Hey Scott, where are you located? I’m just outside of Fort Wayne. I have just started here too, but I will tell you that Florida prices are way different than Indiana prices. I can get $.15 to $.20/ sq ft all day long. Start targeting older, established neighborhoods. I know you’re just getting started but don’t shoot yourself in the foot. I can see that you’re hustling and I think you’ll do fine. Very little professional competition here.
Less is more.
- Put an expiration date on your deal. If they call you after that you’ve already set the expectation that it’s going to cost more.
- Put a phone number on it and always answer your phone.
- “Properly licensed and insured.”
- “Check out our awesome reviews on Google, HomeAdvisor, Thumbtack, and now Angie’s List”
The last two are on everything our customer sees. The last one gives you credibility. If you don’t have reviews consider doing a couple driveways for free in exchange for reviews.
I’m 2 years in and Saturday morning I’m washing a new neighbors driveway in exchange for a review on all 4 sites. Less than an hours worth of work for for 4 positive reviews that are worth their weight in gold.
Oh and the little cartoon head is STRAAANNGE
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Hey newguy89,
Im in Goshen (Amishville)
Cool, you’re right up the road. I actually live in Churubusco. I understand more about your pricing now. How are the prices in South Bend and Elkhart?
NewGuy89,
I haven’t checked pricing at all. I haven’t left my job at Dairy Farmers of America in Goshen yet. I work 7 days a week there and my cleaning business keeps me really busy before and after work. Trying to get all my ducks in a row before I go full time. I have a few more pieces of equipment to buy, then goodbye Dairy!
I’m not just pressure washing. I have office cleaning contracts and specialty cleaning with Dry Vapor Steam Cleaners. I’m also cleaning Tile and Grout and Color Sealing. The Color Sealing gig is quite profitable! No competition…yet!
BTW, a guy at work has been asking me for a price to pressure wash his house in Albion. I have NO time available to drive to Albion. Are you interested?
I hear ya Brother, I haven’t left my real job yet either. Keep on hustling and I wish you the best! I refuse to pressure wash your friends house, but I will soft wash it. LOL. Albion is about 20 mins from here, have him give me a call (260) 341-9081
Good answer haha. I will pass your number along. His name is Derick.
you wont make it with that pricing, hopefully its not to late to change it. Also a 4 gpm you will be working extremly slow get a 8 -10 gpm as soon as possible
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Thanks to some of the comments, I’ve been working on improving flyer design.
I put more focus on what I’m offering and I also eliminated quite a bit of text.
My advice is to get rid of the head. It’s out of place.
Stretch the image to both sides and move the fully insured below.
Good luck. Let us know how many nibbles.
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How is it taking you 4 hours to do a driveway? We can do 2200sf per hour including rinsing.
I’m around 2,200 s.f. per hour with a small 4 / 4000 machine too.
I’d be interested in how much faster a 8 / 4000 machine is on flatwork?
I guess I charge ridiculous amounts for my pressure washing services (.25-.40 for flat work), but it’s just an add on for me. If they take it, great. If not I’ll just stain the fence or garage doors, shutters, play sets etc. As has been pointed out, I make it about the quality of my work not the price. It has served me well in the fence staining business.
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This is just me…but I would find another business before I would go cheaper on what you just described.
No way, that I would do that for less.
My rate for what you described is about 150 to 200. Driveways are normally 750 SQ ft.
$300 is my minimum to even hook up the trailer. I don’t know how $99 guys stay in business.
My costs to consider:
$2 mil insurance policy.
Drug testing and background check costs for employees.
Gas.
Costs to acquire the customer/marketing
My own hourly rate.
Consumables. I.e. SH, fuel for the machines
Maintenance cost on truck and machines.
That said, I’ve done plenty of $300 driveways. If you don’t start pricing higher you’re going to lose customers when your costs increase and you have to charge double in two years.
Unless you wanna be a one man show then you can tell me to shut up.
I’d rather get one customer who pays $300 for a driveway wash and go fishing than drive to 3 different driveways that take more than 3 times as long with travel time for $99 each.
Don’t just wash the driveway while you’re there. Take a look at everything else that needs to be washed and bring it up.
This is one residential ticket that started at $529 before I noticed their gutters desperately needed cleaned, and their pool deck needed TLC. Stop selling yourself short… If you don’t bring it up they’re going to get back on Thumbtack and find someone else to do because all you do in their mind is driveways.
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I know it’s not everyone’s desire to be a top rate all things exterior cleaning company, but if it is stop being “the driveway guy”. One is a business. The other is a guy who cleans driveways.
The phone not ringing off the hook has nothing to do with your price. They don’t know what your price is until they call you. SOOOOOOOOOO stick to your price
Just some thoughts.
First thing is you have a nice photo so I would suggest you drop the caricature.
Secondly proof your ad, you have the word carpet in there did you mean carport?
Third the whole thing about doing it themselves? Most people had no intention of doing it them selves, that’s why it looks like it does…
Fourth cut the verbiage in half.
Up side:
You have bright contrasting letters that stand out.
You have 2 things slanted and a totally different font which attracts the eye. I would put the " locally owned and insured" on one side and maybe “Fast service, Immediate results” (or some other feature/benefit) on the other side.
You have a good photo clearly showing the desired result.
Most importantly you are out there everyday attracting a new set of eyes to your business…
Just my 2 cents…
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