I'm answering for my husband.
1) What is it; what do you do?
Pressure Washing. Owner operator.
2) How large is it?
Small--one person, owner operator. I (the wife) do all the bookkeeping. From time to time he has tried part time employees and good hard working help is hard to find. This is hard work outside in the elements. He thinks it is easier and less hassle to do the work himself so he does.
3) How long ago did you start?
A little over five years ago
4) Have you found the success you hoped for when you started?
In the very beginning we were excited and we were gonna do this and do that and ...and the plan was to expand the business but we quickly decided that expanding was going to take more money and more manpower; neither of which we had readily available. The focus then turned to maintaining what we had and doing a great job. **see below for more explanation.
5) If you could go back, would you do it again?
Yes
More detail:
Husband worked at a large company for 11 years, had back surgery, exhausted FMLA before he was released by doctor, went back to work dressed in company clothing and was let go upon arrival. We had one month old twins and a 6 year old and a house and normal things that a family has like car payments and bills. So....after job searching and searching my husband started helping a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend at his company. After 4 months the guy wanted to move to Florida and sell his established pressure washing business. We reviewed the records, talked to a bank and bought the business. Most of what we bought was the customers, the truck and equipment was old and had to be replaced sooner than later. We have been going strong since, maintaining customers we bought and getting new ones. There is more work to be done than my husband can do. We often times toss around the idea of getting an employee or another work truck but again, this comes with risks that we fine without taking. We are comfortable. We are not rich. We do not throw money around. We get what we need and little of what we want. We do not do without. Yes, there is room for more saving and "stuff" but we are fine where we are. We have young kids and live comfortable.
Some of the things we do not like: lack of health Insurance at a reasonably rate, paying taxes and more taxes (all his income is 1099), working in the elements, cost of fixing and replacing equipment, and turning down work.
Yes, I know that most of these are things that any business has but that doesn't make us like them any better.
We have a great customer base that we are fortunate to have. My husband goes where he is supposed to go, when he is supposed to be there, and does what he is supposed to do and this has created a great customer relationship. He is so busy with this schedule he doesn't do much other work on the side; unfortunately, because my patio and all my friends patios are really dirty.
I think it all comes down to:
1. If can access the funds to buy or start the business
2. How hard are YOU willing to work? actually work, not just point or make a call. We were raised by labor workers and we learned work, we don't know anything but work.
