Wanted to post my set-up in order to come out of the shadows as a reader and maybe get some input in this progression. My goal was to have a small but professional set up and provide a good product/service that I can accomplish efficiently. I’ve only done 2 jobs neighbors/family and worked from under the truck topper (not pictured). The hose reel wasn’t plumbed and just overall it made things inefficient. I just took the topper off to hook up the hose reel but I can’t keep it off because of weather/theft. I don’t think I will be able to get to all the equipment with the topper on though. So maybe I have to go to the inevitable of getting a small trailer. So thanks to me for answering my own question but maybe others have insight on that. Really wanted to keep things in the truck starting out.
My other concern was sales. I passed out a few fliers for residential surface cleaning and knocked on doors but so far no responses. I offered to do my neighbors who’s sidewalk is black for dirt cheap (no pun intended). He said he’d get back to me but so far no response. I could go much harder on the advertising but I still want to make sure I have this down where I can pull up, get started and work quickly. I have no experience with roofs but concrete was what I wanted to start out doing. Here’s my set up:
Honda GX390
Udor Gear Drive 4GPM Pump
K7 Unloader
35 Gallon Supply Tank
WW Ultra 16" Surface cleaner
recommended Mosmatic swivel/DC 10 Ball Valve
150 ft hose
Steel Eagle 12" hose reel
Pressure Tek High draw injector
5 gallon bucket chemical
2 Gallon pump sprayer
100’ ft Apex supply hose (not on reel)
50’ craftsman supply hose (not on reel)
fire extinguisher in truck
also got an LLC but no insurance yet
I would add house washing and focus on that. Many people don’t even realize their concrete is dirty unless you’re able to point it out to them. A house on the other hand they can see the green or black mildew, spider webs, bugs, etc and know it needs cleaned. You can try and up sell on the concrete.
To get a return of flyers you need to hand out thousands of them. Don’t expect 50 flyers to land you any work. Any jobs you do try and get people to leave Google and Facebook reviews. Google reviews are GOLD. Definitely get a website you need to get before and after pictures on there and your google business. I would be careful about knocking on doors right now. Some people don’t care but it can be a turnoff for a lot of folks due to covid.
My first 3 jobs came from me doing a filthy shed (for free) on a heavily-walked residential street. I smiled and waved to everyone that walked by, and kept my shirt tucked in the whole time. Two people had me over for estimates that day, and the third job came from washing one of those and employing the same tactics. Smile and wave, do a good job, always be professional
Thanks man. A lot to take into consideration. Yeah people aren’t too receptive I guess when knocking on doors. lol Encouraging that at least I shouldn’t expect too much from a few fliers. I’ll be doing some more on the internet. One thing I wanted to mention is that I’m down in S Florida and there’s really no siding. That’s why I thought about roofs & concrete mostly. But I can see exactly what you are saying about up selling if the house is real dirty.
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My first 3 jobs came from me doing a filthy shed (for free) on a heavily-walked residential street. I smiled and waved to everyone that walked by, and kept my shirt tucked in the whole time. Two people had me over for estimates that day, and the third job came from washing one of those and employing the same tactics. Smile and wave, do a good job, always be professional
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OK wasn’t too sure if that was something that I should do. I’ve never seen a pressure washer anyway except at night setting up to do a store front. Hardly any residential. Never seen one in my area. Gotta try it.
The setup looks good!
I’m using a pickup truck too with a similar setup. Convenient, yes, but I agree it’s a pain having all your stuff just sitting in the truck all the time, especially when doing errands and the paranoia that people are rummaging through it.
This is how I started… I got my dad’s 2.5 gallon 10+ year old pressure washer and bought a $50 surface cleaner attachment. I went on my neighborhood’s homeowner Facebook group and made a post saying that I’m starting a business and wanted to raise some initial funds for equipment and also get some before and after photos of my work. I advertised a special where I’d clean any driveway for just $50. None of them took more than three hours total, and some people tipped me extra. But the main point was to be seen working and to get my photos. So I got a handful of photos to begin an online gallery. Eventually my advertisement landed me almost ten driveways in my neighborhood. Then I spent two or three hours each Sunday driving around my area and cleaning dirty abandoned buildings, random walls and fences in public areas with just a pump sprayer of bleach and another one with water. Free and pointless work, yes, but again, got some decent photos. So once I had about twenty decent looking before and after photos, I made a Facebook business page and posted them up in a gallery. And I invited all my friends to like the page, just to make it look more official. Then I took a few of my best photos and I also made a few Craigslist ads with all my info and a mini photo gallery. Then I made an account on Nextdoor, a website that works basically as a baby boomer neighborhood social media site. Any time I would see anyone post asking for recommendations for any type of work I do, I would comment on their post with all my info and also message them directly. Nextdoor is probably my best source for leads. I also signed up with Homeadvisor and got a few jobs with them, though in hindsight I don’t recommend it. But yeah, almost all my leads come from Facebook, Craigslist, and Nextdoor. I never pass out flyers or advertise in person. I’m way too introverted for that. The online game is great. Once you do more and more jobs, your photo gallery looks more polished.
I’ve done all this part time, while working a full time job. Within 6 months I made my first $1000 in a week. Also consider advertising gutter cleaning because that’s pretty easy money too and you already have most equipment needed. By the way, I am really new to this. Been doing it for one year, but so far my strategy has been a success.
Oh yeah, and here’s my facebook business page, if interested in looking at the kind of gallery I’m talking about. Customers will mention it fairly often. All the advertisements I make on platforms I’ll say “check out our jobs photo gallery here! (link)”.
I’d take 2020 out of the name. All of the pictures seem to be cut off on your website and I have no idea why you’re mentioning elemonator on there lol. I’m no SEO expert but the site needs a lot of work including different photos. I’d also ditch the tiny trailer and put everything back in the truck for the time being. Obtaining a logo is extremely easy and affordable. After that you can put it on your truck along with your contact info and list of services.
When I applied for the LLC I gave three options in which case the first was taken so I added 2020. I don’t use it except on the website. Why is 2020 not good?
The pictures on the site are all I have unless I steal others. If you click on them they are not cut off. I agree the site needs improvement though. The first picture of the mansion is not mine though I stole that one.
I only have one vehicle, my Ford Ranger and just bought the trailer so I could use my vehicle more. Why is the trailer not good?
You’ll be surprised how many people actually would rather hire a solo operator. Are you focusing on really big homes ? Maybe you should focus on smaller homes first . I’m going based on the front picture of your website
No mainly smaller homes
I think I will need a larger set up though because it takes such a long time with my equipment
In my area I think I gotta go big or go home so to speak
I think I can still capitalize on what I have though if I switch to doing roofs
I am right now considering adding a roof system. I have an extra 35 gallon tank and would just need the pump hose and reel to put in the back of the ranger. I suppose I could tow my trailer and use my 4/4 pressure washer for rinsing. It’s probably great for that just slow for concrete.
