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I have a question for those of you that have been HB owners for some time now, how much business did you do your first year(doesn’t have to be $, but maybe one van capacity level) and what type of growth (can be estimated percentage) did you have for years 2,3,etc.?
Also, how has your advertising budgets changed over the years?… 😀
Dan
It will be 2 years for me in December, so my information is limited. I thought that I’d be at 2 trucks by the end of my 2nd year, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to be the case. Certain times of the year I wish I did but other times I’m glad I don’t (overhead). In my first year we did just over 100 duckets and this year we’re looking at around 120-125. I think to be able to have 2 or more trucks you are going to have to have a population of 750k to 1 million or 3-4 years under your belt.
Gary,
A ducket as Ron used it is $1,000.Mike
I think someone, could run two vans full time with a population of 100,000.
wow i see im not in the best area in 1 year u did that holly molly whats your secret please share ron?
Everyone is in the “best area”. Whether the economy is booming or not. People need carpet cleaning. And they want value and quality. Ron busted his hump, had a plan and a program in place and reaped benefits that launched him from the cannon. The crazy thing is, he doesn’t even know yet the huge pay off that he will see in years 4, 5, 6 and on down the road. From everything that I’ve read about Rons 1st year, people would be very wise to ask him questions. No one is perfect and each area has some differences, but a plan and a program make the difference.
If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
I’m in my 4th year. My first year started May 15th ’03. From partial year 1 to year 2, 70% growth. Year 2 to 3, 30% growth. Added second truck after 3 full years, expect to see a 50% growth this year. I will put on a third truck next year. Advertising dollars spent each year remain about the same.
You’re right Dennis….we run two trucks full-time and our population is just under 100,000. This is our 5th year. We added a seasonal employee our 3rd year and then replaced him with a full-timer our 4th year. We do lay him off about 6 weeks in the winter. We consistently see a 20-30% increase in revenue each year. We do advertise less than initially. The word-of-mouth factor multiplies very quickly when you operate 2 or more trucks.
Vicki Ferris
@dirtbag wrote:
I think someone, could run two vans full time with a population of 100,000.
Right, hence the reason I added 3-4 years in my statement. If you started off with a large area of population, then of course you could get to truck number 2 faster. Either way, bust it, provide excellent service, and NEVER stop and you’ll get there.
I spent a load on advertising in my 1st year. I am still spending a good amount this year as well, but not as much as last year. I would rather build it in 3 or 4 years than in 6-7. I found 2 or 3 advertising mediums that worked for me, and I pounded the heck out of it. I also worked 30+ days in a row on 3 different occasions last year (I don’t recommend this to anyone as I got sick a few times, not fun) and once this year already.
Do every single little thing that you can that puts a positive light on your company, i.e. keep your van washed daily (or else we can’t say “A new image in carpet cleaning), do the reminder cards, do the thank you cards, send newsletters, send thank you cards for referrals. Give “bonus bucks” to those that refer you. I give $20 off for each referral. The list goes on. You have to think that your competition is running their business at some level. Just stay 2-3 steps above that level and you’ll be the talk of town.
Great advice Ron. Thanks to all for your input.
I am in my sixth month. I have been slightly increasing business each month, but wanted an idea of how others have progressed over the years. I do keep in mind that everything I do know now will have an impact on my business in the future. I am also dumping a lot of $ on different advertising mediums trying to narrow down what will work best for me in the future. Hopefully, in time, my advertising expenses will shrink. I like your ideas on referrals, etc.
Something that I just started doing is putting little stickers (coupon for one free room of carpet protect) on my fridge magnets that I hand to the customer after a job. I tell them that when they call me back to do another cleaning they can use that coupon. I just started this and the reaction that I have been getting has been very good. I figure that by giving away a free room of carpet pro, the customer will be that much more enclined to call back (because of the free offering), and possible make it easier to carpet pro other rooms. Plus, a free room of carpet pro doesn’t affect my bottom line that much.
The reason I am using the fridge magnets is because they are pretty much permanent on the fridge and always in sight…
Anyway, time will tell how this campaign works out.
Danbo!
The fridg mag’s are great as you mentioned. I had made up in business card size 10% off cleaning and Protector with an expiration date. which I wrote in by hand and signed it. The date used was six months from the date of cleaning. I put it with the refriderator magnet. They worked extremely well. Some even had a neighbor use it. It created more work. It did it’s job and I did mine.
Here is the van that I use. I used a company called magnets-4-less.com. Got them for .14 a unit.
yup
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