... lesson learned

Ok I have to rant somewhere before I go crazy.

I am new to being self employed. I have a lot of ideas... some good, some bad... but nearly all of them rattle some cages. I like to think "outside of the box". What else can I say? I have been told its useless to try and re-invent the wheel, but if that was the case then we'd all be riding around on steel belted oaks.

For those that don't know, my primary business is power washing and I am hoping to expand into carpet cleaning sometime in the future. I know that there is a lot to learn, probably more so than with power washing.

Anyways back to the "vultures", I visit several of the pressure washing boards regularly and have said a few things that I shouldn't have. One thing particularly bad and wrong and even illegal if I had actually gone out and done it. It was a momentary lapse of judgment caused by a lot of frustration from two weeks of pounding the pavement with no jobs. But the rest of my posts were legit, just not attuned to the way the rest of the members think.

Now everytime I post on one of the boards, I am attacked by the "vultures" who criticize me and try to pick everything I say apart and tell me I am wrong, even when things I say are right. When I dig my heels in, correct them, and further explain how my position or topic is justified, then they just get that much pissy'er.

For example, when in a post I said that I was going to begin advertising my labor and chemicals separate, it somehow got construed that I was:

1. Re-packaging and re-selling my suppliers chemicals to customers directly.

2. I was using the wrong type of chemical in the mix I wash houses with.

3. Doing jobs without using any chemicals.

None of the above comments were true and all were taken out of context.

Personally I don't see what all the flap is regarding my advertising strategy. I plan on charging $79 for the first 1500 square feet of house that I do, and my housewash mix will be billed seperately per gallon without being marked up. Larger houses will be priced on a sliding scale according to size.

I think that is a fair method of pricing since my market will not support much more, and it helps the value concious customer to realize what all types of overhead are involved in cleaning a house. Heck if you ask me, once you take off equipment costs, fuel and advertising expenses, the remaining $60 bux of profit is not bad for an hour's work, the time it takes to pull into the driveway to the time the check is in your hand and your off to the next job.

In another post I spoke briefly about turning in individuals who violate government guidlines on waste water recovery. Whoooo boy, did that rub some folks the wrong way. Like petting a cat on its back against the way the hair lays down.

Now I admit that I may have done a few jobs where some of the rules may have been allegedly fractured. (I've only been in business since begining of October, haven't had time to do a lot of fracturing) Does that make me a hypocrite? Probably so, I will admit that. But, in my defense, I made it very clear that I was going to cease and decist from future activities that might get me into trouble with the water cops until such time as my recovery procedure becomes certifiably legal. Just because I did something wrong in the past doesn't mean that there should not be a line drawn in the sand somewhere in the future for myself, and everyone else in the power washing industry.

And yes, I know it is crappy to be a snitch. Nobody likes a snitch. But, I feel that is something that might be benificial for my business by helping eliminate some of the competition. After all, if it were up to you, and you would be able to eliminate most use for all the portable carpet cleaning rigs rented and sold in stores and knock out a few other professional competitors (at least for a little while) wouldn't you at least consider it?

End of rant.

 

What if your client hands you a jug of all purpose cleaner and says use this.  It is difficult when you start billing supplies seperate.  People can say you screwed then on the price of cleaner.  Did you ever think of that?  Just justify what you do and to hell with  the rest.

The cost of your chemicals should be built into your price.  Your chemical price per job should be minimal.  It sounds like you are either paying to much for chemical , using too much or just need to either charge for extras. Somehting is wrong with your invoicing?