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Marketing my pressure washing service

Dan_Cardone

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Here is a very simple way to start this type of business.

Go print up some door hangers. These are VERY cheap and a great way to supplement your D2D sales effort.

Next you want to get a simple yard sign printed up. Keep it simple! You can go for 'funny' with something like "We put the POWER in power washing!" then list your number below. Make sure its big enough to be visible.

Anytime you are out power washing a drive way be sure to stick that sign in the yard right where all traffic can see it. When you go simply remove the sign and take it with you.

When you knock on doors have a good but simple offer, This is power washing, not selling them a house! "Hey! I happen to be in the neighborhood today doing some honest work and making peoples drive ways sparkle! Since I'm already here i'll give you x% off today."

Don't be afraid to inject a little personality into it.

If they don't answer or aren't at home that it where you leave a door hanger.

Now if you want to really get serious you can add in the next two things...

Referral letters and upselling.

After you do a great job, and right before you get paid, tell him that if hes willing to help you out that you would return the favor by knocking some money off for him. Have some referral letters already typed up and just have a blank space at the bottom for the home owner to write his name.

Keep the letters simple.

"Hey neighbor,

Just wanted to let you know about a nice young man, [NAME], who recently did a GREAT job making my drive way look new again. I asked him if he would be awesome and give my neighbors a discount and he gave me an enthusiastic "Yes!"

Don't let me be the only one with a fresh, brand new looking driveway. He said you can reach him at [NUMBER]

Your Friend,
[His Signature]

P.S. I'm pretty impressed with his job cleaning my windows too!"

You will be amazed at how many people are willing to do this provided you keep the letters under 15 or so. Most people respect the hustle.

Then after you do a good job simply up sell them by offering to do anything else around the yard you would be willing to do.

Then if his patience is still there, and he seems to not be annoyed with you, ask if he wants to go ahead and schedule his next cleaning for a later date at X% off.

If they look like they just want you to leave then hand them a business card, thank them, and be on your way.

Don't just think residential either! Contact the owner of strip malls and real estate companies. Offer to do the power washing, window cleaning, yard work, whatever!

Finally, call up some company who's mowing the lawns and offer to do a deal. You'll give them some flyers to give to their customers and in return you'll give some flyers advertising their lawn service to your customers! Make it seem like a coupon so the homeowners are more likely to actually appreciate it.

This is the exact strategy I gave my nephew when he was 17 and within two months he had hired several of his friends to help with all the work he was being hired out to do.

EDIT: If my nephew were still 17 and wanted to do this today I would tell him to add a few things in...

Slybroadcast is a service that allows you to leave mass voicemails. There are places that will sell you a list of numbers for neighborhoods on the cheap. Don't ask me how legal this is but the company claims no laws are broken.

Facebook city pages. Every city has some community page where people go to gossip, complain, and market their services. Almost always free.

Speaking of facebook, I'd tell him to set up a FB page and ask owners if you can take a before and after picture and post it on your page and tag them. Most wont care. Offer some small incentive if you have trouble getting enough people to agree. Once you tag them your business page and service becomes visible to everyone of their friends. Free advertising!

If your area has farmers, go after them! They always need their equipment washed.

Any big events coming to your city? They will need some stuff done before, and after and almost always need help.

Find prominent members of local organizations and get in contact with them. Offer a free power washing in exchange for referrals.

Have a FB contest. Have people share your post in exchange for a chance to win free power washing services.

Every Door Direct Mail USPS service to deliver flyers. This is cheap!

Anytime a bad storm hits a neighborhood, be there as soon as feasibly possible. Stuff will often be a mess and no one wants to clean all that up... but you will, for cash!

Just some more stuff from the top of my head.
 
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ChrisGav

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Fastlaners, I hope all is well.

I'm 20 years old. Currently have a job selling construction and industrial supplies but wanted to make money on my weekends and time off. I have been doing odd jobs here and there for people. My next venture I want to pressure wash peoples drive ways, walkways, etc. Any ideas on how to market this? I've tried printing little ads and putting them around neighborhood doors but I presume most people just throw them away. Thinking about just going door to door and asking everyone. Thoughts??
 
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minivanman

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HUGE flyer guy here, I built a few very successful businesses with flyers and flyers only..... but sadly..... this is 2019 and not 2004. Flyers are a thing of the past. Or is it sad? The :party: GREAT :party: news is that you can easily get customers nowadays on this new age thing called..... are you sitting down? ..... ssshhhhhh..... it's called the INTERNET! Yeah.... who woulda thunk it! To think of all the doors I personally walked up to and left a flyer on and now all a person has to do is use the internet while sitting naked at their desk (hopefully it's not just me) :blush:
 
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ChrisGav

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Are you doing this just to make a little extra money on the side, or are you actually trying to create a successful business from it?

Its fine as a way to make a little money on the side or get some experience. But IMO, its not a viable plan if you're trying to create a fastlane business.

The main reason is that it doesn't provide any real value or solve any real problem for people.

But from your post it looks like you just want a little side gig.

Yeah, door hangers, flyers ect are good and they do work if you do it right.

But I for this I think the best thing would just be grinding it out and door knocking. Try to be active, not passive. Do a job in a neighborhood and then visit their neighbors and tell them you're doing work in the area and just wanted to see if they need anything done while you are there.

If you need your first sale then I would go door to door in neighborhoods until you get a yes. I think that would be a better use of your time then putting door hangers up or leaving flyers around.

Well it's no longer term business per say unless it makes the money to become one.
My idea behind it is kind of simple. It's a side gig but more importantly it's action on some level. In the past I've spent a lot of time contemplating and trying to come up with the "ultimate fastlane business" kind of thing and I've come to realize that I'll never think up the right action to take.

Business kind of evolves as you're doing it. Therefore constantly taking steps can lead down more avenues rather than staying stagnant just trying to think up some magical idea.
 

Duane

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I'm by no means against labor intensive business. I used to run a labor intensive business a couple years ago. I thought it was great, and it was awesome experience and taught me a lot. I also made really good money relative to my age at the time.

Low barrier to entry can be overcome with exceptional excellence. I'm not saying that just because there's a low barrier means it's impossible.

Yeah a few web design guys make good money, what about the thousands of others who are struggling just to get by?

The big point I'm trying to make, is value.

If I see a lot of people doing pressure washing, instead of pressure washing I'd try to find a way to sell to the people doing it. Or I'd try to find a way to make it easier for them to pressure wash. Maybe some new piece of equipment or better designs? Whatever problem I could find, I'd try to solve that instead of just copying what thousands of people are already doing. Copying the masses doesn't solve any problem or create value IMO, it's nothing more than a easy copy that people can start.

Pressure washing just doesn't provide real value IMO. Yes, you can still create a successful business with it if you have exceptional excellence.

There are tons of million dollar pressure washing companies in every single major city.

Pressure wash somebody's property that has been seriously neglected. The driveway, house, and back patio and you are increasing their properties value. That is 100% solving the problem of a nasty, ugly house and adding value to the property owner.

Sure the barrier to entry is low on pressure washing everyday things like driveways, but what about pressure washing/cleaning concrete tiles on 2-3 story mansion roofs? Your everyday pressure washer can't do that. That's a high barrier niche where your clientele would pay well for you to keep their million dollar homes in good condition.
 

Dan_Cardone

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As far as selling something to people who do the pressure washing, sell them a turnkey marketing solution.

Design a full on marketing funnel along with the ads/sales copy, all materials, and training on how to implement it. Compare it to buying a money printer.

I do this with restaurants and make good money.
 
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broswoodwork

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@minivanman has a post floating around on here about a strategy for mass joining (without getting banned) facebook yardsale and seller groups and reaching 100's of 1000's of prospects.


In conjunction with the flyer and voicemail operation above, you probably won't have time for the m-f 9-5 in a few short weeks.
 

DrWumbo

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Are you doing this just to make a little extra money on the side, or are you actually trying to create a successful business from it?

Its fine as a way to make a little money on the side or get some experience. But IMO, its not a viable plan if you're trying to create a fastlane business.

The main reason is that it doesn't provide any real value or solve any real problem for people.

But from your post it looks like you just want a little side gig.

Yeah, door hangers, flyers ect are good and they do work if you do it right.

But I for this I think the best thing would just be grinding it out and door knocking. Try to be active, not passive. Do a job in a neighborhood and then visit their neighbors and tell them you're doing work in the area and just wanted to see if they need anything done while you are there.

If you need your first sale then I would go door to door in neighborhoods until you get a yes. I think that would be a better use of your time then putting door hangers up or leaving flyers around.

I actually started my own Power Washing business this summer. To say it doesn't provide real value or solve any problems is false.

Businesses need their storefronts to look clean and presentable to clients, removing dirt/oil/gum. Real estate owners need the green mold cleaned from their side of the house to make it look presentable, to prevent HOA/city from getting on their back and issuing a fine, and to make it look good for potential renters. People needs their decks cleaned of tree sap and old stain in order to put down new stain or just have a disgusting exterior that needs to be cleaned

I'm in the process of hiring my first part-time employee. It's not a "Sexy" business and has its own problems, but it does provide value in many different ways. All of the examples above are jobs I have actually done as well. I don't market myself as a cheap service, I target commercial/high end residential where I get paid $100+ an hour. It's a great way to make money, get experience, and even expand into a real business like I'm trying to do
 

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broswoodwork

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I see a lot of people doing pressure washing, instead of pressure washing I'd try to find a way to sell to the people doing it
I like this, and it's so true, but you've got to crawl before you can walk; moreover, it's easier to identify a problem to solve when you've been at eye level with the person you're selling it too. May as well get paid, and potentially scale, a simple business while you're concocting a solution to revolutionize the industry, and if the epiphany never comes... well, you've built a national powerwash franchise while you were looking for the carbon filament.
 

DrWumbo

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Here’s essentially where I’m at in my life. I’m 21, I know what my end goal is. I want financial freedom by the age of 30. But I have no clue what I’m going to do or how I’m going to get there. I figured I want to take a step in some direction rather than staying idle and just reading/researching. There’s so few things I know enough in depth about to really start something in so I’m thinking on easy entry manual labor kind of services.

Recently I have done personal training for teenagers, currently building one person’s website, and selling things online. However I want to keep moving forward and am really just looking for something to take action on.
Any pointers or other ideas would be great. Thank you all for the love and responses

I'm 21 and in the same boat as you! With university starting up, I'm hiring a part-time employee to do some work. I am getting enough traction where I will be making a decent amount of money every week, which will help me become independent. I am also working on creating a product that if enough people value, will be able to generate some money and I will push hard with it, while the power washing is on going. In the next 2 years I will buy my first property, likely a duplex, and rent half of it out while living in the other half.

Power washing itself can scale into a large service business generating a good amount of money. I think continuing to work and scale your own power washing business could provide a good income stream (giving you some freedom) and experience, but I wouldn't stop there. Continue to pursue other ideas and avenues while also growing your current business!
 
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glenm

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I started a pressure washing business this season and for anyone to say you are not providing any value is wrong. People throw money at you when you are pressure washing. Run it like a customer service business that provides pressure washing. Answer your phone, network shake hands and kiss babies. Just answering your phone and showing up you will beat most of the people doing it. Don't be the $99 guy price your work to the high end.

What has worked best for me is placing yard signs at busy intersections. Its old school but so are most of your customers. I just do this on the side and from $375 in yard signs I have done just under 8k in revenue and booked about a month out.
 

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Yeah, one of the posts where you said "The main reason is that it doesn't provide any real value or solve any real problem for people." is what was confusing. Of course you value skew to be better than the competition.
Values I skewed were
  1. Be early for the job (many people told me they were flaked on by businesses)
  2. Dress professionally. Rubber boots, khaki shorts, fitted and tucked in collared shirt
  3. Mannerisms as in eye contact, yes sir/ma'm, and always being responsive
  4. Easy and simple website that communicates what we do and allows the customer to get into contact with us
  5. Great customer service. I answer phone calls/texts no matter the hour or day, while all other businesses are closed on the weekends or after 5PM
  6. High quality equipment that is always cleaned after each use

This is important. Have a premium service and charge a premium price.

Forget about people telling you this isn’t a Fastlane business etc. That doesn’t matter right now. What matters is you get REAL business experience by taking action and learning to do the things you’re unsure about (marketing/advertising, providing value etc). And you might find a more Fastlane business whilst running this one day-to-day!

As for marketing I think most of it has been covered but I’ll try to sum up what I would do:

Offline
- Door to door (leaving a door hanger/flyer saying you called earlier if no answer)
- Garden/Yard signs (as mentioned previously by a few members)
- Seek for referrals, there’s not much better than word of mouth. Offer discounts or refer a friend schemes
- Tell everybody you know about your business. Drop it in all your conversations. Make sure people know you’re starting out on your own - this alone may be enough for people to tell their friends about you or someone they know who needs your service

Online
- Build a website
- SEO your website
- Google ads
- Social Media Marketing: create a Facebook page, invite all your friends to like it, post all your work (before/after photos), post offers, get reviews, post in local business groups and resell/service groups
- Facebook ads - target people with high incomes in your area, promote a premium/luxury service

Some of these might get you nothing in return. Some might get you lots of calls. The important thing, which I recently learned, is this:

Gaining new customers is the end goal. Each channel you use is the process that leads to the end goal. Why use one (or only some) channels when you can use all of them? This will increase your chances. Yes it’s hard work and time consuming but HUSTLE BABY!!

You could also go into print ads in newspapers etc if the budget allows but i’m sure someone will say how low a conversion rate they have now (if any) but if it’s extremely affordable then why not? It might lead to a few calls and at the very least you get your money back plus hopefully a returning customer each month

In terms of providing value, make sure you provide a professional service (as outlined in the quoted post above) because that will already put you ahead of most guys who don’t know about business.

Think of offering something to each customers too. Maybe some sort of driveway protection product? Give them a free sample to try after your first visit, upsell it the next time you wash their drive.

Sorry for the long post. I think there’s potential here for a good business. Yes a lot of people might be doing it. But not everyone will create a professional looking BRAND that they can franchise our (commandment of Scale).

All the best in your business
 

Mr4213

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Well it's no longer term business per say unless it makes the money to become one.
My idea behind it is kind of simple. It's a side gig but more importantly it's action on some level. In the past I've spent a lot of time contemplating and trying to come up with the "ultimate fastlane business" kind of thing and I've come to realize that I'll never think up the right action to take.

Business kind of evolves as you're doing it. Therefore constantly taking steps can lead down more avenues rather than staying stagnant just trying to think up some magical idea.

You're definitely on the right path. It's good for experience and it is action which is good. This would definitely help get you on the right path.

The reason I wouldn't pursue as a fastlane business is because it violates several fastlane commandments.

The need for it just isn't there. I can find dozens and dozens of people in my area that would do the same thing. I can even go buy my own pressure washer and do the job myself.

The barriers to entry are incredibly low which is a big red flag. I can start a pressure washing business within a couple hours. If your business can be started within a day (an event) are you really solving a problem for people or providing value?

The low barrier to entry means its easy. People love easy. A lot of people jump into these things because they think entrepreneurship is an event, not a process. They think they will buy a pressure washer and then the money will roll in.

Look at landscaping for example. How many landscaping businesses have you seen out there hustling for any sale they can get? I've seen a lot. It's the same with pressure washing.

In my experience, most things like this result in people playing the pricing game which is something you always want to avoid. If I can pay someone $15 dollars instead of $25 and the result is the same exact thing why would I not pay $15?

Its likely you would end up playing the pricing game and then trying to out hustle all the other competitors to make small profit margins.

But yes, do it for experience and to help you get on the right path. It's all a process that starts with the first step and it does evolve over time.

As far as finding the best idea, you won't. It doesn't exist. Anything you can think of has already been thought of or created.

It's about solving problems and finding ways to provide value. Learn to look at things and figure out how they could be better. What values can you skew?

A perfect example would be the JUUL. At the time there were already several different types of disposable vapors on the market. But they didn't hit well, didn't have a diversity of flavors, had shitty designs, had long charging cables or couldnt be charged, didnt last long ect. JUUL identified there was a market need for a better product. They skewed the values. They created a better design, better flavor diversity, better hits, replaced the charging cable with a small USB port ect. Essentially they skewed every value and the product exploded. It was so successful that it had to be regulated.

Learn to look for problems and figure out how you can fix them or improve them. When you are at work. Look around and analyze how the company runs. What are problems that it has? Is there anything costing the company money that can be fixed? Is there a problem with software? Things like that.
 

Duane

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How did you get your first couple of clients though? Did you build the website and do all of that jazz before even landing the first few clients?

The website came pretty quickly. I put a cheap template website up with crappy ads and knocked on doors handing out fliers. Slowly, my website and ads improved.

Once my online presence was starting to bring in more revenue then the fliers I dropped the door to door stuff.
 
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broswoodwork

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You disagree with the barrier entry? I can see that.

What about the more important point I made, it doesn't provide any real value.
Value is like beauty. Eye of the beholder, etc etc.
 

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Okay I see what you’re saying. But one thing I don’t quite understand is this. It’s like web development. Is there really a need for it? Not really. You can go on fiverr and find a kid in a Pakistan to build the best website you’ve ever seen for $5. Yet why are people able to thrive on this forum doing web design companies?

I think something like pressure washing or the labor intensive jobs are what’s in big demand. No millennial wants to grow up to be a pressure washer or contractor. They all want to be the next twitch and YouTube star or do something online to make money.

Thoughts?

I'm by no means against labor intensive business. I used to run a labor intensive business a couple years ago. I thought it was great, and it was awesome experience and taught me a lot. I also made really good money relative to my age at the time.

Low barrier to entry can be overcome with exceptional excellence. I'm not saying that just because there's a low barrier means it's impossible.

Yeah a few web design guys make good money, what about the thousands of others who are struggling just to get by?

The big point I'm trying to make, is value.

If I see a lot of people doing pressure washing, instead of pressure washing I'd try to find a way to sell to the people doing it. Or I'd try to find a way to make it easier for them to pressure wash. Maybe some new piece of equipment or better designs? Whatever problem I could find, I'd try to solve that instead of just copying what thousands of people are already doing. Copying the masses doesn't solve any problem or create value IMO, it's nothing more than a easy copy that people can start.

Pressure washing just doesn't provide real value IMO. Yes, you can still create a successful business with it if you have exceptional excellence.
 
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DrWumbo

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It sounds like we are in agreement. I'm not suggesting to the OP not to pursue the pressure washing. It's good experience and it can generate money. It's a great idea if he doesn't know what else to do and wants to take action.

Who knows, OP could do this and then discover some problem within the industry and create a million dollar business from that. Or maybe he'll just outperform other competition and make millions. Anything is possible.

I just want to reiterate to the OP what my point is. Pressure washing is not fastlane unless he's able to skew the value attributes within his pressure washing business. Having exactly the same service as everyone isn't solving anything or creating some value that wasn't already there.

Here's what I mean when I say it doesn't create value (to be fastlane) Does washing someone's house create value for a customer? 100% yes it does. But that value already existed before the OPs business. I can already find hundreds of people who are solving that problem for me. Why is OPs pressure washing business any different from the hundreds of other pressure washers I can find? What values are the OP skewing here? OP won't be creating value or adding value. He'll just be copying a solution that's already been solved for me.

Look at restaurants. Are there million dollar restaurants in every city? Yes. Is it possible to create a million dollar restaurant business? Yes. Is it likely? No. Not unless you're skewing values in the industry (which is hard). Does it have good food? Okay, so do hundreds of other restaurants. Is it fast? So are hundreds of other restaurants. Is it cheap? So are hundreds of other restaurants. Does it have good customer service? So do hundreds of other restaurants. Having a restaurant that does everything the same as every other restaurant creates no value for me because the problems are already solved. I can get fast, cheap and good food already.

Yeah, one of the posts where you said "The main reason is that it doesn't provide any real value or solve any real problem for people." is what was confusing. Of course you value skew to be better than the competition.
Values I skewed were
  1. Be early for the job (many people told me they were flaked on by businesses)
  2. Dress professionally. Rubber boots, khaki shorts, fitted and tucked in collared shirt
  3. Mannerisms as in eye contact, yes sir/ma'm, and always being responsive
  4. Easy and simple website that communicates what we do and allows the customer to get into contact with us
  5. Great customer service. I answer phone calls/texts no matter the hour or day, while all other businesses are closed on the weekends or after 5PM
  6. High quality equipment that is always cleaned after each use
 

ChrisGav

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Here’s essentially where I’m at in my life. I’m 21, I know what my end goal is. I want financial freedom by the age of 30. But I have no clue what I’m going to do or how I’m going to get there. I figured I want to take a step in some direction rather than staying idle and just reading/researching. There’s so few things I know enough in depth about to really start something in so I’m thinking on easy entry manual labor kind of services.

Recently I have done personal training for teenagers, currently building one person’s website, and selling things online. However I want to keep moving forward and am really just looking for something to take action on.
Any pointers or other ideas would be great. Thank you all for the love and responses
 

Ernman

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In addition to Dan's suggestions, you can go on NEXTDOOR and post your services. That let's you scope your efforts to you community and those nearby.
 

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much love. Thank you. Is this a site you go on frequently or how did you find that?

Neville has useful tips and tricks for copywriting, etc... I meander from time to time.
 

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Jul 23, 2019
331
1,192
Are you doing this just to make a little extra money on the side, or are you actually trying to create a successful business from it?

Its fine as a way to make a little money on the side or get some experience. But IMO, its not a viable plan if you're trying to create a fastlane business.

The main reason is that it doesn't provide any real value or solve any real problem for people.

But from your post it looks like you just want a little side gig.

Yeah, door hangers, flyers ect are good and they do work if you do it right.

But I for this I think the best thing would just be grinding it out and door knocking. Try to be active, not passive. Do a job in a neighborhood and then visit their neighbors and tell them you're doing work in the area and just wanted to see if they need anything done while you are there.

If you need your first sale then I would go door to door in neighborhoods until you get a yes. I think that would be a better use of your time then putting door hangers up or leaving flyers around.

Right, I agree with starting with D2D but if your going to knock on door, most of which wont be answered, only makes sense to leave a flyer or door hanger there. Then at least you have a chance of getting their business.
 

ChrisGav

Gold Contributor
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
417%
Feb 15, 2019
242
1,009
25
You're definitely on the right path. It's good for experience and it is action which is good. This would definitely help get you on the right path.

The reason I wouldn't pursue as a fastlane business is because it violates several fastlane commandments.

The need for it just isn't there. I can find dozens and dozens of people in my area that would do the same thing. I can even go buy my own pressure washer and do the job myself.

The barriers to entry are incredibly low which is a big red flag. I can start a pressure washing business within a couple hours. If your business can be started within a day (an event) are you really solving a problem for people or providing value?

The low barrier to entry means its easy. People love easy. A lot of people jump into these things because they think entrepreneurship is an event, not a process. They think they will buy a pressure washer and then the money will roll in.

Look at landscaping for example. How many landscaping businesses have you seen out there hustling for any sale they can get? I've seen a lot. It's the same with pressure washing.

In my experience, most things like this result in people playing the pricing game which is something you always want to avoid. If I can pay someone $15 dollars instead of $25 and the result is the same exact thing why would I not pay $15?

Its likely you would end up playing the pricing game and then trying to out hustle all the other competitors to make small profit margins.

But yes, do it for experience and to help you get on the right path. It's all a process that starts with the first step and it does evolve over time.

As far as finding the best idea, you won't. It doesn't exist. Anything you can think of has already been thought of or created.

It's about solving problems and finding ways to provide value. Learn to look at things and figure out how they could be better. What values can you skew?

A perfect example would be the JUUL. At the time there were already several different types of disposable vapors on the market. But they didn't hit well, didn't have a diversity of flavors, had shitty designs, had long charging cables or couldnt be charged, didnt last long ect. JUUL identified there was a market need for a better product. They skewed the values. They created a better design, better flavor diversity, better hits, replaced the charging cable with a small USB port ect. Essentially they skewed every value and the product exploded. It was so successful that it had to be regulated.

Learn to look for problems and figure out how you can fix them or improve them. When you are at work. Look around and analyze how the company runs. What are problems that it has? Is there anything costing the company money that can be fixed? Is there a problem with software? Things like that.
Okay I see what you’re saying. But one thing I don’t quite understand is this. It’s like web development. Is there really a need for it? Not really. You can go on fiverr and find a kid in a Pakistan to build the best website you’ve ever seen for $5. Yet why are people able to thrive on this forum doing web design companies?

I think something like pressure washing or the labor intensive jobs are what’s in big demand. No millennial wants to grow up to be a pressure washer or contractor. They all want to be the next twitch and YouTube star or do something online to make money.

Thoughts?
 

broswoodwork

Intermediate User of the Flying Guillotine
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
313%
Oct 16, 2015
890
2,790
You're definitely on the right path. It's good for experience and it is action which is good. This would definitely help get you on the right path.

The reason I wouldn't pursue as a fastlane business is because it violates several fastlane commandments.

The need for it just isn't there. I can find dozens and dozens of people in my area that would do the same thing. I can even go buy my own pressure washer and do the job myself.

The barriers to entry are incredibly low which is a big red flag. I can start a pressure washing business within a couple hours. If your business can be started within a day (an event) are you really solving a problem for people or providing value?

The low barrier to entry means its easy. People love easy. A lot of people jump into these things because they think entrepreneurship is an event, not a process. They think they will buy a pressure washer and then the money will roll in.

Look at landscaping for example. How many landscaping businesses have you seen out there hustling for any sale they can get? I've seen a lot. It's the same with pressure washing.

In my experience, most things like this result in people playing the pricing game which is something you always want to avoid. If I can pay someone $15 dollars instead of $25 and the result is the same exact thing why would I not pay $15?

Its likely you would end up playing the pricing game and then trying to out hustle all the other competitors to make small profit margins.

But yes, do it for experience and to help you get on the right path. It's all a process that starts with the first step and it does evolve over time.

As far as finding the best idea, you won't. It doesn't exist. Anything you can think of has already been thought of or created.

It's about solving problems and finding ways to provide value. Learn to look at things and figure out how they could be better. What values can you skew?

A perfect example would be the JUUL. At the time there were already several different types of disposable vapors on the market. But they didn't hit well, didn't have a diversity of flavors, had shitty designs, had long charging cables or couldnt be charged, didnt last long ect. JUUL identified there was a market need for a better product. They skewed the values. They created a better design, better flavor diversity, better hits, replaced the charging cable with a small USB port ect. Essentially they skewed every value and the product exploded. It was so successful that it had to be regulated.

Learn to look for problems and figure out how you can fix them or improve them. When you are at work. Look around and analyze how the company runs. What are problems that it has? Is there anything costing the company money that can be fixed? Is there a problem with software? Things like that.
I will politely disagree with the obligatory "blah blah blah, McDonald's didn't solve a sexy high entry barrier problem, blah, blah, blah," along with this thread:

 

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