[Bay View WCS]

Hey all

I would appreciate some advice please.  I have been approached to buy some work which will equate to approximately another 3/4 days per 4 weeks.  I have the capacity so no problems on that score.

The guy is doing this work part time and is wanting to go full time into his main job hence the reason for the sale.

He is Trad and I am 100% WFP.  I wanted to be sure that the work was genuine so he is coming out with me on monday to meet a few custies so I can sound them out.  I particularly wanted to see how willing they will be to convert to WFP.

The sale price is reasonable for the work but I am concerned about drop off rates for those who will not entertain WFP and some of the work is underpriced on his own admission.  I'm concerned that when the time comes in the new year to increase the prices I may encounter another reduction in numbers from those who are used to paying a low price.

I can easily sort out the contractual side regarding a non-compete clause and preventing him from canvassing the custies in the future but I am in the dark regarding what else I should be doing.

What else would you do or insist on before handing over any money.  Did you face any further problems when buying work?

Thanks in advance guys - all opinions welcome and appreciated

Cheers, Tom

[Tom-01]

Hi Tom

I bought some work in May this year and paid a substantial sum for it. I was happy to do this as the company I bought it from emailed me a complete list of customer post codes and how many jobs in each area, the regularity and price.

There was a lot of talking before I agreed to buy it but they were very open and honest about everything.

I think the difference is I could see that they had run a very profitable business for about 5 years and also I could see the potential of extra work from existing customers and gaining new customers in these new areas.

Some people said to me for the money that I spent I could have used for marketing and got a lot more work, which is true, however the time of quoting new work and dealing with messers and sorting out the schedule etc... It was far better off to pay the money for an already existing, quality and well priced customer base.

So maybe ask yourself for the amount of work you are buying and how much it will cost you allied with the worries you have mentioned, would it be worth using your time and money building up your own clients?

It's quite a nerve wracking experience buying work and there is a big element of risk involved, however the more you can find out about the work and how willing the seller is in giving you good information with proper earning information will help tell you whether it's worth buying it not - if he's not forthcoming or organised with that sort of information I would think carefully.

Hope this helps a bit.

Tom

[SB Cleaning]

I've bought a traditional round of 80 custys and switched to wfp straight away in the past lost about 5 or 6.....4 didn't even give the pole a try and the other 2 didn't like the windows left wet.

I would go for it if it ain't too expensiv.... I've also bought 2 wfp rounds and lost very few customers...just make sure there's a letter of changeover or you meet the custys and an established round is a must.

[Sean Dyer]

If you  don't need the extra income overnight , ie change in your expenses or taking on staff then personally i would keep your money

an underpriced traditional round sounds like more work than its worth especially when your paying good money for it

You could canvass up 3/4 days work in a few months and save your money

Ive bought rounds and given up on it, i bought ladder work and it was underpriced , i bought wfp work which is probably the best you will buy and had loads move out etc and lost money .... id rather grow at my own pace now ..

Only you know if its worth it at the end of the day ,, if you are desperate to buy id try find well priced wfp work if i was you

Also you said you cant be bothered with the first cleans etc but a trad round is gonna feel like a round full of first cleans when you change over

all the best whatever you do

[PoleKing]

Long and short, Tom. Not a lot.
Try not to be put off by the change from trad.
A lot of customers aren't even in when you'll probably clean and may not know.

Do a good job, keep on top of your admin, be polite and expect a drop off of 25% is what I hoped for when I bought work a number of years ago.