@asafoatse Hey brother. I started like you a few weeks ago. Just made it out of the red and into the green yesterday. My equipment was $1300. I'm one month in. I had a lot of the same goals and thought process. Being a precovid sales and marketing manager I thought this would be pretty easy task.
I won't say it's hard, but it's nothing like I expected. I spent the first day for one hour dropping off flyers. Maybe 12 total before a guy chased me down the road asking for a quote. I was in a ritzy part of town on the intercoastal of Florida. I sold him on a $300 job power washing his paver driveway and back porch. I thought to myself how easy this will be. Just laid 12 hangers and sell one $300 job. Next day did the job and finished around noon. Spent the next 8 hours dropping hangers. Then hit another nice part of town the following day. I got one call that day. It was a fella telling me he's with an HOA and he's chasing my hanger guy down the road and calling the cops. Funny I did that neighborhood the day before and I was at a gas station. Lol
Still haven't seen any fruits from those 500 flyers.
Next I went for real estate. They're each happy to take it and talk about how their current guy sucks, but haven't seen anything from it.
I dropped maybe 300 in fb ads. Not a damn thing.
I ended up doing my elderly neighbors driveway for fre. since I saw them out with an electric machine trying to wash it. I refuse to solicit my neighbors. They would never tell me no. Not only that but I just don't mix home with business. Which is why I offered it free. After I finish he comes out and thanks me and asks me if I know anyone who does lanai. I told him I do. He brings me to the back and black and green staining everywhere. Big job. So big I couldn't do it for free. He wanted other stuff like his gutters, roof etc. I quoted him $300.but I tell you I worked my ass off harder than I ever have doing these jobs. I felt extremely pressured to make sure they were happy. To me about 10 hours with intermittent conversation with my neighbor. I think they're well connected with the local church and they were ranting and raving about how great of a job I did. Maybe something will come out of it.
I think my next stop is churches. Maybe life half off as a donation. I stopped by one and took pictures of what I thought I could help with. I think I'll send an email tomorrow with a value prop.
My advice would be to look for your #1 pain in the ass on every job you do. Try to think if it's something you could spot again on another job to try and avoid it. For instance I won't ever do a job the day after the lawn guy comes. I'll make it a point to ask when scheduling about the lawn guy. Another is about a low spot that can hold water on concrete. Every time I would make a sweep on the driveway half of it would flood but drain off in5 minutes. Made a 30 minute job into a 2 hour gig. Best of luck. Keep in touch. I'm always open to discussion and learning.
Any way good luck
