Ebb and Flow

The power washing business is one that relies on alot of different factors, well at least mine does. We relay on a couple of painters we do prep work for, a couple of contractors and builders, and a stone mason or two. If they slow down I also slow down, typically August and September are slow in the building trades thus I try to put on more house washing if possible. This year is has been good to us not bragging just a statement. With summer over our patio cleaning business is also slowing down as well as cleaning those outside eating areas for our commercial clients. Cooler temps mean less folks eating outdoors. Snow will soon be covering the sidewalks and the use of salts and ice-melts will lead to jobs this spring. The ebb & flow, plan for it have those sales pitches ready.

Now all this is based on my location also, I will work as long as it does not become a safety issue for clients or my machines. When we did KEC it was a year round job and income keeping the van with the washer and supplies in a heated building. Keeping it warm and ready to go year round. Trailers and other set ups are harder to find a large heated area to use. Heating a large area keeping equipment and supplies also takes more money. Budgeting to pull you through lean times has always been with us here in the Midwest. The more north you go the smaller the season gets and winterizing become more important, you have to budget or find other incomes during these times. I can not take on a part-time job at a store for the reason, my business comes first if someone should need "Cleaned by Pete" and conditions are right I will be doing that cleaning when the customer need it. Building and growing my business. It does put us in a hardspot, what do we do? Feeding the family comes first and as small business owners we have to compromise somewhat.

I don't know about carpet cleaning that much I know that with the proper equipment I have seen them cleaning year round. Our brothers in the other fields as painting can move inside for winter jobs. The construction trades can also move inside if they have walls and a roof up. But a person who is specializing in house washing or concrete cleaning doing outside work is at the mercy of the seasons. Being on call to grow your business is a must taking on small jobs or cleanings may be something one has to do to get by. I'm very "old school" in regards to putting food on the table and a roof over the families head. If I can do it I will. It is harder to clean in the winter and more precautions are needed and have to be taken, all part of working with water and being a power washer.

We as an industry are linked and tied to others no matter what field of washing we take, from residential to commercial. Depending on the area you live or work in we are also tied and linked to the seasons and weather in general. I use to worry about it alot more than I do now, but if you take it day by day and build your business step by step along the way you will be a success. If it was easy you would not see the 1 or 2 year turnover in power / pressure washing companies that we do. With less job this time a year it is easy to blame them. A new crop comes in and pops up every couple of years. You may think they are taking your business away. That is a easy blame but only work and perseverance will make your business not getting rid of them will help you. Those that fly-by-night or "low ball prices" will always be there whether is is the group doing it now or the new crop that will spring up next year. Your problem is not them it is all in the ebb and flow of being in the power washing business. Working hard and a never say die attitude is a must in any business but with a little luck and a good business plan you should be able to weather the storm or the ebb & flow of this business. Hang in and hold on, this industry has its' ups and downs but still can be quite rewarding career.

2014 Power Washing Games: the timed events

The timed events at the 2014 "Power Washing Games"

Ready ..... set ..... go  and the house washing event is on! Just look at that spray pattern what a technique. Just look at that speed.....

I was going to compete in the Old Man class in this timed event, But over the week-end I was told that I was near fast enough at house washing. With this news in mind I may want to wait till the next years event and games That way I should qualify for the "Dinosaur" class those 60 or above. May stand a chance then. The timed "House Washing" event and accompany trophy is quite a coveted title. One that several of the best of the best strive for. Other events are also very sot after as "drive-way cleaning" but even more is the "commercial concrete" cleaning title. You compete in your class to make things fair but it is all on the honer system, you need not prove your age to  enter that bracket or class. Some lesser events as hose rolling or bucket filling are enjoyed by all. Along with the timed event are the technical events as "pump rebuilding" "burner diagnostic" or even "nozzling for the correct pressure" plus other events that every power washer should know and can participate in.

By now you're asking what is he talking about? Just trying to make a point that:

 we all know there is always someone out there besting everyone else. They claim they do this and that faster and better than any body else. Where it gets to far, is not only their claims to be faster and better but they then go on to tell you why and how you should be power washing like them since they are the only ones that do it right. The internet is a wonder full tool to help grow your power washing business, but it is a tool. Ever wondered why hammers come in so many sizes, weights, and configurations? It so you can pick the right one for the right job that fit your needs. Not the needs of others. Some posting on the internet may or may not have your best interest at heart, braggarts and blowhards are all over the place. Any one can hide behind a persona of a professional. Some are even on there just to promote products or items.

 The more I thought about it and stewed over it, this question came up. What does speed have to do with washing a home. I may be too slow for some other "professional power washers" but I do a thorough job for each of my customers each and every time. Why should I try and have to get done in an hour? My customers deserve the best, They are paying for a service and my high standards that is what I give them. Sure it may take me longer, but the best is worth waiting for. It could be I have a few more miles on me than others. It could be I'm a lot older than most other power washers, but customers are paying for a job not a race. Anything worth doing is worth doing it right is the old saying not Anything worth doing is worth doing fast, really doesn't have the same ring to it does it?

A real professional usually helps to offer suggestions and a means to help you do a job. When they post and immediately start telling you how much money they make on each job, how fast or how good they are, downgrading others or telling you how to do your business it is time to stop listening to them. This all comes from a post on the net, where posters were sucked into a discussion on how fast is fast in the house washing field. What made matters worst is I knew I was being drawn down to a level where I do not compete well. You know the saying "Don't argue with fools they drag you down to their level and whoop you with experience". But still  others and I waded into the fight. I will leave that discussion at that, but the thing I found out was this person with all the answers has been out of washing and cleaning field for quite some time (years on years) but is telling others they are slow and in the same post they told others they are too fast. They have told other they're not working hard enough, they have even told one start-ups that their business plan is wrong and they will fail shortly. Because they are not doing things the way they did so they are wrong. They also stated it does not matter where you live you should be doing it this way and making this much money off each job or wash. If  you are not doing and making this much you are wrong. A house wash is a house wash, mold is mold and algae is algae no matter where you live it is all the same. They are just a ray of sunshine in the power washing field.

The reason I posted this entry is this:  just because you saw it on the internet it is not necessary true. Some may offer advise or help that is fine, but when they start telling you what to do, when to do it, how to do it, how fast or slow to do it, then it may be time to look and reevaluate them for advice. I flash back to when I was working on motorcycles for a living.  A self appointed "internet guru" was giving out how-to and what to do, to a KLR making it run better, faster, and with less problems. Modifying factory settings cutting out the case reinforcing this changing that and what to do with all the greatest gadgets he was selling and besting the factory tuners and engineers. Was he a mechanic? Was he an engineer? Was he factory trained? Well he was a delivery driver for a beer company. He could have been all the other things listed. He could be right but I think the factory gets things fairly close to right before they put out a motorcycle on the market to the general public.

If your starting your power washing business or have been doing it for years take what is on the net with a grain of salt. Not everything is true not everyone's way of doing something is for you. It can work as a short-cut but trust yourself. Check things out ask specific questions the internet cowboy will always trip up somewhere. The trick is not letting their "fail" be on you. No matter what you do there will be someone that claims to be faster, better, make more money, have better tools, have a bigger power washer, a better looking wife and do more business than anyone else. It is up to you to evaluate the source and what you read, hear or see on the internet. Watch out for self-promoters, braggarts, blowhards, internet cowboys and the know-it-all that tell you what to do.

Yes even here on this blog I have a slant on things and ideas that may not work or be for you even though I try to remain factual and unbiased I'm human and will slip up too. I have nothing to sell, I will however promote my company now and then. I just like to blog, I like power washing and the power washer so I blog about it.

* Photos use in this entry were sourced from the internet if you own the rights to a photo and wish it removed please just let me know it will be remove at your request.

  ** I can not believe I have to put this disclaimer in. This blog entry is not about one person, it is an accumulation of items that have been posted on different places through out the web. Yes there was a discussion that this fictional blog was based on. I'm not writing about you. The problem should be if you think I wrote this blog entry about you and if you saw yourself in there with things that were written, that alone should be make a person stop and think.