I don't think it was his intent at all, but MP is on a path to be the official GTAM contractor and needing to pay Paul for advertiser status.
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Advice to get business going
- Thread starter mimico_polak
- Start date
I'm surprised. You seem to be one of the resident consultants here for me along with others when I need some help.
I'm going to talk to dad this weekend, but I know he's got some older business cards around and a company name that he's had registered for the last 20+ years.
Hell I may just make up some flyers and post in the area just to gauge interest.
One thing I've read/heard the most is 'no one will even pick up the phone'. So I figure if I'm not an idiot (I'm not...I hope), answer the phone, show up on time, and deliver on those at the very least...I'm already ahead of the game.
Plus, without sounding rude, I'm a fairly good speaker...that should help too.
I am a big DIYer (mostly as I am very picky about quality...) but there is a very long list of small projects these days that I could also just throw money at to get caught up.
My wife calls me a finish carpenter, because she is happy when I am finally finished.
Lol send her over she can teach mine. Maybe we can split on a class for them.
Sent from the future
And my wife can teach it! $1000/participant! 10 cleanings and you're already ahead...actually 5 at today's rates.
Was funny when my wife went on maternity leave (unpaid since self employed), she had clients calling her about 2 months in when she's planning on coming back.
Some didn't have anyone come by in the time she was off, some did and fired them the minute she came back. September is when they all start calling to book themselves before Christmas.
Maybe I should just work on expanding her business to commercial in the evenings...
My Italian neighbours cleaned commercial buildings in mississauga for a living. When they tried to retire, it was like your wife with tears from the clients and repeated calls about how everybody else sucks. They are in their 70's and I think they still do a building or two as they like the clients.
Ya...I've seen that before. We think the only client she lost is because he got downsized and his kids had university to be put through...but it doesn't matter.
As for commercial cleaning, it's a whole different world but could be something to look into. But with 3 kids and life...unlikely we can both focus on that.
Commercial is a whole different world. I know a guy that has around 600 employees. They do massive warehouses and buildings using $100 K machines. If you had 600 employees and netted even a buck an hour of each..........do the math.
One of @Mad Mike 's kids is on the fringe of that. IIRC, he just does carpets. Not sure if there is a discussion to be had as if he just does the floor and does a good job, clients may ask for referrals for people to do the rest.
Converting/adding commercial would be a rough go imo. 99% of commercial work is off hours. That's when you want to spend time as a family (or sleep). It can be done, but personally, I would rather try and pick up more expensive houses.
Well that’s the thing, and as per @nobbie48 ’s point, you need crews as it’s not doable alone.
I asked her multiple times if she wants to expand and the answer is always no because she doesn’t want to deal with cleaners (she worked for someone else and it was hell) and the staffing / HR issues.
So she does her own thing, but we’re detailing from the original discussion here.
About the call back issue, some people are out of touch with reality and think a long, go nowhere, conversation is a good thing. If a potential job is going to get culled they are at the top of the list.
On really small jobs you don't get a quote, you get a a rate for a service call and they don't work for the minimum wage.
Mad Mike
Well-known member
Is that $200 to replace the wife or housekeeper?
On second thought, that would be a fair price for either.
If you’re smart you can replace the wife with the housekeeper…
For the bargain price--half of everything!
Wife has gold plated govt pension , she ain’t going anywhere if I can avoid it .
In our extended circle of friends we had people fighting over getting a time slot with our housekeeper. She had 5 houses in a 3km circle and 3 more wanted her badly . She was that good . Most everyone else complains about lack lustre service , so if you get a good one , pay them whatever they need .
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It would be hilarious if that was my wife as the cleaner for that area. She's got a handful of clients in that area.
The gal in our area that used to own a coffee shop got tired of the hours . She now runs a pretty successful res/ commercial cleaner . She doesn’t clean anything , she meets the clients , schedules the teams , dispatches her minions . Works from her home office , visits clients on occasion and “spot checks “ her teams . Teams like it as they get paid , client interactions are not them. Her service is NOT cheap, but when you have the demographic she is serving, you need discretion not value .
Sent from my iPhone using GTAMotorcycle.com
Sent from my iPhone using GTAMotorcycle.com
If you read Mark Towyhey's book you will see that Rob Ford made it big by simply picking up the phone.
My cousin had a Molly Maid franchise for a while and while she made some money it was a constant problem finding workers with enough ambition to do the job but not so much that they want to start their own business by stealing clients.
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