Mikey P
Administrator
Can you give us a run down on how your top 3 do it?
Helper?
Job average?
List of what they can AND do upsell?
How many jobs a day?
And if you dont mind, what do they earn?
Thanks.
Ken Snow.....I need to know.
- Thread starter Mikey P
- Start date
Can you give us a run down on how your top 3 do it?
Helper?
Job average?
List of what they can AND do upsell?
How many jobs a day?
And if you dont mind, what do they earn?
Thanks.
Blue Monarch
Supportive Member
Good questions. I'd like to hear how they do it too. Seems like a good model to duplicate. It's just scary, knowing some of the advertised prices.
Ken Snow
RIP
Can you give us a run down on how your top 3 do it? Helper? Job average? List of what they can AND do upsell? How many jobs a day?
And if you don't mind, what do they earn
Our top 3 producers rounded up to next $ amount for 2006 were:
344,681.00
325,865.00
324,785.00
I actually was wrong when I wrote 3 over 300k on the ics board we had 5 totally over plus a couple more in the 290's.
We only run 2 person crews which consist of the Specialist and Assistant (we stopped promoting the term helper in the early 90's)
They are able to add on whatever they are comfortable cleaning (except hard surface cleaning at this time) We offer pretty much the normal cleaning services of carpet, furniture, some drapes or fabric vertical blinds and the standard topical treatments of SG, Deo, and a bactericide when warranted. Our top crews are ones that are often working 6+ days many weeks a year and have cultivated a great residential and commercial client base. With our commission structure they can potentially double their days income and production doing an after 5p or 9p job commercial job.
Our top guys make in the high 50's and these all made north of 60k and the top gun made north of 75k. We also have an incredible benefits package of health, dental, life/AD & D, STD, LTD, 401k and company savings plan that pays prime interest rate. This along with what we strive for as a positive work environment, top of the line equipment & chemicals.
Ken
And if you don't mind, what do they earn
Our top 3 producers rounded up to next $ amount for 2006 were:
344,681.00
325,865.00
324,785.00
I actually was wrong when I wrote 3 over 300k on the ics board we had 5 totally over plus a couple more in the 290's.
We only run 2 person crews which consist of the Specialist and Assistant (we stopped promoting the term helper in the early 90's)
They are able to add on whatever they are comfortable cleaning (except hard surface cleaning at this time) We offer pretty much the normal cleaning services of carpet, furniture, some drapes or fabric vertical blinds and the standard topical treatments of SG, Deo, and a bactericide when warranted. Our top crews are ones that are often working 6+ days many weeks a year and have cultivated a great residential and commercial client base. With our commission structure they can potentially double their days income and production doing an after 5p or 9p job commercial job.
Our top guys make in the high 50's and these all made north of 60k and the top gun made north of 75k. We also have an incredible benefits package of health, dental, life/AD & D, STD, LTD, 401k and company savings plan that pays prime interest rate. This along with what we strive for as a positive work environment, top of the line equipment & chemicals.
Ken
Steve Toburen
Supportive Member
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- Name
- Steve Toburen
"have cultivated a great residential and commercial client base."
OK, Ken, do you allow your techs to contact their past customers? Can the customers specify that they "only want Joe" when they call in for booking?
Just trying to learn from the master!
BTW, I agree 100% on the value of two people on a crew.
Steve Toburen CR
Director of Training
Jon-Don's Strategies for Success
PS For those of you attending the Portland SFS next week I'll bring some great Ken Snow stories ...
OK, Ken, do you allow your techs to contact their past customers? Can the customers specify that they "only want Joe" when they call in for booking?
Just trying to learn from the master!
BTW, I agree 100% on the value of two people on a crew.
Steve Toburen CR
Director of Training
Jon-Don's Strategies for Success
PS For those of you attending the Portland SFS next week I'll bring some great Ken Snow stories ...
vincent
Member
That's pretty damn good. No wonder you smile alot.
Cudos to you.
Cudos to you.
hogjowl
Idiot™
And, I think it worthy to note that Ken's crews turn out those numbers without prevacuuming, having glided wands, or 2.5 inch hose. Plus, they operate a standard Butler set up with live hoses!
Imagine just how slow they COULD be if they only came here and learned how to really clean carpet.
Imagine just how slow they COULD be if they only came here and learned how to really clean carpet.
Ken Snow
RIP
Hi Steve
Our guys do not contact the customers directly although that is an interesting idea. "Hi Mrs Jones we were out last fall and wondered if you'd like me to set up an appointment this spring for you"? In a few cases we have had guys contact customers directly and they are no longer with us :-)
Yes, thousands of customers request specific crews and when they want us to we put that in their customer profile on our order entry system.
Ken
Ps Be kind to me with the stories please, my reputation is already tenuous.
Pps I'll be seeing your compadre Chuck next month in Canton when I attend his Executive Summit he puts on in conjunction with Kent State U.
Pps Here is a link to a web chat I did last month on Channel 7 if anyone needs something to help them fall asleep.
http://wxyz.com/sites/wxyz/content/webc ... indow.html
Our guys do not contact the customers directly although that is an interesting idea. "Hi Mrs Jones we were out last fall and wondered if you'd like me to set up an appointment this spring for you"? In a few cases we have had guys contact customers directly and they are no longer with us :-)
Yes, thousands of customers request specific crews and when they want us to we put that in their customer profile on our order entry system.
Ken
Ps Be kind to me with the stories please, my reputation is already tenuous.
Pps I'll be seeing your compadre Chuck next month in Canton when I attend his Executive Summit he puts on in conjunction with Kent State U.
Pps Here is a link to a web chat I did last month on Channel 7 if anyone needs something to help them fall asleep.
http://wxyz.com/sites/wxyz/content/webc ... indow.html
Ken Snow
RIP
It is all by choice, they can work almost as much as they want or a fairly straight 5 days 8 hours, which few do as they can make a lot of extra working more.
The Preacher
Member
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- 3,401
your top gun by my estimations pulls about $25 per hour + benefits for a 60 hour week. not bad if he takes 2 weeks off and has a top notch assistant.
how long is an assistant on the crew before he gets to the rank of specialist???
what does a beginner make in yore company and whats your turn over rate??? how long do they have to work before full benefits kick in???
PS would you hire Paytiolet as a specialist or an assistant???
how long is an assistant on the crew before he gets to the rank of specialist???
what does a beginner make in yore company and whats your turn over rate??? how long do they have to work before full benefits kick in???
PS would you hire Paytiolet as a specialist or an assistant???
Desk Jockey
Member
Ken
You look & sound very comfortable behind the desk. You might be missing out your true calling...can you afford the cut in pay?
Great job, silky smooooth!
You look & sound very comfortable behind the desk. You might be missing out your true calling...can you afford the cut in pay?
Great job, silky smooooth!
Mikey P
Administrator
More:
How many leave and successfully start their own cleaning business?
What do you do when you catch them "side jobing" or cleaning a room or sofa and not adding it to the bill?
What is the job average of your top 3?
What is the company's #1 upsell? Rugs? Protector?
More rooms?
How many leave and successfully start their own cleaning business?
What do you do when you catch them "side jobing" or cleaning a room or sofa and not adding it to the bill?
What is the job average of your top 3?
What is the company's #1 upsell? Rugs? Protector?
More rooms?
rhyde
Member
ODIN said:
Some people actually like to work. i have two really good employees right now one doesn't even like to take breaks.
By the sounds of it Ken pays good people good wages how many of you guys pay offer the kinds of benefits/ Pay ken does
Blue Monarch
Supportive Member
T's just pissed because even Ken's low end guys get to put sausages in their mac and cheese.
G
Guest
Guest
We Californians just pay the day laborers $50 in cash...
jimMY would offer $40 and get the ones that leave nasty burrito turds in the master bath...
jimMY would offer $40 and get the ones that leave nasty burrito turds in the master bath...
Ken Snow
RIP
Spit up my coffee reading that one Chuck!!!
Terry- what got up your behind? I just reread the post and you sound similar to a guy named Joe Bristor who I also have never met, who would make false accusations about me and our company Vs asking questions.
Do you also have a discomfort with your penis size like he seemed to?
Thanks Richard- it was a lot of fun doing the web chat and we got some positive feedback from it.
Mike- No one to my knowledge has ever left to start their own with the exception of those that have been caught "side jobbing" and those even then usually go to a competitor vs trying it on their own. WHEN caught thieves are given the choice of written confession, and reimbursing what we can determine they stole or we call the police and let them sort it out. Most admit it and then are just terminated. Those who don't are pursued criminally and civilly in terms of fighting unemployment etc.
Our top ones average well over a grand a day. Topical Treatments (SG in particular) is the #1 add-on, but the best ones are looking for other opportunities to offer services like upholstery or additional cleaning. We only clean rugs in our Rug Care Spa, with rare exception.
Terry- what got up your behind? I just reread the post and you sound similar to a guy named Joe Bristor who I also have never met, who would make false accusations about me and our company Vs asking questions.
Do you also have a discomfort with your penis size like he seemed to?
Thanks Richard- it was a lot of fun doing the web chat and we got some positive feedback from it.
Mike- No one to my knowledge has ever left to start their own with the exception of those that have been caught "side jobbing" and those even then usually go to a competitor vs trying it on their own. WHEN caught thieves are given the choice of written confession, and reimbursing what we can determine they stole or we call the police and let them sort it out. Most admit it and then are just terminated. Those who don't are pursued criminally and civilly in terms of fighting unemployment etc.
Our top ones average well over a grand a day. Topical Treatments (SG in particular) is the #1 add-on, but the best ones are looking for other opportunities to offer services like upholstery or additional cleaning. We only clean rugs in our Rug Care Spa, with rare exception.
The Great Oz
Member
As they used to say on Monty Python, now for something completely different. Just a counterpoint, since I have to curb my own tendency to push harder, squeeze in a little more work, and have the guys closer to the edge.
As a smaller company concentrating on the top end of the market, we can run the more profitable one-man-per-truck system. This makes initial hiring and training more critical, and requires quality checks to keep standards high. A high pay rate allows us to go after "management" types that don't mind working hard and smart, and are sharp enough to do the math and realize they can take home more money in fewer hours working for us than running their own cleaning company.
We currently have fifteen residential technicians that average just under $50k, with high and low within 10k of that figure. None works more than five days per week, and commercial work is done by commercial techs. (Commercial techs make similar money working fewer hours.) This means that each truck/tech unit is averaging right about $200k per year, and the techs average $25+ per hour with no overtime involved.
We keep our trucks longer than some fleet operators, about seven years, and they have a lot of life left when we let them go.
Not a recommendation for how a cleaning business should run, but it works for us.
There are lots of right ways to get from A to Z in the cleaning biz.
As a smaller company concentrating on the top end of the market, we can run the more profitable one-man-per-truck system. This makes initial hiring and training more critical, and requires quality checks to keep standards high. A high pay rate allows us to go after "management" types that don't mind working hard and smart, and are sharp enough to do the math and realize they can take home more money in fewer hours working for us than running their own cleaning company.
We currently have fifteen residential technicians that average just under $50k, with high and low within 10k of that figure. None works more than five days per week, and commercial work is done by commercial techs. (Commercial techs make similar money working fewer hours.) This means that each truck/tech unit is averaging right about $200k per year, and the techs average $25+ per hour with no overtime involved.
We keep our trucks longer than some fleet operators, about seven years, and they have a lot of life left when we let them go.
Not a recommendation for how a cleaning business should run, but it works for us.
There are lots of right ways to get from A to Z in the cleaning biz.
Ken Snow
RIP
Good points Bryan and like you said many ways to be accomplished in this business. I did hear a statement of fact which I judge really to be opinion in your claim that one person crews are more profitable than 2. This may be the case for your model but I would not presume that is always the case and I would venture to say if you tried 2 man crews the increased revenue generated would more than offset the additional costs.
If you have already and I am wrong so be it, be it works for us.
Ken
If you have already and I am wrong so be it, be it works for us.
Ken
The Asian Sensation
Member
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- Oct 7, 2006
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I didnt know we were going to have a Ken SNow hot seat part II.
Ken Snow
RIP
Good one Thang :-)
The Preacher
Member
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- Oct 13, 2006
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- 3,401
why didn't you answer Dannys questions??? or did you think it was Bawb Vawter??? LOL
Ken Snow
RIP
Sorry Danny I did forget those questions, not trying to ignore.
They probably do not work quite 60 hours but certainly in the 50 range. They take vacations at their choice they do get 1 week paid after 1 year, 2 weeks after 3, 3 weeks after 10 years and 4 weeks after 20 years. The check is cut on the payroll after their anniversary and some choose to take less or even more off.
Our average time now for an assistant to get their own truck and be formally called a specialist is over 3 years. We may develop some hybrid titles as they can be quite skilled in far less time just not have an opening for the Spec role. We pay strictly by commission so the assistants like the specialists can earn anywhere from a low of the low to mid 20's to well over 30k. Benefits for all Full Time employees kick in the first day of the month following 90 days and some benefits like company savings plan and 401k are also avail to part time employees (we have almost none of those).
We almost always hire outside of the industry so it is not likely we would hire Mike, plus everyone starts at the bottom so it would be 3 years + before he would be a specialist anyway.
Ken
They probably do not work quite 60 hours but certainly in the 50 range. They take vacations at their choice they do get 1 week paid after 1 year, 2 weeks after 3, 3 weeks after 10 years and 4 weeks after 20 years. The check is cut on the payroll after their anniversary and some choose to take less or even more off.
Our average time now for an assistant to get their own truck and be formally called a specialist is over 3 years. We may develop some hybrid titles as they can be quite skilled in far less time just not have an opening for the Spec role. We pay strictly by commission so the assistants like the specialists can earn anywhere from a low of the low to mid 20's to well over 30k. Benefits for all Full Time employees kick in the first day of the month following 90 days and some benefits like company savings plan and 401k are also avail to part time employees (we have almost none of those).
We almost always hire outside of the industry so it is not likely we would hire Mike, plus everyone starts at the bottom so it would be 3 years + before he would be a specialist anyway.
Ken
harryhides
Member
Norway, home of the cradle to grave socialists, fed on salted pickerel and yak yogurt:
Income tax 28%
Sales Tax 25%
You'd be a miserable whining SOB too.
Income tax 28%
Sales Tax 25%
You'd be a miserable whining SOB too.
Royal Man
Member
I work by myself but, I know that 2 man crews result in less burn out, faster cleaning and better sales.
During the set up the tech has time to sell (find needs).
While the tech cleans the associate can do a 5 around.
While the associate tears down the equipment the tech can show the results and go over customer drying care and guarantee.
The customer responds to all that extra talk time by being a loyal customer.
During the set up the tech has time to sell (find needs).
While the tech cleans the associate can do a 5 around.
While the associate tears down the equipment the tech can show the results and go over customer drying care and guarantee.
The customer responds to all that extra talk time by being a loyal customer.
Steve Toburen
Supportive Member
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- Messages
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- Name
- Steve Toburen
I would add several more advantages to Dave's extremely well thought out list of two person crew advantages:
1. A built in witness in the event of a false accusation on the part of the homeowner. (Hey, don't laugh, it happens.)
2. Women (who lets face it are our primary customer even in these liberated times) normally feel more comfortable alone with two technicians instead of being stuck alone in her house with one creepy, menacing and very surly guy with a beard, tattoos and a bad attitude. (Maybe some of you guys should hire someone to replace you on the truck!)
3. While two techs CAN become "partners in crime" (it happened to me) usually the one will keep the other on the straight and narrow re: dishonesty.
4.. Biggest advantage to me? Having a built-in succession plan for the inevitable employee turnover. Senior tech quits, junior tech steps right up and you hire a new employee and start your Fast Track training system over again. Without the "junior tech in waiting" concept guess who goes back on the truck again???? YOU!
Steve Toburen CR
Director of Training
Jon-Don's Strategies for Success
PS On the other hand I would never say Bryan and his company don't have it nailed either. They are far too successful. We actually ran both one person and two person trucks but tended toward two people for all of the above reasons. Small jobs, upholstery, spotting, etc all got the single person truck. (We'll discuss (argue about?) the one vs. two person concept at length next week at the Portland SFS.) I'll see at least some of your folks there!
1. A built in witness in the event of a false accusation on the part of the homeowner. (Hey, don't laugh, it happens.)
2. Women (who lets face it are our primary customer even in these liberated times) normally feel more comfortable alone with two technicians instead of being stuck alone in her house with one creepy, menacing and very surly guy with a beard, tattoos and a bad attitude. (Maybe some of you guys should hire someone to replace you on the truck!)
3. While two techs CAN become "partners in crime" (it happened to me) usually the one will keep the other on the straight and narrow re: dishonesty.
4.. Biggest advantage to me? Having a built-in succession plan for the inevitable employee turnover. Senior tech quits, junior tech steps right up and you hire a new employee and start your Fast Track training system over again. Without the "junior tech in waiting" concept guess who goes back on the truck again???? YOU!
Steve Toburen CR
Director of Training
Jon-Don's Strategies for Success
PS On the other hand I would never say Bryan and his company don't have it nailed either. They are far too successful. We actually ran both one person and two person trucks but tended toward two people for all of the above reasons. Small jobs, upholstery, spotting, etc all got the single person truck. (We'll discuss (argue about?) the one vs. two person concept at length next week at the Portland SFS.) I'll see at least some of your folks there!
Satisfied employees stay.
To be satisfied, and want to stay, they need enough money, a good work place, up to date well working equipment, cleaning products that work the way they are supposed to, and an agreeable boss.
I worked for some 20 different companies, over a span of 20 years, most of them a short time.
The main reason I left the last one after more than 5 years, was over going into management, not the other reasons I mentioned above.
There was no spot for me in management and I was "Too valuable" as a cleaner to promote, as far into the future as we both could see.
That company has had many employees stay 20 years- and more. So it really is a good company.
Starting my own business was the best move I ever made.
But it is not for everybody.
Gary
To be satisfied, and want to stay, they need enough money, a good work place, up to date well working equipment, cleaning products that work the way they are supposed to, and an agreeable boss.
I worked for some 20 different companies, over a span of 20 years, most of them a short time.
The main reason I left the last one after more than 5 years, was over going into management, not the other reasons I mentioned above.
There was no spot for me in management and I was "Too valuable" as a cleaner to promote, as far into the future as we both could see.
That company has had many employees stay 20 years- and more. So it really is a good company.
Starting my own business was the best move I ever made.
But it is not for everybody.
Gary
back in the late 80's i worked for an established CD in the far south suburbs of chicago as a one man crew earning the owner about about $1000.oo a day in eight hours while making about 7 or 8 an hour myself. i know the money can be made if i can book the jobs.after one year im lucky to be making a grand a week but im not advertising and im running a bane so i have a high margin of profit. my question is how do i get more work without spending a lot on advertising or what advertising will payback more than what i put into it.
Royal Man
Member
Gee, I don't know!
Maybe someone on this board has found a better way to market that has an incredible ROI?
Like 200-1 or better.
I received over $2000.00 in work from it this week alone and it didn't cost a dime.
Maybe someone on this board has found a better way to market that has an incredible ROI?
Like 200-1 or better.
I received over $2000.00 in work from it this week alone and it didn't cost a dime.
let me rephrase that. ive done some flyers in the newspaper and ran adds but it seems all i do is get my money back at best. i dont like door hangers even though i hear they work im just not sold on it. i know i should do direct maketing but the cost upfront on the possible return hurts too much. most of my work comes from referals and the occasional yp ad. id like to work more than 15 hours a week but what i make is almost all profit and im making more than i did in the shop.ive picked up some commercial from knocking on doors and clean 6 apt complexes.my biggest referal source is the floor store here in town and the apts. so how long at this pace does it take to start making say 50 to 80 grand a year?
steve
ps what is roi doh i just got it
steve
ps what is roi doh i just got it
