Hi gang! I’m starting out and am looking to network with a couple of people. And, if willing, to bounce some ideas off so I start off in a decent fashion. The plan right now, since limited budget, is to skip roofs and focus on ground level and stuff I can shoot from the ground. Ideally I’d like to build a mutually beneficial referral base to send roof jobs.
If nothing else, hoping I can ask some questions, maybe ask for some guidance. Happy to buy you lunch and a beer or 3 for your time. I understand as a business owner time is precious and appreciate any you might be willing to spare.
I’m in the North Snohomish South Everett area and willing to drive.
Cheers!
Erik
I’m not in the area, so I can’t offer hands-on training or in-person help. However, a common business practice I’ve seen is that many professionals avoid giving advice to someone starting up in the same area… helping someone a few towns or cities away is one thing, but direct competition is another. That might be part of what you’re noticing in the lack of response, though I also don’t know how many members are in your area.
That said, the majority of questions you might have, apart from specific regional things, are likely already covered on this site. Before posting, try searching for answers first. If you don’t find what you need or need more clarification, feel free to ask… but showing that you’ve done some research beforehand will usually get you better responses from the guys around here.
Here are some threads to get you started:
Starting out 1
Starting out 2
Starting out 3
Starting out 4
Driveway cleaning 101
House washing 101
Why we have insurance
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Thank you OhioFloMo. I am looking for more regional specific stuff which is why I mentioned my area.
I’ve been lurking the forums for a while and have gone over the guides you linked several times (even the ones with dead links.); done lots of research outside of here as well. I think if you look at my profile you’ll see I’ve been in here and have spent some time reading before posting. You have been one of the kinder people in general, that’s for sure, and I tend to stop and pay more attention to your posts. You post good content. 
I figured the lack of response is due to people not being local to me. If someone doesn’t want to talk to me for fear of me taking their business because I am local competition then perhaps they aren’t stable or confident in their business. If that’s the case then I don’t want to learn from them anyway.
Part of my intention is to get real contractor input on pricing so I don’t under price everybody. Professional services are undervalued, in my opinion, and a race to the bottom for pricing is a recipe for failure. I’ve seen it in the decade and a half plus of business, sales and managing I under my belt. I’m not excited about pricing myself out of the market either. I’m not the kind of guy who is going to waste other small business owners time and get quotes with the intent of just getting pricing models. That’s just plain shi*%[{y. I’d rather be open and honest about it and proceed with integrity and form professional relationships.
I’ve been wanting to get into this game for a couple of years now. My business is starting out with zero debt, I’m insured and bonded, just waiting on my license from the state. Marketing plan is set, just a few questions then it’s off and running to learn on the go.
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my post and giving me some professional guidance. I do truly appreciate it.
I agree, never said it made sense, just that people can think this way.
Just don’t be the “$99 guy”
Pricing can be challenging since it varies by region, so there’s no one-size-fits-all answer… Experience, equipment, and efficiency all justify higher rates. Your local competitors will likely differ on those aspects for their pricing models to work for you. Instead of focusing on what others charge, determine your expenses, factor in your desired profit, and set your prices accordingly. This ensures you cover your costs and make enough to sustain your business. You could try plugging some info into a site like Homewyse to get a starting point… but I’ve found that their pricing can be off when compared to what I’m getting around my area.
If your phone is ringing nonstop and you’re booked months out, your prices may be too low. If you’ve sent out 100 estimates with no takers, you may be too high. Adjust through trial and error until you find the right balance.
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I’ve looked at Homeyse, it’s interesting. Have you found them to be high?
I’ve seen numbers from HomeAdvisor, Angi, Thumbtack, Fresh books they are all over the map when localizing. I’m probably I rethink king all of this, which would be true to form
Some services are priced higher, others lower then what I can charge. I also understand the economic diversity of the areas I serve… an estimate that gets easily approved in one neighborhood will be laughed at just a few streets over. You just have to know your market and that will take some time. While Homewyse provides a starting point, it’s not set in stone. For example, I once shared an estimate with a customer who initially thought my pricing was “way out of line”. I knew that after he input details into Homewyse, the site would generate a higher number than mine. In the end, he chose to hire me at the original estimated price. When used correctly, the tool can be a valuable resource.
Understood. Initially the plan was to go mid point of the Homewyse range. Then I saw rates on the “co tractor referral sites “ and blew that to hell. Then the overthink I’ll try out homewyse again and just give it a shot. I can always adjust, right?
Yup, trial and error… start with what you need to make and bump it up until you aren’t as busy as you want to be.
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