View Full Version : Scheduling a one man show
How does the average one man show out there do your scheduling?
I find that the more I schedule the more I can't make my appointments, because there are so many variables. So I take a call tell the person my backlog, give them a approximate time line, then tell them that I only hard schedule about two to three days out in front of me, and I will call them when it gets close. Although there a few cases when involving other trades or circumstances that you must have a hard date.
Is this acceptable practice or not?
macmikeman
09-06-2008, 06:18 AM
That works for me.
ElectricianJeff
09-06-2008, 06:58 AM
I do mainly res. service work. When I have to give a definite date it is most often 1 - 1 1/2 weeks out. I tell my customers that sometimes I get some extra time when I schedule a job for a specific amount of time and things fall in place and I free up early so if they allow me the ability to deal with them on short notice I will probably be able to get to them quicker.
A lot of the people that work during the day just give me a key with the understanding that I will always call first. This arrangement gives me tons of flexabilty and helps me fill the down times.
I live in area of a lot of small towns around and this may not work in the big city but it works out well for me.
boboelectric
09-06-2008, 10:09 AM
What about emergency service calls you might miss?
Sparky555
09-06-2008, 10:35 AM
I work extra hours until I burn through the schedule. Then I relax & catch up on the office work.
Dave
I do mainly res. service work. When I have to give a definite date it is most often 1 - 1 1/2 weeks out. I tell my customers that sometimes I get some extra time when I schedule a job for a specific amount of time and things fall in place and I free up early so if they allow me the ability to deal with them on short notice I will probably be able to get to them quicker.
A lot of the people that work during the day just give me a key with the understanding that I will always call first. This arrangement gives me tons of flexabilty and helps me fill the down times.
I live in area of a lot of small towns around and this may not work in the big city but it works out well for me.
Same here. But, on a new estimate it's really important that you show up on time, or at least call, saying you'll be late. After you develop a relationship with the client, on a large job, they seem to be more understanding.
I'm usually given a key and most of the time they say keep it, for future work. I have about 50 such keys and none are marked very well. It sometimes takes awhile to get in.
On a large job I was the last to leave and the client just told me to keep about 20 keys to the engineering trailers, that I would be included on the next project.:grin: Now I'm working alone..and I love it.:grin:
What about emergency service calls you might miss?
For me, I schedule 2-3 three out, with only 4-6 billable hrs per day, that allows me some flexibility to respond to those "Got-a-Have-it" calls. And with a looser schedule I can easily fill in the gaps with back log.
bobbyho
09-06-2008, 06:35 PM
I rely on my schedule very much. I typically find myself scheduled out pretty far. As a matter of fact I am just starting to calm down a bit. I have been scheduled out about 4 to 5 weeks pretty consistently for about a month. Two weeks ago I basically had to let about 7 jobs go. Now this is not typical by any stretch and it really made me sick to do it but there is no way a one man shop with a family and other commitments can take on every job. It has taken a long time to accept this fact. I have a Blackberry that has my schedule on it so I can edit my (schedule/life) as the day goes on. I think that I have reached the ceiling as far as what 1 man can do. Presenting this to a customer or potential customer can have some disadvantages. In the same vein as Tom Hopkins would do, "Sir/Maam, in this time of economic uncertainty, I find myself truly blessed. While many contractors are sitting around with little work, I am very busy with work. While this may be just coincedence, I like to think that it has something to do with reputation. If you can wait (enter time here) I am sure you will agree that you too will find that my services, professionalism and reliability will be worth it" One of the best compliments I ever received was from a builder that I do work for. He told me that while I might be 10 to 15% more expensive than other contractors, we can rest assure that if you say that you will be at the job at 8:30 in 45 days we can set our clocks by it.
I rely on my schedule very much. I typically find myself scheduled out pretty far. As a matter of fact I am just starting to calm down a bit. I have been scheduled out about 4 to 5 weeks pretty consistently for about a month. Two weeks ago I basically had to let about 7 jobs go. Now this is not typical by any stretch and it really made me sick to do it but there is no way a one man shop with a family and other commitments can take on every job. It has taken a long time to accept this fact. I have a Blackberry that has my schedule on it so I can edit my (schedule/life) as the day goes on. I think that I have reached the ceiling as far as what 1 man can do. Presenting this to a customer or potential customer can have some disadvantages. In the same vein as Tom Hopkins would do, "Sir/Maam, in this time of economic uncertainty, I find myself truly blessed. While many contractors are sitting around with little work, I am very busy with work. While this may be just coincedence, I like to think that it has something to do with reputation. If you can wait (enter time here) I am sure you will agree that you too will find that my services, professionalism and reliability will be worth it" One of the best compliments I ever received was from a builder that I do work for. He told me that while I might be 10 to 15% more expensive than other contractors, we can rest assure that if you say that you will be at the job at 8:30 in 45 days we can set our clocks by it.
Bobby I would say that " You have arrived".:grin:
I rely on my schedule very much. I typically find myself scheduled out pretty far. As a matter of fact I am just starting to calm down a bit. I have been scheduled out about 4 to 5 weeks pretty consistently for about a month. Two weeks ago I basically had to let about 7 jobs go. Now this is not typical by any stretch and it really made me sick to do it but there is no way a one man shop with a family and other commitments can take on every job. It has taken a long time to accept this fact. I have a Blackberry that has my schedule on it so I can edit my (schedule/life) as the day goes on. I think that I have reached the ceiling as far as what 1 man can do. Presenting this to a customer or potential customer can have some disadvantages. In the same vein as Tom Hopkins would do, "Sir/Maam, in this time of economic uncertainty, I find myself truly blessed. While many contractors are sitting around with little work, I am very busy with work. While this may be just coincedence, I like to think that it has something to do with reputation. If you can wait (enter time here) I am sure you will agree that you too will find that my services, professionalism and reliability will be worth it" One of the best compliments I ever received was from a builder that I do work for. He told me that while I might be 10 to 15% more expensive than other contractors, we can rest assure that if you say that you will be at the job at 8:30 in 45 days we can set our clocks by it.
You ARE the man !! :cool:
ishium 80439
09-06-2008, 11:19 PM
I'm the next best thing to a one man show (a two man show). I don't know if it is the area I am in or typical throughout the country but it seems that people's schedule are more flexible than one would assume. I generally ask them what their general availibility is first. It is almost surprising how many times I get answers like "I am home every Wednesday" or "I work nights so first thing in the morning every day is good". Once I have that info I generally tell them something to the effect of "Let me call you at the beginning of the week and let you know where we stand". On service work HO's are usually pretty understanding of the nebulous scheduling.
Conversely it sometimes helps with the rest of the schedule if someone tells you "I need you here on the 15th at 9:00AM". It pretty much gives you a starting point to schedule the rest of the week.
cadpoint
09-06-2008, 11:27 PM
You ARE the man !! :cool:
At his house till the bride gets Home!
At his house till the bride gets Home!
There's a honest man.....
ElectricianJeff
09-07-2008, 08:49 AM
I have about 50 such keys and none are marked very well.
That's a good thing if they ever get lost or stolen.
bobbyho
09-07-2008, 09:18 AM
Cadpoint, that is why I type real quietly, in a dark room, under a bed. Also keep the light on in your truck outside so they think you are out there in the truck:grin:. Other electrical contractors I know ask me how do I stay so accurate with the schedule. Pretty simple, just stick with your word and adjust the schedule if other people drop the ball on you. Or if your real boss calls and says there is a soccer game, or parent/teacher conference, or she has to work late, or there is a piano lesson or etc. etc etc....:grin:
Rewire
09-08-2008, 03:18 PM
This is why I am a six man show today.I charge more but I can start tommorrow,I have gotten more jobs just because of availability.I don't have the nerve to be a one man show just two years ago i was injured and laid up for two weeks and unable to work for almost six months rehabing my injury my business would have folded as a one man show but with good help in the field and the wife taking FMLA to drive me around we survived.When things get slow the one man shows usually don't survive long around here they think summer never ends and the phone never stops ringing but get a jolt of reality when the money stops and the bills don't my phone will start to ring daily with guys looking to hire on.
Sparky555
09-08-2008, 04:51 PM
When things get slow the one man shows usually don't survive long around here they think summer never ends and the phone never stops ringing but get a jolt of reality when the money stops and the bills don't my phone will start to ring daily with guys looking to hire on.
IMO any sized contracting business is pretty screwed if the phone stops ringing for an extended period.
Dave
IMO any sized contracting business is pretty screwed if the phone stops ringing for an extended period.
Dave
My phone has been really slow, and the backlog went down down down to about 25-30hrs, and then all of the sudden, I'm at least a month behind again. Turned two jobs away today....as they say "Chicken or Feathers" ;) I dont worry about it, got to have some faith I guess.
gadfly56
09-08-2008, 10:50 PM
At my last employer we had a plumber who was a one man show whom we used for small/medium sprinkler repair work (before they tightened things up in New Jersey). He had a service which did most of his scheduling. He loved it. Most of his work was straight forward; clear a drain, fix a leak, put in a toilet, etc. and they would schedule directly for him. He'd call in once or twice a day to see if he needed to call back on the "oddballs" or to get his schedule for the next couple of days. He spent most of his day working instead of trying to figure out his work for the next two weeks on the phone with some GC, while his current customer is watching the clock hands spin :mad:.
At my last employer we had a plumber who was a one man show whom we used for small/medium sprinkler repair work (before they tightened things up in New Jersey). He had a service which did most of his scheduling. He loved it. Most of his work was straight forward; clear a drain, fix a leak, put in a toilet, etc. and they would schedule directly for him. He'd call in once or twice a day to see if he needed to call back on the "oddballs" or to get his schedule for the next couple of days. He spent most of his day working instead of trying to figure out his work for the next two weeks on the phone with some GC, while his current customer is watching the clock hands spin :mad:.
For me, that would work about 30% of the time, while the other 70% I would be kicking myself about having to pay for it. I dont have the volume yet..
quogueelectric
09-09-2008, 12:39 AM
I find letting the customer know what is going on when you fall behind or an em occurs is important. Keep in contact as much as it pains you to make that call when you got hung up in hd or the supply house. There is nothing worse than leaving them in the dark.
Sparky555
09-09-2008, 01:19 AM
At my last employer we had a plumber who was a one man show whom we used for small/medium sprinkler repair work (before they tightened things up in New Jersey). He had a service which did most of his scheduling. He loved it. Most of his work was straight forward; clear a drain, fix a leak, put in a toilet, etc. and they would schedule directly for him. He'd call in once or twice a day to see if he needed to call back on the "oddballs" or to get his schedule for the next couple of days. He spent most of his day working instead of trying to figure out his work for the next two weeks on the phone with some GC, while his current customer is watching the clock hands spin :mad:.
Sounds like a man that doesn't upsell. Occasionally I go to a 4 hour repair & sell $10k. I don't think the service's schedule is going to help.
Dave
Rewire
09-09-2008, 12:52 PM
IMO any sized contracting business is pretty screwed if the phone stops ringing for an extended period.
Dave
You just expand your market area we are doing jobs in about a 50 mile radius now I am bidding work farther out .I think that a one man show is very limiting as to not only the amount of work you can do but the distance you can travel.
You just expand your market area we are doing jobs in about a 50 mile radius now I am bidding work farther out .I think that a one man show is very limiting as to not only the amount of work you can do but the distance you can travel.
IF your overhead is low (my case) I can hold a company meeting (by talking to myself) and change my business model to accomodate any situation, without having to lay anyone off.
I can even go fishing on a workday and if I don't have any work it doesn't cost me a dime. What big shop can say that?:D
480sparky
09-09-2008, 02:10 PM
IF your overhead is low (my case) I can hold a company meeting (by talking to myself) and change my business model to accomodate any situation, without having to lay anyone off.
I can even go fishing on a workday and if I don't have any work it doesn't cost me a dime. What big shop can say that?:D
You also have a killer profit-sharing program, plus you get to sleep with the boss's wife! :D :D
You also have a killer profit-sharing program, plus you get to sleep with the boss's wife! :D :D
Right as rain!:grin:
Sparky555
09-09-2008, 02:41 PM
You just expand your market area we are doing jobs in about a 50 mile radius now I am bidding work farther out .I think that a one man show is very limiting as to not only the amount of work you can do but the distance you can travel.
You're right. I only like to travel 20-30 miles, but I've gone as far as 300 miles for the right customer & job.
Dave
satcom
09-09-2008, 03:34 PM
A one man show is easy to schedule.
7:00 AM Go to local pub have one or two morning openers.
8:00 AM Go to local eating spot where the gang hangs out, and work out, all the world problems.
9:00 AM Park Truck near a work site, any site will do, just in case the wife goes by.
9:30 AM Walk to fishing spot, set line and take nap.
11:00 AM Back to get truck, driver to service call, charge $250 flat rate fee for reset GFCI.
12:30 PM Back to pub for liquid lunch with un employed buddies.
3:00 PM Go to truck, and pour water all over your shirt.
3:30 PM Arrive home, come in house, and complain about what a rough day you had, ask wife to get you a cold one.
480sparky
09-09-2008, 03:56 PM
A one man show is easy to schedule.
7:00 AM Go to local pub have one or two morning openers.
8:00 AM Go to local eating spot where the gang hangs out, and work out, all the world problems.
9:00 AM Park Truck near a work site, any site will do, just in case the wife goes by.
9:30 AM Walk to fishing spot, set line and take nap.
11:00 AM Back to get truck, driver to service call, charge $250 flat rate fee for reset GFCI.
12:30 PM Back to pub for liquid lunch with un employed buddies.
3:00 PM Go to truck, and pour water all over your shirt.
3:30 PM Arrive home, come in house, and complain about what a rough day you had, ask wife to get you a cold one.
3:59 PM: File for bankrupcy.
3:59 PM: File for bankrupcy.
Too late in the day..put it off until tomorrow, or so.
480sparky
09-09-2008, 04:11 PM
Too late in the day..put it off until tomorrow, or so.
Someday, you should join us (http://www.procrastinators-anonymous.org/).
Someday, you should join us (http://www.procrastinators-anonymous.org/).
Looks like something I might want to do ..later.:D
I'm the next best thing to a one man show (a two man show).
Some of us look at 1 or 2 man band as meaning that you don't have enough work.
This is why I am a six man show today.
I'm also a fan of the 5 to 6 man shop. . I started out as a 2 man band, my brother and me. . We ballooned up to 13 within 2 years and I was yanking my hair out everyday.
If I go back to contracting, I'll start as a 1 man band and grow to 5 as quickly as possible. . 2 crews of 2 men each with me filling in the gaps. . Depending on need, I'll do paperwork in the office, pound the pavement for future work, or join one of the crews to hit a job with 3 guys.
I'll stay at 5 or jump up to 6 total.
If I go 6 it would be because I've accumulated some service work. . Set up a service truck and man it with a 6th guy.
Never, never, never again do I want to be in the 10 to 20 range. . There's not enough cash flow and profit to get the office help you need to run that size of a company. . And doing all of the office/management myself, for that size of a shop, is the very last thing I ever want to do again.
Some of us look at 1 or 2 man band as meaning that you don't have enough work.
I'm also a fan of the 5 to 6 man shop. . I started out as a 2 man band, my brother and me. . We ballooned up to 13 within 2 years and I was yanking my hair out everyday.
If I go back to contracting, I'll start as a 1 man band and grow to 5 as quickly as possible. . 2 crews of 2 men each with me filling in the gaps. . Depending on need, I'll do paperwork in the office, pound the pavement for future work, or join one of the crews to hit a job with 3 guys.
I'll stay at 5 or jump up to 6 total.
If I go 6 it would be because I've accumulated some service work. . Set up a service truck and man it with a 6th guy.
Never, never, never again do I want to be in the 10 to 20 range. . There's not enough cash flow and profit to get the office help you need to run that size of a company. . And doing all of the office/management myself, for that size of a shop, is the very last thing I ever want to do again.
Was a 300 man band, then a 9...now a 1 (by choice).
Was a 300 man band, then a 9...now a 1 (by choice).
Once you get above about ... 25, it gets better. . You can hire the people you need to handle the office and sales work needed. . It's that 10 to 20 that's horrible. . Never again for me !
Once you get above about ... 25, it gets better. . You can hire the people you need to handle the office and sales work needed. . It's that 10 to 20 that's horrible. . Never again for me !
That's kinda what they say about money...the 1st million is tough to make after that it's all downhill.:D
A one man show is easy to schedule.
7:00 AM Go to local pub have one or two morning openers.
8:00 AM Go to local eating spot where the gang hangs out, and work out, all the world problems.
9:00 AM Park Truck near a work site, any site will do, just in case the wife goes by.
9:30 AM Walk to fishing spot, set line and take nap.
11:00 AM Back to get truck, driver to service call, charge $250 flat rate fee for reset GFCI.
12:30 PM Back to pub for liquid lunch with un employed buddies.
3:00 PM Go to truck, and pour water all over your shirt.
3:30 PM Arrive home, come in house, and complain about what a rough day you had, ask wife to get you a cold one.
HAHA you MUST have a ''sugar moma" paying the bills
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