Side Work? - Cleaning Talk - Professional Cleaning and Restoration Forum

**Nathan** · 07-25-2006, 10:00 PM

I've seen a few people mention that they do painting, lawn care, or other services on the side.

Do you do any side work and if so is it because you don't have enough work to keep you busy in your main trade or because you enjoy the mix of work?

PressurePros · 07-25-2006, 10:55 PM

We switch to interior work because of the weather. Exterior maintenance and cleaning goes from mid-April to early November here.

**Nathan** · 07-25-2006, 11:28 PM

Is that interior work cleaning or some other service?

Dave Ott · 07-26-2006, 02:58 AM

I like doing roofing in the winter. Call me crazy but I like using the valleys as a snow runway

PressurePros · 07-26-2006, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathan

Is that interior work cleaning or some other service?

Painting, finish carpentry.

Barry M · 07-26-2006, 08:11 AM

I'v been doing some remodeling for a friend since early spring, when I'm not PWing. Otherwise the family would be starving, this is my first year full time and work just isn't consistent yet. Not sure what I'm going to do this winter.

**Nathan** · 07-26-2006, 08:27 AM

Anyone do any lawn care work? Seems like a good business.

FCPWLLC · 07-26-2006, 08:36 AM

I usually load up the Truck with Chainsaws and pull Bobcat to the latest Hurricane riddled area and Remove Trees from Houses.
Been to Virginia for Isabel, Mississippi for Katrina and Texas for Rita. My background is Tree Service anyway. Buying a Stump Grinder soon to take this year. I usually just stat a couple of months and make enough to sit on butt through Winter.

Tried to post pic of F-450 with Bobcat but file too big.
Heres link to the pic on my site.

http://www.firstchoicepowerwashing.com/photo_album.html

FCPWLLC · 07-26-2006, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathan

Anyone do any lawn care work? Seems like a good business.

I used too, but I sold the Lawn Care business with accounts last year. Weather was always getting in the way at the wrong time.

Barry M · 07-26-2006, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FCPWLLC

I usually load up the Truck with Chainsaws and pull Bobcat to the latest Hurricane riddled area and Remove Trees from Houses.
Been to Virginia for Isabel, Mississippi for Katrina and Texas for Rita. My background is Tree Service anyway. Buying a Stump Grinder soon to take this year. I usually just stat a couple of months and make enough to sit on butt through Winter.

How do you market something like this? Do you just show up and start knocking on doors or do you try to sub contract under another company?

FCPWLLC · 07-26-2006, 01:24 PM

I've done both ways. Usually get in touch with a Local Tree Company before going just to secure some work. Then Home Owners see truck and come up while eating lunch and want you to get the Big Tree that's in thier Bedroom out of the way.

Once you're there, the work just comes to you. The demand is far greater than the service providers can handle. It's actually easy when you can show Insurance and License. Most things can be done online before you even get on the road.