I decided to explore entrepreneurial ways of making money about 2 years ago and it’s been a bumpy ride, had a lot of failed ventures, but it’s finally starting to work out! I recently got a job as an aircraft mechanic at a small airport and got to know a lot of the pilots fairly quickly.
The guy that washes people’s planes was overcharging them but there was no competition, so most people just left their airplanes dirty. He was charging like $150 per wash! So I spread the word “I’ll do an initial wash for $120 to knock off all the caked on grime and bugs” and then I’d offer to let them opt into basically a wash subscription. $80 per wash if I wash the plane monthly. Takes me less time to wash it anyways and it keeps the cashflow steady.
Basically, I charged almost half what the competition was doing it for. It’s been 20 days and I already have 6 planes subscribed to my monthly wash program, one of which is a twin engine so I charge $120 for it, bringing in a garunteed $520 a month excluding other odd jobs, and averaging about $45 per hour of labor with very low overhead. Feeling pretty good about it!
You must log in or register to comment.
This is awesome
Congrats, well done! Now you can expand to the next small airport.
That’s the plan! The same guy I’m competing with is spread out across the entire region, but there are some airports he doesn’t control yet. I’m about to grab em up!
After you start bringing in more customers start an llc and get some people to work for you either by hour or per plane, start generating passive income while your workers do all the labor for you.
That’s a great plan, but how do I stop them from simply saying “Man this washing equipment ain’t that cheap and I’m the one doing all the work. I’ll just do this work for myself”?
You could have them sign a noncompete if this is a concern.
Excellent work
Now take that money
Expand
Eliminate the competition
Expand to more airports
Buy equipment and hire workers
Start handling all regional airports
Lobby to introduce more holidays around traveling, so planes are used more and need more cleaning
Start charging larger amounts, absurd amounts
Push an aggressive marketing campaign to say unclean planes are a danger to society
Jack up the prices more
Some companies will now fail, buy their planes
Jack up the prices even more, push the marketing for clean planes even more
Take over everything
Diversify, do the same with trains
Do the same with trucsk
With cars
Now with people
Aggressive marketing push that a dirty person is a bad person
Lobby to make being dirty illegal
Construct prisons
Dump shit from the sky to make everyone dirty
ARREST EVERYONE
Use your prison labor to craft space engines
COLONIZE THE GALAXYLmao 😂😂😂
This saved me a comment.
Nothing else needs to be said.
Ah, the American story. A heartwarming tale
Wtf?
Go grind your axe elsewhere
I’m sorry I hurt your wittle feelies.
Sounds kind of like ultimate paperclip, the game, or whatever that’s called. Fun!
Introduce a special airplane soap ?!
This is the (whole) way
The voice in my head actually got more aggressive in tone as I read each line 😂
Excellent sir. You should be proud
😂😂😂
😂😂
Omfg I cried
Such a genius
Aggressive marketing campaign 😂😂😂
No handlebars - Flobots
Congrats!! Try to find a way to eventually raise your rates. $45 an hour is great especially when you are starting but it may not be enough once you account for other things. Try to find a way to add bells and whistles that add value but cost you little.
Repeat customers are the way to go and you’re doing it right. I make good money but since I have to get new clients on a regular basis, making $100-$200 an hour is still a grind for me.
Awesome and man I love the entrepreneur spirit, if we could only bottle it… For real congrats, your pride & passion is clear!
Congratulations man! This really is a success story, you took a real customer problem, provided a solution and ran with it.
Think you’ll do very well for yourself with this. In future, look at whether you create a franchise for this, like Jim’s mowing.
Congrats!!!
Are you actually an a&p? Because their are only a few approved washes for aircraft last time I checked and they are expensive. Hydrogen embrittlement is a real thing.
So you’re winning clients by competing on price. What happens when the competition drops his to retain/win clients? Or when somebody new comes along and undercuts you both?
Number one rule is never compete on price to win business. Its a race to the bottom and clients you win on price you will lose on price every time.
I’m in a unique position in that regard. My sole competitor within a 60 mile radius is actually giving me clients because he’s moving onto business jet contracts which pay more. The skill and knowledge needed to properly wash an aircraft is a barrier that the average joe won’t cross. So far, my business is secure, but how would you recommend I stand out from competition if I decide to expand from the local area?
$45/hr before tax? How much is the equipment? Sounds like you have a job versus a business. Unless you charge enough to pay someone else to do it. Do you even have insurance?
That’s awesome! Congrats on the success. Do you only wash the outside of the plane or do you also wash the interior? If not, that could be some good leverage to justify a price increase
Congrats on your success.
Out of curiosity, how is it looking on the liability front?
Say you acciddentally damage one of the outside sensors, they can cost quite a bit. Wil insurance cover? Is your personal liability protected?
Damn, that’s good. I love seeing examples like these because it reminds me how many of the best ideas are the ones that nobody would think of. I need to get around to thinking about issues in my areas of expertise.
Congrats! Dream big, Start small, grow quickly.
Well done!