The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum
"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

Roof Cleaning New Jersey · Jun 17, 2012

You want to make serious money?

Guest

Still looking for that exact answer. I am always thinking of what can be added on that create that high path of cash. You are correct in this business will not make you a millionaire but it will provide a great income and freedom like no other. We just had our best week since being in business(over 9000) it was a difficult and crazy week. We are extremely busy but the total gross this year will not even hit 200,000. It will take another 6-7 years just to bit a millioni dollars in sales from this point on. I might add on a landscaping division to supplement my winters but who knows.

Kleen Roof and Exterior Cleaning · Jun 17, 2012

We are busy this summer. But, I don't think roof cleaning alone is going to make anyone rich. We bought a mosquito Franchise this past winter, and snowplow in the winter. I think for any small business that wants to make good money, you need have more than one stream of income.
The mosquito business is going very well for our first year. I thought this would be a great add on to roof and exterior cleaning. When we go to homes, we offer mosquito control, and most homeowners are thrilled about it. For any of you Florida guys, this is something you should check into.
I hear from folks down there that the skeeters are real bad.

Jun 17, 2012

Roof Cleaning Grand Rapids Michigan 616-914-9064 wrote:
We are busy this summer. But, I don't think roof cleaning alone is going to make anyone rich. We bought a mosquito Franchise this past winter, and snowplow in the winter. I think for any small business that wants to make good money, you need have more than one stream of income.
The mosquito business is going very well for our first year. I thought this would be a great add on to roof and exterior cleaning. When we go to homes, we offer mosquito control, and most homeowners are thrilled about it. For any of you Florida guys, this is something you should check into.
I hear from folks down there that the skeeters are real bad.

Great idea! However, to spray any pest chemicals, here in Florida, you need to get a special license and the fine to spray without one is $5000.00

I had a small landscape business for a while and couldn't even spray Roundup from Home Depot without the schooling and licensing.

Jun 17, 2012

I am not suprised Ed and Mike are doing well, they seem to be on the ball and are go getters! I do ok and really enjoy the work and the " same day results "! I am interested in the mosquito control it is bad here for years. Please send me any info,esp. start up cost.

Roof Cleaning New Jersey · Jun 17, 2012

That sounds like an easy sell. I'd like to know more myself.

sweetwaterfish · Guest

My target is to keep about 150k per year...not quite there yet after 2.5 years, but working on it!

Jun 17, 2012

I did some research on it, couple of franchises out there. I saw some prices of $7,500 start up adding up to $50 grand...not liking that. Must need a spraying license im sure...probably have to notify neighbors.......

Apex Roof Cleaning · Guest

I'm am definitely choosing the go getter path. 4 trucks rolling is an amazing achievement among itself. How long did it take you to get to that position? The first lesson I learned from Mike is that your not even going to make a living, just doing roofs. This week I lined up a a few house washes. How do we go about making millions, I think the only plausible answer is to franchise.

Dan

jcstomper · Jun 17, 2012

im kinda confused.. if you have as many trucks as you say, being as busy as your saying.. how are you not on your way to being close to a million in sales? I have one truck thats doing roofs/house washing.. it is doing 3-4 jobs a day, 5 days a week, and that truck alone is at 70k in sales since march...

I wouldnt add more trucks unless they would all be doing 3-4 jobs a day 5 days a week EACH... having a lot of trucks that are sitting idle is just a waste of money in my opinion...

either you dont have enough work to really need that many trucks, or your leaving some info out..

care to share?

-- Edited by jcstomper on Sunday 17th of June 2012 12:19:29 PM

Doug R · Guest

I spray for mosquitos here too. I didn't buy a franchise just started my own thing. I go back every 30 days and retreat, and it cut's the mosquito's down by 95-99%. I never guarantee 100% because some them suckers are stubborn as hell. Good money and I need to start promoting it more. It's just been word of mouth lately. It has also gotten me a lot of Roof Cleanings and vice versa, as well as getting the home under a pest control contract. The residual, repeat, income is great.

Jun 17, 2012

Doug R wrote:
I spray for mosquitos here too. I didn't buy a franchise just started my own thing. I go back every 30 days and retreat, and it cut's the mosquito's down by 95-99%. I never guarantee 100% because some them suckers are stubborn as hell. Good money and I need to start promoting it more. It's just been word of mouth lately. It has also gotten me a lot of Roof Cleanings and vice versa, as well as getting the home under a pest control contract. The residual, repeat, income is great.

Hi Doug,

Just curious, what chemical are you spraying?

sweetwaterfish · Guest

I initially got into this business with hope of one day franchising. I quickly came to me that there are LOTS if issues with a true franchise.

1) hard to make the franchisee accountable for all the $$$ he/she is taking in. ( Franchisor should get a little piece of everything)
2) Easily duplicatable system, unless you are supplying tons of leads; after you tell the franchisee how to do everything, they can leave.
3) most people don't get into cleaning full time to start with.
4) Some markets just don't need roof/vertical surface cleaning.

I think you'd be better off with a partnership/equipment/monthly membership fee for a business such as this.

Or get big/reactive enough that you have the creews to handle jobs in a 150-200 mile radius of your office

Just my .02

gutterdog · Jun 17, 2012

I'm not really sure how I'll make a million? Every year has been better. WOM, repeat house washings are starting to happen.

As long as every year is better, see what happens, but need to figure out something steady for winter.

zjim · Guest

You will need a pesticide license in NY

Roof Cleaning New Jersey · Jun 17, 2012

If it there was an Ed Thompson in each of the 4 trucks it would be a different story. Hire and train unskilled employees then come talk to me about what kind Of money they bring in. There is also a point of dimished return. If you keeP doubling your trucks, call volume and workforce it doesnt automatically mean your profits will double. We have salesmen and office staff which also effects the bottom line.

sweetwaterfish · Guest

You hit the nail on the head regarding diminishing returns. As you grow, so does overhead and expenses. That is one of the reasons my last post said I want to KEEP 150k

jcstomper · Jun 17, 2012

Roof Cleaning New Jersey wrote:
Sorry if you thought this thread was going to offer a solution. Point is: we're having a decent year with 3-4 trucks rolling 6 days per week. Fairly busy all through winter. There's no way to make beach money in this trade. Yes, you can make a decent living. And Im not even saying everyone is targeting "super wealthy" status. But if you jumped into this trade you were either broke and looking for an easy start-up business or you had an entrepreneurial fever to start your own thing and make big money. Im ready to start flipping some properties. My business will never make millions. I highly doubt very few will (with a very few exceptions). But I wont let it stop me from going for the gold. Who here is going for big money and how will you go about it.

first off, im not a idiot, i know about diminishing returns, i own two other business and know very well about training unskilled employes also.. the other 2 business i put about 4 hours a week into because i've grown them to a point were they are fully self running.

how many sales people do you have? how many office people do you have? because you could be wasting serious money on them.. i take in 4-5 new calls a day, AND am on the truck all day.. and i still dont see any reason to hire a "sales person" Maybe if they are 90% commission based, but i seem to find time to do all of the estimates, AND paperwork/business aspect myself..

I've just worked at efficiency. I have quickbooks on my tablet so most customers are emailed their estimates while im still at their house, I call every customer back 2 days later, and again 5 days later to again close the sale. Every job is schedule on the tablet that then syncs to my phone and computers calender.

I know multi-million dollar landscaping companies that only have 3 salesmen.. so I'm still wondering how many you have.

As for office people.. thats honestly a joke in my eyes. Have your office phone forward to your cell phone when you arent there, and you can still answer every call.. no need in paying some person to sit on the phone.

people like to buy trucks and equipment with out needing them to feel like they are a big company.. a very good friend i have does about 800k in sales a year, and has about 3 trucks that literally sit in the shop almost every day doing nothing... they are complete wastes on his bottom line due to the insurance and upkeep of them... not saying thats you.. but with the numbers your talking about, it sounds like your company may want to work on the effiency side of things before the adding equipment part of the equation.

Jun 17, 2012

I get a headache just reading this! wink

I once had 5 men working for me and couldn't sleep at night.

With the costs and turnover involved, the extra profit was definately not worth it.

I have been a father and son business since 1994 and have no plans to change.

I get the $ I need and my son needs and 1/100th the worries.

I know some people like the "big time" business thing, and are probably better cut out for it than I am.

I have been in business ever since 1978. First 10 years in Ithaca, NY

[ some pressure washing, but mainly house painting ]

Then the last 24 years here in Charlotte County, Florida

With just father and son, we keep good quality control and actually "know" our customers.

That's hard to do with 5 trucks and 10 workers out there. hmm

Roof Cleaning New Jersey · Jun 18, 2012

Joe it seems like you found a way to be insulted from something in this thread. You chimed in as to why Im not doing millions with 4 trucks. If you dont like my answer and you think my office is a joke then mind your own business. My only point of this thread was to ask: If youre seeking beach money, how are you doing it?

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum "Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum
"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"