What's a tip you'd give a new striper business owner?

Looking for advice from the experts here!

read the past posts.

Sell ice cream, it's less work.

Read this forum. It is a huge help! And don't expect to know everything right away.

straightline wrote on Mar 10, 2015:Go to #3

Sell ice cream, it's less work.

x2

Do not borrow money or get loans from banks, pay cash for everything when you start out, that way you are already ahead of most of your competition that have huge debts they are trying to pay back, also stay small for at least the first year or so (a word of advice I need to keep reminding myself) to learn all you can about this trade and build your customer base. Also another important piece of advice: Do quality work no matter what you are painting or striping, seriously paying attention to detail makes the work you do stand out from the rest of the "want to be" stripers out there.

What advice would you give a new pressure washer?

Rock wrote on Mar 10, 2015:Go to #7

What advice would you give a new pressure washer?

Keep your feet dry.

straightline wrote on Mar 10, 2015:Go to #8

Rock wrote on Mar 10, 2015:Go to #7

What advice would you give a new pressure washer?

Keep your feet dry.

Funny stuff

LOL

I would give you a 6-23

Y'all are some funny guys.........Allstripeandpowerwash, more than likely you are in the pressure wash business. I am going to add that service soon. Do you have any advice?

small town striping wrote on Mar 10, 2015:Go to #6

Do not borrow money or get loans from banks, pay cash for everything when you start out, that way you are already ahead of most of your competition that have huge debts they are trying to pay back, also stay small for at least the first year or so (a word of advice I need to keep reminding myself) to learn all you can about this trade and build your customer base. Also another important piece of advice: Do quality work no matter what you are painting or striping, seriously paying attention to detail makes the work you do stand out from the rest of the "want to be" stripers out there.

I really dig the philosophy. I'm 8 months in and picking up business quick from repeat customers. I take every lot I do personal.

Rock wrote on Mar 11, 2015:Go to #12

Y'all are some funny guys.........Allstripeandpowerwash, more than likely you are in the pressure wash business. I am going to add that service soon. Do you have any advice?

We pressure wash almost as much as we stripe. Definitely get a diesel hot water tank to go along side your pressure washer. Then combine with a surface cleaner at least 24". I bought a 4200 psi mobile washer that really covers pushes alot of ground while my buddy operates the surface cleaner. Pressure washing is tough. The money is there for sure, I've learned to take jobs only when the money matches the time required for the desired look of the customer. It's too hard of a job to get low balled.

Also prep work is key for pressure washing. If I clean a new construction lot prior to even turning the pressure washer on I will absolutely get as much dirt cleaned up with a flat head shovel, scraper, broom, wire brush, and blower. I want to get a Billy goat or the brushes that are gas powered. Investing I the right prep equipment and wash equipment saves time, your knees, your patience, and you'll make more money quicker

It will be another year before I need to worry about my repeat customers but I need to figure out how to reel in new customers, I have been getting calls for estimates but no one is wanting to write a check yet so it is frustrating.

small town striping wrote on Mar 11, 2015:Go to #16

It will be another year before I need to worry about my repeat customers but I need to figure out how to reel in new customers, I have been getting calls for estimates but no one is wanting to write a check yet so it is frustrating.

I'd reach out to local asphalt, concrete, and paving companies. They more often than not subcontract that to a reliable striper they find. Also setting up a linkedin account will help you connect to local contractors and businesses via the Internet without having to incur expenses attempting to hunt them down.

Where I am the "local" asphalt/ concrete and paving/ sealcoat companies have their own striping crews and they mainly work up in Tucson/ Phoenix and only come down to the county where I am in for only the big jobs where they can hose the property owner, so when I try to submit estimates they automatically think I am trying to screw them over. I usually try for the smaller Doctor/ dentists/ chiropractors offices parking lots, I also try to get gas stations/ mini marts too. I sent estimates to all the local schools too. I also set up a account on linkedin, yellowpages.com, yelp, have my own website, craigslist ads, facebook page and ads on all the local buy/ sell pages, google plus page plus ads there as well. I also have been putting my business cards in all the gas station, bar and restaurant bulletin boards. This year I am thinking of trying to advertise on a very popular internet show site that caters to young and middle aged men called The Tom Leykis Show and their advertising page is http://blowmeuptom.com/advertise/ This show has millions of listeners all over the world especially most of it's listeners right here in America, so it is worth a try if isn't too expensive. I am waiting on a pricing sheet to see my pricing options. I am all ears if there is something I have missed

Small Town, Almost sounds to me that because of your remote location seal coating would be a sensible next step.

Been thinking about that but never liked doing sealcoat, well I don't have a lot of experience doing sealcoating. I also don't have the cash to buy the equipment but great idea.