View Poll Results: How much did you spend

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  • <$1,000

    14 13.08%
  • $2,000-$5,000

    36 33.64%
  • $6,000-$9,000

    20 18.69%
  • >$10,000

    37 34.58%
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Thread: How much did it cost you to start?

  1. #31
    TGS Member jgotterb Rarely gets any...Frubals jgotterb's Avatar
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    Ya'll say to find a niche and stick to it. uh huh. Doesn't that mean I still need to try it all to find out? And too, in this area every tom dick and harry has a lowes pressure washer on a 4x8 trailer and is trying to do houses for nothing. So doI even try to do houses or do I have to do houses? The flat work like gas stations, and bank etc. would be great but I can't afford the environ. equip. to start.
    Last edited by jgotterb; Feb 8th, 10 at 06:24 PM.
    Conway Pressure Washing
    Jeremiah Otterbein
    Conway, SC

  2. #32
    TGS Platinum Member cleanhoods Rarely gets any...Frubals cleanhoods's Avatar
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    Cool

    $200.00 to start and maybe 20,000 the first year.
    Marko
    S&M CLEANING SERVICES since 1997
    (828)302-9728
    www.cleanhoods2002@yahoo.com
    Marko owner

  3. #33
    TGS Bronze Member JohnB Rarely gets any...Frubals JohnB's Avatar
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    Around 11,000... This includes the fire equipment stuff , hood cleaning stuff , my old truck that I bought for 2500 years ago ... It is setting up now waiting to be sold.. My biggest expense was insurance.. Now with the new stuff just in the past year and a half we have purchased about 25000.00 dolars worth of ( truck, machine,trailers,and fire equipment stock... ( Dang I am Broke )
    B&R FIRE PROTECTION
    John Bevalaque
    601-573-5509
    brfirepros@gmail.com
    www.freewebs.com/brserviceplus

  4. #34
    TGS Silver Member timhays Rarely gets any...Frubals timhays's Avatar
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    i started out with a $2000 pressure washer from northern and starved for a couple years 10k-50k building up the business,we did $280k in 06 with myself and 1 assistant.

    then the building boom bursted and we were 100 percent leveraged in new construction.

    the drought for the last 2 years has hurt business as well.

    profits have not been the same since 2007 but things are picking up around here
    Last edited by timhays; Jan 6th, 10 at 06:32 PM.
    Tim Hays
    CEO
    Charlotte Pressure Washing & www.Pro-jector.com
    704 713 9274
    timhays@pro-jector.com

  5. #35
    TGS Newbie nitrox2595 Rarely gets any...Frubals nitrox2595's Avatar
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    started with a 96 ford e250, hotsy 1260, and about $1,000.00. 10 years later i have 6 trucks, 2 trailers, and last year we did about $650k. This year I got rid of my office( - $4,500 a month) My waste of time secretary that was surfing the net all the time.(-$650/week) and got rid some poor performers. I hope to break 1mil between all my business this year.. I HOPE... back to basics for me.
    Chris

  6. #36
    Senior Forum Leader CarolinaProWash Starting to develope a taste for Frubals CarolinaProWash Starting to develope a taste for Frubals CarolinaProWash Starting to develope a taste for Frubals CarolinaProWash Starting to develope a taste for Frubals CarolinaProWash's Avatar
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    Nitrox (Chris).....Please fill out your signature - house rules
    Roger & Celeste Gothorp
    Carolina ProWash LLC
    Graham, NC 27253

    "Your assocations will only ever be as strong or effective as your support (money) is. An org with no support can do nothing." Paul Horsley, PWNA

  7. #37
    Senior Forum Leader CarolinaProWash Starting to develope a taste for Frubals CarolinaProWash Starting to develope a taste for Frubals CarolinaProWash Starting to develope a taste for Frubals CarolinaProWash Starting to develope a taste for Frubals CarolinaProWash's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jgotterb View Post
    Ya'll say to find a niche and stick to it. uh huh. Doesn't that mean I still need to try it all to find out? And too, in this area every tom dick and harry has a lowes pressure washer on a 4x8 trailer and is trying to do houses for nothing. So doI even try to do houses or do I have to do houses? The flat work like gas stations, and bank etc. would be great but I can't afford the environ. equip. to start. Back to the question. as soon as Uncle Sam gives me back my $ I will have about $3500 to start. I already have a Hydrotek hot cold. Still very confused.
    If you don't want to "try" everything - which really does mean marketing everything - find a couple of companies that have found a niche and ride along, get your hands in it and see if you click. There are several companies in NC & SC that will be happy to have you for a day or two (we call it Labor for learning and you will work!)

    We're one.....I believe William Page (Off Duty Fireman does it). Feel free to check with us - when it warms up a bit!

    Celeste
    Roger & Celeste Gothorp
    Carolina ProWash LLC
    Graham, NC 27253

    "Your assocations will only ever be as strong or effective as your support (money) is. An org with no support can do nothing." Paul Horsley, PWNA

  8. #38
    TGS Member jgotterb Rarely gets any...Frubals jgotterb's Avatar
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    Thanks Celeste. I am definitely going to take you up on the offer! Let me know when's a good time.
    Conway Pressure Washing
    Jeremiah Otterbein
    Conway, SC

  9. #39
    TGS Bronze Member Guy B Rarely gets any...Frubals Guy B's Avatar
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    I'm close J, call anytime.
    Pressure Kleen Power Washing Service
    910-876-1594
    Tar-Heel N.C.

    www.pressurekleen.net

  10. #40
    TGS Member onaprwl Rarely gets any...Frubals onaprwl's Avatar
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    I decided to sell the truck stop/wash and go mobile so I went out on a Monday and spoke to 4 companies, Pepsi Cola, Ryder, NorthAmerican Van Lines, and Fayard Trans.. I had all four companies before lunch. Now all I needed was a machine and some soap. I rented a preasure washer from the local rental company for $30.00 and called the guy that sold me soap when I had the truck stop/wash. About $150.00 in chemicals and the machine, and I was in business. I did some independents on weekends for cash that paid for the rental of the machine all week and the soap and contuniued this until the profits from the large companies came in. When the money started to flow came the new machines, insurance and another truck. the only advertising I have ever done was a business card so when peoplke asked what was the name of the company or how to get in touch with me, I handed them one. That has been the extent of my advertising for 31 years. I stopped handing out cards 8 years ago but that hasn't seem to change anything.
    onaprwl/ Al Guichet
    Quality Mobil Wash
    Covington, Louisiana
    Business since 1979
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WaterSkiKites/

  11. #41
    TGS Silver Member Little Buddy Rarely gets any...Frubals Little Buddy's Avatar
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    Do you guys think age, I'm 20, will hurt me or doesn't it matter?
    Joe Lindberg, Owner/Operator
    PowerWash Solutions, LLC
    Exterior Restoration Specialists
    Website: www.powerwash-solutions.com
    Cell: (715) 214-4989
    Address: 1687A West Church Rd Star Prairie, WI 54026

  12. #42
    TGS Member onaprwl Rarely gets any...Frubals onaprwl's Avatar
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    I started at 22 and it didn't seam to make any difference. It depends on how you present yourself and you abilities to preform good work.
    onaprwl/ Al Guichet
    Quality Mobil Wash
    Covington, Louisiana
    Business since 1979
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WaterSkiKites/

  13. #43
    TGS Bronze Member Chris Tharpe Rarely gets any...Frubals Chris Tharpe's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Little Buddy View Post
    Do you guys think age, I'm 20, will hurt me or doesn't it matter?
    It can be somewhat a hurdle to overcome however its not impossible. I am 25 and it seems as I get the snub sometimes. Just present yourself well over the phone and email if you communicate with them before face-to-face meetings and you will do much better and they will be impressed
    Chris Tharpe
    MWP Property Services
    601-383-1034
    www.acleanerproperty.com

  14. #44
    TGS Member Chesapeake Rarely gets any...Frubals Chesapeake's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Little Buddy View Post
    Do you guys think age, I'm 20, will hurt me or doesn't it matter?
    Deffinately a little tuff to gain the confidence of the customer. Present yourself as a professional, and do professional work, and the work will start rolling in. Use your past customers as references for future customers. If you do good work, the word will spread. I was 24 when I started. I think alot of people think a younger person in business should have cheaper prices because their bills shouldn't be as high as someone with a family. Hold firm to your pricing. I use to get it alot. People thought my prices were too high. I don't have that problem much anymore. Maybe that's because of my company's reputation, or maybe I'm just a better salesman now, or could be due to the fact that I'm getting older and have some grey hair surfacing.

  15. #45
    TGS Member Chesapeake Rarely gets any...Frubals Chesapeake's Avatar
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    I started the company with
    $800 cash for a trailer
    $4000 on a credit card for a small hot water machine, hoses, chemicals, and a couple ladders
    $? small general liability policy

    I had a $3500 job lined up before I ever bought any equipment, and had everything paid for before the credit card bill ever came in.
    Last edited by Chesapeake; Feb 19th, 10 at 10:24 PM.

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