Bruce hit it. I can only count 4 people I know of who have broke (or come ridiculously close) to a 1 mil + in sales.
All have either sold or downsized to the sweet spot.
First time I heard the story of the the owner making the same at 750k that they did at 3 million it changed my view of going forward.
Supposing it was possible to skill new workers very quickly - to compact 5 years of experience into 5 months or even 5 weeks - how would that change the business?
In my opinion it is very hard to get a good mentor in anything blue collar today and I could see some automated system like AR having to exist otherwise my generation will never figure out how to use a tape measure. This is How a Complex Brick Wall is Built Using Augmented Reality | ArchDaily I talked to Foliogram - AR isnât able to detect glass and mirrors correctly.
It is funny how people are full of praise for learning on Youtube - which is great - but it overlooks that there has been a wide and deep recession in tacit knowledge for decades, maybe a century!
I have the conviction one of those old builder persons from the old days would outcompete everybody today - they had the thing. If we took window cleaning that seriously we would be practicing squeegee strokes in our spare time and vaulting over garden fences with water fed poles like Russian gym athletes.
On the slow season - I was thinking - the people in sales - do they sit in an office all day or is some of their time spent out prospecting for quality work?
I see ideal jobs out there but donât have the time to make a quality sales proposition. I think this is how A.E Mac does it. He has his window cleaning rounds and then spots softwashing or gutter cleaning opportunities as he goes.
Very true Chris. So much cash flow and good business/personal credit will get you anything you want in life.
EVERY SINGLE thing I read that @Bruce contributes Iâm always either
A. thinking âWow, this dude is smart. I wish I had his brain,â or
B. thinking âWow thatâs very intuitve, I wish I had his smartsâ or
C thinking âWow, this guy has great business acumen and savvy. I hope he NEVER stops posting stuff on WCRâ
Keep up the good work man (even though you wrote this 8 years ago)!
youâre too kind, thank you, glad those posts have helped, they just come from banging my head against the wall a few times like the rest of us, and for things I donât have so much experience or natural talent in, I feel the same way about others posts lol
there was a definite knowledge explosion that started 10-14 years ago, this forum has been a game changer in so many ways for sure @Chris @Alex thanks for starting it!
Same! - I love every @Bruce post 
ha, thanks, but, I love every post you make @Chris!! 
In order to run a $1M cleaning business
you have to have about 10-12 staff members.
Labor in most service companies with low overhead like window cleaning will be appx 45-50% of revenue
After Tax and insurance for workers comp, you need to be between 65-68% total tops. (High rise and Ground Floor mix tax and insurance - appx 20 %)
You need to have a retention rate of customers about 85% or more
You will need roughly $25k per week.
You will make about $8k before overhead weekly
Owner can take $120k salary ($9k/month or so) and run some personal expenses as âbonusâ to owner (vehicle, insurance, gas, food, some travel) should be acceptable
Insurance will be hard to obtain for high rise, unless there is a state fund insurance provider in your city (SCF) ground floor is easy.
You can run a 3 story and below (or higher) with some of the wfp systems or above grade window washing systems but you will need a lot of accounts. About 350 or more
If you are Highrise and ground floor mix, you will need about 250 or more
Tradesman or Journeyman can be paid commission. This will incentivize production and keep you labor to revenue cost good while compensating producers.
Skill level for High Rise to get journeyman is about 5 years.
Skill level to get to ground floor journeyman is about 3 years.
Everyone not at journeyman should make hourly wage. This will incentivize to get to journeyman.
I have 1 office staff and I take care of all other aspects of business. Took me roughly 10-12 years to hit 7 digit revenue. Started in 08â.
Commercial (Large) will take you about 2-3 years of association membership to become accepted as a reliable and trustworthy contractor - you have to build a name for yourself and company. Will have scheduled tasks each month and easier to retain staff and good cleaners.
HOA/Hotels/ - easier to obtain especially if you have social media that you update so people can see what your doing and validate your abilities. High margins here.
Government is easy to get into, but youâll likely just get volume and not high profits.
It can be done. Put one foot in front of the other each day and before you know it your miles from where you started. , care about the customer and employees. Build a name and a brand that customers can rely on.
Marketing - google LSAâs are easy and good
Associations are a must - become part of the next work and you will become part of the fabric of the industry in your market.
Websites that look professional and social to solidify your abilities are key, you only get one shot to make a first impression.
You can do it, winners never quit
Fantastic post!
