Im looking for some advertising ideas. I want to try to advert some necessity work, things that people have to have done instead of landscaping type improvements. Seems like a good idea for a crappy economy. I dont do septics but thats the type of thing that comes to mind. I dont do heavy excavation which I know makes the whole idea kind of tough but you guys might think of a couple things that Im not.
rich sounds good but both types pay me the same per hour so unless you mean the want types of people will give you more and more work then Im not sure that translates to my business.
rich sounds good but both types pay me the same per hour so unless you mean the want types of people will give you more and more work then Im not sure that translates to my business.
I think you have just identified your problem. If your billing per hour your leaving money on the table. What he means is that people that want something are willing to pay to get it done because they want it. Needs are things that they dont want to but has to get done so they will find the cheapest person.
When I want a good drink I go to a bar and pay $4 per pint when I need a drink I drink water from the tap (cheap)
Agreed. I'm trying to sell more pavers/firepits/etc (wants) vs concrete walks and drives. (needs). Usually translates to NEEDSs the lowest price since they don't WANT to spend the $ on it Posted via Mobile Device
Excavation for typical spec home = nobody involved really makes anything except maybe wages.
Excavation for Custom home = while not rich the project (properly bid) will make good money due to the extras involved.
Septic can make money in some markets (not the one I am in) but your set up for it so getting licensed is a good idea.
Pick some attachments that might open some doors, concrete breaker, stump grinder, excavator mower ect.
Water/sewer repair (while these are typically find the cheapest guy type jobs) they can open opportunities for bigger projects.
Smaller demo projects
Spend more time networking with General Contractors, these are the guys that will keep you busy. It takes a while but if you can find 10 or so that use you, you will always be busy.
Be diversified in what you can do or are willing to do. Very few one trick ponies still alive here (actually I cant think of any).
niche markets are where the money is. with little to no competition you set the prices...
I dont recomend working by the hour unless it is a long term project.
It took me a couple hard years, but finally i have a niche and i have been blessed enough that my business has grown ten fold.
Look into large government projects, go to the site meetings, shake some hands , give out business cards, take estimators out for coffee etc . Impress them and im sure you can get subbed out doing stuff such as , bobcat/mini ex work, erosion control, concrete breaking, planting etc.
rich sounds good but both types pay me the same per hour so unless you mean the want types of people will give you more and more work then Im not sure that translates to my business.
Well if you charge by the hour rather than by what a job is worth then it will not matter. The profit margin per hour of work should not be the same for all your work.
If your not charging by the hour then you would not be making the same per hour. Maybe it is how you estimate your jobs that it ends up like that?
Here on septic I may profit 1500 dollars for 2 days. Laying sod I can profit 2000.00 in one day. Throw in some stone work, drainage , plants , irrigation and I can quadruple my profit per day over septic. The septic is steady year round and pays the bills.
Get into erosion control, silt fence, rock berms,blankets, etc......here silt fence is going for $2.00 a foot, some of these companies are getting rich.....
Get into erosion control, silt fence, rock berms,blankets, etc......here silt fence is going for $2.00 a foot, some of these companies are getting rich.....
We get $4-4.75/ft here on prevailing rate jobs. We did an airport this winter that was over 7000' and much of it was put in with a mini. Way too many stumps and roots to trench it but we still made good money.
If your not charging by the hour then you would not be making the same per hour. Maybe it is how you estimate your jobs that it ends up like that?
Here on septic I may profit 1500 dollars for 2 days. Laying sod I can profit 2000.00 in one day. Throw in some stone work, drainage , plants , irrigation and I can quadruple my profit per day over septic. The septic is steady year round and pays the bills.
It is the way I price it. I price everything the same. $1500 per day for 2 guys. I dont bid the job like that. If I think its going to take a day then its 1500 if there arent any materials costs. There must be more service providers around here because all those jobs you mentioned are far from "niche". There are plenty of people to do all of that which tends to generaly keep you within 90-110 an hour for the equipment guy. And 50-60 for the ground laborer no matter the type of instal. Which is $150 an hour times 10 hour day= 1500 a day. Again, just to be clear, customers have never seen this break down.
It is the way I price it. I price everything the same. $1500 per day for 2 guys. I dont bid the job like that. If I think its going to take a day then its 1500 if there arent any materials costs. There must be more service providers around here because all those jobs you mentioned are far from "niche". There are plenty of people to do all of that which tends to generaly keep you within 90-110 an hour for the equipment guy. And 50-60 for the ground laborer no matter the type of instal. Which is $150 an hour times 10 hour day= 1500 a day. Again, just to be clear, customers have never seen this break down.
Makes sense. Each area is different. For instance We have a very diverse area as far as home values and family incomes. There are plenty of houses for less than 50k and they are within 10 miles of million dollar neighborhoods. Septic pays teh same no matter the size of the house but the luxury work really goes up in profit in the better neighborhoods. When the economy tanked evne the well off people here stopped spending money. The Landscaping industry took a major hit. The Septic never really changed other than new construction. The jobs I mentioned are not what I would consider niche market rather a market of want. And as far as contractors we are loaded. Remember Ga had several of the fastest growing counties in the USA for like 10 years straight.
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