Back To Basics....

KellyPainting

Well I'm back to a one man show..... after a very busy winter.
I'm trying to simplify things and get back to basics... was getting pretty
hectic there for a while.... always worrying bout paying everyone and
where they should go.... It seams that my customers aren't happy with me
sending anyone else... even lost a few because of it. So I'm back to just me... and a helper when needed. Hard to re adjust to being a one man show.... even my estimates are different... easier in the long run.
Just worried about the big jobs, finding quality help when i just need them for a few weeks. Going to concentrate more on going the extra mile for my customers... giving service thats above the rest (no you guys..lol).
Thats what built my business in the first place.

firemike

I know just how you feel, I did the same thing a few years ago. I spent more time keeping the guys busy, putting out fires, and chasing materials, doing estimates, etc. instead of doing the actual work, which is the part that I liked.

I too built my business on quality, and I could never find someone that had the same level of pride in workmanship that I did. That, and not having someone show up when needed, screwing up the whole day, and the schedule caused me to rethink my business.

My only problem is the same as yours, I am limited on the jobs I can take just because of manpower. I have a couple of college kids that work with me occasionally, but their availability has to revolve around their class schedules. I also work with a couple other lone contractors, but again it depends on schedules. If there is enough time to plan things where we can all be there together, great, but it seems most jobs are rush jobs where they will pay someone that can do it today, not next week.

My main selling point is that I am there every day on the project from start to finish, I do most of the work myself, subbing out what needs to be to reliable contractors I have known for years. and I am only a phone call away if they do have a problem.

Many of my clients don't even ask for a price, they just want the work to get done. I have about a dozen or so clients that I have keys and alarm codes to their houses or businesses to get in to do the work. They call me, email me, or fax a list over of what they want done, and I do it, send them a bill, and get a check a few days later. The commercial clients especially like it because once they call me, they don't have to worry about it anymore, they know it will get done, what you call "giving service that's above the rest."

Funny thing is, I really haven't had a noticable decline in money over when I had employees. (I only had three at most) By the time you subtract the comp, added insurance, payroll, having to redo something that should have been done right in teh first place, along with the misc. employee expenses, the overall company profit is roughly the same.

I sort of think if Michigan's economy hadn't taken a dive a couple years ago and the gas price hadn't gone up, I might actually be further ahead income-wise at this point without employees.

__________________
-Mike-

Tom Rohland

Whew............

I get tired just thinking about it.

I've been a one man show since the day I started.

1992.

I'm worn out.

Tried hiring.

No luck.

No patience on my part.

I've got a standard that must be met.

No excuses.

None.

That's all I get though.

You either do or or don't do.

I don't have time for the BS.

Just come to work and work.

Don't waste my time.

I'm not in the "baby sitting business".

Never will be.

I'll keep plodding along.

Til the day I die.

Bury me in the "Leaning Rest".

God will know I've done my BEST!!!!!!!!

LOL

HOOAH!!!!!!!!!!


Tom Rohland, Jr.
Ranger Painting & Pressure Cleaning, Inc.
Lake Mary, Florida


The Lone Ranger

Looking for Tonto!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOL

daArch

JEEPERS,

And I thought I was the only one

BTDT

in 1984 +/- I incorporated and hired four painters. Had all the problems you all mention.

Some of us just ain't cut out for it. Hard lesson to learn, but once you do, we are better for it, and so are our jobs and clients.

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Wallcovering Installations by Bill Archibald|paperhanger|Eastern Mass|Greater Boston Area|Dover|Wellesley|Franklin|Sharon|MA

Da Vinci

I've done both. I've come to realize that yes, it's hard work to manage crews and keep things going, but it's the only way to grow. Hire top quality guys and pay them well. You will have smaller margins but more business, more referrals.

I'm getting too old to do all the hard physical stuff. I love meeting clients, selling jobs, growing the business. Brains is better in the long run....

Bob
elshaddaipainting.com

MakDeco

I couldn't of said it better myself! Ditto to all of it!

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MAK Deco

Dave Mac

working on one job at a time, and doing the work, puts you in the best possible position to grow your buisness, imo. when i did this, i sceduled work with clients, as i was the only one doing the labor, as i was, but i would hire one at a time, and i got to work side by side, so with in a day i could see if the new how to paint, with in a couple of weeks i could see if they were going to work out. once you find one good one, you can grow from their slow and steady imo. it take like twenty bad ones to find one good one.

Brian

I agree that it can be hard to manage crews, but it doesn't have to be. Build systems and train your crew to follow them. Build systems to manage the crew, and then follow them.

I disagree that the margins are smaller. When you focus on marketing and sales the margins should get larger.

I agree that brains are better than brawn. Work smarter, not harder.

Build systems, train them, and let the systems run the business.

Brian Phillips

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Houston Interior Painting
Houston Exterior Painting
Houston Painting Contractor

daArch

reading all the replies just enforces something I learned (painfully) back in the mid-80's.

We all got our strengths and should play to them.

Some (myself included) do best working alone or with one or two others. managing others is not our forte. Teaching others is not within our patience level. We like the one to one with the customer/client throughout the job. We do not work well for others and we do not do well managing a crew.

Others, and GOD BLESS them, are adept to managing, They are patient, system orientated, and thrive on "growing". They can spot and evaluate good workers and get the best out of each employee, while making everyone happy. It's a talent.

Neither type is "wrong" nor "right". What is wrong is trying to be what you ain't.

Know yourself, be yourself, be proud of yourself.

(DAMN, am I pontificating again, or just slinging the BS)

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Wallcovering Installations by Bill Archibald|paperhanger|Eastern Mass|Greater Boston Area|Dover|Wellesley|Franklin|Sharon|MA

Brian

I agree that we should know our strengths and weaknesses and play to them. But I also think that we should try to improve our weaknesses.

I am not a patient person. I've learned to be more patient.

I was not a teacher. I learned to become one.

I want things done my way. I learned to communicate that.

Years ago I was not the person I am today. I wasn't happy with the person I was (and the business I had) so I changed both myself and my business.

It's fine if you are content with where you are. But don't necessarily accept it as unchangable. If you want something better, you can have it if you want to do the work.

Brian Phillips

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Houston Interior Painting
Houston Exterior Painting
Houston Painting Contractor

remodeling joe

i LOVE working by myself and for myself!!!!!! i HATE working with others!! they get in the way or just take too many smoke brakes or want to drink a beer on the job. the hell with that. i do it all; i get all the money.. no one messes up but me and no one gets the glory but me. it's been great since the beginning.!!!!!!!! all hail the loner!! lol!!!!

LouisZerr

<<I agree that we should know our strengths and weaknesses and play to them. But I also think that we should try to improve our weaknesses.

I am not a patient person. I've learned to be more patient.

I was not a teacher. I learned to become one.

I want things done my way. I learned to communicate that.

Years ago I was not the person I am today. I wasn't happy with the person I was (and the business I had) so I changed both myself and my business.

It's fine if you are content with where you are. But don't necessarily accept it as unchangable. If you want something better, you can have it if you want to do the work.>>

I agree Brian...IMHO this business is all about improvement. Whether it's on a personal level or a business level, you need to know your weak areas and work on them. Being the boss means you wear a bunch of different hats. My business mentor(yes I really have one) that knows nothing about painting gave me words or wisdom that I remind myself of daily: "If you as the boss don't show leadership, don't expect followship". Corny? Maybe. True? Very so. Being a leader means having a plan. Having a plan and using it is the best thing for my business. With my two employees I've seen the changes with my own eyes. They were good painters when they started with me, now they are turning into GREAT employees, future managers, foremen, outstanding personable human beings and oh yeah, great painters, too!

If you want your guys to be the best you have to train them to be the best. It hasn't all been easy or fun, but I wanted my life to be better so I knew I had to work at it. I wasn't content where I was either. If a one man show is what you like and is whithin your comfort level that's fine.

LZ

Richard

Kelly- I do understand where you're coming from. I am a perfectionist, very meticulous, and a very good people person. I'm the type of guy the customer tells all their friends about. I'm that guy who is sitting drinking a glass of wine after a hard days work, in the same kitchen I just painted. But....I started out as a 1 man operation. That lasted about a year. I was very set on keeping it that way forever. Then.....


I don't want to nor can I do all the work myself. (yes I actually just said that). The days are a lot longer by myself. A lot harder. A lot more stressful. A lot less production is accomplished.

Basically, I got a TON of advice in here. Read a few books. Changed my whole perspective.

Now I have a full time employee, have more work than I can imagine, and a growing reputation. And the biggest thing....I get much more work done each day. This helps to produce more, which translates to more $$$$. That's a fact.

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Rich

donb1959

I was a one man show for six months when I first started. It took nearly two years, but Ive finally found and trained 3 others to do things the way I like. I am just not physically capable of doing all the work.

__________________
I fish therefore I am
http://www.shimmerz.biz

mahlere

if you decide to go it alone, make sure you charge enough to cover all your costs...including all the insurances you need so that if you get hurt and can't work, you don't lose everything.

daArch

Brian,

Well said. YES, it is best to realize faults and weaknesses and improve. When Wade Boggs started with the BoSox he had a hunk of concrete on his left hand while playing third base. He could hit, but he couldn't field. He understood his weakness and practiced fielding more than hitting. I didn't like Boggsy much, but that attitude was inspirational. AND, didn't he finally win two Gold Gloves (yah, when playing for the Evil Empire )

My old elementary school motto was, "Our Best Today; Better Tomorrow" again, ALWAYS STRIVE TO IMPROVE.

But, also, some of us are just not naturally good at somethings and should not waste time and resources trying to become something we ain't. I KNOW I can not carry a tune in a wheel barrow. No amount of practice will put me in front of Randy, Paula, and Simon to become the next American Idol (and at 58, a tad too old )

Yes, improve on your weaknesses but know your innate limitations. Some just do better alone working by and for themselves. Others do best working in a large crew. While others are real good managing a business.

Everyone should continue to improve their skills and knowledge. If your goal is to grow and realize more profit and your quality improves while doing it, then GO FOR IT ! If you see your quality diminish while "growing", then step back and reexamine. Likewise, if you are a singleton and see your stress level rise, profits diminish, and quality do down, then also step back and re-examine.

One size DOES NOT fit all.

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Wallcovering Installations by Bill Archibald|paperhanger|Eastern Mass|Greater Boston Area|Dover|Wellesley|Franklin|Sharon|MA

daArch

I think it was reading Monroe Porter that I first realized about getting what I was worth. Since then, we, in the NGPP, have had a lot of discussions about understanding how much we need to charge while at the wall.

We all need to pay our estimator, our accountant, our bookkeeper, our errand boy, our driver, and our "productive" worker(s). Now, many of us who operate single person shops, wear ALL these hats. Are YOU paying yourself do do ALL those tasks? For the next couple of weeks, keep track of the time you spend on your business in all the support roles. Do not be surprised if you come up with 15% -25% of your time is spent in the office, chasing down leads, doing estimates, buying supplies, mailing invoices, etc etc . So that means if you charge $40 while on the job, you are actually receiving between $30 and $34 an hour.

Next consider Insurance: workers comp, liability, property, auto, medical, etc. Consider cost of vehicle. Depreciation of tools. etc etc etc.

Many of us realize that 1/3 of our gross income goes to pay our support personal and other business related expenses. So, if you are charging $40 an hour, you are REALLY being paid $26.60 an hour.

cool ! huh.

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Wallcovering Installations by Bill Archibald|paperhanger|Eastern Mass|Greater Boston Area|Dover|Wellesley|Franklin|Sharon|MA