how to sub carpet work

[Roman Cleaning Services]

What are sum questions I should ask the sub? Should we go to the estimate together or just one of us? I figure he would know more about the pricing then I would so....What % should add for my cut?Any other things to consider?

[godofcleaning]

if i were you i would really learn the pricing yourself,offer your sub contractor a set price per area and work off that for your profit.Do not take subby with you on quotes,that is between you and the company,as long as your subby is happy with their rate,leave it at that.

[logan5127]

Try to find out their reputation by asking around. If they are bad you will know fast. Ask them for references. Are they insured. Is your liability set up to cover sub contractors. Ask them for certification sheets on their liability and Workman's comp. We are asked for them every month. Just call your insurance and ask that certification be sent to whoever you say.Get familiar with different types of carpet cleaning. Their are several. Some better than others. Some times I go with them especially at first till you get to know them and that you can trust them. You can even go on the job and watch them to see them in action and to make sure it is being done as you specified. Call all of the carpet cleaners in your area to get an average price. Again be sure what type they offer. We feel hot water extraction is the best method if done properly. I usually get 10%. Carpet cleaners usually will work with you as they want the work. I do not mark up 10%. I take 10% off their invoice. At their normal charge.Ask Kevin about any forms he might have on keeping them from taking the job away form you. Will be nice to see others post to this question and see what the average % to charge is.
P.S. I have been asked in the past to go with someone to give estimate on job. They ask me not to wear uniform shirt. I have no problem. I do my best . Even if they get the praise for it I still get money for it. And they will use me again.

[monayuki]

Subbing usually is 20% of Gross. Make sure before subbing you have to sign them a Risk and Release Form. Check their Insurance and if they want to be your Sub-Contractor Let them Sign a Non-Disclosure, Insurance policy should Read your Company as Additional Insured on Bottom Line Contract for how many years (minimum of two) that they cannot take your Accounts. plus many more. Do this with legally binding agreement. Sometimes most Carpet Cleaners are not Well Trained and Proper Standards.(you know what Im talking About)They might go to a house Cleaning and Breaking a Vase or Figurine worth $150,000 whose gonna pay?

[russo]

20% if you're a nice guy.

[monayuki]

I aint no MMM. Trust me on this they will be Eliminated in the Picture Soon. They are the Ones who are pulling the Industry Down as well as the Bait and Switch.

[Roman Cleaning Services]

Thanks helping. Sounds like 10-20% off invoiced price is good (90/10 split). I do the bid without them, collect money and pay them. right? I have a non-compete form.

[russo]

I know you aren't the MMM, Jude. Trust me..... I say what I did in my above post because I have been on the bad end of subbing where I didn't even get 20% which IS standard for subbing. You're company is one of the only companies I would ever even think of subbing from. Not that I am looking to sub from any one new... I can get my own accounts as well as you can. T rust me.... I don't get too many days to myself these days.

As far as the MMM bringing the industry down..... I totally agree. These suits sit in there desks five states over and sell on the phone all day and give table scraps to new companies starting out who can barely afford to eat. These are the same people who have never scrubbed a toilet in their life. I am well aware of what is happening. More than you know. I agree with you but I don't have time to change the world. I can only try to be decent and try to treat people with respect in my business and personal life and worry about my actions. I don't have time to fight any MMM cause unless they take a facility away from me and I am not real worried about that. I am not big enough to be a threat to any one at this point in my life business wise. I'm just a minnow in a sea.

[monayuki]

Thanks Mike ;D We'll start by being the Fighting Duo Batman and Robin. ;DWhat do you say ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[russo]

Roman Cleaning Services:

1)Make sure you know how the method of carpet cleaning is done and be prepared to tell your client why you feel it is the best way to clean their carpet. I agree w/ Dan. I like like the hot water extraction method best. Try to know a couple of methods for credability purposes, though.
2)Try to find a sub who has an unmarked mobile cleaning unit if possible. Make your client think you own the unit but DON'T lie if they ask you. Explain to them that you are a building services contractor and that you sub out you carpets to a certified firm (can't say the one my sub is certified from ;)and that you don't make much money on it.
3)MAKE SURE you have a good sub contractors agreement. It should have a no compete clause and it should also state that the sub cannot go after any of your current clients or their employees for at least a three year period. Make sure also that it says that the sub may not induce any of your employees to leave employment with you. There are many more things it should say so cover your *** and get a lawyer to write it if you have the money. They will customize it to your needs and your states legal requirements.
4)Rarely is it ever a good idea to bring a sub with you to an estimate. Even if you sign a sub contract w/ them before they see the property, it is Not legally binding unless they actually perform work for you. They are not considered an employee or sub contractor if they don't have at least one hour of actual work performed that can be verified.... This is what my lawyer told me was the legal requirement. I actually have one sub who comes along w/ me to bid windows BUT he has been a friend for YEARS and it is a RARE instance. There are too many things that could go wrong in my opinion.
5) Make sure your sub contractor has INSURANCE and make sure you AND your clients ARE COVERED under the policy! They should have proof of workmans comp. if they have ACTUAL employees and will gladly provide you with proof if they pay it and don't classify amployees as subs.
6) Watch your sub work a couple of times to see his or her experience. You don't want to have some bozo ruining a nice rug and ruining your rep at the same time before you even get started. (always check subs equipt. before you sub to see if it actually up to the challenge. You don't want a sub using a 1996 Ninja portable when you could be using another sub with a 2005 Vortex)

[Grizzly]

All of the above are excellent points. I will add from recent experience this scenario. Gentleman I have used for a number of years to sub carpet cleaning to as I believe in the "jack of all trades , master of none" credo. He had maintained his pricing at a reasonable level and we could add our 10% and keep the customer happy. However, after a recent job he submitted invoice with significantly higher per square foot costs. Apparently, he just franchised and has raised his prices. Unfortunately, this meant that he charged more than we were able to charge the customer as the customer was prepared to pay high volume commercial rate. Difference of .05 per square foot to .08 per square foot. Ended up costing us 2000.00 loss. Point is, you must keep abreast of current prices in market even though you are relying on job for professionalism on the job.

Bill

[Kevin]

Business is business, Christmas is Christmas, (One of my favortie movie lines Micheal Douglas Wall Street) A good note of reminding when dealing with subcontractors do not only use one exclusive. You want to be nice, fine. A subcontractor is a tool. You should have a variety of tools, in the toolbox. One thing that we do with our subcontractors is refferal, and this is going to be more strongly enforced come 2006, they have to refer an equal amount of jobs a month back to us, for services they do not perform. We have a set price for every carpeting subcontractor, and will pull a different tool out of the toolbox as needed. I will not tolerate from subcontractors, any re-scheduling or cant make it that day, any difference in price etc...Ok ill call the next person on the list., Then when the next job comes the person that performed the last job, gets the first call. You should have a minimum of three subcontractors for any task, the one that does the best work and also is sending the most refferalls to the office gets the most work. Now taking into consideration that statement, imagine having 25 carpet cleaning subcontractors, having a person on staff that all they do is meet and sign up subcontractors for every service imaginable... all subcontractors are being used as free lead generators... Why? They want to be at the top of the call list.

[monayuki]

Bootom Line

Cant we not do it ourselves or Dont do it at all ?
Are we missing some pointers or do we need more ?
Are we that Big or Do we need to Grow ?
Is it a burden or a Start of a new Endeavour ?
Do we know how to do it or Do we Need to Learn ?
Do we need to Give or Do we Need to Receive ?
Do I like to Grow or just Stay as I am ?

Just do it by Nike

[j2]

I have to know what MMM stands for. If you can't post it please PM.