Intermediate Question Yo Quiero Taco Bell - any suggestions here?

[Gordon]

My first job was just last week at a Taco Bell here in Utah.

I bid $300 and did the job.

Unfortunately, I'm new to the business and I spent about 6 hours on that job.

I have an opportunity to bid out 16 more Taco Bells. I'd like to get them on a "recurring basis" and power wash them once per month.

Currently, there's another guy who comes in and does it at $85 per session, but he's not getting the dirt, grime and oil out.

What would you do if you were in my shoes? How much would you charge understanding that the Utah market is CHEAP and power washing isn't to the same level as other areas of the country.

I'm really looking for some help and guidance as I quit my school teaching job to go into business for myself.

Is it really feasible to make $250,000 in this field of work?

Warmest regards for any help,

Charlie Peterson / Gordon G
(801)918-5447

[Dick Atkins]

Before you can bid any work you MUST know your costs. Then you must figure out what you need to make your desired level of personal income. Then if you want to make $100 or $10 per hour you must know your production rate for the procedure you are doing.This can be worked into a per sq.ft rate to charge the customer.I have been in the business for 17 yrs and with 8 men in the field, I still dont make $250K. I think a salesman trying to sell cleaning equipment may have told you that. If you can price your work so that each man who works for you can do $100-$125K worth of work per season you will make 20-25%. So with 2 men doing $250k you MAY make $50-60K . Beyond that you can do the math. Good luck with your new business.Concentrate on doing QUALITY work and dont worry about what the other guy charges-or he will pull you down to his level of poverty when you dont charge enough to make a living. This is a very good business, but--you must work hard at marketing .Print ads-print ads-print ads-anything that will fit on the refrigerator is a good ad-no tv or radio.They are gone in 30 sec or less. Good luck-WORK HARD

[gun_44]

Gordon,

I agree with your statement about Utah being too cheap. I am right up the road from you in Layton. There are some very cheap locals that have driven the price into the ground but don't have any quality with their work. I bid a Sonic Drive-In the other day and was told that my price was way too high...but there facility hadn't been cleaned in ages and was incredibly soiled. I guess I'll let someone else bid the work cheap and lose their butt on it. I'm sticking to my guns and pricing competitively, not adjusting to the cheap work that has been done.

The good thing is, now that there are two of us in the area that will focus on quality, our price can be justified.

We may compete on the same jobs but give me a call if you have any questions or comments.